Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out

After update Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.7， seems works well.

Yesterday, it happend again when I try to move an app window into another desktop, after that, maxmize it.

but I can't reproduce it after reboot.

Just chiming in after reporting the problem. Updated with EFI Firmware Update 1.7 and like others the HDMI port works without the blanking &/or snow problem.

HDMI -> HDMI has washed out colors, HDMI -> DVI-D colors are beter but not as rich as Thunderbolt to DVI-D. HDMI -> DVI-D is completely usable for my purposes on this machine - email, browsing, documents, but I would not find it acceptable for photo or video work where color is important.

So in summation Apple has "solved" the blanking problem but failed to provide me with an HDMI port that provides good color which even the Intel 4000 is obviously capable of since you can see it on the Thunderbolt port. So - a machine that works but not a winner.

After returning mac mini due to blinking issue, I got new one (cheaper with no fusion drive) that had same issue before EFI update. It seems that update fixed issue because I do not see it anymore (several days). I have dual monitor setup DELL U2410, also HDMI worked fine with Toshiba REGZA TV.

There are still some (non display related issues) when mini wakes up from sleep. I need to restart browser to get sound back (e.g. youtube) on external usb audio. It is unlikely audio driver because does not happen on other mac machines.

I noticed the washed out problem on both of my Sumsung LCD monitors. However, the color is not washed out on older NEC monitors. It took me a few days to figure out. But long story short, there is a thing called "Universal Access" in "System Prefrences". And inside "Universal Access" there is a slide called "Enhance Contrast". The default is "normal" which is thel lowest contrast. I just slided it a little bit towards the Maximum and the color looked much better on the monitor. I don't feel the color is washed out anymore.

So I think wash out depends on your monitor. But leaving the contrast under a tab called "Universal Access" is really creepy. That is the last place you'd think has anything to do with washed out color. I spent a lot of time trying to tune the settings in "Display" and the settings on the monitor, but that went to nowhere.

lemosprobe wrote:

I noticed the washed out problem on both of my Sumsung LCD monitors. However, the color is not washed out on older NEC monitors. It took me a few days to figure out. But long story short, there is a thing called "Universal Access" in "System Prefrences". And inside "Universal Access" there is a slide called "Enhance Contrast". The default is "normal" which is thel lowest contrast. I just slided it a little bit towards the Maximum and the color looked much better on the monitor. I don't feel the color is washed out anymore. So I think wash out depends on your monitor.

Yes the "washed out" issue is not caused by HDMI. Some monitors like those by samsung have contrast and gamma issues. You must be using an older version of OS X. The newest version calls Universal Access "Accessibility". It's generally for people who are handicapped. You can also address the washed out issue by creating a profile for your monitor, which is the very first thing that I do whenever I connect any monitor to my mini. Glad you got it sorted 🙂

But leaving the contrast under a tab called "Universal Access" is really creepy.

I too could never figure out why it wasn't under Monitors or Displays!???

BDAqua wrote:

I too could never figure out why it wasn't under Monitors or Displays!???

Because even though it effects the monitor, handicapped people would never know to look there. The same basic thing can be accomplished in the monitor profiles settings for the rest of us 🙂

hi mymac8mypc i hope you dont mind me asking but what monitor are you use and do you have any problems as i am still have problems with mine i can see all of the pixales. also is your monitor good for whaching movies if not could you help me find a monitor thanx in advanced

aljorub wrote:

hi mymac8mypc i hope you dont mind me asking but what monitor are you use and do you have any problems

Hi Aljorub, I use THIS as my monitor. The only problem that I have is when I first boot up the password screen is green. This is not from the mini though. To fix it I simply put the Mac to sleep and then immediately wake it up again to reestablish the HDMI handshake.

aljorub wrote:

i am still have problems with mine i can see all of the pixales.

I'm not sure what you mean because everyone sees the pixels. That is what makes up the screen. If you didn't see the pixel matrix you wouldn't see anything displayed.

aljorub wrote:

is your monitor good for whaching movies

Yes, I watch Blu-Ray movies very often. You would need extra software and a external Blu-Ray drive to do this. Very easy and affordable option if you decide to do this.

Just another report of getting the problem solved after the firmware upgrade. I was 99% sure it was my monitor (a bran new Samsung S27B550V), since the flickr was very "hardware-ish", and always happened a couple minutes after the monitor/computer woke up.

I didn't know about this thread and was just about to return the monitor to the store, when the firmware update popped up and solved it, out of know here. Happy now! 🙂

I have a possibly related or similar problem on my mid-2011 mac mini. It is hooked up to a 30" LCD via mini-displayport to full-size displayport cable and a samsung 22" HDTV via hdmi to hdmi. When the samsung is hooked up, the screen blackout, then resync of both monitors happens quite freqently, especially if videos are being played on the computer (does not have to be full screen, just watching youtube increases the frequency of the black outs).

The blackout lasts a few seconds and then both monitors have to resync (they display the input source icon) and things are normal again for a few minutes.

If I unplug the Samsung, then the problem happens much less, but still happens on the 30" LCD occasionally.

I was excited to see the firmware update to fix a similar problem but that just applied to the 2012 mini.

How do we get Apple's attention on the mid-2011 mini?

I returned my first mini in early November because the Thunderbolt port died and the HDMI port was flaky. After hearing that the blinking issue was fixed with the firmware update, I ordered another mini. It arrived yesterday afternoon and, in less than 24 hours, the Tb port died again. The first mini's Tb port lasted about a week or so.

Tried the usual troubleshooting dance of reseating the Tb->DVI cable, swapping monitors, log in as another user, reset SMC & PRAM, boot in safe mode. Still dead.

Called AppleCare and was escalated to a senior tech. He was great but had no other suggestions. He suspects it could be a bad adapter cable. Why the cable would work on the first mini and then die permanently, work on the second mini and then die permanently seems unlikely to be the cable, but I agree that the mini needs to be tested with a new adapter so …

… the phone rep called a local authorized repair center and they didn't have the ability to verify the adapter. Wow! So much for being Apple authorized.

My only choice is to go to the Apple Store in a mall that's under major construction so parking is horrible. And it's the last weekend before Christmas. Ain't gonna happen. Besides, this is the same store where a genius turned me away the first time without even looking at the mini or the adapter saying he'd seen it before and it was a common problem. If he would have tested the mini with a new adapter and tested the adapter with another computer and monitor, I wouldn't be facing another 40 km round-trip and an hour of my time.

My bet is that the Tb port has indeed died. Am I unlucky to get two minis with the same problem? Is this endemic to the mini? If so, I would have expected another report on this thread. Is my monitor somehow damaging the port even though it's buffered by the adapter? It's the same monitor I've used for 4.5 years on my 2008 MacBook and on several other computers.

On the bright side, I haven't seen any HDMI flickering so far although I've only used it about 6 hours.

I'll get the mini and adapter tested at the Apple Store between Christmas and New Years. If the mini is declared dead I'll have to decide whether to use the three strikes rule and give a third mini a chance, or to see if I can cough up the money for an iMac, which I really don't want.

Tom Sheppard wrote:

Am I unlucky to get two minis with the same problem?

Unlikely. Something doesn't sound right. You're not hot swamping these cables in/out while the mini is on I hope. That could fry either the IC in the adapter/cable or mini. If you're driving all that way to get your adapter tested then if it were me I'd ALSO bring that monitor with me so more through bench testing can be done at the store. It's hard to diagnose something like this online or over the phone. In one case I've seen similar issues and it ended up as the cause was a bad ground in the persons A/C outlet. If everything tests out OK at Apple then when I got home I would set everything up on a totally different wall outlet (double check by turn the circuit breaker off). Best of luck in tracing down the problem.

MyMac8MyPC wrote:

Tom Sheppard wrote:

Am I unlucky to get two minis with the same problem?

Unlikely. Something doesn't sound right. You're not hot swamping these cables in/out while the mini is on I hope.

No hot swapping. In the first case the Tb port died while sleeping. It was dead when the mini woke up. This time the port died while I was using the mini. Just went black and all windows moved to the monitor on the HDMI port. System Information knows it has a Tb port but thinks nothing is connected.

I would expect the Tb->DVI adapter to have some sort of buffers.

MyMac8MyPC wrote:

In one case I've seen similar issues and it ended up as the cause was a bad ground in the persons A/C outlet.

All gear is plugged into a surge suppressor strip which in turn is plugged into an APC UPS. I doubt this is an electrical problem. But if it is, why is the mini the only thing affected? I have plugged in various computers, monitors, scanners, printers, disks, USB hubs, etc. without a problem. I don't think I'd want to own a piece of gear that is the most sensitive device in the house.

I'll see what the next genius says, but I doubt they're going to bench test with my monitor. I don't think an Apple Store would be set up to do that level of testing even if they were interested enough. Most likely they'll just tell me to swap for another mini. This monitor has been connected to several other computers in its life, so I'd be surprised it's the problem.

Tom Sheppard wrote:

All gear is plugged into a surge suppressor strip which in turn is plugged into an APC UPS.

Using a APC UPS is great (I use one as well on my mini) and APC makes the best UPS around, so that's a big plus for your gear. However, just so you are aware of it, all surge strips use metal oxide varistors (MOV's) and they only last around 6 - 12 months. After that the power strip will still work but the bad MOV's will then cause spikes. If the surge strips are plugged into the UPS, then ironically you would be introducing the same spikes that the UPS was trying to remove. Best to use an A/C splitter similar to this;

http://www.microcenter.com/product/217389/Power_Extension_-_Splitter_Y_Adaptor_P owercord_Cable

That will keep your power signal pure coming from the UPS.

Tom Sheppard wrote:

Most likely they'll just tell me to swap for another mini.

I agree, but that's not actually helping to trace down the problem. If possible I would at least make sure they setup the replacement mini in there, before you bring it home.