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jtehlert Author

Level 1

4 points

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

I have one of the new macbook airs (2012) hooked up to an external monitor (Dell SR2320L) using a mini display port to hdmi adapter.

The dsiplay shows up fine on the external monitor, except for the colors and contrast being terrible. Any color grey on a white background doesnt even seem to render. However if I look at that same image on the airs screen, I can see all of the grey colors perfectly. I have tested the hdmi cable and monitor on different computers and they work perfectly. I have tried three different adapters all with the same problems, leaving me to believe that there is something wrong with the macbook air itself and its ability to output a mini display port signal.

Does anyone know why I would be having a problem like this?

MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 4, 2012 1:55 PM

Top-ranking reply

pdan

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Jul 5, 2012 1:15 AM

I have exactly the same problem:

Laptop: MacBook Pro 13", Mid 2012

External Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster SA550 (HDMI input)

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter: Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support (H1824ZM in the Apple Store)

Colors are generally washed out, very low contrast, very high brightness, some fonts are distorted.

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438 replies

enumans

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2013 12:57 AM in response to frisbee1

@frisbee1

I tried both an ICIDU and a HP adapter cable. Both worked fine. I'm using the ICIDU cable at the moment: http://www.icidu.com/en/mini-displayport-to-vga-0-15m.html

(I know this is the MDP to HDMI thread. The reason we're (wrongfully) posting here is because another similar MDP to VGA thread is pointing towards this thread....sorry about the mixups.)

Jan 10, 2013 6:21 AM in response to jtehlert

Been affected by this also. With Moshi HDMI adapter.

Downladed the Apple's supposed fix for this and it didn't fixed nothing.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1623

Have you guys tried this EFI ?

jensl28

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2013 6:58 AM in response to jtehlert

A big joke! This EFI 2.6 did not fixed the problem.

One may wonder if they even tested the update before realease?

This *****.

Letterus

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2013 7:05 AM in response to jensl28

Hello everyone,

just to inform you: There is no fix for this problem yet! The firmware update only fixed the problem of "flickering" displays!

There is no reliable way to solve this issue in the moment. The only way to work around it is to use an DVI or VGA cable.

We can expect this issue to be solved by the next update of the OS which is the upcoming 10.8.3. Referring to the release notes there are fixes regarding graphics drivers. So let's wait and hope.

Regards,

Johannes

Jan 10, 2013 7:14 AM in response to Letterus

Can you give some link where i can read the changelog of the upcoming 10.8.3 release?

Letterus

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2013 7:21 AM in response to davidozzo

There is no changelog, just the regular release/seed note:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/30/intel_insists_mac_mini_hdmi_fix_inbound/

http://osxdaily.com/2012/11/26/os-x-10-8-3-beta-1-released-for-developers/

iBobX

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2013 8:13 AM in response to jtehlert

I have downloaded and installed the latest update, but nothing happened. I think this also needs a drivers update, not only EFI. Let's hope next software update comes with this new driver... :S

Jan 10, 2013 8:19 AM in response to jtehlert

Is it possible that this EFI update will be usefull when the 10.8.3 update will be released? And this means that 10.8.3 update is really close to release?

AwwYeahh

Level 1

34 points

Jan 13, 2013 1:25 AM in response to davidozzo

Had high hopes for the EFI update, but nothing has changed for me =(

Jan 16, 2013 2:47 PM in response to jtehlert

Just wanted to put in my support for a fix. I have the new 13" Retina Pro and colors are just horrible using HDMI.

Jan 17, 2013 12:42 AM in response to jtehlert

Is there anyone here that has access to the beta release of OSX Mountain Lion? I read that with this last release there are a lot of changes about graphic driver, so it would possible that now the problem is solved.

iBobX

Level 1

0 points

Jan 17, 2013 8:10 AM in response to jtehlert

Yes, I bet the solution is comming on 10.8.3. 🙂

Jan 17, 2013 8:35 AM in response to jtehlert

Strong hopes on 10.8.3 too :-)

Sol Lee

Level 1

0 points

Jan 17, 2013 9:17 PM in response to iBobX

Good news!

I've tried the latest beta of 10.8.3(12D54), the color is great and the horrible gray shadow is vanished!

I am using MacBook Air mid-2012 via Mini displayport to HDMI adapter.

Sorry for my poor English.😉

Calreth

Level 1

0 points

Jan 17, 2013 10:03 PM in response to Sol Lee

That is good news indeed. I hope it does the same for us. Thanks for sharing, this is a first piece of good news I've heard since following this thread.

I was just about deciding to jump ship to MS Surface Pro too.

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