Target display mode blinking black

While studying ACMT's one suggestion is to use a shorter cable (less than 0,5 mt). Or try another one.

Also: check both are same partition scheme (GPT/GUID or MBR->improbable). If' they're different (I do not presume as they're both recent) you woun't be able to connect them.

Cheers

Simon

I've been working with Apple Support for the past few months on this issue. I've sent capture data and logs, etc. The hardware guys are looking into it. In my setup I have 3 iMacs (2 connected in target display mode). Both iMacs that are set to act as monitors blink back at different times. It seems random, but I noticed that it happens more often when doing something GPU intensive. I can trigger it by pressing the expose key repeatedly for example.

Here is a quick video (watch the screen on the left - you'll see it blink back at the 3 sec mark and 21 sec mark).

http://embraceware.com/temp/imac.mov

I've tried multiple thunderbolt cables and different lengths - no difference. I am hoping that a firmware update will correct it. I installed OS X Mavericks to see if maybe there were updated graphics drivers but the issue happens when running Mavericks as well.

I am having this exact same issue with almost the same exact 15" Retina MacBook Pro connected to a 21.5" iMac in Target Display Mode via Apple Thunderbolt cable. I also have a 24" Cinema Display that uses DVI/Mini-display port connected using the second Thunderbolt port on the MBP. Please note, this blinking black screen only happens on the iMac -- it does not happen on the cinema display at all.

- Retina 15", Early 2013

- 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7

- 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

- NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 1024 MB

I have tried to resolve this issue via the Automatic Graphics Switching feature and other Energy settings with no luck. It definitely happens during GPU intensive work like photo editing in Aperture and video editing in Final Cut Pro X. I use a USB 3.0 hdd (WD My Passport) to store my media externally when I use Aperture and FCPX.

Would LOVE to find a solution to this because it is a bit disconcerting that a brand new (I bought the computer only a few weeks ago) MacBook Pro would have this issue.

A good friend of mine has a Mid-2012 15" Retina MacBook Pro and has two 27" Apple Thunderbolt Displays daisy-chained and has never once had the screen blink black.

He recommended unchecking the "put hard drives to sleep when possible" -- I'm going to try that this afternoon when I begin some editing work in FCPX.

Not sure if this is related to the blinking black screen issue, but I also noticed that when I'm moving my cursor over a link on a webpage, the arrow/hand flickers back and forth constantly.

Also, when I open my MBP out of clamshell mode after being connected to the two monitors, on occasion it will have a black screen -- not the black screen you get when it's powered off but it's a visible black screen that's being displayed by the GPU (I assume). The Apple logo on the back of the screen is illuminated, closing the lid and re-opening doesn't make it go away, re-connecting to the monitors doesn't make it go away -- I have to force the computer off and turn it back on.

What I notice next is that the battery life is drastically reduced on the computer. All of a sudden it's showing a half-charge on the battery icon but it's saying it's got only 2.5 hours of life remaining when it should have 4-5. So I do a PRAM reset and when the computer restarts and calculates the battery life, it's back up to 5.5 hrs.

I'd be curious to know if you're having any of those issues as well.

It struck me that perhaps this blinking issue was being caused by the resolution setting on my MacBook Pro. I always have it set to the highest resolution but decided to change it to "Best for Retina" in the Displays Sys Prefs pane. I've been editing in FCPX now for about an hour and haven't had one blink from the computer.

Running smoothly with no glitches. If I go the rest of the day without a blink, I'll consider the issue resolved.

Give it a try and see if you get the same results.

Scratch that... Not two minutes after I posted this after going an hour with no glitches in Target Display Mode, it blinked. Twice in a row. The issue persists.... 😟

I'm glad I found this thread. I've been having this same problem for months and it's about driven me to the point of going to buy a new monitor. I primarily use Lightroom and Photoshop and on thing I've noticed is when the blacking out starts I often lose my cursor as well. I have a Mid-2012 MBP w/ Retina and a Mid-2011 27" iMac.

Hey guys - no information to report yet. I'm still waiting for them to call back. Not impressed - I reported this problem back in April. I'm going to dig up the ticket reference and call them again.

Just to summarize - it's not related to bad cables or OS version. I suspect this will be handled in a Firmware update for the GPU or updated graphics drivers.

I hope to report something soon.

I agree that it is the MBP w/Retina. Used this same setup with my 13" MBP with no problems but as soon as I updraded my notebook it started happening.

I also am having the same problem. I am using a mid 2012, 15" MacBook Pro Retina and mid 2011 27" iMac with an early 2 meter Thunderbolt cable. If just sit and watch the displays, don't see the problem, the more I use the displays, the more frequent the problem. I have none of the these problems when connected to my 27" Thunderbolt display so it is not anything to do with driing that resolution display on Thunderbolt.

I hope something happens soon on this; I'm about to pull my hair out. It's nearly impossible to edit photos when the monitor keeps having seizures and I keep loosing the cursor. This ****'s driving me crazy.