Occasional graphics errors on external monitor

Overall, I'm pretty happy with Lion. Occasionally however, I have video graphics glitches on my MacBook Pro. Sometimes it happens when using an external monitor, sometimes it also happens on the notebook display.
I often get a distorted task switcher:
Also, Safari sometimes renders the content in a weird way, with yellow and red blocks:
And finally, the translucent part of the taskbar sometimes looks funny, with stray pixels running through:
I wanted to mention that it's not a big concern, but when typing the previous version of this message, I detached the external monitor and then all I got was a black screen when opening the lid. I had to power down the MacBook.
Anyone else seen this behaviour?

Replying to my own question...
There's a much longer-running thread (since Nov. 30th, 2011) here, about this issue. Apparently, I'm not the only one.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16881510#16881510

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IMac early 2008 occasional screen flicker with external monitor

I am experiencing flickering with my early 2008 iMac when driving an external monitor. My Thinkpad is flawless when pushing out to the monitor.
It will be fine, but occassionaly (every 5-20seconds) the screen gives a little flicker, about 1/4 of a second in duration.
Also, sometimes, there is no flickering, it depends on what is being displayed, which makes me think video card. I am using the 2400XT and my software is up to date.
ROM Revision: 113-B2250H-259
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.259
I am thinking about trying to source a 2600pro that came on the more high end version of my iMac and swap out the graphics card. I also want to drop a 2TB hdd in it, so I figure I might as well kill 2 birds with one stone, or kill 1 iMac with 2 simutaneous upgrades if I am unlucky! (o_O)

iMacs are not designed to have the graphics cards upgraded. If your old card is bad and you feel competent to exchange it for the same one that's really your only GPU option. Apple never said the iMac GPU's were upgradeable and frankly I've never heard of anyone successfully upgrading an iMac GPU.
As far as the adaptor well you could bring your system into an Apple Store and have it checked out by a Genius, it's a free service. I don't know how to make a reservation in Japan but I'm sure you can from the Japanese Apple site. The link in the US is:
http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/
I'm providing that so you can look for something equivalent.

Tecra M2: No 1400x1050 graphics resolution with external monitor

Hi.
I am using a Tecra M2, with GeForce FXGo5200, Win XP (patched),latest graphics driver 4.6.4.4.
Problem:
There is no possibility to switch to standard resolution 1400x1050 for the external monitor.
1600x1200 (and higher), 1280x1024 and many others are offered in a long list, but the one I need for the Samsung 203B is missing - even if "don't show resolutions not supported" in monitor display properties is disabled.
According to the T2 manual, 1400x1050 is supported.
Tested with 1600x1200 on another Monitor and it works perfectly.
Interesting: If I uninstall the graphics driver, I can switch to 1400x1050, so from a technical perspective, it should work.
Working without graphics driver is no alternative.
Has anybody had this problem or knows how to force the driver to switch to 1400x1050?
Thanks a lot!

Youre right.
The hardware supports this resolution but it seems that this resolution was not listed in the graphic card drivers.
I dont know why the graphic card driver manufactures doesnt includes some resolutions to this software but if its not listed so I presume there is nothing to do. :(

External Monitor Not Working after 10.9.3

I have two Macs which are not working with an external monitor anymore through the thunerbolt port. I have tried different types of connections (HDMI and DVI) and two different external monitors in an attempt to determine the issue. The only common denominator to the issue is the update to 10.9.3 OS X. I have also reset PRAM and changed between mirroring and non mirroring to no avail.
Mac #1:
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Intel Core i5
2.4ghz
Intel HD Graphics 3000 512MG
External Monitor: Resolution 1920X1080 @60hz
32 Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotatino: Supported
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Intel Core i5
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Well low and behold I tried clearing PRAM again and I reset my monitor to factory defaults. Reconnected my monitor and the thing works now. Very strange but I'm Happy that it's working again. *WHEW*

T420 dual external monitors

Hi,
Can a T420 with Intel graphics run 2 external monitors at 2560x1600 (via display ports) using a minidoc series 3?
Thanks,
-Emran
Solved!
Go to Solution.

It worked, I have experienced it with my own eyes. 2560x1600 on both 30 inch monitors using one Displayport on the mini series 3 docking station and one Displayport on the side of the laptop.
Thanks :-)

T61 and the Intel Graphics Card error - external monitor not detected

T61 with Vista 32 bit, Mobile Intel® GM965 Express Chipset and an Advanced Mini Dock.
I am trying to use the DVI port and an external monitor. The driver does not detect the external monitor.
Uninstalling the Intel driver the Generic profile will work on the external monitor, but is overly fuzzy, how do I get the T61 to recognize my external monitor with the right drivers?
I am currently running the Intel Driver Ver. - 7.14.10.1329, which provides the message under Multiple Display:
Two displays must be connected to the computer before you can use this feature. Please connect another display.
Of course my 22" monitor is connected. That is the frustrating part. I have also uninstalled Presentation Director, just in case, but then re-installed after it seemed that wasn't the problem.
There is a newer driver from Intel but it is not Lenovo approved yet I guess. Though I highly doubt this is the problem. What can I do?
~~
I did post a thread on the thinkpads.com too, but so far haven't had any luck.

Well the new dock came but didn't fix the problem. Now my nice new T61 is packed up in a depot box, waiting for DHL to come pick it up.
dkaufman1 -- I guess we do have different problems. If I set my T61 to display to the DVI port in the bios I get a blank screens on both the DVI connectd monitor and the laptop screen until the OS boots when I have the laptop in the dock. The only way I can see the bios screen to set it back to the ThinkPad LCD setting is to boot it disconnected from the dock.
I really hope that this problem is resolved, as I really like the T61 otherwise. I was even using it with the VGA cable connected to my 22" monitor, but it was pretty hard to take. I'm now back to my old desktop hooked up to the same monitor via DVI and it is quite the relief, even if it isn't as zippy as the T61.

Surface Pro 3 Display/Video/Graphics Driver Issues - DisplayPort, External Monitors, Windows 10 Build 9926

Surface Pro 3 - i5 with Intel HD Graphics 4400
Windows 10 build 9926
All Latest updates installed
Intel Graphics Driver 10.18.15.4079.
Latest system update released on Jan 22nd (which I understand is just the latest intel graphics driver?).
The display driver status has this error message: Windows has stopped this device because it
has reported problems. (Code 43) - I assume it's
reverting to the basic Microsoft driver when this occurs. Which explains why my displayport (External monitors) will not work.
I have uninstalled the driver completely (and deleted the driver files), tried the Windows basic driver,
and rebooted several times with no luck.
I cannot get my docking station displayport or the displayporton my surface pro 3 working.
According to Microsoft (see below), this is a known issue UNTIL you update to display driver
version 4079 - which I have.
Known issues on Surface after updating to Windows 10 January Technical Preview
On Surface Pro 2 and Surface Pro 3, the Mini DisplayPort won’t work on the Windows 10 January Technical Preview until you’ve installed graphics driver 4079 or later. Check Windows Update often for the most recent graphics driver.
On Surface Pro 2 and Surface Pro 3, you’ll notice poor graphics rendering on the Windows 10 January Technical Preview until you’ve installed graphics driver 4079 or newer from Windows Update. Check Windows Update often for the most recent graphics driver.
If you’re using video driver 3496, you may need to start in safe mode and remove that driver. Then restart Surface in normal mode and go to Windows Update to get the most recent graphics driver.

Hi Nicholas,
Similar issue has been asked here:
Surface Pro 3 restarting after a series of blank screens!
For error code 43, here is a reference:
Code 43: Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems
For the current situation, please try to wait for the driver update, as display driver version 4079 didn't work well at your side, please submit this through Windows Feedback Tool.
Best regards
Michael Shao
TechNet Community Support

I've got a MacBook pro 15' running 10.6.6. I want to use an external monitor for my graphic design work running Adobe software and thought I'd try an HD TV. I ran a Mini Display to HDMI lead to the TV but the picture quality was disappointing.

I've got a MacBook Pro 15' running 10.6.6. I want to use an external monitor for my graphic design work using Adobe software and thought I'd try an HD TV. I ran a Mini Display to HDMI lead to the TV but the picture quality was disappointing. I also tried a Mini Display to VGA lead and that wasn't much better. I tried all variations of resolutions in System prefs - Displays but nothing helped. Am I getting something wrong? Thanks all.

In addition to pixel density, you are up against the translation driver card in the TV.
If you read the fine print of computer-resolution-capability in the TV user guide, you will see a chart as tall as the manual page. At the top is the smallest resolution capable, at the bottom is the full use of the 1080p in the TV.
Mac falls into the top 25% of the page, maxing out at 1366x768 often. This is because the TV control card is expected to do too much of the work, but is not designed for computer-monitor processing.
I looked at the resolution charts on 2 TVs before deciding to buy a 1080p LCD monitor that has a TV interface/connector. Computer monitor first, TV second. But the thing is only 27 in. Good thing TV is not as important to me as it is to others.

Satellite Pro U300: DVD issue - error: cannot output to external monitor

Hi,
I was having problems playing a dvd on my U300.
Basically the software would load but when I tried to play the dvd it said "cannot output to external monitor".
Having gone through all options I could not find anything to stop this happening. I then downloaded the latest software from the toshiba site.
dvdpl-20070807102909.zip
I resintalled this but got the same error message.
I then uninstalled the software and tried to reinstall but now it just produces an error mesaage saying it cannot intsall the software on this computer.
How can I reinstall this?
Regards,
Mark

I presume you have received the Toshiba Recovery CD. Am I right?
On this CD you can find the Toshiba image file. This image contains the Vista OS, Toshiba drivers, tools and additional software.
But note; you cannot install only a single program. To reinstall a application from the Recovery CD you have to format the HDD and have to reinstall the whole OS using the Recovery CD.
As Gipsyman said, the Toshiba driver page contains update and the original preinstalled software is needed.

MBPr+disconected external monitor= no auto graphics switching

Hello!
I am having a problem with automatic graphics switching. Recently i updated OS X to Mavericks and noticed that my MBPr not going back to integrated GPU when I disconect my external monitor. In Activity Monitor all processes are not requiring High perf. graphics. When I click "About this mac"->"More info"->"Displays" there are my disconected external monitor. After restaring MBPr everything is normal until i connect and disconect 2nd monitor.
I am one with this problem?
P.S. Automatic graphic switching in "Settings"->"Energy saver" is on.

i have the same problem too , i expect your comments folks!!!
Ps. Mac Book Pro 13-inch, Mid 2012 Os 10.9 Maverick

MacAir not detecting external monitor. 'check signal cable' error

Brand new MacAir OX 10.7.4 not detecting samsung external monitor. I keep getting 'check signal cable' error on a blank screen.

Hi Walter,
I'm not sure this'll fix your problem, & it's info from earlier OSX versions, but I'll toss it out...
Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions...
Trash these files...
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/ByHost /com.apple.windowserver.<12digitHex#>.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/ByHost/.GlobalPreferences.<12digitHex#>. plist
There may be more than one of each of the above, then trash...
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
Reboot
You could test it by first, depending on OS version...
To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...
Open System Preferences>Accounts, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.
Does it work in the new account?
To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...
Open System Preferences>Users & Groups, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.
Does it work in the new account?

Graphics performance - external monitor

Hello everybody.
I've run into a problem..
When I add an external monitor to my rMBP 15", the graphics performance is reduced by quite a bit. Example: when I play League of Legends on my built in monitor, it runs smoothly at 60fps with almost the highest graphic settings. But when I play it on the external monitor, with the lid closed, it's going at 30fps with the lowest graphic settings.
Here's the twist..
I bootcamped it, just to test if there'd be any difference. And surely, there was. Suddenly I could play with the highest graphic settings at 60fps on my external monitor.
Here's my setup:
MacBook Pro Retina 15", mid 2012.
Asus VE278Q
The monitor is connected with a HDMI cable.

I have the same hardware, a rMBP with the quad 2.6, 16 gigs of ram and the NVidia 650. I don't have the problems you are describing but I play different games - mostly borderlands, so perhaps that makes a difference.
The first thing I would suggest is to use something other than an HDMI cable. I can't remember the details but I recall reading that the throughput of the HDMI is limited, especially compared to thunderbolt, so I would try switching first. Of course you are roughly quadripling the pixels you are pushing when you go from 1440x900 (native retina) to 2880x1800 .... so that could be it, and I would also try to scale the external monitor 1440x900 ... and see what happens.
Lastly, most games run a lot faster under windows than OSX. Sad but true. I sometimes run the same game on my server ( a proliant with a Xeon quad @ 3.3 ghz with either a decidedly low end GT630 video card. It smokes the retina MBP, badly for whichever game I have ever tried. They look better, they run much faster. That said, I still like to game on the Mac and only use the Server when I need a third machine when my daughter comes to kick my butt. I personally will take the ease and elegance over the speed, since the rMBP is fast enough.

I now get a external monitor error after a year

I have been using an external lcd monitor for about a year and this week I started getting an error after I plugged it in for a while. It would work for 1-4 hours and then the external monitor would say that the frequency was not supported. At this point my MB would freeze and when I tried to restart it, it would not turn back on. The AC cord was plugged in, so the only thing I could do was remove the battery for a couple of minutes and restart.
Each time I plugged the external monitor in it would work for a bit and then freeze again. I tried a different monitor and it froze as well and gave me the error box "optimal resolution is 900x1440 60mz. I tried again and made sure it was detecting the correct monitor in system preferences and that they matched the recommended specs, everything was correct.
ANY IDEAS?
I don't know what to try, like I said it worked for a whole year without any problems. And my 1 year warranty expired 9 days ago.
I would love some ideas, Thank you!

Hi frogjet,
Are you connecting over VGA or DVI? I take it you're using the same Apple adapter that you've had for a while? What was the other monitor that also didn't work? Was it also the same connection type?
It's probably worth bringing the computer and the monitor into an Apple Retail Store and having them have a quick look. I think the only problem, is that if it takes 1-4 hours to occur, a GB appointment is only 15-20 minutes long.
Can you maybe grab a screen shot when the issue occurs?

What is the max resolution for external monitors from the intel hd 4000 graphics driver

What is the max resolution supported by the intel hd 4000 graphics driver found on the 13in MacBook Pro for EXTERNAL monitors?

OK so after doing much research... this seems to be the best workflow.
Bring HDV in to FCP as ProRes 422.
Edit show... add bells and whistles, etc.
Export movie as ProRes 422.
Then for the client - ensure that they have latest version of Quicktime and download the Apple ProRes Quicktime Decoder (for mac or Windows). (It is assumed they have a decent computer to play back on.)
The client will then be able to play a movie encoded as proRes 422 and all will be happy.
As a back up a high resolution h264 file can't hurt.
Thanks for everyones input. We got there in the end.

External Monitor on MBP (Invalid format error)

I searched the forums and couldn't find a similar issue so here goes. I have a late 2008 MBP with Snow Leopard connected to a Vizio(MODEL#VM230XVT)LCD 1080P HDTV. I'm trying to use this in "closed lid" mode and using Apple Bluetooth mouse/KB. Because, I didn't want to buy another HDMI cable I currently have it connected via VGA with Apple adapter (DVI>VGA) and a separate audio cable running to TV I have the Bluetooth settings set to wake the device. when I shut the lid the screen goes black either states "No Signal" or "Invalid Format". I have to disconnect the external monitor in order to see the MBP screen again I have tried using several different types of Resolution without success. I notice under the resolution settings it has a "useable screen size underneath it with certain dimensions" so if I set my MBP to max resolution I believe 1400x900 (guesstimate) and set my HDTV to 1920x1080 I think underneath the resolution box I get the "useable screen dimensions which are usually the laptops screen dimension" not sure if this plays apart in anything just wanted to mention it. The TV will display if I leave the lid open on the MBP and have a resolution that exceeds 1024x768 so I'm not sure why it won't display with lid closed as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Then I'd…
1) Try reinstalling WoW and try to keep as few preference/game files as you can. Granted you need to keep your character and game play files etc etc so just backup the lot and restore as required.
2) Contact Blizzard and check their forums and see if they know anything about this.

Occasional graphics errors on external monitor

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