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Mac Mini (2012) HDMI losing sync (blank screen/snow)

Looks like my mini has the HDMI issue that others have reported on the macrumors forums as well as here.


Mine exhibits the blank screen/snow issue ONLY when the HDMI port is used. This happens with HDMI->DVI adapter and also with pure HDMI cabling.


With the same screen, mini and DVI cable this does not occur.


This is a fresh Mini 2012 Server i7 model.


Do I need to report this in an official capacity somewhere (this is only the second ever apple hardware fault I've encountered in twenty years). Should I just be patient for a possible fix (as I don't need the hdmi port

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 2012 Server i7 2.3GHz, SSD+HDD 16GB

Posted on Nov 8, 2012 1:24 PM

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446 replies

Nov 19, 2012 5:33 PM in response to .Bunny

Same problem - black screen for few seconds then it comes back and once in a while snow. Tried everything (NVRAM/SMCD resets/new cable) with no success - this is paired with an LG IPS226 that was on an imac for over a year glitch free. With the snow I can simply power my monitor off then on and it syncs. Took it back and they gave me a new one. The new one has the same behavior - no snow yet but have had one black screen event.


Initially thought it was the mysterious 10.8.2 update that has been removed for this model but apparently not. The second machine is stuck on 10.8.1.

Nov 20, 2012 9:29 AM in response to .Bunny

Long time mac user here, just adding my experience: About 10 seconds of alternating snow/black screen yesterday (the worst I've had yet).


This is a mac mini i7 quad core, 10.8.1, only 4 days old, hooked up via HDMI to a hdtv. Got the random snow on the first day, and random black screens as well. It seems to happen randomly, once every few hours or so.

Nov 20, 2012 11:25 AM in response to .Bunny

Folks: I had the poor resolution (fuzzy text, washed out screen) using an HDMI to HDMI cable and found that the problem went away when I used instead the supplied HMDI to DVI adapter and the DVI in port on my monitor.


I'm on a 2012 Mac Mini 2.6 GHz i7 with identical 24" HP DR2440w monitors.


I hope this information is of some use to others.

Nov 20, 2012 5:22 PM in response to .Bunny

I have been in contact with apple tech guys and they have advised various stuff from switching off, unplugging for 15 seconds, blah, blah. Booked a 'genius' session at store for this Friday, although went in store with my mac mini today and tried various cables configurations to no avail. Whatever the issue apple appear to be in denial at the moment and mine is going back pronto within the 14 day return policy as recommended by Apple. For those that have not purchased yet hold back as it's a joke at the moment. I cannot understand how a company like this can release a product that has not been properly tested. To confirm, I get blackouts and snow screens 4 - 5 times an hour using the the HDMI to DVI converter lead provided by apple. I have tried every configuration of output on mac mini and every adjustment on monitor - both Samsung and Dell - problem still exists. Why Apple deny an issue is beyond me and why I chose to move from a pc to a mac is also beyond me...

I will report back once I have had the so called 'genius' session at store this Friday

European model i5 2.5GHZ late 2012 model

Nov 21, 2012 1:08 AM in response to LBJ_UK

I hope all of you who have seen the blank/snow issue are filing a report with apple support. the more people that do this (and send in their logs as asked for by the techies) the better chance of a potential fix. We all suspect it's a chipset bug; so we may have to wait for Intel to provide a fix; but unless people report to apple it won't get the necessary priority.


Thanks


(update on mine is that I have been using the hdmi->DVI adaptor for a week now and have still seen a few black outs.).


No black outs seen with the mdp->DVI adapter. this is definately a chipset HDMI port physical issue so changing HDMI cables, monitors etc will likely have zero effect.


get filing those reports folks 😉

Mac Mini (2012) HDMI losing sync (blank screen/snow)

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