gadget_aussie_man

Q: Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

I have a new Mac Mini 2011 i7 Quad CPU version.  I have a Thunderbolt 27 inch display.  I have found that the display randomly turns off and won't turn on when I use the keyboard or mouse.  This occurs when I am doing stuff on the machine, it is not a display sleep issue.  The first couple of times I had to use Remote Desktop to reboot the Mac Mini to fix the issue.  The last time it happened I removed the Thunderbolt plug from the Mac Mini and reinstalled it and this fixed the issue.  I have the latest software updates on the Mac Mini and the Thunderbolt Firmware update on the Display.

 

I am running Lion 10.7.1

Posted on Sep 21, 2011 9:35 PM

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Q: Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

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  • by graystate,

    graystate graystate Mar 21, 2013 4:40 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 4:40 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    Mine switched off plugged into the Apple repair guy's computer as well as mine. It's not a ram issue in my case.

     

    And yes, Apple sent me a very friendly message about deleting my previous post. hahaha shows I was right. We should do it.

  • by ProJay,

    ProJay ProJay Mar 21, 2013 4:59 AM in response to BSammon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 4:59 AM in response to BSammon

    @ BSammon - Could you share me the part number of those Crucial modules. I will try to get a pair of those Ram and report next week. So frustrating, I was hoping that the new 10.8.3 would solve the problem but no luck for me.

  • by docgoku,

    docgoku docgoku Mar 21, 2013 5:28 AM in response to ProJay
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 5:28 AM in response to ProJay

    Just to add my 2c also.

    Memory in my case didn't matter.  Brand new MB Pro Retina 15" and brand new TBD.

     

    Guys at the store tested, same issues.  It's the connector as we've had same issues with the new 10GB converged networking wiring in the datacenter when those technologies were new.

    The problem is, that's all hardwired into the display and is not an easy swap for Apple to preform.  I fear we will never see a recall on these guys b/c there just arent that many TBD owners...and the cost is too steep.

     

    I've been both to our business apple store reps in NY and SC.  Both have seen increasing numbers of TBD returns but only the NY store (guessing more volume) was quick to state they've seen many come back. 

     

    Perhaps the ram has somethign to do with it in the mac mini's but they have their own little weird issues, the 2012 mini can't be reinstalled from OSX 10.8 usb stick you can create... something about the EFI being different... have to restore OS via network install only.  So, the mini's may be a special situation.

     

    I'd be all for a recalltbd.com site.  If another one or two of our TBDs fail here at work, I'll start one up.

  • by Puma-IT,

    Puma-IT Puma-IT Mar 21, 2013 6:33 AM in response to docgoku
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 6:33 AM in response to docgoku

    +1 for recalltbd.com

     

    Mine is for my business as well. No Apple Store here in Ireland rep., only resellers and agreed service providers...

  • by BSammon,

    BSammon BSammon Mar 21, 2013 7:10 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 7:10 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    The Crucial modules are identified as "Mac Compatible and labeled as 2-8GB DDR3l-1500 SODIMM MAC NOTEBOOK. The part number might be: CT2C8G3S160BM. I pickjed them up here: http://www.microcenter.com. They sell Apple so they tend to know what works in addition to the Apple branded parts. Hope that helps.

  • by WernerDA,

    WernerDA WernerDA Mar 21, 2013 9:08 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2013 9:08 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    I just avoid thinking about it, my TB Display is still on my desk as an adornment. Before, sometimes it worked, then it started working less until I don't remember the last time it worked.

    This is a problem that persists for more than an year now (in my case). I Keep following this topic and beholding its growth, but no solution or even a glue about why this problem really happens. Maybe apple will release a new redesigned super speed port. What I am sure is that this project failed.

  • by davidklaw,

    davidklaw davidklaw Mar 22, 2013 7:44 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 22, 2013 7:44 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    Dealing with what I assume is the same (or similar) issue. We have a number of Thunderbolts in the office - all purchased at the same time so I'm assuming identical components. I've got a Macbook Pro Retina and didn't have a single issue until swapping spots with someone else.

     

    He had problems for several weeks and I inherited them. The TB turns flashes to black several times and then simply turns off several times in the morning and seems to run well the rest of the day. There's no fix for getting it back online other than waiting.

     

    Again, I had no problems with the previous TB I was hooked up to so all signs point to an issue with this particular disaply.

  • by rcarmic,

    rcarmic rcarmic Mar 23, 2013 10:39 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2013 10:39 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    Had same problem with my 2012 Mac Mini when I installed OWC Memory. Reinstalled the original 4GB Apple Memory and problem went away. Installed 16GB of Kingston Memory (KTA-MB1600/8G x 2) and now system runs like a dream.

  • by huzo,

    huzo huzo Mar 25, 2013 4:34 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2013 4:34 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    I am facing the same problem with a Mac Mini, TB display, with some extra memory modules in the Mini.

    Not really sure, probably Samsung.

     

    My guess is, that some of the memory modules produce too much heat. And the extra heat is causing the problem. This might be the cause, the reason itself could be that some of the circuits which are driving the display inside the machine do not like this much extra heat produced by some lesser memory modules.

     

    I did not have this problem for cc. two years, and then it started. I have used lots of computers (mostly MS Windows) during my life, quite agressively (e.g. lots of VMware, hours, days of agressive high porcessor usage), and my experience had been, that after one year almost all of the machines got quite dirty of dust inside, or the components just dried out, and started to overheat (laptops and desktops alike). I did have lots of hardware problems because of this, burnt motherboards, motherboard changes, fan changes, etc. Well, this was the MS era. It is now over.

     

    So either you change the memory modules to the recommended ones, or use some software to do a more energetic cooling of the machine. More energetic then the one what Apple designed for the machine.

     

    This is my second Mac Mini now, still very agressive usage, also VMware, both Minis are working great (well with just this one glitch with one of them).

     

    My try now is that I started using smcFanControl 2.4 free, and when the temperature gets too high for my taste, I click a higher fan rotation speed. As an extra bonus, I can also constantly monitor the inside temperature.

     

    So far this helps me, and the problem is now rare. But still exists, I just do not like to run the fan speed on high...

  • by tbirdvet,

    tbirdvet tbirdvet Mar 25, 2013 5:57 PM in response to rcarmic
    Level 4 (3,012 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 25, 2013 5:57 PM in response to rcarmic

    I have seen several users having issues with OWC memeory.  I used Crucial in my 2012 Mini with the TB display and it works great. 

  • by ProJay,

    ProJay ProJay Mar 27, 2013 5:42 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 27, 2013 5:42 AM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    I call my ram supplier and they swap my old sticks with a pair of Elpida chip modules. My dual TDBs stop flicker randomly but they still flicker whenever I put heavy load to them. I can reproduce this flicker by running those ram-testing apps.

     

    I disconnect one TBD and make the test again. Now the TBD is stabled and run normally. I'm convinced that I really need a pair of premium rams to get the system stable and trouble free, so I decide to go with the best available spec ram to avoid these nonsense anoying problems.

     

    Replace my ram with a pair of CL9 modules and both TBDs run smooth and pass all tests. I should have fix this stupid issues long time ago if I do more search and stop waiting for apple's miracle!

     

    This may help some of you who have the same issue but I can not promise the everyone will be fixed with premium ram because your case might be different. Hope this help

  • by bloomk,

    bloomk bloomk Apr 1, 2013 9:17 PM in response to ProJay
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2013 9:17 PM in response to ProJay

    i am having the issue with dual thunderbolt displays and a late 2012 mac mini... I installed this ram:

     

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231582

     

    should i replace it with new ram? or can i take one module out for now and fix the issue?

  • by ProJay,

    ProJay ProJay Apr 2, 2013 4:25 AM in response to bloomk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2013 4:25 AM in response to bloomk

    I've tested my CL11 modules with a single stick setup but it doesn't solve the issue. If you can make an exchange your CL10 modules with CL9 modules, I would recommend to do so.

  • by MichaelUribe,

    MichaelUribe MichaelUribe Apr 24, 2013 3:30 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 24, 2013 3:30 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

    How can I do this if using windows 7 (bootcamped).  Is there a "hot corners" feature in windows or just Mac Osx?

  • by graystate,

    graystate graystate Apr 24, 2013 4:00 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 24, 2013 4:00 PM in response to gadget_aussie_man

    I've posted a couple of posts previously about this issue, but here's an update.

     

    Ram doesn't seem to be the issue on my machine. My monitor would flicker, then go black, or just go black. In the end I figured out that if I kept the brighness below half it would stay on, though if the temp in the room got too warm it would shut off anyway. This began 3 weeks after the 12 month warranty expired. I rang the shop I bought it from - Computers Now, an authorised Apple reseller, and they basically said bad luck, you'll have to pay for any repairs. Being short on cash I dealt with it for 3 months before I couldn't take it anymore and took it in for repair. They said it was the LCD and the repair quote was...wait for it...$1,250. As you all know, the monitor only cost $1,199. The shop said 'bad luck, you'll just have to pay for a new one". So I took it home and dealt with it for another 2 months. Then a friend of mine pointed out that consumer laws changed in Australia in 2011 and under those laws if you buy something expensive like a monitor or TV that would be expected to last at very least 2 to 3 years, the company still has to fix it, warranty or no.

     

    I rang the shop, mentioned this and they said, oh of course we know about those laws and we are very sorry, we should have fixed it 5 months ago. I'm willing to bet they are told not to mention these laws to customers, or applecare would be a thing of the past.

     

    Short ending is they are replacing the insides, I get it back Friday and I don't have to pay a cent! I'll probably need glasses after squinting at my monitor for 5 months, but I'm happy anyway.

     

    Will report back on the repair and whether it fixes the problem or not.

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