flashing black screen with ACD 23", Mac mini 2012 and Thunderbolt

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flashing black screen with ACD 23", Mac mini 2012 and Thunderbolt

Hello! I was wondering if we could reproduce a display issue that I have, and discovered it today...

The problem: horizontal green - blue thin line on the upper 1/3 of my 23 inch (ACD) Apple Cinema Display (DVI) and black flashing screen.

When: I was searching some sounds at soundcloud when I saw the problem at this particular page. (screenshot)

I took a screenshot but nothing "weird" can be seen... However opening the screenshot (in Preview) at full size I can reproduce the problem every time.

The ACD is connected to my mac mini through DVI to mini display port adapter into the Thunderbolt port.

If I change to HDMI port (using the included adapter) the problem disappears !
If I connect a DELL 24" display with mdport to DVI adapter to the thunderbolt port the problem disappears !
if I connect the ACD with the same mdport to DVI adapter to my macbook pro the problem also disappears !

Mac mini is 100% up to date (10.8.4) and the has the latest Thunderbolt Firmware Update installed.

Any ideas?

(sorry for my poor English)

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), Late 2012 2.6 GHz i7

Posted on Jul 23, 2013 4:01 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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Jul 23, 2013 4:21 PM in response to aggelos

Hi, I hope my English is as good as yours... & English is all I know! 🙂

Hmmmm,

No idea why it doesn't show in that screen shot, but maybe...

Take a screen shot & view that in Preview, move the Preview window around, if you see double lines it's a Video card/VRAM problem, if the lines do not move moving the pic around then it's the LCD or cable.

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Answer 2

aggelos Author

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Jul 23, 2013 4:30 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you for your kind words! 🙂 (and for your reply of course)

I know that the screenshot is "clean"... BUT when I open it (everytime) the problem appears, so I can see it but can't "print" it to screenshot. I upload the shot just in case, If anyone using the same gear, ACD 23" & Mac mini late 2012 is able to reproduce the problem!

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Answer 3

BDAqua

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Jul 25, 2013 5:21 PM in response to aggelos

BUT when I open it (everytime) the problem appears...

Can you then take a screenshot of that & it shows?

Does preview do that to other pictures?

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Answer 4

aggelos Author

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Jul 25, 2013 11:41 PM in response to BDAqua

Hi, the screenshot you are asking is in my first post...

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Answer 5

aggelos Author

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Jul 26, 2013 1:00 AM in response to BDAqua

I pressed "This solved my question" by mistake. Sorry !

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Answer 6

aggelos Author

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Jul 26, 2013 1:31 AM in response to BDAqua

BDAqua wrote:

BUT when I open it (everytime) the problem appears...

Can you then take a screenshot of that & it shows?

Does preview do that to other pictures?

I pressed "This solved my question" by mistake. Sorry !

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Answer 7

BDAqua

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Jul 26, 2013 10:11 AM in response to aggelos

What I'm trying to determine, is where you see it, yet it doesn't show in that pic.

Do other pics in Preview show that banding or whatever, or just a screen grab?

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Answer 8

aggelos Author

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Jul 26, 2013 11:07 AM in response to BDAqua

The problem: horizontal green - blue thin line on the upper 1/3 of my 23 inch (ACD)

I took a screenshot but nothing "weird" can be seen... However opening the screenshot (in Preview) at full size I can reproduce the problem every time.

Maybe my English is worst than I thought...

Please read my first post.

Thanks

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Answer 9

BDAqua

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Jul 26, 2013 6:07 PM in response to aggelos

Maybe my English isn't so good!

Anyway, can you open a full screen size pictiure, not a screen shot, in Preview & it does the same thing?

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Answer 10

aggelos Author

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Jul 27, 2013 12:03 AM in response to BDAqua

Hehe, but this is the weird thing!! I opened thousands of pictures and in Preview but everything is normal!

And with web pages (Safari) I have no problem EXCEPT when I visit this particular page in soundcloud BUT only the page that you see in my first post!! Crazy things...

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Answer 11

BDAqua

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Jul 27, 2013 1:27 AM in response to aggelos

Ca you post a link to that site?

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Answer 12

aggelos Author

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Jul 27, 2013 1:34 AM in response to BDAqua

sure! here it is! but u have to scroll down until u see this: (look the avatars, it's easier)

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Answer 13

BDAqua

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Jul 27, 2013 3:19 PM in response to aggelos

Whew, that is one slow/bloated site for me, 15 minutes + to load... just saying. 🙂

Anyway, I had no problem screen grab & viewing in Preview.

As a test try this, when your at the same place there, use CMD+shift+conrol+4, drag the crosshairs to what you wan't to capture, now open Preview with no other pics open, use File>New from Clipboard, does that do the same thing?

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Answer 14

aggelos Author

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Jul 28, 2013 1:43 AM in response to BDAqua

Thank you BDAqua for trying to reproduce the problem!

Anyway, I had no problem screen grab & viewing in Preview.

YES! I know... I don't even need to screen grab & Preview. When I open the particular page in Safari at the exact point, as you tried, the black flashing screen begins and the horizontal green - blue line...

It's not a Preview thing for sure and no screenshot can show the issue!

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Answer 15

BDAqua

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Jul 28, 2013 10:25 AM in response to aggelos

All I can think of is some video timing issue with the integrated Intel graphics HD4000, induced by the heavy use that sight requires.

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