New mini owners stung with display incompatibilities, update on the way

It seems like just yesterday we heard from David Thomas that his Samsung Syncmaster 910 MP display wasn't working with his shiny new 2009 Mac mini. Oh, wait, it was yesterday -- and David's not alone, judging by the traffic on Apple's support boards. VGA display owners who are using a Mini DisplayPort-VGA adapter should be aware that older displays seem to be having some trouble with the newfangled setup; in fact, Apple's troubleshooting steps for lack of video on the mini suggest replacing your display if it's not lighting up with the mini, even though it may still work with other machines. If your existing display is a Samsung or is more than four years old, you may want to cross-check with Apple before trying to use it with a new mini.

There's some light at the end of the tunnel, however. While it hasn't appeared on Apple's download page for the mini yet, reader Nikolay sent in word that the Mini DisplayPort to VGA Firmware Update is showing up for him in Software Update on his MacBook Pro. Since one of the listed fixes is "no video on some external displays," if you've got the VGA adapter in use and are having video troubles you may want to borrow a monitor long enough to run the update and see if that clears the issue for you.

Thanks David & Nikolay

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Source: http://www.apple.com/support/macmini/

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Accessories Software Update Mac mini

It seems like just yesterday we heard from David Thomas that his Samsung Syncmaster 910 MP display wasn't working with his shiny new 2009...

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I have all sorts of problems with my Samsung 213T using DVI (included mini-DVI to DVI cable). Display randomly goes black, I get blue noise sometimes, sometimes the top of the display does weird shuffling... I'm so frustrated and disappointed in Apple. What ever happened to quality control. When they do a major display adapter update on the mini, didn't anyone thing to test it with various monitors? This is such a Microsoft situation it isn't even funny.

March 19 2009 at 10:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

PIF

BTW does anyone know if there are similar problems with the other mini port - the mini DVI to VGA?

I really want to get one of these boxes, but I cannot afford a new display at this time as well.

Thanks
PIF

LaCie Electron Blue 19" (CRT) via a Mini-VGA (Composite and S-video adaptor) cable

March 18 2009 at 10:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

PIF

alansky said 12:17PM on 3-17-2009

No offense, but why in heaven's name would anybody want to connect a shiny new Mac mini to an old-fashioned VGA monitor whose brightness and contrast are terrible compared to modern, inexpensive LCD displays?

Because the older high end CRTs have a better picture, are brighter, with great contrast and ... never have dead pixels?

March 18 2009 at 9:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Johan

I am not at all surpised by this as Apple (probably) fired their entire QA department some time ago. These days Apple seem unable to release new products without serious defects.

March 18 2009 at 6:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Joseph

this could potentially upset me. Will keep you posted.

March 18 2009 at 1:27 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tony

I have a Samsung LN22A450 22" LCD, purchased in November. When I hook up my MacBook using the MiniDisplay port at the TVs max resolution of 1680 x 1050 the display starts to flicker... the update did nothing for me. The MacBook should be able to support resolutions on an external display up to 2560x1600 so I don't know what the issue is with my computer!?

March 17 2009 at 7:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Matt

Does this only affect connections through dvi/vga ports on affected displays. I've got a mini-dvi to hdmi connector and new mac mini and am about to go hdtv shopping, so I'm curious if I'll be safe or still need to be careful.

March 17 2009 at 5:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Mac Koolaid

My new Mac Mini (since Friday) works great with my 6 month old Samsung Series 5 46 inch screen. I use the Mini-DVI to DVI into a DVI to HDMI cable into the screen. This works great for both the mini and my MB using the entire screen with interlacing. This gives me better resolution than using VGA as the final input into the Samsung. Mini-DVI-DVI to DVI-HDMI gives me 1080 resolution, better than the VGA. Why not use the better technology, VGA is analog? I love the new Mac Mini, now setting up my home media center.

March 17 2009 at 5:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Mac Koolaid's comment

viza

I got myself a mini with 1,83 Intel Core 2 Duo from a trusted friend, but without checking.
At home I plugged Mini into my almost new 30" Dell LCD, then into a new 24" Dell using an existing vga port on the Mac.
Not a single flicker. Dead as a door knob.
The Mini seems to be working fine with its light bluish-white, it takes DVDs and listens to a power button. But that's about all I can say.

What should I do with this little sucker?

April 03 2009 at 2:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

wplate

Where's the update for Dual-Link DVI? We need it fixed!

March 17 2009 at 4:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

alansky

No offense, but why in heaven's name would anybody want to connect a shiny new Mac mini to an old-fashioned VGA monitor whose brightness and contrast are terrible compared to modern, inexpensive LCD displays?

March 17 2009 at 12:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply