Intel Reports Fix Coming for Flickering on Monitors Connected to 2012 Mac Mini via HDMI

[MacRumors]

Following last month's launch of new Mac mini models, a number of users in the MacRumors forums and Apple's support forums have cited issues with flickering on external monitors connected to their machines via HDMI. Connections via Thunderbolt/Mini DisplayPort are not affected.

The issue seems to be a known one related to the Intel HD 4000 graphics used in the Mac mini, and Intel has now acknowledged the issue in the Mac mini and indicated that a fix is on the way. A timeframe for a fix delivered through Apple is, however, so far unknown.

We are aware of the flickering issue, and there will be a fix provided in the future. The overall flicker issue is also being addressed here; http://communities.intel.com/thread/32932

Your OEM (Apple) will provide the driver with the fix when they are done configuring our driver (that has the fix). An ETA on this is currently unknown.

Apple has begun developer seeding of OS X 10.8.3 with an emphasis on graphics drivers, but it seems to be unclear at the present time whether the current beta version of OS X 10.8.3 contains the specific fix for this issue.

Article Link: Intel Reports Fix Coming for Flickering on Monitors Connected to 2012 Mac Mini via HDMI

[Wildog27]

How about the fact that many 2012 Mini owners are stuck at 10.8.1 and unable to upgrade for some unknown reason?

[SandboxGeneral]

This is good news for all those affected by the issue. Seems to be a lot of people experiencing it.

[Fuchal]

My 2011 (HD 3000) flickers/flashes as well on HDMI, but I bet there's no fix ever coming for that.

[jessica.]

Originally Posted by Wildog27

How about the fact that many 2012 Mini owners are stuck at 10.8.1 and unable to upgrade for some unknown reason?

I'd prefer the flickering to be addressed first.

[jav6454]

Intel should just stick to CPUs and leave the GPUs to nVidia and AMD/ATI. That's the best solution here.

[MsQueen]

Now Apple needs to fix the flickering of the iPad with Retina screen. Bought the new iPad Black Friday, now I'm returning it this Friday.

[William Gates]

Originally Posted by jav6454

Intel should just stick to CPUs and leave the GPUs to nVidia and AMD/ATI. That's the best solution here.

Apple are the ones pushing for integrated GPU's. That's why there are no discrete GPU's in the rMBP 13" and MBA's.

[Galatian]

Originally Posted by jessica.

I'd prefer the flickering to be addressed first.

At least you can work on your Mac. We who are still stuck on 10.8.1 until Apple deems us "worthy" enough to receive an update on a machine we paid handsomely for, can't use any of the productivity apps like iMovie, Aperture, iPhoto, iMessage, ...

/angry 13" rMBP owner

[HardRain]

Just sell it, work out the problems later. Maybe.

[Cpt.N00B]

Does any one know what's the keyboard in the pic? Looks cool.

[canucksfan88]

Originally Posted by Cpt.N00B

Does any one know what's the keyboard in the pic? Looks cool.

its an old school mouse/keyboard from 2000's.

logitech mx duo

[tristanB]

Do we think they'll also have a fix for the similar issue on the MBA with the same graphics?

[sza]

I am glad they finally found the root cause.

[Lancer]

Somehow that pic looks just wrong!

At least have the Apple KB and touch pad even if you use a cheaper LCD.

Good to know they are working on the issue, but really shouldn't this have been sorted by now?

[StoneMountain64]

Does anyone know what monitor that is in the picture?

[mdriftmeyer]

Originally Posted by William Gates

Apple are the ones pushing for integrated GPU's. That's why there are no discrete GPU's in the rMBP 13" and MBA's.

Hardly. AMD is moving the market to APUs and Intel knows it has to do something better than their HD 4000/5000 or they will open up x86 to AMD. It's another reason for the Xeon Phi to compete against GPGPUs and the HSA Initiative which is founded upon LLVM and OpenCL.

Apple wants SoC to have as small a form-factor as possible while improving system performance.

The Macbook AIR is an example of where Mobile GPGPUs have room to scale down before they're able to put them back in such a thin frame. Until then, the integrated section from Intel's HD 4000 will have to do.

The moment Nvidia and AMD can put an extremely thin, low power, but dedicated discrete gpgpu in that form factor Apple will jump on it. AMD's upcoming Radeon HD 8000 series is reportedly 33% more power efficient in power, even at 28nm. AMD is moving to 20nm in 2013 and 14nm in 2014 thanks to GlobalFoundries.

The power efficiency increases and the die size drops will be win/win for Apple's thin is in all the way up to the thin doesn't matter Mac Pro.

AMD is dropping their GPGPUs pricing for the HD 8000 series by > 20% while computational improvements are up > 60% for SP and DP.

New materials will soon launch CPU/GPGPU designs producing performance and power consumption drops that will once again remind us all how amazing this industry is relative to any other in the globe.

[peb123]

This is interesting as I had this issue on my Hacintosh when using HD4000 graphics (on the DVI port). It made it unusable. I solved the issue by using a PCIe graphics card. Too bad you can't do that with a mini!

[Westyfield2]

Finally some coverage on this issue!

[sza]

Originally Posted by StoneMountain64

Does anyone know what monitor that is in the picture?

NEC brand.

[calvol]

Returned my BTO 2012 Mini with blank screen and snow issues after reading the Intel forums that this first surfaced in June with the Intel HD4000 on Win/Linux PCs and hasn't been fixed since then in Intel's MRC releases (v1.5,1.6). Have a feeling this is a hardware issue with the HD4000 GPU and there won't be a firmware fix. Meanwhile, I'm sitting this one out with a 2011 Mini/RadeonGPU.

[dr_lha]

I fixed this problem weeks ago by spending $6 on this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

[Mr. Dee]

Best Beta Testers around. Can't wait for you folks to test out the new iMacs and find the problems to make my Rev B purchase the perfect buy!

I wish I could just wish I could give you all a big hug!

[jongampark]

Hmmm.. I noticed similar problems with my Mac mini ( mid 2011 ) with Intel HD 3000.
Also, when playing flash video, sometimes it displays patterns of white dots on screen and it freezes.

I wonder if they would have some fix for the problem also.

[FakeWozniak]

Originally Posted by jav6454

Intel should just stick to CPUs and leave the GPUs to nVidia and AMD/ATI. That's the best solution here.

This doesn't seem fair to me. A GPU is actually a performance optimized CPU. Intel has been in the *PU business for a long time.

Maybe Apple should stay out of the cell phone business, or the map business, using that same logic.

This is good news actually that Intel is dedicated to helping the 5-10% market share of the Mac users. They admitted a problem and intend to fix it instead of just ignoring us.