jtehlert
Level 1 (0 points)

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

Close
jtehlert

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

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 5 of 30 last Next

  • by Hydrofire,

    Hydrofire Hydrofire Jul 21, 2012 11:13 PM in response to LT Mac User
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 21, 2012 11:13 PM in response to LT Mac User

    They Cinema Display connects with a MDP, so the fact that it works says nothing about our problem which is HDMI specific.

  • by LT Mac User,

    LT Mac User LT Mac User Jul 22, 2012 3:45 AM in response to Hydrofire
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 3:45 AM in response to Hydrofire

    Hydrofire... I'm not sure that the HDMI is the only problem here, Many posters (including myself) are having the same problem with VGA as I am. I have tried both HDMI and VGA with the same results. As I use other monitors and projectors where VGA is the only option, this is unacceptable. As I recall, the original poster was having trouble with VGA/adapter as well.

     

    I am unclear about DVI at this point.

  • by ChrisBZA,

    ChrisBZA ChrisBZA Jul 22, 2012 3:54 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 3:54 AM in response to jtehlert

    Quite right @LTMacUser. The MBA 2012 is not working with MANY VGA projectors and screens I have tried. It's not the awful colours issue, it's a disasterous sync issue. Utterly unusable. Extremely bad for professionals who expect to go to clients and present - ie surely the target market for such a light portable. I have tried 6 2012 airs, across 7 different screens, admitedly all using mini displayport to VGA adapters. Not ONE works. Yet every screen works with every MBP and MBA prior to 2012.

  • by Tim1e9,

    Tim1e9 Tim1e9 Jul 22, 2012 4:13 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 4:13 AM in response to jtehlert

    Another +1 here. Thank you for starting this thread, because I was losing my mind! :-)

     

    Brand new MBA - special ordered - and it looks *horrible* on an external monitor. Since the closest Apple store is 70+ miles away, I think I'm going to try a DVI cable. I'll eventually make it to the store, and I will show up with my monitor. :-D

     

    -Tim

  • by cracky_aces,

    cracky_aces cracky_aces Jul 22, 2012 4:42 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 4:42 AM in response to jtehlert

    I'm having the same problem. Bought my new 13" MBA about 3 weeks ago in Germany. I suppose it's a 2012 model.

     

    I recently bought two displays (Asus VS228 and some LG 22"). I'm using a pretty cheap Kanaan HDMI-to-Display-Port adapter (http://www.amazon.de/KanaaN-mini-Displayport-Adapter-Audio-%C3%9Cbertragung/dp/B 003ORJOX0/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1342955989&sr=8-9). Both monitors give a horrible picture. Fonts are unsharp, dark colours and black are way too dark, bright colors are too bright. Tried only HDMI so far, but will go to the apple store to get a DVI adapter.

     

    This ***** and i find it ridiculous that i have to waste more money on this diva of a laptop!

  • by cracky_aces,

    cracky_aces cracky_aces Jul 22, 2012 5:34 AM in response to cracky_aces
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 5:34 AM in response to cracky_aces

    Okay, just got back from the apple store. Bought a DVI -> Display Port adapter. The picture is crystal clear. No adjustments necessary. Love it!

     

    Had to pay $30 for the adapter. I want this money back from Apple. No Sh*t!

  • by lelloz,

    lelloz lelloz Jul 22, 2012 5:36 AM in response to cracky_aces
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 5:36 AM in response to cracky_aces

    Did you try a VGA adapter first? Just to verify if DVI is really better than VGA...

  • by cracky_aces,

    cracky_aces cracky_aces Jul 22, 2012 5:42 AM in response to lelloz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 5:42 AM in response to lelloz

    Even though I know very little about these things, I feel more comfortable with a digital solution. So I went for DVI. VGA feels like 1996 to me.

     

    Edit: No, haven't tried VGA.

  • by LT Mac User,

    LT Mac User LT Mac User Jul 22, 2012 5:56 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 5:56 AM in response to jtehlert

    I haven't seen a post from jtehlert in a *while* so I'mnot sure where all this stands. Their original post was an issue surrounding poor color on external monitors, then more specifically with the gray/white differentiation. This is exactly the problem I have. Although I have only duplicated it using both the HDMI and VGA adapters, DVI will not help me as I NEED VGA compatability.

     

    It does seem that there are other external monitor issues that may or may not be related. My resolution (no pun), is going to be slow due to the time it will take me. I am curious as to jtehlert's resolve (or anyone else for that matter). This is most concerning given Apple's normally stellar quality. I know; I have been uding macs since the 1985 "fat" mac.

     

    I will post all updates and the solution as I find them. I encourage all to reach out to Apple and not accept mediocre solutions. The MBA should work flawlessly on any external monitor. Nothing else is acceptable.

     

  • by jtehlert,

    jtehlert jtehlert Jul 22, 2012 7:02 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 22, 2012 7:02 AM in response to jtehlert

    Hey guys, OP here to answer a few of the questions and give a little clarification.

     

    My issue is both bad colors AND the greys/whites contrast issue. So I'm having both of those issues.

     

    I could go out and buy the dvi adapter, but I run my main monitor through an hdmi switch, so that wouldn't work, and after all that still doesn't solve the problem.

     

    I have not been able to get to an apple store yet, but when I do, I will let you guys know.

  • by morais,

    morais morais Jul 23, 2012 6:31 AM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 23, 2012 6:31 AM in response to jtehlert

    Hey,

    i have exactly the same problem with gray/wihte differiation. I went to the Apple Store and they reproduce the problem, but cant help me. I dont know what to do. Switching to an DVI adapter isnt a solution for me, because i want to have sound via HDMI.

  • by bashevis,

    bashevis bashevis Jul 23, 2012 9:30 PM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 23, 2012 9:30 PM in response to jtehlert

    I got a response from Moshi technical support:

     

    Thank you for your e-mail.


    Our HDMI Adapter is a passthrough device and has no control over the color gradients/contrast/etc. This particular issue seems to be related to the HDMI driver on the Mac. We suggest you can bring this issue up with Apple directly.


    I hope this information helps but if you have any more questions feel free to ask. We’re here to help.


    Best regards,


    Joyce

    It seems like it is an HDMI driver problem...

  • by LT Mac User,

    LT Mac User LT Mac User Jul 24, 2012 10:50 AM in response to bashevis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 24, 2012 10:50 AM in response to bashevis

    Joyce,

     

    Thanks for the post. For those of us who have the same/similar problems with VGA and DVI, it's not a consolation. Seems like it's more than just the HDMI driver. Anyone else have a solution from Apple (or anywhere)?

     

    David

  • by mathieu239,

    mathieu239 mathieu239 Jul 25, 2012 10:08 PM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 10:08 PM in response to jtehlert

    Well... just installed Mountain Lion and it didn't fix the issue with my external monitor... really disapointed.

  • by andresh99,

    andresh99 andresh99 Jul 26, 2012 10:52 PM in response to jtehlert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2012 10:52 PM in response to jtehlert

    add me to the list. spent the last hour trying to calibrate my monitor thinking it was the culprit but it's obviously not. this is my first mac so i can't compare with another...i hope they find a solution for this problem. is there anything i should do to help apple take a look at this?

first Previous Page 5 of 30 last Next