Q: Thunderbolt Display turns off randomly

We really don't see these issues with pure Thunderbolt products... and the certification and testing requirements don't even allow for any wiggle room when it comes to having a Thunderbolt product approved. The issues seem limited to displays and in the case of the Thunderbolt display, however the video is handed off such that it is with an external mini-Displayport to video cable and with the same kinds of issues.

I agree interference or a signal failure/degradtion or timing with the video chipset/memory/shared memory is already shown to be different factors with this OR it's actually noise from the Thunderbolt/video into the system that is the factor. A specific die rev of memory appears to be a factor (not necessary true cause / but subject to cause) in Mac mini systems. In multiple systems, Mac minis - MacBooks - iMacs, have seen issue resolved with the replacement of cheap MDP adapters in the case of non-thunderbolt displays...

Of course - when you have a Thunderbolt Display from Apple, with integrated cable - the situation is more difficult to remedy, especially if other things can adjust/control do not rememdy. In the case of MacBook Air and Retina models with this issue occuring, the only other factor to adjust would be what else is connected to the actual system of the Thunderbolt display.

With those thoughts shared.... I'd summarize / suggest - Thunderbolt itself isn't the issue here. The issue is manifesting with connected displays, the Thunderbolt display included (which at some point has a handoff from TB to the video output as noted above) - and as the issue with 3rd party DVI/HDMI displays has most often been resolved with a better/proper quality cable, very well may be a deficiency that Apple can resolve in a future Thunderbolt display design to fix the issue there as well. Either that - or it's a sensitivy in the video chipset.

As I continue to walk through this... can also note - significant improvements / reductions of this issue over the last 12 months have come from various Apple EFI and OS updates too. Perhaps more to come there too.

Sorry to say the flickering problem came back again - the Ethernet trick didn't work so my TBD is off to the great apple repairer in the sky to see if it can be saved.

I will be sure to send a link to this thread with it though as reference.

I did these three things and it has been working for the past 48 hours?  Not sure if one of them or all threee together did the trick.  Only been 2 days so I will report back if I get the blackout again!

Disable - Display - Auto djust bright

Disable - Energey Saver - Auto GPU switch

Unplug ethernet cable from back of TBD

I will try these suggestions as well.

However, today I connected up the MBA to the screen including Ethernet - just for fun - and so far it is working without having done anything at all! Obviously the problem is still there somewhere but today it isn't happening.

This is a real pest as I don't want to spend a day at the apple dealer when the display is working, but I know that tomorrow it won't be working again AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

day 3 no blackout and upgraded to Mavericks

I just started getting these Random Screen Blanks on my Thunderbolt 21 inch display connected to MacAir.  What is this? Disable - Energey Saver - Auto GPU switch  I don't see this in the System Preferences - energy saver. 

Wow - I've just found this thread after months of thinking I was the only one!  I have a Mac Mini attached to a 27" thunderbolt and it worked well for a while.  Then it started to not come on when I booted my mimi, and now it has advanced to happening while I'm using it.  I have an LG panel attached now so that I can switch to it whenever this happens.

There seem to be a lot of theories over many posts.  Do I start with a new power cable or are there options in Mavericks (yes it happens there as well) that I can try?

Thanks in advance

Chris

It would seem that there is no one cause. Some people have upgraded memory in their mac mini's and some types of RAM seem to cause problems. I have the problem with a new macbook air and new display. Sometimes disconnecting the ethernet cable from the TBD (if you are using ethernet) appears to help - but not always. I would suggest you return your display for repair. That is what I did in the end (I am waiting for it to be returned - who knows whether it will be fixed or not).

Thanks Steve.  Can I ask if the problem became permanent when you took it back for repair or if it was still intermittent?  What worries me is that I will return the dispaly, it will appear to work to them and they will send it back unrepaired.  Is there a known fault reference that can quote?

Ironically the screen has just gone off while typing this reply.....

Chris

Hi Chris,

I took a video of the display with my iPad as it was flashing on and off so that I could prove that it was happening - I gave them a cop of the video at the appl edealers when I took the display back. They switched the display on in the shop connected to a macbook pro and of course it worked fine. I also wonder whether they will see the problem.

Well my twerks made it last about a week.  Then it went black again!  SMH

It's very frustrating. Today I'm using/testing a Retina 15" 2012 model, all stock - with an Apple 30" Cinema and 27" iMac slaved via Thunderbolt - the 30" has blacked out once - unplug/plug to resolve... the 27" 'iMac Display' has blacked out and come back about once every 60-90 minutes.

Have nothing connected to the displays (not using their USB/FW hubs) - USB powered hub for KB/Mouse/Ethernet

while workable, it is frustrating.

I think I can say with reasonable certainty that it will get worse and become unworkable

- bear in mind that I have watched about 20 episodes of "the walking dead" over the last few says, so I may be feeling a little defeatist :-)

I am a photographer.  I use a late 2011 13" MBP w/OWC 8gb RAM with the then new TBD: USB 2.0.  I was able to use and did not have a single problem with my TBD and MBP for the last year and half.  One day, while working in Aperture and Mac OS 10.8, the display shut off and has not come back on.  I was given no warning like screen flickers and such.

I have been following this post since my incident.  I have tried everything here including resetting the NVRAM, changing the memory back, purchasing a new TB cable, etc...Strange it is only the video that does not work.  I get sound and can bring up the TBD properties.  All the USB and firewire ports work.  I just upgraded to Mavericks.  The display still does not work.

Has anyone found a hardware or software fix?

That sounds like the Thunderbolt display failed or something else with the video output on the laptop itself... But - the cable on that display is embedded, not something you can swap out - so not clear on the cable swap note.

need to test display on another Mac and isolate the issue to the display or the Macbook Pro 13" as the culprit and dig from there.

The issues with the flicker, etc in this thread do not sound related to this kind of total failure.