New Dell monitor keeps going into power save mode

Question

New Dell monitor keeps going into power save mode

I just purchased my first ever Mac product and got the Mac Mini. I also bought a new Dell s2415h monitor to go with it. For no reason whatsoever the monitor will come up and say either it's going into power save mode and then sometimes after that it will say that it's not connected to a computer and needs to be connected. This is so frustrating as it will work fine for a while then this happens and I can't seem to get it out of power save mode no matter what I try. My monitor has both a VGA or HDMI on the back of it and I have an HDMI cable plugged into it and the mini as well. Can anyone tell me how to get this to stop happening or if I need to buy some other kind of cable to use? When I had the monitor plugged into my old, very old PC with Windows it worked fine.

Mac mini (Late 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 21, 2015 10:27 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

nathan.felton

Level 1

9 points

Nov 14, 2016 6:15 AM in response to Ti8go

I spent a good amount of time searching to web for solutions to issues like this and thought I would share what worked for me.

Sometimes, you will need to do a hard reset of the monitor...
* Disconnect every cable from the monitor (including the power cord)
* Press and hold in the monitor power button for 10 seconds
* Reconnect all cabling as normal and retest

Found at http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/p/19597216/206716 13#20671613

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Answer 2

lllaass

Level 10

210,405 points

Aug 21, 2015 10:32 AM in response to houstonsoonergirl

Is the problem that the Mac noses to sleep and when yo move mouse or use a keyboard key the monitor and or mac does not awaken?

When sleeping the white Power light on the front flashes.

Try:

If your Mac doesn't sleep or wake when expected - Apple Support

You can also call Apple. You get 90 days of free telephone support

Complimentary Support (USA)

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Answer 3

Aug 21, 2015 12:05 PM in response to lllaass

When I'm actively on the computer doing something, sometimes it just goes to a black screen and when i touch the monitor buttons on the front of the monitor or move my mouse it will come up and say going into power save mode with a little picture of an HDMI port with it. Then come up and say it's not getting a signal from the computer. But it just was a second ago because I was working on the computer. Then the white light on the monitor flashes on and off slowly. I just tried switching the HDMI ends and that didn't make a difference. Tried a whole new HDMI cable to see if I had a bad cable and it did the same thing. I have the Apple set so that it doesn't ever go to sleep thinking that might fix it. But it doesn't. I called Dell and their support told me they are not trained on Apple computers and couldn't help me. Told me to call Apple. I did and they had me switch the cables, run a 5 step thing to reset something. Which I did and it didnt make a difference. When I get home later Apple is supposed to call me to try to help me some more. But I can't believe a new monitor and new computer can't seem to connect right. Was really hoping it was something super simple. I'm about to become an alcoholic over this. (Kidding of course)

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Answer 4

lllaass

Level 10

210,405 points

Aug 21, 2015 12:51 PM in response to houstonsoonergirl

You said " When I had the monitor plugged into my old, very old PC with Windows it worked fine.".

Was this connected via HDMI?

If not do you have an HDMI device to test the monitor with?

Also try resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

About NVRAM and PRAM

If you confirm that the monitor work OK with another HDMI input source than I would call Apple. That would point to a Mac problem.

You can also

- Make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store. Bring both Mac and Monitor

Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

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Answer 5

Aug 21, 2015 1:02 PM in response to lllaass

No my old windows computer only had two DVI ports so I used a DVI coming off it and then the other end with an HDMI converter to plug it into my monitor.

I don't have another device to test the monitor with. Just that one computer. Per Apple instructions I went home at lunch and reset the NVRAM but it didn't make a difference. I don't have an Apple keyboard but on my windows keyboard I held down the Windows, Alt, P, R buttons at the same time while the mac was rebooting.

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Answer 6

Aug 21, 2015 1:07 PM in response to lllaass

I believe the monitor HDMI works fine since I was able to plug it with the DVI converter into my old windows computer and it worked perfectly. And it will come up on the screen and say that it's not getting a connection from the computer when it's connected to the Mac Mini. :-(

Here is something interesting I just found on Dells website. It shows it doesn't support any Apple operating system. I wonder if this is why I'm having problems. However, on Macmall.com site it shows this particular Dell s2415h as being a match. http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/SupportedOS/dell-s2415h

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Answer 7

lllaass

Level 10

210,405 points

Aug 21, 2015 1:29 PM in response to houstonsoonergirl

That should not have any effect on your problem since HDMI is standard as is VGA.

Your monitor

http://accessories.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&sku=860-BBEM

has :

Connectivity

1 Video Graphics Array (VGA)

1 HDMI (MHL)

1 Audio In (For VGA)

1 Headphone Jack

You can try a mini displayport>HDMI adopter or a mini displayport>VGA monitor. The mini displayport plugs in the Minis Thunderbolt port.

You could have a defective Mac MDMI port

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Answer 8

Glodov

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2015 1:31 PM in response to lllaass

Good day!

I have the similar issue.
I have macbook air 2013 late.

I have 2 cables:
1. Thunderbolt to DVI -> DVI to HDMI. It seems like connection somewhere in cable is bad, because sometimes when I turn monitor it disappear and all applications rearrange to laptop, so connection between monitor and laptop has lost. Monitor goes to sleep mode.
But I found out very interesting thing - even if I do not take monitor and just restart mac occasionally monitor goes to sleep mode and only reconnecting cable helps on second, third try.
So I bought another cable.

2. Thunderbolt to HDMI - it works normally, but in about every 2 minutes for few seconds image is gone and monitor is black. But applications are not rearranging to laptop, so it seems connected, but not showing.

3. Apple TV with the same monitor works just fine without any problems.

So my conclusion it is problem with both cables at the same time or mac.

One more issue, I have my mac lagging after while. Cannot understand what reason. But I found out from some blog I go to sleep mode, wait for a second and wake it up. It works smoothly after this. But that is so bad solution. I should go into sleep mode few times a day.

Before Yosemite update I did not remember I even restarted my laptop in months only when some upgrades required. Now I restart my laptop every day few times. It is very annoying. 😠

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Answer 9

Glodov

Level 1

8 points

Sep 29, 2015 6:25 PM in response to lllaass

I bought the 3rd cable.
It is not blinking now, but I cannot hear the sound on monitor and after sleep mode monitor does not wake up, but macbook shows only one part of desktop.

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Answer 10

Glodov

Level 1

8 points

Sep 29, 2015 6:43 PM in response to lllaass

And I tried to check if it is monitor problem or not. I just connected AppleTV and monitor works just well.

You should answer on questions faster.

I cannot solve the issue and it is getting very annoying.

I bought 3rd cable which does not work and not cheap one.
I cannot work using a monitor.

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Answer 11

Ti8go

Level 1

0 points

Jan 23, 2016 11:26 PM in response to houstonsoonergirl

Hi houstonsonergirl, Glodov and everyone!

I have the same problem.

Setup:

iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011)

3.4 Ghz Intel Core i7

32 GB 1333Mhz DDR3

AMD Radeon HD 6970 1024 MB

+

2 Dell U2415, one on the left and another on the right of the iMac.

Signal is lost, switches windows either with the other Dell monitor or the iMac.

It is really annoying with all this investment...

Did you end up solving the issue? If so, how?

Thank you in advance!

P.S. Wouldn´t it be awesome if Apple support cared about their customers?

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