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

@gubble and @Calreth

Mini displayport to displayport will not work with my HP monitor. I've just ordered a mini displayport to DVI as a workaround.

My monitor: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6115/hp-2311xi-ips-monitor

So, I'm sure the issue will be fixed on a DVI connection. My main complaint is that I now have to buy two adapters (one for TV, one for monitor). I also saw there is only a 14 day return window. That's pretty shady!

aaron.rodrigue, I'm in a similar situation, although I have a VGA port on my monitor which saves me, kind of...

The worst thing is that probably at Apple they are just saying "Huh, whatever! They can live with this for a while. Most of our profits are not coming from people who hook up their Macbooks to HDMI monitors"

I can confirm that 10.8.1 makes no difference.

I'd urge anyone with this problem to create a support case - the more of us that let them know there is an issue the more chance it will get fixed!

If you point out the existence of this thread to the front-line support engineer, and refuse to do any of the 'suggestions that might fix it' you will, after a short wait (10min!) be put through to a supervisor. The supervisor agreed to log the issue and asked me to run a data-gathering piece of software and email him the results, which I did. The case is now shows as active but unresolved

I was not given a resolution time, or a confirmation that it is a known driver issue.

Same here - no fix with ML 8.1 for MBA mid-2012 with BenQ GL2440 HD 24" using mini-DP to HDMI as per my previous posting. Oh well, perhaps 8.2 or 8.3 or 8.4 may fix it......

I have posted an official Apple bug report to aid in our efforts - suggest others do same!

I'm having the same issue, can't believe there is not a fix. Just spent over $3K on a MBP retina and it looks horrible on my external monitor, calibrated twice to no avail. I have an AOC monitor which worked perfectly with my older MBP.

Everything looks very washed out, like someone left on a greeny blue light on in there.

I used to work in Apple's Software Test dept years ago, they would have tested lots of external monitors - and decided not to fix it for the release.

mdervin1972, if you have gmail account, there's a simple test - just open your gmail inbox in a browser. If you see that every second line is shaded then that's great, but I doubt that. Unless your hardware configuration doesn't include Intel HD4000 videocard..?

Hi!

I've been looking at this too, same issue! Some one pointed out that the only test I had left was DVI.

So I've found this HDMI (female) to DVI (male) addapter, and connected the HDMI cable that comes out from the MDP>HDMI adapter, and voilá! it worked! 🙂

Look here for some pics of the addapter:

http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/151157/retina-macbook-pro-hdmi-output-issue-dis coloration#post_2178610

So looks like that it's something about the way the OS is communicating with HDMI directly on monitor? Not sure, but here it worked... Hope this help.

Roberto.

Hi Roberto,

Perhaps it is a silly question, but I wonder if that could possibly work if one connected the Macbook to and mini display port to DVI adapter, then the DVI cable and then female DVI adapter to hdmi adapter that would be plugged into the external screen. The reason why I ask is that my monitor does not have DVI input, unfortunately.

Mini-Display to DVI and then DVI to HDMI works fine, but no Audio!

This is for sure an Apple display driver bug and should be fixed.

BTW, with bootcamp and Windows driver the HDMI direct adpater also works. Duh...

Hmm, good question. Haven't tested, but I guess, based on the actual evidence, that the problem is the MB is somehow looking for some information that only comes out from DVI and not from HDMI. So if you connect to HDMI your monitor will output the "wrong information"??? But this is just a supposition. You will get, of course, it working, but can't be sure, and I don't have the necessary adapters to tests; so if you have it, go for it and let us know? Hope Apple fix this soon!!!

Hi,

I tested all three adapters, results:

MDP->VGA: working OK, but slight blurry (maybe because analog)

MDP->HDMI: washed out color (same problem as other people here)

MDP->DVI: working best, sharp and stable, all color is ok.

Seems apple has to fix the driver for HDMI.

Hi,

Thought I'd add my laptop to the mix. Have a 2010 MBA 13". Connecting via MDP->HDMI. Using Windows 8 RP on Boot Camp, it's perfect without having to change settings, but using Lion or Mountain Lion, the colours are over-saturated and the frame rate is a little bit choppy. Managed to get the colours to something acceptable using the colour profile settings, but it's still not ideal (or as good as when using Windows). Not as bad as other people's problems on here, but still disappointing. I feel it's a drive issue. Hope a fix is incoming! 😟

Thanks iBobx and xdude_pt.

I ordered an adapter (DVI to HDMI). If it works, as you suggest, I will report back. Perhaps this could be a temporary fix.

No audio is not a problem for me as my monitor has got poor speakers anyway. I connect the Macbook to external speakers.

Just wanted to add my machine to the mix. I have a 2012 13" Macbook PRO and I am having the same issues. And the latest update didn't help at all either. I luckily purchased the Griffin mini display to hdmi, that came with a hdmi to dvi connector which helps me at least get through this until apple releases a proper fix. I really want hdmi to work so I can route my audio through it. Hoping for something soon.

Hi everybody! Joining in from Belgium to add my problems to the list. I have two 2012 MacBook Airs (11" with i5 and 13" with i7 processor) and two brand new identical Philips 227E3LHSU 21,5" monitors (featuring VGA, DVI and HDMI). Both macs and monitors having the same 'horrible colors' using the Moshi MiniDisplay to HDMI connector. Even with the latest OS update (10.8.1). No quality problems so far on both machines when I use the MiniDisplay to VGA or MiniDisplay to DVI connectors I purchased from Apple. So I think in fact it might be a (Apple) driver related problem as suggested in this thread before...