Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out

Open Console in Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when this happens.

Same here. Here's my post / description:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4472037

Yep, this has happened to me a few times as well. It just happened 5 mins ago and for a second I saw a gray screen with static just like you'd see on TV when you disconnect the antenna cable. I have it connected to a Dell SP2309W monitor. Likely a driver issue, hope it is fixed soon, it is pretty annoying.

So I looked in the Console for around the time when the video blink happened and here is what I have:

2012-10-27 7:58:26.425 PM WindowServer[87]: Received display connect changed for display 0x3f003c

2012-10-27 7:58:26.426 PM WindowServer[87]: Received display connect changed for display 0x3f003d

2012-10-27 7:58:26.426 PM WindowServer[87]: Received display connect changed for display 0x2b343212

2012-10-27 7:58:26.429 PM WindowServer[87]: No display devices are on-line. Switching to virtual display mode

2012-10-27 7:58:27.507 PM WindowServer[87]: Received display connect changed for display 0x3f003c

2012-10-27 7:58:27.507 PM WindowServer[87]: Received display connect changed for display 0x3f003d

2012-10-27 7:58:27.507 PM WindowServer[87]: Received display connect changed for display 0x3f003e

2012-10-27 7:58:27.520 PM WindowServer[87]: New display device coming on-line. Switching from virtual display mode

2012-10-27 7:58:27.524 PM WindowServer[87]: Created shield window 0x110 for display 0x2b343212

2012-10-27 7:58:27.524 PM WindowServer[87]: handle_will_sleep_auth_and_shield_windows: no action for lock state 1

2012-10-27 7:58:27.799 PM WindowServer[87]: MPServiceForDisplayDevice: Invalid device alias (0)

2012-10-27 7:58:27.800 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x003f003c: GL mask 0x1; bounds (3072, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available

off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 0, Rotation 0

UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003c

2012-10-27 7:58:27.800 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x003f003d: GL mask 0x2; bounds (3073, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available

off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 1, Rotation 0

UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003d

2012-10-27 7:58:27.800 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x2b343212: GL mask 0x4; bounds (0, 0)[2048 x 1152], 18 modes available

Main, Active, on-line, enabled, boot, OpenGL-accel, Vendor 10ac, Model d01d, S/N 304e3553, Unit 2, Rotation 0

UUID 0x000010ac0000d01d304e355300000000, ColorProfile { 3, "HD 709-A Calibrated"}

2012-10-27 7:58:27.800 PM WindowServer[87]: GLCompositor: GL renderer id 0x01024400, GL mask 0x00000007, accelerator 0x00003243, unit 0, caps QEX|QGL|MIPMAP, vram 580 MB

texture units 8, texture max 16384, viewport max {16384, 16384}, extensions FPRG|NPOT|GLSL|FLOAT

2012-10-27 7:58:28.110 PM WindowServer[87]: Created shield window 0x111 for display 0x003f003c

2012-10-27 7:58:28.111 PM WindowServer[87]: Created shield window 0x112 for display 0x003f003d

2012-10-27 7:58:28.125 PM WindowServer[87]: Created shield window 0x113 for display 0x2b343212

2012-10-27 7:58:28.126 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x2b343212: MappedDisplay Unit 2: Startup Mode 2048 x 1152, CGSThirtytwoBitColor, Resolution 1, IOMode 0x80001000, IODepth 0x0, IOReturn 0x0

2012-10-27 7:58:28.126 PM WindowServer[87]: Display added

2012-10-27 7:58:28.126 PM WindowServer[87]: Display removed

2012-10-27 7:58:28.128 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x2b343212: GL mask 0x4; bounds (0, 0)[2048 x 1152], 18 modes available

Main, Active, on-line, enabled, boot, OpenGL-accel, Vendor 10ac, Model d01d, S/N 304e3553, Unit 2, Rotation 0

UUID 0x000010ac0000d01d304e355300000000, ColorProfile { 3, "HD 709-A Calibrated"}

2012-10-27 7:58:28.128 PM WindowServer[87]: GLCompositor: GL renderer id 0x01024400, GL mask 0x00000007, accelerator 0x00003243, unit 0, caps QEX|QGL|MIPMAP, vram 580 MB

texture units 8, texture max 16384, viewport max {16384, 16384}, extensions FPRG|NPOT|GLSL|FLOAT

2012-10-27 7:58:28.128 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x003f003c: GL mask 0x1; bounds (3072, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available

off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 0, Rotation 0

UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003c

2012-10-27 7:58:28.128 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x003f003d: GL mask 0x2; bounds (3073, 0)[1 x 1], 1 modes available

off-line, enabled, Vendor ffffffff, Model ffffffff, S/N ffffffff, Unit 1, Rotation 0

UUID 0xffffffffffffffffffffffff003f003d

2012-10-27 7:58:28.150 PM WindowServer[87]: MPAccessSurfaceForDisplayDevice: Set up page flip mode on display 0x2b343212 device: 0x1084c2320 isBackBuffered: 1 numComp: 3 numDisp: 3

2012-10-27 7:58:29.532 PM WindowServer[87]: **DMPROXY** (2) Found `/System/Library/CoreServices/DMProxy'.

2012-10-27 7:58:29.642 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x2b343212: MappedDisplay Unit 2; ColorProfile { 3, "HD 709-A Calibrated"}; TransferFormula (1.725494, 1.725494, 1.725494)

2012-10-27 7:58:29.656 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x2b343212: MappedDisplay Unit 2; ColorProfile { 3, "HD 709-A Calibrated"}; TransferFormula (1.725494, 1.725494, 1.725494)

2012-10-27 7:58:30.126 PM WindowServer[87]: **DMPROXY** (2) Found `/System/Library/CoreServices/DMProxy'.

2012-10-27 7:58:30.151 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x2b343212: MappedDisplay Unit 2; ColorProfile { 3, "HD 709-A Calibrated"}; TransferFormula (1.725494, 1.725494, 1.725494)

2012-10-27 7:58:30.164 PM WindowServer[87]: Display 0x2b343212: MappedDisplay Unit 2; ColorProfile { 3, "HD 709-A Calibrated"}; TransferFormula (1.725494, 1.725494, 1.725494)

OK, nice work... now to digest/mull why it disconnects!?

I get the same exact problem on my new Mac Mini late 2012 i5. Mine is hooked up to a 60'' Sony Bravia TV through HDMI. Hopefully an update will be able to fix it.

Also, my external hard drive isn't being read every time I restart my Mac Mini, I have to unplug the USB 3.0 drive and then replug it back in...

Hopefully because depending on what you are doing at the particular time this happens, it can really mess you up.

I'm cross posting my post from https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4472037 just to help others find this issue through alternate search words

"Thank goodness I'm not the only one! I'm just posting a "me too" to have this post gain some visibility. I have the same TV as Javier, except I go through a yamaha receiver. A little sad because this is my first mac mini ever, and I want to use it as a plex server!!! What a sinking feeling you get when this happens. It's not that bad though (yet)."

Unfortunately Apple does not monitor these forums so the most effective way would be to send in a complaint. I put mine in yesterday complete with the Console log at the time it happened.

I have the same issue with mine (2.6 GHz Intel Core i7, 256 SSD, 16 GB RAM) and a 40" Sony TV.

How frequent is the occurrence of this?

Thanks.

My brand new i5 mac mini connected to an Dell U2410 via hdmi->dvi adapter have exactly the same problem. The screen goes blank 2-3 times a day randomly.

Any tips on how to fix it?

I stand corrected. Apple does actually use these forums for data collection / support. This is very good to hear and I will do my best to provide any information I can to help them resolve this issue.