RMBP external display strangeness

I got tired of waiting for a real update to the Mac Pro line and decided to spring for a retina display MBP as my primary computer. I was using two 27" NEC Multisync PA271W monitors for my work on the Mac Pro, and I am trying to rig up a solution where I now have three screens to use: the MBP display and the two NECs. No problem, right?
So I assembled the following:
2 mini Displayport to DVI-D converter plugs
1 LaCie eSATA to Thunderbolt hub
2 Monitors
! Thunderbolt cable
I plugged one of the miniDisplayport to DVD connectors directly to one of the thunderbolt ports and then connected it to Monitor 1 with a DVI-D cable
I plugged the thunderbolt cable in the other thunderbolt port, and then ran it to the LaCie TB/eSATA hub. From there, I connected the other miniDisplayport converter and then connected it to monitor 2 via a DVI-D cable
When I go into System settings, all of the monitors appear. However, Monitor 1, which is hooked directly to the TB port on the rMBP will only allow a maximum scaled resolution of 1920x1180, even though the monitor's native resolution is 2560x1440. Monitor 2, which is connected via the LaCie TB/eSATA hub allows me to select the full resolution of 2560x1440.
I switched the monitors - same result.
I pressed the option key when I clicked on Scaling in System Preferences - same thing - the directly connected monitor will only run at a reduced resolution.
Has anyone else run into this problem? I suppose I may end up getting another hub, since I plan on using another eSATA driv

Hello, TheForce61! I am having the same issue and would love some advice. I have a MBP purchased in January 2012, so I don't think it has Retina, but I don't know how to figure that out. For a year, I hooked it up to my old Westinghouse external display, with no problems with blurry text. But that monitor died a few days ago, and I bought a new Samsung SyncMaster S20B350. And the text is HORRID. All I use it for is text, so I don't care if the video or graphics are lovely. Someone recommended a PRAM reset, but that didn't work. I am using the cable adapter that came with the MacBook Pro - the Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter. The small end of the adapter connects to the laptop, and then I connect the other end to the cable that came with the monitor. The monitor cable then goes into the "RGB In" slot. There is also an "HDMI In" slot on the monitor (It's a Samsung 20" LED Monitor - S20B350). Should I try a different cable? Someone else recommended this adaptor: Mini DisplayPort + USB to Dual-Link DVI signal format converter But it seems lame that I have to spend $65 to make a $140 monitor work properly! Thoughts? Thank you!

Similar Messages

RMBP External Display Flickering Green Pixels

Hi,
I own a MacBook Pro 2012 with retina display and an LG W2363D (3D) monitor.
I have tried to connect my monitor with Thunderbolt -> DVI cables having 650M enabled. Moreover, I checked for DVI-D and DVI-I as the monitor only supports the former.
However, although the image is displayed on the external monitor I get green pixels flickering on the screen, here is a screenshot http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2310/cam00042.jpgAlthough I have tried 3 different cables the problem remains the same...
I have also tried different resolutions rather than 1080p. The only way to limit the problem was to lower the resolution so that I could choose a refresh rate more than 60hz however this is not an acceptable solution for such an expensive investment.
What can I do? Is there an nvidia update that I could use?
Thank you very much in advance.

I notice the same with my external EIZO EV233W (DVI) on a mid 2012 non-retina MBP 15".
But strangely enough if I go to screen preferences, change the (external) screen mode to scaled (doesn't matter which mode), then change it back to "Best for screen" (so nothing has changed, since this was the default), the green pixels are gone ..
Kind of a hassle to do this excersise everytime I connect the external monitor, but it reassures me this is not a hardware issue in my case, just annoying.
EDIT: the other input (displayport) on this monitor is permanently connected to my Windows 7(64bit) machine, never had an issue there.
The DVI adapter for the MBP is a third party adapter

Satellite A300-202 - External display turned a strange color

Hi,
I have a Satellite A300-202 with a ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650, and after upgrade from vista to windows 7, my external display turned a strange color, seemed to lose the red color. Never show the white color, in which should show the white color shows the color blue.
I have uninstalled and installed again the graphic card drivers and update the new drivers but dont solved this trouble. My external monitor it's ok because I have tried with other laptop and don't have this trouble. I have also tried my laptop with other monitor and have the same trouble.
Anybody ever had this problem, someone who can help me?
Thanks,

Hi Xardas,
Yes I have problems only with the external monitor.
I tried both. Now I have the new beta version to the windows 7 64bits, downloaded from the amd/ati site, but I have tried also with the version available in the toshiba drivers page to my A300-202, and had the same problem.
Yes I have installed the new version of the BIOS too.
Thanks,
Message was edited by: Zagga

Non-thunderbolt external displays on rMBP

If I buy a couple 27-inch displays elsewhere, instead of from Apple, could I use them on the rMBP? Or does it only work with the Apple Thunderbolt displays? Do external displays (of any brand) need to go through Thunderbolt or can they use USB 3.0?
Just curious, I only have background in using external displays with Windows. Not sure how the plug&play works on OSX.

You can use other external monitors with the MBPr but you will need an adapter for the thunderbolt port to say VGA or DVI. Or you can use the built-in HDMI port.

How do I get my Macbook Pro to detect an external display?

Hi there.
I just bought a new MacBook Pro today.
Everything about it is wonderful, except: When I plug an external display into the Thunderbolt port using a Minidisplay port to VGA adapter, it doesn't send a signal to the external monitor. The screen on my Macbook will go blue for a second, and then the windows freeze. The mouse will be movable for a bit (up to a minute), but nothing is clickable. Strangely, it seems as though it's functioning as if there were a second monitor (I can move the mouse off-screen as though it's going over to another display). But then the spinning rainbow wheel starts and never stops. If I unplug the Minidisplay port to VGA adapter, the Macbook will snap back into professional mode and everything works again.
If I try to boot the computer up with the Minidisplay port to VGA adapter already pluged in, it simply won't boot up (I get a gray screen with an apple and nothing more).
I tried using gfxCardStatus set to "discreet only" and I still have this problem. I tried to run a firmware update, but my comp seems to be entirely up-to-date already (just set it up today).
The monitor and adapter seem to be working fine, and function as an external display when pluged into the Mini-DVI port on my 2009 Macbook running Snow Leopard.
I guess my question is, what's causing this? Is this an adapter problem? Like, do I need a special adapter to use with a Thunderbolt port as opposed to the one I'm using which works when pluged into a Mini-DVI port?
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro9,2
Processor Name: Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 2.9 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 8 GB
Boot ROM Version: MBP91.00D3.B08

The only thing that I can suggest is trying a different adapter - such as this one from Monoprice.
I don't know if that's the root of your problem, though. Does the external monitor have DVI? You could get a Thunderbolt to DVI adapter from Monoprice - here - and give that a shot.
Clinton

External display flashes and shows 'snow'. (Video of behaviour included)

Since yesterday, my Macbook Pro is acting strange. When I connect it to an external monitor, it usually works. Everything goes well for 10 to 30 minutes, and at some point the display starts tearing, showing snow, and flashing. These flashes get worse and worse, up till the point where I have to reboot. Rebooting seems to help a little. Whenever the laptop hasn't been used for a few minutes it works correctly again, for a short while. (This makes me conclude it's some sort of heat-related issue)
The issue is present on multiple monitors using different DVI cables. I only have one mini-displayport to dvi adapter, so the problem could be there too.
This problem does not affect the internal display of the macbook in any way.
Here is a short video showing the behaviour:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BotUqHb3dM
What should I do? Try to figure out wether it's the mbp or the connector or just bring it in for a repair. (It's less than a year old)

I have had similar issues with my 15" MBP. Occasionally my external monitor will go 1980s and display what looks like crappy tv reception.
Also, connecting or disconnecting an external display (via the single link mini display port to dvi adapter) has a tendency to lock up the entire machine (both displays black, won't respond to keyboard or mouse) until the power is cycled.
Also, my built in monitor has a habit of flickering/glitching lines.
These problems seem to happen regardless of which graphics card is active.

MBPro won't detect external display on DVI

Hi Folks,
I have a strange problem that gives me quite some headache:
Is use a MacBook Pro 3,1 2.2 Ghz, 4GB RAM, 128MB NVidia something together with a Samsung SyncMaster 215TW.
For the past year I was using my external screen without any trouble, connecting it via DVI to the mac. Every night I turn down the lid putting the notebook in sleep mode and switch off the monitor. Exactly as I did yesterday. But this morning however the external display didn't wake up as usual it did just nothing - was not even detected via the detect display function. And this is still the case right now.
So when I plug (or unplug) the DVI to the external something is still going on. I get the blue screen (don't get that wrong that used to appear just before it would expand the desktop to the external screen, but then it switches back as if there would be nothing connected.
No relevant entries in any logfile. System Profiler shows "Status: No display connected". The display itself says some no connection message if unplugged and - get this - falls to sleep mode right after I plugin the dvi connector to the mac.
I tried all this:
-reboot (with display connected & without display connected and all other imaginable combinations) - no positive result
-the display via DVI-VGA adapter works (but the image is not as nice unfortunately)
-reset PRAM (boot with optioncommand+PR)
-reset the entire thing (no power, no battery and hold the powerkey for 10 secs.) nothing
-connect some other external display to the mac via DVI - works perfectly
-connect the display via DVI to an other macbook pro computer - works perfectly too
-hard reset the display via the (red) support menu - no result
-an other DVI cable - no result
-booted from the leopard install cd - same thing
-booted from an other harddisk with 10.4.10 (removing the internal disk)- same strange behaviour with the old system
-booted ubuntu linux 8.04 - even here the same problem X doesn't recognize the external display if it is attached to the DVI port also no entries to the logs here.
-SwitchResX and tried to reset the display setting from there (vendor id 4c2d & product id 213 & 214) but still no success.
- called the apple support and my distributer of trust - no ideas but could be a hardware fault (mmh ok... but why do all other display I tried work perfectly with that beast of macbook pro but not any SyncMaster 215TW?!? that worked great for the whole last year)
I guess the macbook had a very bad dream that very last night about mac eating foo-bars that crawl through DVI cables from any 215TW display.
As for now I have a date with the local apple service partner -- in three weeks (it's holiday time in g.o. germany). Don't know what to tell him: Probably I'll need to go there with the screen to show them the entire scenario. Hopefully they (still) think it's a problem with faulty apple hardware (or system software) and replace the logic board.
But I'm still in hope! Is there anybody out there having an idea with what I could try next to bring back the love between my macbook and the lovely 215TW display?
greetings,
brutus banane

I have recently bough a new Macbook Pro 15.4", it worked first time with a Samsung Syncmaster 2493HM but after a few days the 'detect display' utility ceased to connect, then a short while after on start up I was getting a blank screen with a flashing folder with '?' on it, preventing me from booting up successfully.
I tried the reset p-ram, didn't work then I tried an archive install of OSX and that ironed out all the creases - for a day, there has been no flashing folders on start up but the Samsung has failed to be detected and this morning wouldn't work no matter how many restarts or cable disconnecting attempts.
So I called Apple helpline, told the guy what had happened, he mentioned to try the install discs again with the display connected to see of the MBP sent a signal to it, after choosing the language in the OSX installer, the display was once again recognized! I didn't have to proceed any further with the install discs so quit, reset and ejected the install discs and all seems well again.
For how long i wonder?
I have no idea of this will work for anyone else but it works for me at the moment.
Interested to see when and how this finally gets solved!
T.
Message was edited by: Tyke Tyler
Message was edited by: Tyke Tyler

Two External Displays and Internal Display Over Different Connections

Hi there.
I'm going to be purchasing a rMBP in the very, very near future. However, I am unclear about how external displays work with this. My current display setup at work is two basic 1080p monitors that can be run over DVI, VGA or HDMI. I'd like to keep using these when I start using the rMBP but also gain the advantage of a third screen by using the internal display at the same time (so much space for activities!).
One of the thunderbolt ports will need to be used for an Ethernet connection (there is no wireless here), so this leaves the setup needing to be one monitor run via Thunderbolt -> DVI and the other monitor run via HDMI.
The internet in general isn't being entirely helpful with this. I'm looking for a clear answer of whether the rMBP will run the internal display and the two external displays using this setup under OS X. Some seem to believe that it won't work using different connection types, for example.
Thanks for any help.

Hello dljfield,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
If you'd like to use multiple external displays with a MacBook Pro with Retina display, then please take a look at the information outlined below. A 15" MacBook Pro mid-2014 can support up to two external displays using different outputs.
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) - Technical Specifications
OS X Yosemite: Connect multiple displays to your Mac
Take care,
Alex H.

External display won't work over DVI

I've got an ViewSonic vx2025wm hooked up to my MacBook Pro. It used to work fine over DVI, but some time ago the monitor stopped being able to detect the signal and I had to switch over to VGA (via my Apple DVI-to-VGA adapter). That works fine at the full resolution of the external display, but the image quality leaves something to be desired.
Strangely, the external display works just fine in Windows XP via Boot Camp. Oh, the irony!
Any ideas on how to get this working again? I dread the OS X re-install.

Same problem here. Had a Dell 30" monitor plugged in for a long time. Suddenly stopped working yesterday. The symptoms: the Mac detects the external display and "thinks" it's got it there (I can tell because the active content of the window is gone on the laptop's screen), but the display does not successfully see the output from the Mac (it shines its orange "no signal" light).
Restarting does not seem to help.
I should test it with a new display cable, but am a little reluctant to do this, as the dual link DVI cables required for this monitor are so expensive, and because previous posters on this topic have tried swapping cables with no result.

External Display Flickering/Blanking out on Windows 8.1 Boot Camp

OK, so I have a MBP 15" Mid-2012 model running the latest versions of Mavericks and all software and drivers on Windows are up-to-date. I am using my external display through an Active HDMI adapter for Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt (one that broadcasts audio as well as video).
So, this adapter and image seems to work perfectly fine on the Mac side, however, when I flip the switch to Windows 8.1, the external display goes haywire and goes blank and flickers with occasional lines and static across the screen. Image comes back every few seconds and then will suddenly lose signal.
I've been reading around the internet and I've seen that this could be a hardware issue in that Intel never put support for Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort on their chipsets for Windows, not a driver issue.
How screwed am I? If not so screwed, what steps do I need to take to attain functionality of the external display while running Windows 8.1 through Boot Camp?
Note: my Mac does not come with an HDMI port already installed like current Macs. This was the last high-end Macbook Pro to have an optical drive installed on it.

From Tech specs for your machine MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) - Technical Specifications
Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB of GDDR5 memory (15-inch 2.3GHz configuration) or NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory (15-inch 2.6GHz configuration) and automatic graphics switching
Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors
From the Intel downloads, there is a new driver for HD4000...
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProdId=3712
It may be worth a test.
From Nvidia website...
http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/77228/en-us
On a later rMBP, I can connect three displays via TB at full resolution.
One suggestion is to try a Display-miniDP cable, instead of a converted HDMI signal, if the monitor will accept a DP connection.
If it works correctly on the Mac side, it would be a driver issue, since the hardware supports it with one OS, but not the other. The effects you describe indicates that some pins on the HDMI are not getting correct signals to maintain image refresh rates or pixel sync. When you use the current connection, does the Control Panel -> Displays detect the model and name correctly? If not, the EDID detection is failing.

Can not mirror onto an external display in Boot Camp

I have a MacBook Black and I am running Windows XP Professional via Boot Camp. I've been having problem trying to set up mirroring in XP. On my previous MacBook Black which I purchased last May, I had no problems mirroring in XP. But for some strange reason, I can't mirror at all. After installing Boot Camp drivers in Windows, I didn't even see the Intel icon in the system tray. I went to Intel's website and I downloaded the latest driver which supposedly addressed this problem. However, I'm still unable to mirror my display. I can extend it to the external display but that's not what I want. I know others have experienced the same thing. Has anyone figured out how to solve this problem?

If it were only that simple. The mirror option is not there at all due to the fact that the Intel icon that's supposed to show in the system tray is not there at all either.
One thing I did the other day was check on the boxes of both of my MacBooks to see what chipset was installed in both of them. My MacBook that I bought last year has the Intel GMA 950 chipset installed. My current MacBook that I have has the Intel X3100 chipset installed. I have no problem mirroring on the old MacBook with the GMA 950 chipset. I have been to Intel's website and they stated that this was a known issue with the X3100 chipset. Their latest driver was supposed to address the feature. After updating my driver to the latest one, the problem is still not solved.

Update to 10.6.8 colour problems with external display

I have a mid-2010 13" macbook pro. I use a mini DVI to HDMI adaptor to connect to my Philips LCD TV. It has always worked perfectly including audio. Since update to 10.6.8 (yesterday) there is a colour-cast on the external display that makes it unusable. I have tried a hard reset of the mac with no effect except that the colour cast changed from green to red (strange!).
Anyone had a similar problem or have any ideas how I could solve it? (no time machine so I can't downgrade unfortunately)

Though I am using and iMac 27 and not a macbook, I have the similar issues since the 10.6.8 update.
I too am using the adapter to connect to a Philips 42' LCD.
You can see my post here: (has a pic of what my TV image now looks like since update.)
https://discussions.apple.com/message/15488605#15488605
I ended up going back to 10.6.7, not a fix, but no other alternative..
I used to have this problem a year ago on a PC that happened to have the same ATi Graphics card. I just used the ATI control center and changed a setting to YBR component or something like that in some color settings. But unfortunately we don't have the ATI control panel for mac, least I don't think we have any kind of alternative, but would prolly fix it..

MBP Retina shows wrong resolution on external display since 10.8.4

I have a MBP retina and I'm using it with an external display, Dell U2711, connected via a Mini-DP to DP cable. It all worked amazingly well until 10.8.4 came out. Now, when I connect the display, it no longer shows the correct 2560 X 1440 resolution, but shows 1080p. The displays preferences pane does not allow going over 1080p. It does recognize the display model, though.
It started with one port. The machine has two TB ports, so one of them worked fine and the other didn't (the one closer to the user was acting up). Then it degraded further to the second port. Now, if I plug and unplug several times and fiddle with the displays control panels, I might just get it right eventually. It takes some time, but eventually the machine gets it right. At least that's what I've been experiencing in the last few days.
I don't think it's a hardware issue. It's possible that my cable is at fault, but I seriously doubt that. I'm wondering if anyone else got the same problem, just checking before I go and splurge on a new cable (these cables are not easy to find).
Thanks,
Z

This worked for me:
Step 1: Delete system windowserver preferences
In the Finder, from the menu bar, select "Go -> Go to Folder..."
Enter: /Library/Preferences/
Delete the file called com.apple.windowserver.plist
Step 2: Delete user windowserver preferences
In the Finder, from the menu bar, select "Go -> Go to Folder..."
Enter: ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/
Delete all files that start with com.apple.windowserver (On my rMBP, there was one file called com.apple.windowserver.12AFB147-95D6-5C70-8F62-C1E4F2BE81BE)
Step 3: Reset the PRAM (These instructions are fromhttp://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379)
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.

External display wakes up hdd of Macbook Pro

Hi!
I encountered a strange behaviour after the 10.8.3 Update. When i put my macbook pro 2012 into sleep mode while my external display is plugged in my macbook via vga to mini displayport adapter, everythin works fine. But when i plug in or plug off the magsafe power connector from macbook, the hdd wakes up and sleeps again. This wake & sleep happens in 20 sek interval turn until the battery is empty...I think it's the hdd because i can hear a starting noise on der right upper side. The macbook will only completely sleep, when i unplug the vga to mini display port adapter from my macbook...
Can anyone reproduce this behaviour with Macbook Pro "13 2012 and OS 10.8.3???

Switched from a MacBookPro 2 generations ago to the new one with the thunderbolt port and now I have the same problem, but the coloured tint of the screen has changed since the new update. Still no fix, but the tint is less extreme. And the colour switches between the light blue tint and the original quite regularly. Nothing of the sort on my old MBP. I use a mini displayport to HDMI converter though.

MBA not always recognizes external display after sleep

Hi,
I have a 2011 MBA and use it on a external display (Dell 2709w) with the lid open. The issue with this MBA is that after sleep it often (every second time I wake it up) doesn't show anything on my external monitor. In order that the external monitor works again I have to plug the DVI cord out and in or press recognize monitors under monitor settings.
I also did a PMC and SMC reset but both did not help.
I have also done a complete reinstall witch did not help as well.
I also did a test with a MBA from a friend (exact same model) and his always works with the external display after sleep while mine only works every second time.
Could this be a hardware defect? sound pretty strange to me, but who knows...

I have managed to make the Apple Hardware test by just pressing "D" while restarting. The test, however, did not find any error - but this does not surprise me as I think it only tests the ram.

RMBP external display strangeness

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