Thunderbolt 1.2 Killed Monoprice Mini DisplayPort to HDMI?

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Thunderbolt 1.2 Killed Monoprice Mini DisplayPort to HDMI?

So I updated the Thunderbolt firmware yesterday to 1.2 through the App Store only to have my external monitor stop functioning afterwards. When I click on Displays in System Preferences, the monitor registers and the screen blinks blue when I connect/reconnect, but still no video. The adapter, Monoprice's part number 5311, was attached during the update and I had video all the way through the grey bar when it restarted. Can the firmware update ruin such a thing?

- Bill

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on May 16, 2013 9:34 AM

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Answer 1

May 16, 2013 1:39 PM in response to wcs0816

Hi Bill,

May you kindly tell us provide the following details to us:

Specs of the Macbook Pro? For instance:

- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4132

What is the make/model of the monitor you are attempting to connect to?

May you confirm that the monitor is working with other inputs.

Thanks!

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Answer 2

wcs0816 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 16, 2013 4:54 PM in response to SFCityDubs415

Thanks for the reply. It's an early 2011 13" MacBook Pro, Core i7, 8 GB RAM, 500 GB HD. The monitor is a Hanns.G IF281D. I used a different adapter on a different MacBook from a co-worker in our office and my MacBook and it displayed fine. It's just too much of a coincidence for me not to think that the update ruined the adapter when it had been working wonderfully for two years.

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Answer 3

May 16, 2013 9:56 PM in response to wcs0816

Hi Bill,

With the Monoprice adapter and the Hanng.G IF281D connected to your Macbook.

If you launch System Perferences -> Display Preferences

Click the [Gather Windows]

Do you see two windows appear:

- 1 for Color LCD

- 1 for Hanns.G IF281D

If yes, what is th resolution set to? Does it make a difference if you lower it to 1920x1080?

Thanks!

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Answer 4

May 17, 2013 2:27 PM in response to wcs0816

Hi Bill,

Can you confirm that the monitor you have is badged I-INC IF281D?

- The one that is listed here:

- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824723002

Also, would you by any chance happen to see if the monoprice dongle you have works on another HDMI display. I like to see if the dongle went bad or if its a compatibility issue sparked by the FW update and the IF281D.

Thanks!

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Answer 5

wcs0816 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 17, 2013 2:48 PM in response to SFCityDubs415

Yes, I have both the Hanns.G and the MacBook's LCD listed. "Gather Windows" bring both together on the Mac's LCD. Changing resolution makes the screen on the Mac blink blue as if I've just connected the adapter, but still no image.

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Answer 6

wcs0816 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 17, 2013 2:47 PM in response to SFCityDubs415

That's the one. Coincidentally I bought it from Newegg, too. I brought the dongle home and tried it with my Panasonic plasma TV, which used to work as well, but no image their either. One thing I forgot to mention is that the dongle gets a bit hot to the touch after about a minute of being connected. That has scared me enough that I don't want to plug it into anything else at this point. I have ordered two more dongles as replacements to see if that changes things and will report back next week when they have arrived.

Thanks again for your inquiries!

- Bill

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Answer 7

wcs0816 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 20, 2013 5:19 AM in response to wcs0816

Just as a follow-up to this, I couldn't wait for the new Monoprice adapters to arrive so I bought the Rocketfish RF-AP305 Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter from Best Buy this weekend ($24.99). I plugged it in and had video on my external monitor immediately. I imagine the same will happen when the Monoprice units arrive.

Again, I hate to believe it, but it's just too much of a coincidence that the Monoprice adapter stopped working immediately after this update for me not to think it was related to the firmware. In the future, if I see any Thunderbolt updates come down the wire, I will be disconnecting my display first 🙂

- Bill

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Answer 8

wcs0816 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 23, 2013 6:39 AM in response to wcs0816

I don't know if anyone will see this since it was so many months ago, but I am now burning through about two adapters per month. The Rocketfish unit I referenced failed a couple of weeks after my last post, and I have a Thunderbolt to DVI die on Monday of this week, and a Thunderbolt to HDMI die this morning. This is so frustrating.

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