Short interference (snow like) Mac Mini i7 (Late 2012)

I'm having the same problem, only that it is occurring much more frequently, especially during the first half hour or so after start up. Then it calms down but never goes away. It is especially prone to happen if there is a total screen switch to and from a game. New Mac Mini 2012 attached to a ViewSonic monitor with a DVI cable via the dongle that connects to the HDMI port. Like others, I tried different cables and a different monitor. I usually get the black out but sometimes the snow (which has to be cured by unplugging and plugging back in the monitor). The only thing I have to add is that when this happens, my speakers also power down. I've unplugged every connection to external hard disks, but that doesn't seem to make any difference. I almost went back to my Mac Mini 2010, but this new one is so fast and responsive that I've decided to live with it for the time being.

Interesting that no-one has had any problems when using the MDP/Thunderbolt port with a HDMI adapter. I can't thing what would be different to the native HDMI port really… which makes me think maybe it's hardware not software/firmware at fault?

Has anyone tried getting sound from the MDP/Thunderbolt port with an HDMI adapter yet?

Someone should email this thread to apple support or find some means for them to see this. I would but I can't find an email contact to direct this to.

I'm sure they'd take notice especially since it's holiday shopping season and the impending slew of unhappy mac mini owners that is sure to follow. Letting them know this isn't an isolated issue would get the team working.

Just disappointed that I won't be able to take advantage of the black friday sale now 😢

They are looking at it, & I'm sure some heads are flying...

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4472316?tstart=0

Another 2012 Mini owner with this problem.

I use an ATD as my main monitor and it has never had a issue. On my remote monitor (samsung 2443BWX) connected HDMI -> DVI I have had a few blackouts and one gray snow. The gray snow required power cycling of the monitor to clear.

2012 Mac Mini 2.6/Apple-SSD/16G ram

I purchased a new 2012 Mac Mini on Friday, I'm running 2 x 24" monitors, 1 through the Thunderbolt to DVI and the second through the HDMI to DVI. The monitor using the Thunderbolt connector is fine, but the monitor being driven by the HDMI to DVI experiences this issue, i.e goes black, then snow, then comes back to normal without having to do anything. Does anyone know if the issue is resolved by running a direct HDMI to HDMI, i.e removing the HMDI to DVI adapter and running direct via HDMI cable to the monitor?

This seems to be a very common problem with the new 2012 Mac Mini, but as to yet I can't seem to locate a fix... I don't think there is one as yet.

I only experienced this about 3 times yesterday and once so far today, but it is very annoying!

Thanks

Hey all,

Another late 2012 Mini owner with this problem.

I use an Dell as my main monitor and it has never had a issue connected HDMI -> DVI, but now I have had a few blackouts and grey snow. Mostly in gaming enviroment. I also work on 3d / 2d Applications (which are ok)

I have rung the Apple tech support about this and very condescending tech adviser who knew nothing of the problem and would belittle me constantly and not actually "listen" to my mac issues I was experiencing as if going through a script to read from, only thing he made me do a SMC and NRAM reset and then straight away asked if the problem is fix..... WHAT THE!? I told him it happens randomly, but the problem still continues!

2012 Mac Mini 2.6/ Intel Core i7/16G ram

I'm really unhappy with my mac mini and I came from a very happy experience for 6 years without a fault on my old iMac.

Glad to know I'm not going crazy. Purchased a Mac Mini on Friday. Using the enclosed adapter to hook up my Acer H233H monitor via DVI.

At first, I thought the color noise was only happening when the mac would put the display to sleep, but I've had it happen when loading flash based games on facebook and switching in and out of iTunes videos.

It reminds me of forgetting to turn the VCR on after switching to channel 3. I know it's something to do with the HDCP negotiation, but I don't understand why it happens in the middle of doing things too. It kind of makes sense with the iTunes video or sleep mode, because the display would probably have to renegotiate the DRM.

This is the second problem I've had so far. The first is not being able to install the 10.8.2 mountain lion update (even via combo update). Apple support was useless on that as they told me to just install the combo update lol. Yeah, wish I could. Apple's clearly got driver issues with this machine and I hope a 10.8.3 update is coming to resolve all this stuff.

Thanks, I get the same gut feeling on the issue, seems it's either unfixable due to HW, or a vast variety of causes.

Hi All,

Another one here.. 2.3GHz i7 Mini. Display is fine on Thunderbolt, but occasionally flashes up snow on HDMI. Using a Dell U2711. Also HDMI output looks washed-out compared to the Thunderbolt.

Good news!

Intel recognise the problem and have a fixed driver for this. Its now just a case of waiting until Apple integrate the fix into one of their updates, not so bad...

http://communities.intel.com/thread/32932

Brand new Mac Mini 2.6 i7 same issue: snow like interference via HMDI > DVI and black outs. I had another problem, which was external sound card channel routing. It wouldn't use the channels I set up.

When I booted from a Carbon Copy Cloner image from my Macbook Air, booth issues did not occur. Before that I tried lots, including reinstalling the OS (without deleting it first).

So I decided to do a format of the drive (boot with command+R) and I reinstalled the OS, migrated from a time machine backup all, but the system settings. The sound card issue has gone and I haven't seen the snow on the screen or the black outs yet (working for more two hours now and it did occur every hour or so).

As I've said elsewhere, this is now a confirmed intel driver issue, which has been fixed by intel, just not yet by Apple, so yours will re-occur. A rebuild may reduce it, but will not solve it.

Update, my replacement MM arrived on Monday, this was to replace the one Apple 'captured' from me.

I have had it running for quite a few hours now, what with initial setup, migrating all my files across and then carrying out software updates on Monday. I then used it as much as I could yesterday and so far I have not had any issues.

I have connected my screens the other way around this time.

They are currently connected like this:

Eizo ColorEdge CG223W is connected by TB/MDP - DVI - 1680x1050

Formac TFT 1900 connected by HDMI - DVI - 1280x1024

On the previous MM they were Eizo - HDMI, Formac - MDP, it was only the HDMI which gave me problems.

I have allowed the MM to go to sleep on several occasions and it has also been powered off and then on again. Both screens have been on with either floating windows to do with the application running on the TB/MDP screen. Or I have Activity Monitor and Console running on the second screen. While typing this on my MBP, the MM has been downloading a couple of updates, iWork and Aperture, bothe screens have been fine.

I did post this in the other thread about video blinking out but there seemed to be an argument going on about something or the other.

The person at Apple which took over my case, after I sent an e-mail to Philip Schiller, wants me to e-mail them about how this MM is working. I think I will give it to the end of the week before I commit, but so far things are looking good!