Mac mini display issues

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Level 1

33 points

Mac mini display issues

My Mac mini (mid-2012) is connected to my monitor via the thunderbolt port. At least once a day the screen either turns black or displays snow. Turning the monitor on and off resolves the problem but that becomes a nuisance as it disrupts my work. I tried using the HDMI port but had the same result.

I've read that others have had the same problem. Has anyone discovered a remedy? I'm about at the point of moving on to another computer. How about the newer Mac minis, are they suffering the same issue?

Thanks.

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Sep 14, 2016 5:57 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

92,386 points

Sep 14, 2016 7:06 AM in response to Sungroupie

Exactly what monitor and what other inputs does the monitor have besides HDMI....?

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Answer 2

Sungroupie Author

Level 1

33 points

Sep 14, 2016 8:42 AM in response to den.thed

Hello den.thed,

Thanks for your reply.

It's a Dell 2408WFP with one HDMI, two DVI-D ports, a 20-pin display port, and a VGA connection. I'm connecting from my Thunderbolt port to a DVI-D port. Initially I used the HDMI to DVI-D connection but when I encountered the snow issue I switched to Thunderbolt to DVI-D and still have the problem. In an earlier post, someone suggested it has something to do with the Mini's graphic chip but who knows?

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

92,386 points

Sep 14, 2016 9:12 AM in response to Sungroupie

I would first try resetting the SMC and NVRAM.

Then if the problem continues, I would next try a different DVI-D cable and then perhaps a different DVI or DisplayPort monitor.

Not that it helps you much, but I've been running dual 21.5" Samsung DVI-D monitors on my Late 2012 for years without a single problem. One is connected the Apple Supplied HDMI to DVI adapter and the other is connected to a Kanex Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter.

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Answer 4

Sungroupie Author

Level 1

33 points

Sep 14, 2016 12:27 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks for the suggestions.

Doesn't seem like this is a power issue so SMC may not apply. Think I'll try swapping around the Mini and monitor ports before trying NVRAM. I suppose it could be a cable problem. I've already used two different adapters but I could swap out the DVI-D cable.

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