Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out

patsarge, the 2012 Mini is a nice machine, but has an unresolved graphics issue mentioned in this thread that affects use with HDMI (to TV or monitory). Probably you should wait until this is resolved, otherwise, buy a refurb 2011 Mini and save some money and lower your risk of ownership if it doesn't get fixed. (I bought a 2011 with Radeion GPU for $450 and saved about $500 from the 2012 Mini 2.6 I returned, and find the graphics are better in performance tests I ran.) I use VM/Fusion for Windows apps, and go back and forth between Win and OSX. Overall, a great machine for general use.

I appreciate the come back on this as I do have my desktop for working but enjoy having my cheap hp tapped hdmi to hdmi to my panasonic, no settings nor problems and can either use it to do my email and surfing or watch a dvd run through an external usb player on my hp and have never had anything problem wise like is hitting the web with this mini.... I cant understand how this even hit the market with so many problems and I was really looking forward to a small base machine like its potential is. Sounds like none of the machines work in all levels of processor and they went forward with sales and are still pushing something that may not be fixable with software, firmware etc. To me its like windows 8... here we are going to shove it down your throat and you will pay as there are no alternatives and I think it is a total failure for all the working people working at their present workstations having to make a radical change to the way they work. Not even a quiet change in OS but a radical change to something that 1/2 of the country uses on a daily basis to keep the economy going while working with it. As we get older we just flat resist change and sudden hard changes are hard to deal with. You might be right to go with an older system which is intel based.

patsarge, I was in the same boat including my use of my computer and moving from Windows to Mac OSX. I am not unhappy at all with my new Mac mini - i7 with 8GB and a 1TB hard drive. I am very happy I made the change - the blinking issue is is minor for me and I am confident it will get corrected by Intel. I understand the desire to hold off - and if you're in no hurry, then it's good to wait.

patsarge wrote:

What gives with the minis... Are these normal problems with all users or power users and gamers?

Hi Patsarge, you basically have two options, but first let's answer your question. At this time no one knows what percentage of minis are effected. Only Apple knows this. The problem effects 2012 minis with the Intel HD4000 graphics chip. Intel has said that they have sent Apple new drivers which are supposed to fix this issue BUT Intel has said that before about new drivers for this problem for other platforms, and they have been wrong. Apple has seeded the new drivers in 10.8.3 last week and developers are now testing them. This process takes between 30 and 60 days (normally). There may also be a new firmware written by Apple for the HD4000. No need to worry as this issue will get resolved. Not all minis are effected, but of the ones that are effected the majority of them are HDMI port related. A lot of people are asking Apple for a free Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter and that seems to be helping most people with this issue. Just keep in mind that the adapter isn't fixing the problem, it's just keeping you from seeing it. So your first option is to get a new mini and make sure you get a free TB to HDMI adapter and then cross your fingers and turn it on. You should be OK BUT there is no 100% fix for this issue yet, so don't be surprised if you still see the problem. Your next option is to buy a refurbished 2011 mini. These have the same warranty as a new one and some people like them more because they cost less and they have a better graphics chip. Once everything is worked out you will love your mini. My mini is hooked up to my 92" Mitsubishi and it works fine. You should be in good shape with your Panasonic. One good thing is that if you buy a mini now you will have a longer period of time to test it before returning it. Normally it's 14 day return but now Apple has expanded it through January 7, 2013 (just make sure you purchase it before 12/25/2012). The refurbished mini's come and go as supply allows, so if you don't see the model you want it should be back soon. You can find them here; http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_mini

Hope that helps 🙂

Just went to Apple site and all refurbished 2011 Mac Mini's are gone so only choice now is to buy and hope or wait for the fix. (Maybe could find 2011 left over in a store).

Ok, agree on what you said so did the order and went with the 2.6 256ssd 4 and will upgrade the 4 to 16. I want a hot rod unit and one that will not be obsolete in a year and think this will be a mid unit a year from now. I assume apple witll make it good on working even if it takes a patch or update in the coming months assuming that I have the problem. I have time. Ever get up to the desert out of fallon, nv, I will buy a beer for ya. or a good brandy and a cigar. Will let you know how it all works out.

Mike

That's exactly the configuration I picked up a month ago, Mike. I moved from a well configured Windows machine and have had no regrets. It is a nice, fast machine as I use everything from basic text editing to Illustrator and Photoshop.

I do have the HDMI problem, but I expect Apple to resolve it within the warranty period. Because I purchased it during the holiday season, like you, I can return it any time until Jan.7 http://store.apple.com/us/help/returns_refund

Pardon me but how can you say with such certainty that: "Apple has seeded the new drivers in 10.8.3 last week and developers are now testing them." ....really????

Apple has not stated that the 10.8.3 update will address this problem, nor has Intel...so how can you say that it "has seeded the new drivers" to deal with this issue? That's an unsubstatiated statement it's rather misleading and gives people false hope. All we know is that there is a problem, and that Apple is going to introduce the 10.8.3 update that addresses something but the two are not necessarily connected. We have no proof. To say to the two are related without any facts is purely speculative.

Philip, when you speak to Apple about the behaviour of your new replacement Mini, it would be interesting to ask them what they did to the replacement to fix the problem. If could ask them, it would be most insightful.

You are the closest to getting to an answer about this mystery than any of us... fingers crossed!

Cheers

Bigbabaloo wrote:

how can you say with such certainty that: "Apple has seeded the new drivers in 10.8.3 last week and developers are now testing them." ....really????

Yes. Members of Apples AppleSeed program and Apple Developers are well aware of this.

It has been stated many times on this and other Apple sites. Both Apple support and Intel has mentioned new drivers also.

You could always try using a search engine.

http://9to5mac.com/2012/12/05/apple-seeds-os-x-10-8-3-build-12d38-to-developers/

I've just started the process of returning my Mac Mini, having called to cancel my AppleCare Protection Plan. They said it could take between 4 to 6 weeks to process the cancellation and refund to my credit card (which seems a little lengthy), but as long as it does happen that's all that matters.

I transferred my stuff from the ill-fated Late 2012 Mac Mini to the Late 2011 and was surprised at how well it all worked (I'm familiar with how horrible Microsft's User State Migration Tool is, so I had very low expectations). So once I format/reinstall Mountain Lion on the buggy unit, I'll call to return it and get a refund as well. I hope it also doesn't take 4 to 6 weeks (I recall somebody quite a few pages back saying they got the credit on the day it was received by Apple?). The guy I spoke to said that I could only return it within 14 days and he didn't seem to be aware of the extension until the 7th of January, so I hope I'm not now stuck with two Mac Minis! I would have to take quite a hit trying to sell it. When I click on my order and go to refund it, at least the page still says 7th of January.

Fingers crossed.

I read in one of the other sites that Intel released the driver fix to Apple after Apple released 10.8.3 for testing so not sure that included the fix for thie issue. They may have to have an addendum fix.

My Mini HDMI port is really weird. It works with some TV HDMI port via direct HDMI to HdMI connection, but doesnt work with my Samsung Syncmaster 24 inch monitor. I have to use MiniDisplay to HDMI to connect to my monitor. Do you guy think the new driver will fix this issue ? Cuz mine problem is "it is not working" rather than blinking issue. I do observe the blinking a few time though.

By the way, any degradation in picture quality if I use MDisplayport to HDMI ? Cuz I think my picture quality is a bit off (sometime very hard to read small font in white background) but not sure whether it is HDMI related.

Dont know whether I should return my Mini or not...

Any ideas ?

Hi Darrion,

I note that Samsung Monitors have more problems than most on Macs, a screen shot may look perfect viewed on another Mac.

I'd return it & wait for a Mini with a real Graphic Card myself, or get a 2011 Refurb that does.

Some folks experienced same issue with Windows, so how likely is that windows drivers for HD4000 are outdated ? If problem can be solved through software fix it might be firmware, not mac osx.