jtehlert

Q: 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

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

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  • by mdervin1972,

    mdervin1972 mdervin1972 Aug 28, 2012 6:35 PM in response to Biggles Smith
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 28, 2012 6:35 PM in response to Biggles Smith

    I played around with my monitor and settings a lot (for an hour) and it's now pretty good. Still - shouldn't have had to do that, but for anyone else, it's worth a lot of playing time.

  • by EJW Tas,

    EJW Tas EJW Tas Aug 28, 2012 11:11 PM in response to xdude_pt
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 28, 2012 11:11 PM in response to xdude_pt

    didn't improve situation re HDMI/External HD screen

  • by aaron.rodrigue,

    aaron.rodrigue aaron.rodrigue Aug 29, 2012 12:26 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 29, 2012 12:26 AM in response to jtehlert

    Same old story after lodging support calls last week. "Engineering will investigate and get back to you". No phonecalls as yet.

  • by gubble,

    gubble gubble Aug 29, 2012 2:59 AM in response to mdervin1972
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 29, 2012 2:59 AM in response to mdervin1972

    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..?

  • by gubble,

    gubble gubble Aug 29, 2012 3:16 AM in response to mdervin1972
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 29, 2012 3:16 AM in response to mdervin1972

    mdervin1972, sorry, one correction - there's a subtle grey line between new emails and also the read items have grey back ground.

    on my external monitor with HDMI, everything just looks white!

  • by iBobX,

    iBobX iBobX Aug 29, 2012 1:36 PM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 29, 2012 1:36 PM in response to jtehlert

    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.

  • by marcinetti,

    marcinetti marcinetti Aug 29, 2012 2:31 PM in response to iBobX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 29, 2012 2:31 PM in response to iBobX

    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.

  • by xdude_pt,

    xdude_pt xdude_pt Aug 29, 2012 3:01 PM in response to marcinetti
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 29, 2012 3:01 PM in response to marcinetti

    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...

  • by iBobX,

    iBobX iBobX Aug 29, 2012 3:04 PM in response to marcinetti
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 29, 2012 3:04 PM in response to marcinetti

    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!!!

  • by davidc2k3,

    davidc2k3 davidc2k3 Aug 30, 2012 3:50 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2012 3:50 AM in response to jtehlert

    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.

  • by iBobX,

    iBobX iBobX Aug 30, 2012 6:46 AM in response to davidc2k3
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2012 6:46 AM in response to davidc2k3

    Great! Another confirmation.

    So yes, agreed, I think it's all about the HD4000 Driver...

    Hope Apple fix it soon and doesn't wait until a major release....

  • by Rapidness,

    Rapidness Rapidness Aug 30, 2012 6:48 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 30, 2012 6:48 AM in response to jtehlert

    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!

  • by marcinetti,

    marcinetti marcinetti Aug 30, 2012 8:41 AM in response to iBobX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2012 8:41 AM in response to iBobX

    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.

  • by gubble,

    gubble gubble Aug 31, 2012 4:20 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 31, 2012 4:20 AM in response to jtehlert

    A new system update last night - no fixes for our problem!

     

    Cheers!!

  • by donutdude246,

    donutdude246 donutdude246 Sep 1, 2012 10:36 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2012 10:36 AM in response to jtehlert

    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.

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