Filed under: Accessories, Software Update, Mac mini
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Guiliano said 8:46AM on 3-17-2009
I haven't received my new MacMini yet but I went ahead and got the Mini-Display -> VGA Adaptor and a new VGA cable last week.
While waiting for the Mac Mini I thought I would give the setup a whirl with my new MBP and it didnt work at all. I presumed the problem was one of the cables but I'm wondering now is it a Display Port/VGA issue as opposed to just a Mac Mini issue
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Pat said 8:48AM on 3-17-2009
There's firmware on a mini-displayport to VGA adapter? Seems goofy to me.
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Hobbes said 12:00PM on 3-17-2009
Sorry to disagree, but it makes total sense that the firmware is in the adapter itself. If you don't use this adapter nothing needs to be touched in your computer. The alternative would be that everybody, with or without the adapter, would have to apply the update. That to me would be dumb.
DerFlash said 8:58AM on 3-17-2009
But still NO video-out solution :o(
(hope that at least my vga>video converter will work - arrives tomorrow)
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Guiliano said 9:07AM on 3-17-2009
Well, I updated mine, but alas no joy, the TV still wont work as a display.
Couple of points though. In order to see the update you have to have the adaptor plugged in at the time you check for updates.
The update is for the firmware on the adaptor itself so you can just plug that into any machine that will take it to update it and then plug it back into your mini afterwards.
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Moe said 9:27AM on 3-17-2009
I have a Samsung LCD and though I get picture, sometimes flash video on browsers flickers. Surprisingly it only happens when I put the computer to sleep and wake it up. It's like the video card gets lazy or something. Now, I logoff and sleep and when I use it log on and it works fine. Do you think this has to do with the adapter?
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ymajik said 9:34AM on 3-17-2009
Is this only a problem with old displays & the VGA adapter? Or does it also affect newer displays/LCD tv's when using the MiniDisplayPort to DVI adapter?
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Zactu said 9:51AM on 3-17-2009
I have a new macmini and a standard ratio HP monitor with VGA and DVI inputs. The VGA is plugged into the Dell PC and the DVI is connected via the Mini Display Port to DVI adapter to the macmini. It works perfectly. So problems with the DVI adapter.
umijin said 10:03AM on 3-17-2009
Eh? Apple says to replace your display if it's new-fangled video connector and adapter don't work properly?
Screw 'em.
Maybe now monitors will need proprietary chips to work with Macs, just like headphones with the Shuffle. :-P
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David said 3:07PM on 3-17-2009
If you read Apple's instructions they suggest replacing the monitor if a different _known good_ monitoring works with the connector, here is the actual text:
"Connect a known working display (if you have an extra one available). If you see video after doing so, replace your old display."
This makes perfectly sense to diagnose if the problem is in the Mac hardware or in the display.
umijin said 8:34PM on 3-17-2009
I don't think that is how folks are reading it. And it still blames the monitor for the problem in general cases.
If your Samsung doesn't work with the new connector (but worked before) and your Sony does - replace the Samsung?
Bogus.
mmendoza27 said 10:05AM on 3-17-2009
I was pretty disappointed by the fact that I couldn't use my Samsung LCD TV with my unibody MacBook Pro. Hopefully this will finally fix the issue, I ended up buying a 24" Apple Cinema Display anyways.
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vandil said 10:09AM on 3-17-2009
I don't know why anyone uses VGA anymore when DVI is much better. Granted, the Mac Mini is supposed to be a Bring Your Own Keyboard, Video Display, Mouse switcher machine, so I guess a VGA monitor from a Windows PC is expected.
I picked up one of the new Minis and use it with my 23" Apple Cinema HD Display via DVI. Its connected using the included mini-DVI to standard DVI adaptor and Apple's ADC to DVI adaptor. Despite the adaptors, it works perfectly in all its 1920x1200 Full HD glory.
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Dave T. said 10:41AM on 3-17-2009
Hey guys, Dave Thomas from the post mentioned above.
Basically my old Samsung LCD did not have a DVI-D input. It had an array of Video, S video and VGA so you could watch TV on a PC monitor. I had the old monitor plugged into my PC's upgraded video card which had a DVI-A out. I used a VGA>DVI-A adapter and it worked fine for many years.
I definitely went the cheap route ont eh new monitor opting for something that cost $200 vs. $600+ from Apple, but it's very nice. Had a $40 rebate and with selling the old one on Craigslist didn't come out so mad on the wallet. I also knew for a while that my old monitor was, well, old, but it looked so good I never felt I needed to upgrade. The 24 inch widescreen though is great. Don't know how I worked in such a small screen before. And it isn't obscenely big on my little desk.
As far as the fix from apple, I assume you'd have to take a Mini into an apple store to get the firmware updated, because how else could you navigate any screens to do so if your display isn't working!?!?
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Michael Rose said 11:13AM on 3-17-2009
Find a neighbor with a modern display :)
Dave T. said 11:22AM on 3-17-2009
or that.
Stian said 11:35AM on 3-17-2009
I have a brand new imac with 9400 graphics. I use an external screen, Benq 22", mini displayport to DVI. And I have serious video and mouse lag, when external screen is off. When external screen is ON, no problems.
I just delievered my iMac for repairs because of noisy hd and graphic issues.
Never had this problem with my previous macs, and this is my third iMac.
PS! Same problem with mb unibody.
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Mark Alexander said 11:01PM on 3-19-2009
Same problem here. Went in to expert bar. Mini display port works fine when connected to new 24" cinema displays and works fine with old cinema displays when connected through the mdport-dvi connector, but I get the same mouse and video lag when connected to my 24" benq with mdport-dvi connector
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?
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wplate said 8:23PM on 3-17-2009
Where's the update for Dual-Link DVI? We need it fixed!
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