Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out

I hate to be the bearer of bad news - but:

in order to use my new i7 and 1 year old HP monitor I had to change from HDMI port to Thunderbolt port with an mindvi to dvi adaptor. I thought that burried away in my pile of computer parts was was one of the mindvi -> dvi adaptors and when I found it I remembered why it was there!

Almost two years ago my wife needed a new computer for some freelance work she was doing. Before I recommended a Mini I did a lot of reading on the forums. This very problem was around then - Apple was "researching" it and everyone hoped would have a fix soon. The only solution if you had the problem problem was to use mindvi -> dvi. When she bought her Mini I gave her an Apple branded Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adaptor "in case we need it for something". My wife's mini work just fine using the HDMI port.

It appears that Apple or Intel never found the solution.

So for those of you waiting for the fix - obviously I can't say for sure but - I would start thing of other ways to accomplish the same thing. For some the Thunderbolt to DVI solution will work, for others Thunderbolt to HDMI will work, for others some other work around may be necessary. There are always, or almost always, workarounds for this stuff.

The fact that this issue has been around for so long with no resolution and no real acknowledgement from Apple however is inexcusable. I will keep my new machine because using the HDMI port to feed my monitor is not absolutely necesary and by the time I need more Thunderbolt ports there should be inexpensive Thunderbolt Hubs available. Right now I run external HDs on USB3. For anyone who absolutely requires using the HDMI port to drive a TV or monitor you should think about returning it to Apple if it's new enough and keep returning it untill you get a machine/adaptor combination that works. And for those with older machines who are waiting for Apple to fix this I think you should start demanding that Apple fix the problem or replace your machines - there have with each generation of machines, at least for the last 2 years+/- been those that worked fine off the HDMI port and those that didn't. With Apple's help line still in the dark I find it hard to believe that Apple takes this seriously and is not just appeasing people by having engineers look at the problem - I may be wrong, I have been in the past!

In any case I have now "solved" my problem - had a good rant early in the morning - and wish you all the best of luck!

I received my 2012 Mac Mini (i7 version) on Nov. 5 and immediately noticed dropouts in the display and audio for about one second using HDMI out to my TV. The screen would go black, then come right back on (no indication on my receiver or TV about loss of signal). This happened like clockwork after about 15 minutes after turning it on or resuming from sleep mode. After that initial blackout, I had not seen it occur again until the next reboot or wake. This is the same setup that I had been using an HP laptop on for over a year, and I never had any blackouts. I merely plugged the HDMI cable into the Mini instead of the laptop.

I boot exclusively into Windows 7 using BootCamp. This issue seems to happen regardless of the OS. I had upgraded to 16GB of RAM, though this was also happening with the 4GB it came with. I removed one RAM stick (the outer one), leaving 8GB. I'm pleased to say that I have not experienced any signal dropouts yet.

I have been glued to the screen for over 45 minutes now, and have rebooted once. I'm confident that this may be a workaround of sorts (though I'd like to be able to use both RAM slots, 8GB is okay for now).

It is a shame that there is a bug like this in such an otherwise unique machine. I think it is the perfect HTPC due to size, power and noise considerations. I really want to keep my Mac Mini, because there is nothing else quite like it, and it suits my needs very well as I don't game or do intensive work on it. Playing 1080p video smoothly is my main concern, and it works very well.

The fact that removing one stick of RAM seems to fix the blackout issue for me leads me to believe that this may not be a pure HDMI or Intel HD4000 issue and that the HDMI port is capable of displaying an image without blacking out during the first 15 minutes. I hope there will be a firmware/EFI update to fix this. So if you upgraded the RAM, or are willing to give it a shot with only one stick, let us know if it resolves the issue.

I'm not too keen on using MDP/Thunderbolt to HDMI as a workaround, and I hope that Apple doesn't consider the "fix" to be using such an adapter, even if they sent one for free.

I'm curious if others will have the same experience that I did. I'll hang on to it for a while longer, at least until t can established if the issue is fixable or not. I sincerely hope it is. I've watching this forum since I first noticed this issue, and I thought I would share my thoughts and experiences so far.

Hi guys.

I have the low-end model of MM Late 2012 and ofc the same issue with blackouts.

We all should wait for sw update - new EFI.

I found discussion directly on intel page - look herehttp://communities.intel.com/thread/30096?start=0&tstart=0

Its global problem with Intel HD4000, so other notebooks have this problem.

Intel's explanation:

This issue is a BIOS issue specifically with the Memory Reference Code (MRC) version 1.4.0.0 or older. Please contact your system or motherboard manufacturer for a system BIOS update for your system or motherboard that includes MRC 1.5.0.0 or newer.

If you have a system with 2 or more memory modules and are comfortable with removing all but one of them so that your memory is in single channel mode, try and remove all but one of them and the issue will go away. This can be used as a workaround until you are able to update your system BIOS from your system or motherboard manufacturer that includes MRC 1.5.0.0 or newer.

So, we have to wait for sw fix first from Intel and then from Apple.

I hope it will be soon.

Regards,

Freisi

Dear all

the discussion in the PC forums are ongoing since June 2012!

So don't expect a solution via EFI fix.

I have replaced my MacMini (lowest modell but with 16 GB RAM), setup new and installed newest 10.8.2, did disk repair permissions etc., tried my HDMI-DVI with my Acer Monitor (same as before) and played World of Warcraft on high settings (with shadows on low, it runs perfect), watched large .mkv movies on VLC and surfed on Firefox and listened to music...tried everything at the same time even 😉 only WoW got a bit choppy then...

BUT: The blinking is no more...!

The first machine came from/through Ireland, the second from Italy...maybe just another batch, maybe just lucky 😉

I will continue to test, but comparing to the old one (blinking every 30min. and snowy screen) it's "perfect" now!

cheers

Sheerkhan

I have a 2011 Mac Mini, but have had this exact same problem myself since I purchased it 8/2011. I am using a 23" samsung monitor with DVI input. I used the supplied HDMI to DVI adapter and it flickers all the time. After so many hours on the phone with Apple, they finally sent me the MDP-VGA adapter which works fine for my display. They could have at least sent me a MDP-DVI adapter. It seems the problem is with the HDMI port itself though, since there no problems with the MDP/thunderbolt port. Apple's "engineers" had me run so many tests, I sitll have all of the emails, its unresolved. I just called it quits one day and settled for a vga connection. There wasnt much talk about this last year, but maybe with the new models they will put a fix to this and support the 2011 models as well as the 2012.

It looks like this is an issue that is caused by the Intel HD 4000 and it will need to be fixed with a bios update from the motherboard manufacturer (Apple).

Apparently there is a work around as noted in the post I link to, which says you can remove one of your sticks or RAM, but I for one will live with the occasional black screen and keep both sticks of RAM in. Hopefully Apple addresses this issue soon.

http://communities.intel.com/thread/30096?start=0&tstart=0

Bradpaul, Indeed, the 2011 Mini's also have the same problem, even with the Radeon GPU. So it must be an issue with the HDMI implementation. I found this informative thread about it, and appears at the very end, one user found that doing a dual SMC/PRAM reset with the monitor DISCONNECTED fixed the issue. May be worth a try.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3229009?start=30&tstart=0

<quote>

karlku

I have experienced the dreaded sreen flicker issue on 2 different Mac mini's now (2011 and 2012 versions). I may of found a fix so I'm posting here to hopefully help others.

Basically there appears to be an HDMI copyright handshake issue that is causing the problem. Both of my Mac Mini's would flicker every 5-6 seconds where the display would go black and then re-appear. After talking to Apple Support the fix appeared to be doing an SMC reset as well as a PRAM reset.

SMC reset

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

PRAM reset

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

This solution worked fine for my 2011 Mac Mini but not for the 2012 Mac mini. I found that I had to completely disconnect the HDMI cable, and THEN do the 2 above resets. THEN reconnect the HDMI cable.

Hope this helps others!

***My Mac Mini's are connected to a home theatre setup and my displays are a Sharp 80"(LC-80LE632U) and a Mitibushi FD630U Projector. After futher troubleshooting, Apple's HDMI handshake appears to have some issues with the Mitsubishi projector. </quote>

Another good thread on the HDMI issue....

http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/28792-screen-flicker-with-2011-mac-min i/

This is a really helpful post, thank you.

Purchased Mini 5/11/12 from my local Apple Store. Monitor connected using supplied HDMI to DVI adapter.

Quickly noted propensity for screen to briefly go black or for display to turn to grey background with 'snow'.

Monday 12/11/12 reported to Apple Care: Agent did PRAM reset and asked me to monitor.

Later that morning screen went blank again so phoned again. Coincidentally, during the call the screen went to 'snow'. Agent asked me to connect my HD TV via HDMI.

No further problems that day but on Tuesday 13/11/12 TV screen blacked out twice briefly. I phoned Apple Care because I had now used two monitors, two cables and eliminated the adapter. He suggested that I exchange the machine at the shop.

13/11/12 c1430 exchanged machine, told in store that they had not had any other minis returned. Took it home and, even whilst restoring Time Machine backup, the screen blanked to snow. Persevered that evening.

14/11/12 Went on to Apple Support Communities and read your post amongst others. 1130, phoned store, told a manager would phone back. 1700 phoned store, told managers very busy, they would call me back.

15/11/12 Still no call so phoned store again. I explained the problem to manager who asked what I would like to do. I explained that this is my main PC and that the Apple Support Community suggested that connecting using a Thunderbolt to DVI adapter should work (although it won't fix the HDMI issue). Manager agreed to send the adapter at no cost.

16/11/12 The adapter arrived via TNT mid-morning and fitted. So-far, so good…….

19/11/12 Still no further problems whilst using Thunderbolt to DVI. I phoned Apple Care to keep the case open because at the moment this is just a work-around and I may want to use the HDMI port in the future. Agent put me on to a manager who has taken the case personally and has just sent me an e-mail stating that he has escalated the case to their engineering department.

I had waited a long time for a new Mac Mini release, and was so excited when they finally arrived, that I ordered one without hesitation. I'm a long time apple user, but this is the first and the last time I buy a product, without first waiting patiently to see if there's issues with it. I learned my lesson the hard way. :-)

So I decided to go for the refund, (14days return policy). I'll practice some more "waiting patiently". Until its definitely fixed. Then order a new one. I'm also hoping they release an "early 2013" version with a better GPU. A "real" one this time. 'cause it was the only weak point in an otherwise very powerful machine.

I really need a dual monitor setup, so I can not live without two fully functioning video outputs.

Most people's complaints here are about the black/snow dropouts, but in my opinion the poor image quality over HDMI (washed out light colors, wrong gamma, too much saturation in the colors, ...) which can not be compensated for entirely by the colorsync utility, is certainly an equally important major drawback.

I've been reading this whole thread, and a bunch of other threads about it on other forums, and have a very strong feeling that this is a hardware related HDMI handshake issue. (see my previous post).

Similar reports from PC users with Intel HD4000 on the intel forum support that theory... If it were merely a firmware / driver issue, Apple wouldn't collect faulty MacMini's, they would see it with any MM that rolls out the factory.

So I'm quite convinced that we won't see a fix very soon.

Apple engineers surely know about it for more then a few weeks, and if the fix was easy, we'd have seen an update already, or at least a formal acknowledgement. Intel is trying to fix it since June, and is still failing to do so after two BIOS updates. And if Intel doesn't find a fix, then Apple surely won't either!

Why Apple doesn't acknowledge the problem is simple: When they do, many people will send back their machine, which costs them a lot of profit. For them it's better to stay silent: don't wake sleeping dogs.

The few dogs who woke up will bark a little, sure, but that won't wake up many others. Those who don't use the HDMI port will probably not notice anything. And there are also people who got lucky to receive a good unit that doesn't have the issues, (as BDAqua mentioned before, he knows at least two people).

So until the problem is fully analysed, and there's a cure, in the meanwhile its better for them to act as if it's not so widespread. Same if it turns out there is no cure. Then you can only hope it's so widespread that they have to set up an exchange program.

So guys, if you don't agree with this, the only thing to do really, is send all your units back to Apple, (if you can afford to continue working on your older gear.)

I will continue to read about it, good luck to those who choose to stick with it, and hope for a firmware fix. I hope for you my theory is wrong.

Hello all,

i tried alt-cmd-p-pr reset, different memory configuration in both slots, resolutions, different cables and everything. Nothing helped. Called AppleCare to register my problematic Mac mini as well.

While in the queue, i realized that the mini-displayport-to-DVI adapter (which i used with late 2009 macbook pro before) fits the thunderbolt slot (I did not know that). With that plus a standard DVI-to-HDMI adapter I connected the computer to the same HDMI cable and disapointingly saw the screen blink twice (thinking it continued flickering...)

BUT WAIT! Now already 30 minutes without a single flicker. Which is a LONG time with the frequency the HDMI port did it (see post below). So it seems it flickers twice to "initiate the connection"???

Just to verify this I reconnected directly to HDMI: "normal" flickering continued as before (every 3-10 seconds).

Connected again Thunderbolt-DVI-HDMI; works well after two initial blinks.

But still annoying bug, which should be fixed. I'll keep you posted if flickering really stays away with this configuration.

And where's 10.8.2???

daBowmore wrote:

Here too, bought the day before yesterday a Mac mini (2.3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7).

Screen goes black every 3-10 seconds for a very short period. This does not seem to interupt any ongoing process/operation, e.g. movie is playing during the "blackout" and audio outputs normally from optical miniplug to AV receiver.

Extremely annoying, and I haven't found any definite fixes. Somebody talked about some resets with HDMI disconnected. How can I see how to reset anything with my only monitor (HDMI connection to Sony Bravia) is disconnected?

Any fix, Apple?

Been to the Genius bar. They hooked up my mini up to a Samsung display with a HDMI cable and it blinked after about 15 minutes. So definitely not the fault of the HDMI to DVI adapter (yep, knew that). It's being "escalated" and they will contact me in a few days.

I bought a minidisplayport/thunderbolt to DVI adapter while I was there and there has been no blinking or snow since.

CHECK SMART STRIP. I posted earlier about this issue, but just to join the chorus. This time, I can report that I completely solved the problem as far as my own Mac Mini is concerned. I have everything plugged into a Smart Strip, so that when the computer is switched on or off, so is everything else. This worked fine with my Mac Mini 2010, but the moment I plugged in the 2012, it began to switch off for a second or two and random intervals, turning my monitor black and, more anxiety-provokingly, unmounting any attached disks. Unfortunately, I returned my first 2012 because of the problem, before I noticed that my audio system was also switching off at the same time. That didn't seem right, so I turned my attention from the computer itself to the backup power supply and the Smart Strip, which was causing the problem. I don't know if the Mac Mini 2012 uses less power than 2010 or what. But unplugging everything from the Smart Strip and plugging everything back into a standard power strip totally solved the problem. I hope this helps someone else.

MyMac8MyPC wrote:

Doc O wrote:

If this were a bigger issue, we would have a better idea of the incident rates, and Apple would have no choice but to stop selling the machine until the problem was fixed.

This is already a big issue. It effects product being sold worldwide. Apples biggest mistake IMHO was using the HD4000. The HD3000 already had known issues, and PC's using the HD4000 saw those same issue. The HD4000 just doesn't seem to be ready for prime time. I'm sure Intel gave Apple a good deal on the chip, but Apple needs to ask themselves what is their reputation worth? Most people don't care that the problem stems from the Intel chip, they only know that they gave Apple their money and their Apple product doesn't work. I really hope that Apple removes the HD4000 and uses a better chip, and then offer replacements to customers who have this issue with the Intel chip. Wishful thinking 🙂

+1... Apple is probably saving $5-7 in BOM costs per Mini by eliminating the ATI Radeon 6630M, but in doing so, have put all their eggs in one basket, a foolish move, given Intel's track record with graphics. If this were only a firmware issue, Intel would have fixed it by now given the plethora of complaints from Win/Linux folks since June (see Intel forum). Given that it's likely a logic fault in the HD4000 silicon, Intel could tape-out a fix and spin another chip for Apple to do a "silent revision", but Intel will likely push back on Apple to avoid this solution since Ivy Bridge is already mid-cycle and Haswell is closing in on it's final desgn. Intel doesn't want to put resources on Ivy issues, when Haswell is on the clock. Well, no pity for Apple on this one for getting greedy and pulling out the Radeon chps from the previous 2011 version. All I can do is laugh at the Apple design team who made this decision.

I returned my Mini tonight at the local Palo Alto store, and just a word to the wise... It appeared the Genius had been instructed to strictly enforce the return period deadline, because at first he noted my order date was Nov. 01, but didn't immediately realize it was actually a BTO delivered Nov12. He brought out a monitor as if he was going to test it, but I pointed him to my RMA which said return by Nov27, and he realized it was returnable, and gave me a refund. So if you're on the fence about this, make sure you get it back within the period, because I have a feeling Apple is getting so many returned Mini's that they will start denying returns outside the period IF they CANNOT REPRODUCE the issue (which will be hard to do in most cases given its random nature!).

Hi all I just bought the mini display port adapter to dvi connector and it seems to be working great. Keep in mind I just got this and have not tested it for long but the images for text and speed of the output are much better. The drops were every 15 minutes to an hour on the hdmi connector. I will let you know if I see the specific blink to snow screen with this new adapter. I know it doesn't help those with the hdmi and hdmi dongle issue, but so far so good.

If you can get apple to give you one until this is fixed I recommend that. Seems to be a good work around until their firmware is addressed.

Here is the dongle that I bought from Amazon. You will need the dvi cable to go from the dongle to the monitor.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-MDP2DVI-DisplayPort-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00310K9 VQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354138666&sr=8-2&keywords=mini++to+dvi+adapter

Hope this helps and good luck!