Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out

Also, despite my MiniDP port deciding to work yesterday, it's apparently dead again this morning so I'm back using the HDMI to DVI cable (having seen a snowy screen twice already, once when my brother was here so he got lucky and actually saw one of these bugs). I'm wondering if my cable might be partly to blame (even though it works fine for my brother):

http://www.macfixit.com.au/high-speed-mini-displayport-thunderbolt-to-displaypor t-cable-3ft.html

I can't seem to find a MiniDP to DP cable at Apple any more (though I could swear they used to sell them). Can anybody recommend a good quality MiniDP to DP cable? The cable I have doesn't seem dodgy to me, but you never know. I bought it from what I believe to be a reputable supplier of Apple-compatible products.

I could probably get one of these but, apart from the price tag (which I'd be willing to overlook if it solved my problems), it's just a huge lump of a thing and I rather like the 3 foot cable I have now (the idea of it, at least):

http://store.apple.com/au/product/MB571Z/A/mini-displayport-to-dual-link-dvi-ada pter?fnode=51&p=1

Mfearby:

Checkout these Startech miniDP to DP cables. Hope it helps...

http://ca.startech.com/search?search_term=displayport+to+mini+displayport&autoco mplete=&f_st%20category=DisplayPort®+Cables+%26+Adapter+Cables&ft_st%20category= text&fu_st%20category=&fd_st%20category=Category

Well, I finally rang up

regarding my e-mail about this situation. Must say this was a fruitless waste of time, same non information every other Apple employee is spewing about this problem. You know, if they would just step up and admit "yeah we screwed up but a fix is on the way" I would understand and respect them. This tight lipped keep the customer out of the loop deal is really a slap in the face IMHO.

<Edited by Host>

Well Well, I see they are touchy around here about posting employee contact info even though it can be found in any google search. See my above post marked as <edited by host>. Now not only do we have a defective computer, we can't share info on who to contact in the company about our concerns. No worry, I will supply contact info in the description of my youtube video.

<Link Edited by Host>

This morning over the phone a level 3 Apple support tech acknowledged that there is a widespread problem with the video on the new 2012 mac minis. The tech also said that as of today Apple and Intel hired Chuck Norris as a senior adviser on the issue. In techs opinion now with Chuck on board the fix patch most likely will be installed telepathically continent by continent. Starting with North America first. I'm not sure how that would work and if the computer has to be on.

Chuck Norris would just have to stare in the general direction of the mini and it would boot up instantly. Imagine a very intimidating version of wake on lan.

This was my console output directly after the Mac Mini 'Snow' effect. Turning the monitor on and off fixes the problem for me:

01/12/2012 08:29:19.312 com.apple.backupd[7593]: Ejected Time Machine network volume.

01/12/2012 08:29:19.000 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_unmount : We are the last mnt/sbmnt using volume /Volumes/Shared-1 0xffffff811160c008

01/12/2012 08:29:19.000 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_unmount : We are the last volume using socket /Volumes/Shared-1 0xffffff811160c008

01/12/2012 08:29:19.000 kernel[0]: AFP_VFS afpfs_unmount : afpfs_DoReconnect sent signal for unmount to proceed

01/12/2012 08:29:27.813 apsd[84]: <APSConnectionNotificationQueue: 0x7f986ac78a40>: outstanding count -1 for com.apple.apsd-queue-port=com.apple.syncdefaultsd.push-user=501-env=production

01/12/2012 08:29:27.814 apsd[84]: <APSConnectionNotificationQueue: 0x7f986ac78a40>: outstanding count -1 for com.apple.apsd-queue-port=com.apple.syncdefaultsd.push-user=501-env=production

01/12/2012 08:29:27.815 apsd[84]: <APSConnectionNotificationQueue: 0x7f986ac78a40>: outstanding count -1 for com.apple.apsd-queue-port=com.apple.syncdefaultsd.push-user=501-env=production

01/12/2012 08:29:37.790 com.apple.PassXPCService[9112]: PAPassValidator: _signatureIsValid failed to load signature file

01/12/2012 08:29:37.856 WindowServer[115]: CGXSetWindowBackgroundBlurRadius: Invalid window 0xffffffff

well, after the main board change and 4 days free of a flickering screen and snow screens I am disappointed to report that they are back. So like everyone who has not returned their Mac Mini I am at the mercy of when Apple will release a firmware fix for this problem.

Adam

I was at a developer friend this morning and he tried the developer version 10.8.3 build 12D32. This didn´t solve the problem. EXACTLY the same as before.

My guess is that a firmware-upgrade is needed...

I am also very confident that Apple will fix this.

I read the name Chuck Norris out loud and the problem is gone and my dualcore spontaniously became an quadcore. ;-)

@Mfearby: i would check another cable. No one has mentioned a totally dead TB port.

@Tiberia: Strange thing is, mine worked without the flickering issue the first 4 days.

This 10.8.3 developer version is probably without the fix. Just guessing though. I think i'm holding on to mine, but i did log a call and have an case number. Would recommend this to everyone who is affected by this. Point the apple support agent to this threat and your'e done.

And when Apple 'save the day', then what? Not many here seem willing to take it directly to Apple by getting their money back. Who cares about losing respect for Apple, do they care? As long as they have your cash and all your doing is moaning about it, this shoddy product manufacture will continue.

What if Apple fix it and then never release a statement or an apology or anything? Will you stop buying Apple products? Of course not, and they know that.

They've got a lot of you by the balls and it's very apparent in this thread.

Sam.

Personally this will most likely be my first and last Mac purchase. The fact that Apple seems to be running around like a virgin on prom night releasing new gadgets before the ones they replace are broken in seems like an act of desperation more than innovation. This reminds me of Acer and the aspire one with the faulty intel graphics chip. They never did fix that one and my view that company as pure garbage. To this day I will not even look at an Acer product and soon I think my view of Apple will be the same. If they fix it I doubt my view will change much either. They may have made good products in the past but that seems to just be history now.

There's nothing consistent in console output when the monitor turns to snow from my Mac Mini. Just did it again and this time the closest output from console was:

01/12/2012 14:28:05.647 mdworker[11630]: Unable to talk to lsboxd

01/12/2012 14:28:05.674 mdworker[11631]: Unable to talk to lsboxd

01/12/2012 14:28:06.000 kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(11633) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd

01/12/2012 14:28:06.910 sandboxd[11633]: ([11630]) mdworker(11630) deny mach-lookup com.apple.ls.boxd

01/12/2012 14:28:06.973 sandboxd[11633]: ([11631]) mdworker(11631) deny mach-lookup com.apple.ls.boxd

markvanderwerff wrote:

@Mfearby: i would check another cable. No one has mentioned a totally dead TB port.

That is not correct. I have mentioned several times in this thread that my TB port died in its sleep. And again just now. 😉

I also stated that when I took my mini in to the Genius he refused to even look at it. He said he had seen it before and was just going to send it for repair. So a dead TB port is not uncommon, just less common than a flickering HDMI port.

Hint to Apple: This thread is getting huge and people can't remember what was said and new people haven't got time to read it all. It's time for you to speak publicly about this issue.

Given that I had a dead TB port and a flaky HDMI port it was an easy decision for me to return the mini for a refund.

I am much less confident than some that Apple will fix this in a timely manner given how forthcoming they've been on informing us of the problem and what they're doing about it. Which is to say, the silence is deafening. I would love to be proved wrong.

Ah okay. Sorry for that. It is indeed a big read. If it's TB port is completely dead, i would return the unit for sure. I'm still in doubt whether or not to return mine. Still have a couple of days. Whitin 14 days after purchase, i will get a new one when i return this faulty one. I will most likely get antoher faulty one.

In Europe there are laws stating that if you return a product for the third time with the same issue, you will be entitled for an other comparable unit(would be what?), if none existent, a full refund.

@cjcj: indeed no logging in consle at all when the snow comes...

I really think it's bs that apple is being silent about this. If they don't go public with this before my '14 days' are over, i will return the unit.