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Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out

I just got my 2012 Mac Mini yesterday (mid range model) and have already noticed three instances where the video would blink out for about a half second, and then come right back. This happend twice already when I'm connected to a Apple 23 inch LCD monitor via the included HDMI-DVI adapter and once when I'm connected via HDMI to my Samsung LCD TV. Anyone else noticing this happening on their Mac Minis? Thanks.

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Oct 27, 2012 8:08 AM

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1,207 replies

Dec 11, 2012 6:12 AM in response to daBowmore

daBowmore, are you turning things on in any particular

sequence? Had some odd issues (sometimes video) with a 2010

Mini with a Yamaha if devices were not turned on in a

particular order. Try powering the display (wait for it to intialize),

power up the Yamaha, and then boot the Mini.


If this makes no difference, do the same thing but when booting

the Mini execute a PRAM reset.

Dec 11, 2012 6:58 AM in response to 3nd-it

As others have mentioned, I think your problem is different than what most are experiencing. I'm on my 3rd mini and the first two behaved similar to what you are describing, very frequent black/snow screens, usually only fixable by unplugging the video cable. You should see about exchanging yours for another. If you bought it someplace other than an Apple store, try taking it to an Apple store and exchange it there. Not sure if it mattered, but my first two were from BB, then I took it to an Apple store and they swapped it with the one I currently have.

Dec 11, 2012 8:07 AM in response to woodmeister50

Update: There might be moments when the flicker is gone for even up to 5 minutes (approximately) but so far it has always continued after such break and again with 3-15 second frequency. Also to be honest the "mac mini (late 2012) + mini displayport to dvi + dvi to hmdi + hdmi connection" combination flickers couple of times when connecting or booting up, but after that I haven't seen a single flicker in use. So only with HDMI connection.


woodmeister50 wrote:


daBowmore, are you turning things on in any particular

sequence? Had some odd issues (sometimes video) with a 2010

Mini with a Yamaha if devices were not turned on in a

particular order. Try powering the display (wait for it to intialize),

power up the Yamaha, and then boot the Mini.


If this makes no difference, do the same thing but when booting

the Mini execute a PRAM reset.


Tried your suggestion

  1. Switched TV on
  2. Yamaha switches on automatically via HDMI control]
  3. [TV goes to channel 1, so does audio via HDMI control]
  4. Switched Yamaha to Mac -input
  5. [Audio and video changes to "default no input screen of Yamaha" since Mac mini is switched of]
  6. Switched Mac mini on
  7. OS X loads, flicker continues

Tried with reseting the PRAM

  1. Switched TV on
  2. [Yamaha switches on automatically via HDMI control]
  3. [TV goes to channel 1, so does audio via HDMI control]
  4. Switched Yamaha to Mac -input
  5. [Audio and video changes to "default no input screen of Yamaha" since Mac mini is switched of]
  6. Switched Mac mini on
  7. Immediately presset alt-option-P-R when I heard the DONG, hold the keys until heard the second DONG, let go of the keys
  8. OS X loads, flicker continues

So at least for me this boot sequence did not change anything.


Same setup doesn't have problems with:

  • PS3
  • Macbook air (2010?) + mini displayport to dvi + dvi to hmdi + hdmi connection
  • Macbook pro (late 2009) + mini displayport to dvi + dvi to hmdi + hdmi connection
  • Mac mini (late 2012) + mini displayport to dvi + dvi to hmdi + hdmi connection
  • Canon cameras

So it is just Mac mini with HDMI cable for me.

Dec 11, 2012 10:12 AM in response to KevCheng

My story so far:


Nov 2: Bought a new Mac mini i5 (late 2012) to replace a Mac mini (Mid 2011) with Intel 3000 Graphics. Setup:


Mac mini (2012) w Intel HD Graphics 4000 -> HDMI -> Yamaha receiver RX-A810 -> HDMI -> Samsung TV UE55D8005


Random videoblackouts (interval 2 - 120 seconds) and sometimes purple screen and "color noise", sometimes total blackouts.


The previous mini (Mid 2011) worked flawlessly in this exact same setup.


Nov 14: I replaced the mini i5 with a new mini i7 (with the same Intel 4000 Graphics). The EXACT same problem.


Dec 1: I tried the beta upgrade 10.8.3 build 12D32. The EXACT same problem.


Dec 11: I installed the EFI 1.7 upgrade. The EXACT same problem.


Dec 11: I tried the beta upgrade 10.8.3 build 12D38. The EXACT same problem.


I really don´t care about this problem any more. This Mac mini is exclusively used as a home theater player and I got good service and support from Apple (except my problem is not yet solved). I will now use an older mini 2011 instead with discrete graphics (and better graphics performance).


I will probably never know who is to blame: Intel, Apple, Samsung or Yamaha. HDMI is really "a bag of hurt" (as Steve would say) and all the problems with HDMI as HDCP, signalling, sync, UDID, etc will probably never be solved.

Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out

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