Dell Ultrasharp u2414H on 2013 MBP leads to unusable slowdown

Question

Level 1

12 points

Dell Ultrasharp u2414H on 2013 MBP leads to unusable slowdown

Hello,

I've recently purchased a Dell Ultrasharp U2414H for use on my 2013 MacBook Pro w/Retina display. The monitor came with a full-size DisplayPort to MiniDP cable, which is what I use to connect the two.

When connected with this cable, the monitor works beautifully... for a few minutes. Almost immediately I hear the computer's fans begin to rev up, and after a while, the mouse begins to lag until all activities become slow to the point that the computer can barely be used. This is corroborated by the Activity Monitor, in which kernel_task's %CPU shoots up into the hundreds. By this point, the fans are in full blast.

As soon as I unplug the monitor though, both the computer and the fans return to normal.

When I purchased an HDMI cable to try that connection instead, a different problem presented itself: the monitor's screen appeared terribly pixelated.

It's a brand new monitor, so I have looked through forums and other sources of information to see if anyone has had a similar experience and possibly a solution.

Could it be an issue of the refresh rate, resolution, anything else?

Thank you!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.1), Dell Ultrasharp u2414H Monitor

Posted on Jul 16, 2017 9:59 AM

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Answer 1

MoonJ.

Community Specialist

Jul 18, 2017 7:59 AM in response to Klearchus

Klearchus,

Once you go through the steps to test this in safe mode and a new user, the next steps are provided in their respective articles. We've gone ahead and quoted them below as well:

Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support

If an issue doesn't happen in safe mode

If an issue doesn't happen when your Mac is started in safe mode, try restarting without pressing any keys.

If the issue comes back, you might have incompatible login items.

If the issue doesn't come back, it was probably caused by a cache or directory issue with your startup disk, which safe mode fixed.

How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

If the issue doesn't happen in the other account

If the issue doesn't happen in the new user account, the issue is related to the settings or files in your own account.

If you need help with a specific alert or issue, search the Apple Support website for the text of the alert. If the issue happens in only one app in your account, it might be related to one of that app's settings. Check the app's documentation or support website for help.

You can remove the new user account when you're done testing. Follow the steps for creating a new account, but click the Remove button (–) instead of the Add button (+). Before removing the account, make sure that you don't need any of the files or settings you created or copied in that account.

If the issue happens in the other account

If the issue happens in the other user account:

Make sure that your software is up to date.

Try using Safe Mode to resolve the issue.

Check for other software or hardware issues.

If you need more help with a software or hardware issue, contact Apple Support. Be sure to mention any steps you've taken, and the results of those steps. Also mention any alerts or other messages you've seen as part of the issue. You can take a screenshot of the message, so that you can refer to it later.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

Leanne_68

Community Specialist

Jul 17, 2017 11:23 AM in response to Klearchus

Hi Klearchus,

I understand that some time after connecting your Dell monitor, your MacBook Pro begins to run slowly and the fans get louder. I'm happy to provide some help with this issue.

Based on your description of this issue, I recommend resetting your SMC and NVRAM. The SMC can help with the performance issues, and your NVRAM will help with the connection to the monitor:

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support
How to reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Cheers!

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Answer 3

Teddy_B

Community Specialist

Jul 18, 2017 5:17 AM in response to Klearchus

Klearchus ,

Thanks for going through those steps and following up with us.

Based on this information, we'd recommend that you continue testing this issue in safe mode and a new user account. Please note that each of these processes has additional steps to take depending on whether the issue continues:

Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support
How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

Cheers!

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Answer 4

Klearchus Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 17, 2017 2:32 PM in response to Leanne_68

Thank you very much for your response.

I've followed the instructions on the links you provided to reset both SMC and NVRAM.

Subsequently, I plugged in my monitor and disappointment set in as quickly as the fan, in seconds.

Nevertheless, I continued with the monitor for a few minutes to see if the slowdown would re-occur. Indeed, as before, after a few minutes, the Activity Monitor noted a %CPU for kernel_task in the hundreds, and the computer became unusably slow.

Has this been known to happen before with Dell Monitors, and is there a root cause that can be identified? Could it be the graphics card, the cable, the sockets?

Thanks in advance, again, for any insights.

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Answer 5

CT

Level 7

24,239 points

Jul 18, 2017 7:07 AM in response to Klearchus

Just a data point: Dell Monitors seem to work fine on the MacBook Pro. I have the P2715Q on my 2015 Retina MBP - works great. Despite the issues discussed in the threads below, participants do appear to report success using your model on a 2013 Retina MBP:

Dell Ultrasharp u2414H on 2013 MBP

Dell monitor u2415 not working with MacBook Pro...

Connecting Dell u2715h Monitor to Macbook Pro R...

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Answer 6

Klearchus Author

Level 1

12 points

Jul 18, 2017 7:30 AM in response to CT

Thank you both for your helpful replies.

@jameson.h: Given all the indications that the issue is likely to continue, in order to jump a step ahead: what are the additional steps to be taken in these processes?

@CT: As you say, the model of Dell Monitors that both of us have do 'work' fine on MacBook Pros, in the sense that the monitor plugs into the computer without a problem, and displays beautifully. Some of the people on the links you provided, conversely, were having issues with getting a signal from the monitor at all.

In my case, the issue is rather that once displaying, there is something about the connection that makes the operating system come crashing down - last time I tried it, the activity monitor displayed a %CPU of 'kernel_task' somewhere above 2000%.

Underlining that the issue is the monitor, unplugging the monitor immediately resolves this issue.

Further help appreciated in advance!

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