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)
Concur with AC, this is likely a hardware problem in the GPU logic itself (not firmware, manufacturing defect, nor OSX related). The issue appears to be very reproducible-- 5-10 minutes after wake, blank screen. The problem surfaced on Win/Linux PC's in June-- no fix from Intel in two releases of MRC code. Fast forward 5 months, Mac Mini's on OSX show same problem. No fix from Intel, no fix from Apple. So, it's not O/S, not mobo, not manufacturing, not firmware-->> it's HARDWARE related to a faulty HD4000 GPU. This issue was also present in the HD3000 GPU, and Intel still has not fixed it in the HD4000.
I worked in the chip industry as a supplier to Apple (not Intel), and every version of silicon we released had issues. The game is this: you hope your customer doesn't find out the issues that don't have a workaround in firmware, because then you start a very expensive process -> redesign the chip, spin it, test it, manufacture another run at the foundry, and fab and replace new mobo's--> a process that costs millions. Everybody remember Intel's Sandy Bridge chipset design error issue found by Tom'sHardware that Intel first tried to brush off, then was forced into a recall that cost $700MM?
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6030
Everyone is foolish to think Apple or Intel will admit this is a hardware issue because EVERY Mini out there will require a new mobo with a redesigned GPU. Intel is probably pushing Apple and the other OEM's to hold off until they can get Haswell out in the spring. Apple is in danger of becoming the Dell of the 2003-05 era, by continuing to sell faulty hardware with a known cap issue claiming their mobo's weren't affected. http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/computing/hardware/dell-tried-to-hide-bad-cap acitors-problem
If you can live with the issue, keep your Mini, but its resale value will fall when this issue becomes well-known. I returned my 2012 Mini 2.6 after 10 days and bought a 2011 refurb Mini with Radeon GPU. No problem. Wake up folks, return it, and save that hard-earned cash to buy another day. Good luck!
Are we any nearer an understanding of what display/cable/interface conbinations are still suffering from the blinking and washed-out problems?
I would like to buy a Mac mini with a Dell U2312HM or U2412M display, initially using the HDMI-to-DVI adapter supplied with the Mac, but later moving to a miniDP-to-DP cable via the Mac's Thunderbolt port.
At this point I have no idea if I would have problems or not.
I need to do photo editing with Adobe Lightroom, and have found that I cannot stand Windows 8.
I'm using a Dell U22XX (don't recall the full model). It's 3 years old but it works fine with both my 2011 & 2012 mini's using HDMI to DVI adaptor. I'm using the standard DVI cable that came with the monitor.
I use it for video editing, photo editing, layout, movies & games. After calibration, it's color accuracy is still marginal but adequate for general usage (if color correcting, I make final adjustments at work on better monitor).
Well here's one for the books. Just got of the phone from a dell rep here in Ireland to be told none of their hd monitors are compatible with the 2012 Mac mini. Surely that's not true? I was going to buy dells S2740L 27". Anyone else using this model?
I suspect that quite a few monitors do NOT claim Mac compatibilty even if they might be induced to work.
I'm using an HP w2207 w/ a Mac Mini as a 2nd monitor fairly successfully but recently noticed that the company (HP) doesn't claim compatibility between this monitor and Macintosh products/operating systems -- only Windows products (& presumably Linux).
Hi guys. I've had a new Mac mini for about 10 days now, the i5 base model. Bought it from John Lewis, which is a retail chain here in the UK. I also bought a Dell U2412M, from Amazon. I'm using the Apple-supplied HDMI-DVI adapter, and the Dell-supplied DVI cable. So far I've had no problems with snow, blinking or washed out colours. The Mac was pre-installed with 10.8.2, and I've not yet done the 10.8.3 update. I have a Displayport cable on order, and will try that when it arrives and post back. I'm not sure what the Mac firmware revision is. Where can I check this? This is my first Mac. Made the switch after a nightmare with a new Windows 8 PC which went back within a week.
Richie
Thanks, Tom, sincereus and klmorin. Sorry you had similar problems. We should not have to spend extra $200 to add upgrades to a brand new latest CPU type i7 computer bought from Apple for $850 (not including keyboard, mouse, etc. that we already have to pay on our own for), just to be able to get it become at least as responsive as a 3 year old Core 2 type laptop.
Add to my experience the latest experience, a new one, a Mac Mini hang with no apps running, simply doing the first Time Machine backup...
9/7/13 3:49:14.967 AM fseventsd[54]: SLOWDOWN: client 0x7fc53d809600 (pid 213) sleeping due to too many errors (num usleeps 11)
Avoid the Mac Mini, folks.
Ah, good ol' Time Machine. A computer's backup software should be second in reliabiliity to the OS itself, yet TM has a plethora of problems. When TM fails it usually does so silently so you must keep an eye on that tiny icon in the menu bar to see if TM has failed again. That's as much as I'll say about that because it's not the subject of this thread.
Given the number of problems your mini has I'm starting to wonder if you have a lemon, although that could be hard to distinguish from a "good" mini. 😉
I too am very happy with my Mac Mini ... I did have 2nd display issues -- not as bad as some, apparently -- but over time I've managed to work them out.
The machine itself is an incredible piece of engineering IMO. I can open up seemingly endless numbers of RAM hungry applications and switch between them instantaneously.
Luckily I've not had to resort to a restoration via Timemachine but it looks like it is working like it is supposed to.
Hopefully the next version of the OS will resolve in some definitive way monitor issues, clearly the Mac Mini's weak point. But even as it is, I consider this computer a great bargain.
Same goes for me, I am perfectly happy with my Mini. Previous poster with all the problems obviously should turn to support and the seller, rather than addressing those issues here. They are simply individual.
Mavericks was my last faint hope that Apple would do the right thing and fix this. Apparently not. Since the beginning they have never admitted to a problem and continue to sell a defective computer. The next time I'm in the market for an upgrade I will be waiting several months to see what problems early adopters have.
I too have this problem. Got a new monitor today and it went black twice for a second. On the old monitor it didnt happen as often but I got snow and had to turn it off and then on again. Only happens on my mini but not my PC.
Does anyone know if the 10.9.2 update fixed this problem?
I know they did update the Intel HD 4000 drivers but I'm lazy
to attach the HDMI cable for fear that it might black out again.
If anyone has any experience with this, please reply.
Thanks a lot. :-)
Just an update and details:
My Mac Mini late 2012 specs:
2.3 GHz Core i7
16GB
10.9.4
Macmini6,2
The problem doesn't seem to be happening today... I'm trying to download some benchmark / stress test software, but... can't seem to find any.
If anyone can suggest, please let me know.
Same here. Here's my post / description:
OK, nice work... now to digest/mull why it disconnects!?
Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out
