KevCheng

Q: 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

Close

Q: Mac Mini 2012 video blinking out

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 8 of 81 last Next
  • by farhansusername,

    farhansusername farhansusername Nov 9, 2012 4:14 PM in response to KevCheng
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2012 4:14 PM in response to KevCheng

    Alright, it's official. I've returned my Mac Mini (FYI: It was a replacement I got from the Store which also had the blinking problem.)

     

    Waiting to hear officially from Apple about this and what they plan to do about it. Will pick up a Mini after they've fixed them.

  • by MossyGene,

    MossyGene MossyGene Nov 9, 2012 7:02 PM in response to KevCheng
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2012 7:02 PM in response to KevCheng

    I exchanged my dodgy 2.3 i7 for new one. Same problem straight out of the box for the new one. Will return for a refund.

     

    SO, my experience of owning an Apple computer is owned 2, returned 2. All in the space of a week. What a PoS. Never again.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Nov 9, 2012 9:08 PM in response to MossyGene
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Nov 9, 2012 9:08 PM in response to MossyGene

    They certainly messed up good time on this... I bet heads are flying right now.

  • by Terranru,

    Terranru Terranru Nov 9, 2012 10:11 PM in response to KevCheng
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2012 10:11 PM in response to KevCheng

    I have the same problem on different monitors.

  • by calvol,

    calvol calvol Nov 10, 2012 12:17 AM in response to KevCheng
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 12:17 AM in response to KevCheng

    Received BTO 2.6 Mini today, ordered 11/02.  After two hours experienced black screen for about 2 seconds using HDMI->DVI to a Dell U2211H monitor. 

     

    After reading Intel's forum, which has threads about this issue all the way back to June, I can't believe Apple QA did not know about the issue, and chose to ship anyway.  Intel already released MRC 1.5 and 1.6 claiming to fix, and issue is still being reported in both the PC and Mac world.  The fix depends on Intel, and I don't have much hope since they've been working on it five months already.

    http://communities.intel.com/message/171244

     

    I filed a report, but will probably take the Mini back in the return period and wait for a fix, or until Haswell is released next year.

     

    Moral of the story to Apple -> stick with discrete GPU's in Desktop machines!  The company is losing more on returns than if a dGPU had been offered that slightly reduced margins.

  • by Tom Sheppard,

    Tom Sheppard Tom Sheppard Nov 10, 2012 7:10 AM in response to Tom Sheppard
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 10, 2012 7:10 AM in response to Tom Sheppard

    Well, kiddies, now I'm really ****** off. The mini went to sleep last night on schedule. Wake up this morning to find my main monitor connected to the Thunderbolt port through a DVI adaptor cable no longer works.

     

    • Turned the monitor off/on
    • Unplug/replug adapter cable
    • Restarted mini, zapped PRAM
    • Shutdown, unplugged HDMI port to force video to Thunderbolt, restarted again, no video
    • Shutdown and swapped monitors
    • Shutdown and reset SMC
    • Slowly, and gently wiggled the Thunderbolt port to all four sides

     

    In all cases the probem stayed with the Thunderbolt port that remains dead.

     

    System Information says there is no device connected to the Thunderbolt port.

     

    In a twist of fate, the Thunderbolt port never exhibited the blanking problem, so now I'm stuck with one monitor connected to the HDMI port that blinks. Just fantastic.

  • by Tom Sheppard,

    Tom Sheppard Tom Sheppard Nov 10, 2012 8:14 AM in response to Tom Sheppard
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 10, 2012 8:14 AM in response to Tom Sheppard

    I called Apple's tech support who suggested a couple more things.

     

    • Trash the ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist.
    • Restart in safe mode.

     

    Dead.

     

    So I have to make an appointment at the Genius Bar so I can rule out the DVI adaptor but I suspect the Thunderbolt port has failed. I now have to live with one monitor connected to the blinking HDMI port.

     

    If I have to return the device I will not get a replacement until I hear that this problem is resolved.

  • by ModeratelyFluffy,

    ModeratelyFluffy ModeratelyFluffy Nov 10, 2012 12:09 PM in response to MossyGene
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 12:09 PM in response to MossyGene

    Wow - it seems like you have never had a piece of defective equipment before.  I'm probably the last in line to ever defend Apple (and this is my first Apple computer), but knowing there is an issue with these machines, buying two of the same, and then complaining when they are both broken and saying "never again"... relax.  Things break, computers are shipped with bad components from time to time - every single manufacturer has had problems.  Add to that the fact that Apple has consistently been at the top of customer satisfaction charts, as well as a reputation for taking good care of their customers after purchse, and you should realize you'll be taken care of.  If I said "never again" after every component or computer that ever broke on me, I wouldn't have much left to choose from.  I'll probably wait until they fix the problem, then exchange my box for a new one.  In the mean time, I can probably handle the 1/2 second blink once an hour.  *shrug*

  • by kupajoe,

    kupajoe kupajoe Nov 10, 2012 3:24 PM in response to KevCheng
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 3:24 PM in response to KevCheng

    Well add me to the list.  Long time Apple customer and I have never had a problem like this.  Tried all fixes mentioned in this thread with no results.  Apple needs to step up and fix this problem.

  • by Laxman25,

    Laxman25 Laxman25 Nov 10, 2012 3:41 PM in response to KevCheng
    Level 4 (2,260 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 3:41 PM in response to KevCheng

    Update: Still no more screen flicker since doing an ECM reset and playing around with the display configurations(caliberate). I have been on and off for 3 days. Ive run graphic intensive games, movies, and some office work without any flickers. I did not have the washed colors, just the random hourly flicker. So something I did troubleshooting helped. The issue didn't "mysterously" dissappear. Unless the problem has just gone dormant for a while ha. Im HDMI to HDMI on a 40' flat screen.

     

    /\ This by no means is a suggestion that there isnt an issue. There is an issue obviously. Just saying troubleshooting could pay off, and it might not be ALL of the mac minis or intel chips.

  • by x704,

    x704 x704 Nov 10, 2012 4:32 PM in response to KevCheng
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 4:32 PM in response to KevCheng

    Occasional quick black screen then snow then back (total 1 sec) here as well.  HDMI port to HDMI port TV, 2012 i7 mini running 10.8.1.  Going to return it and consider purchasing if Apple/Intel/whoever sorts this out.  Whle I could live with this, I think Apple will take this more seriously if a lot of people return the product rather then stick it out.  My 2006 & 2011 mini's are both working like champs.  I had a 2010 Mac Pro which got rid of this summer as it had unresolveable fan issues... A 2009 Macbook Pro which I've had to take in for servicing several times (replace trackpad twice, fix optical bay, repalce motherboard). 

     

    What irritates me most is my unit is not defective as much as it seem seems to be a design defect (by Apple or Intel, whoever).  Apple should do better then this since they charge a premium for their stations.

     

    I think I've gotten a few rotton Apples and that hopefully my recent experiences aren't typical of users general experiences.  Of course I'm about to go get an iPad 4 now... clearly there's something wrong with me.

  • by hank.wallace,

    hank.wallace hank.wallace Nov 10, 2012 5:38 PM in response to KevCheng
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 5:38 PM in response to KevCheng

    Just got off the phone with Apple support. The people I spoke with wouldn't confirm that this is a widespread issue and want me to just exchange the unit, so that is what I will do first thing Monday. I don't have much hope that the replacement won't have the issue, but we'll see.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Nov 10, 2012 5:55 PM in response to x704
    Level 10 (123,855 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 5:55 PM in response to x704

    Just curious if an install of the 2012 10.8.2 build would help?

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1603

     

    From Mike.

  • by calvol,

    calvol calvol Nov 10, 2012 6:10 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 6:10 PM in response to BDAqua

    Mike, no my BTO build from Nov-week-01 came with 10.8.2.  In just two days, it has failed in both HDMI->HDMI and HDMI->DVI scenarios mentioned above with Samsung TV and Dell monitors.  I'm taking it back Monday for full refund and looking at ITX boxes with discrete GPUs.  Intel HD4000 is a disaster, and Apple screwed up by dumping Radeon dGPU's as an option in the Mini.

  • by hank.wallace,

    hank.wallace hank.wallace Nov 10, 2012 7:13 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2012 7:13 PM in response to BDAqua

    I don't think so. The Mac Mini that I have has 10.8.2 on it and still has the problem.

first Previous Page 8 of 81 last Next