Horrible colors on external monitor using macbook air(2012) with mini dp to hdmi

nordsw did you try with a mini display to HDMI connector?

I have the problem only with the HDMI connector, while the DVI is working.

If the problem is related to some hardware issue maybe I could have my Air replaced at the apple store

Exactly what I need to know.

If HDMI works on newer Airs, I'll do a Time Machine backup and have Apple replace mine. Surely that's covered under Apple Care. This problem is ridiculous.

It does not, I've tried it on 3 different mid 2012 MBA, using 3 different HDMI adapters and the problem is there.

It is clearly not a HW problem as people are reporting it working fine on MBAs with Windows or Linux installed, so no point replacing your MBA.

I know the problem is there, but the person responded that DVI worked on a recent purchase 2012 MBA. Mine was purchased on day one. If the newly produced MBA works over HDMI then replacing mine is a great option.

We just need to know if nordsw has tried it with an HDMI adapter.

Shankie-san, thanks. I have the same Macbook as you (yet purchased in July 2012). I tried connecting it to a monitor at work using minidisplay port to DVI adapter and then directly to monitor using a regular DVI cable. This didn't work - so, while I don't know if the handshake issue occurs, there is a different problem with detection of external screens with HDMI. Do you know if handshake issues occur with DVI as well?

marcinetti, sorry to hear that didn't work for you. The DVI cable sorted it right out.

I don't know for sure if a handshake occurs with DVI, but I assume that it does as HDCP-protected movies play fine using the DVI cable. With the straight DVI cable, I don't seem to have any problems.

Thanks. I guess that I will retry connecting to a monitor with a DVI cable following those steps to remedy the handshake problem:

"If you can't get an image from your laptop to show up on your TV screen, try the following:

1. Try booting up your PC/Laptop with the HDMI cable connected to a TV that is on.

2. You can try booting up the PC/Laptop while the TV is off and then turn on the TV.

3. If the above options don't work, try booting up the PC/Laptop first, and, with the TV on, connect the HDMI cable to both the PC/Laptop and TV. "

(http://hometheater.about.com/od/hometheaterdoityourself/a/How-To-Troubleshoot-Hd mi-Connection-Problems.htm)

That said, I remain pessimistic after all those failed experiments.

Next thing I will try is to go to a local Apple store and ask them to try if HDMI works on the latest Macbooks from September (someone has reported having no problems with a just bought machine) - if the problem with washed out colours will not occur I will ask for a replacement.

Update:

I tried the above steps to remedy the handshake issue (mini display port to DVI adapter --> DVI cable connected to the monitor). Nothing worked - screen not detected.

Then, I connected the following configuration for the final test: mini display port to HDMI adapter --> HDMI cable --> HDMI to DVI adapter connected to the screen. The screen was detected and it worked perfectly. The remaining problem is that I don't have a DVI input on my home monitor - I would have to buy a new one, which would be ridiculous.

If I knew how to get the Macbook Pro to detect screens connected via mini display port to DVI adapter, then I could have a fix to the problem (the said adapter + DVI to HDMI + HDMI cable connected to my home monitor) and avoid the need to buy a new monitor...

To sum up:

• MDP to DVI adapter --> DVI cable to the monitor: screen not detected;
• MDP to VGA adapter --> VGA cable to the monitor: screen not detected;
• MDP to HDMI adapter --> HDMI cable to the monitor: washed out colours;
• MDP to HDMI adapter --> HDMI cable --> HDMI to DVI adapter to the monitor: works perfectly (but my home monitor doesn't have a DVI input);
• all the adapters and cables work perfectly with the same screens but an older Macbook.

If someone confirms that the Macbooks Pro 13" or Macbook Air bought in September don't have the washed out colours issue, then this would be ground for asking for a replacement.

Marcinetti, I've got a 13" MBP built in September 2012 that does have the washed-out colours issue on HDMI. I'll copy and paste my results in your format so that you can draw your own conclusions.

To sum up:

• MDP to DVI adapter --> DVI cable to the monitor: works fine (occassional cut-outs, but I think that this is due to my crappy cable. I'm also using a straight MDP to DVI cable, rather than through Apple's adapter)
• MDP to VGA adapter --> VGA cable to the monitor: works fine
• MDP to HDMI adapter --> HDMI cable to the monitor: washed out colours;
• MDP to HDMI adapter --> HDMI cable --> HDMI to DVI adapter to the monitor: fails after a few seconds (again, could be due to cheap HDMI to DVI adapter)
• all the adapters and cables work perfectly with the same screens but an older Macbook (Shankie-san: same here. My 2010 MBP works perfectly in all situations)

I don't have BootCamp installed, but if you do, perhaps try booting to Windows to see if it's a hardware or software problem. Many people have suggested that it's fine in Windows.

My monitor (Dell U2410) also has DisplayPort input, so I'm going to try ordering a MDP-->DisplayPort cable and see how that fares

Shankie-san, many thanks for your reply.

Which version of Mountain Lion have you got? Since before the update to 10.8.2, I could get the Macbook to work with a screen via VGA, I suspect that the update may be the reason for the non-detection problems.

I don't have BootCamp neither. I will retry talking to Apple again about this.

You're welcome, marcinetti. Hope we can work this out.

I'm on 10.8.2 as well

I just bought a brand new MacBook Air this week. And I'm using it with an external monitor. I've got the same issues as mentioned by the OP and other posters in this thread: light greys are not visible, and contrasts are bad.

I use an Apple mini DispayPort to VGA adapter cable and a samsung monitor. The MBA is up-to-date (latest OS). I keep the lid of the MBA closed, the external screen resolution is set to it's native resolution. Calibration and resetting PRAM and stuff did not help.

The screen on the external monitor looks great on my old (windows) laptop which also has a DisplayPort (and uses a DisplayPort to VGA adapter).

I called Apple today. After trying some stuff and trying to isolate the problem I got the answer that my external monitor probably isn't compatible enough with Apple. I should try and use/find a monitor that is compatible.

Is there a solution already? Will there be in the future? If not, I'm planning on returning the MBA to the store, I can't work with it like this.

Hey Enumans,

Short answer: There is no solution to this problem.

You can use DVI and VGA, but if you want fully functioning HDMI with sound you simply can't do it (unless you work in Windows in Bootcamp).

I spent about 3 weeks going through the issue in detail with a senior advisor who was liaising with the engineers (luckily no one suggested anything as lame as the monitor being incompatible!). The end result - there was definitely a firmware problem but the engineer could not say when or if it would be addressed.

I therefore sent the Air back for a refund - spending £1,250 on what should be a first-rate ultra-portable without properly functioning support for external displays (which I use at work and home) was in my view frankly, ridiculous.

Went back to using my old Pro, which works beautifully with all displays.

I'll bide my time and maybe get the next generation which hopefully won't have the same issue.

Very poor show on Apple's part though. There is simply no excuse for not picking up this kind of issue during testing.

Hi guys,

Have two mid 2012 MBA's (11 and 13") and Philips 22" monitors (227E3LHSU), Moshi MD to HDMI adapter and HDMI cables: same problem with washed out colours until this week. Now latest mac OS update (10.8.2) and EFI firmware update 2.5 solved the problem: have cristal clear image, natural colours and sound now...

Hope this solves the problem for all of you too 🙂

how to get this update?

i've got air mid 11 with osx 10.7.5 (system tells me that it's the latest software)

also it would be nice if you tell how to find EFI firmware update