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External display with macbook pro 15 inch losing signal randomly

H

howareyoukk

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 1, 2013
169
5
Sorry guys, some of you may notice that I have another thread here in regards of the same issue. Please disregard that thread as it wasn't clear.

So I just had this issue again while I was browsing on internet: I having a 2k monitor with resolution of 2560x1440 and I connect my macbook pro 15 inch with it via thunderbolt-dual link dvi adapter (the one from apple ). I have my mouse plugged into the usb port on the power hub of the adapter, the two cables from the adapter plugged straight into the thunderbolt and usb ports on my laptop and one wireless keyboard receiver on the last usb port on my laptop. The monitor will sometimes lose singal for few seconds and come back by itself very quick.(dont even see the message where it says no signal detected) Also, the power light on the monitor is on (doesn't change colours )and the display on my macbook pro remains the same while the monitor signal is lost. And this only happened while I use my monitor on dvi input(I have a ps4 connect to the same monitor via hdmi and it never had signal lost).

I checked the adapter and the cable twice and I am sure they are plugged in tight(it has to be tight right...). So I am not sure where it goes wrong that caused my monitor randomly lose signal while using the dvi input..please help. ...

thank you all in advanced. :)

EDIT:
-broken monitor? (but my friend was using my monitor for his pc via the dvi port and it didn't happen to him)
-broken laptop?(but the display on the laptop remains the same while the signal on the external monitor drops)
-broken cable?(not sure about this one)
-The signal drops doesn't happen everyday. The third time it happened is four days after the second time.


Some people may ask me why I am not using a mini display port-display port cable. Its because the mini display port-display port cable does not work with my 15 inch laptop and this specific monitor. It shows red static line on the top edges of the monitor if i use that cable(and yes i did get one on ebay). However, the dual link dvi adapter worked perfectly until I discovered this issue recently and it already happened three times)

Thanks:)
 
Last edited:
howareyoukk said:
Sorry guys, some of you may notice that I have another thread here in regards of the same issue. Please disregard that thread as it wasn't clear.

So I just had this issue again while I was browsing on internet: I having a 2k monitor with resolution of 2560x1440 and I connect my macbook pro 15 inch with it via thunderbolt-dual link dvi adapter (the one from apple ). I have my mouse plugged into the usb port on the power hub of the adapter, the two cables from the adapter plugged straight into the thunderbolt and usb ports on my laptop and one wireless keyboard receiver on the last usb port on my laptop. The monitor will sometimes lose singal for few seconds and come back by itself very quick.(dont even see the message where it says no signal detected) Also, the power light on the monitor is on (doesn't change colours )and the display on my macbook pro remains the same while the monitor signal is lost. And this only happened while I use my monitor on dvi input(I have a ps4 connect to the same monitor via hdmi and it never had signal lost).

I checked the adapter and the cable twice and I am sure they are plugged in tight(it has to be tight right...). So I am not sure where it goes wrong that caused my monitor randomly lose signal while using the dvi input..please help. ...

thank you all in advanced. :)

EDIT:
-broken monitor? (but my friend was using my monitor for his pc via the dvi port and it didn't happen to him)
-broken laptop?(but the display on the laptop remains the same while the signal on the external monitor drops)
-broken cable?(not sure about this one)
-The signal drops doesn't happen everyday. The third time it happened is four days after the second time.


Some people may ask me why I am not using a mini display port-display port cable. Its because the mini display port-display port cable does not work with my 15 inch laptop and this specific monitor. It shows red static line on the top edges of the monitor if i use that cable(and yes i did get one on ebay). However, the dual link dvi adapter worked perfectly until I discovered this issue recently and it already happened three times)

Thanks:)
Click to expand...

Does this only happen if there is any movement of the cables? Since you say that the old display port cable did not "drop" but only show red static lines, that seems to me like this lies on the power side of it.

Try switching the USB ports that it is connected to. Also, if necessary contact your nearest Genius Bar or call AppleCare for warranty claims!
 
My guess is that perhaps the mouse is drawing more power than the MBP can now deliver to both the Dual Link adapter and the mouse... I've heard of USB port power reducing over time...

Try pulling the mouse out and see if it makes any difference...
 
kyriostrife said:
What are the specs on your mbpro?
Click to expand...

my specs are:
-2012 macbook pro 15 anti-glare display
-i7 2.7ghz
-gt650m 1gb
-8gb ram
-1tb harddrive
-Default system was lion but i upgraded to 10.9.2

thanks :)

----------
Altemose said:
Does this only happen if there is any movement of the cables? Since you say that the old display port cable did not "drop" but only show red static lines, that seems to me like this lies on the power side of it.

Try switching the USB ports that it is connected to. Also, if necessary contact your nearest Genius Bar or call AppleCare for warranty claims!
Click to expand...

I moved the cable several times while the laptop was connected and nothing happened. I am connecting my g9x gaming mouse to the power hud on the adapter cable. Maybe the g9x drains more power than a wireless mouse? I am now switching to my wireless mouse and see what will happen. If the problem still persist, i will contact apple store. Thanks :)

----------
matreya said:
My guess is that perhaps the mouse is drawing more power than the MBP can now deliver to both the Dual Link adapter and the mouse... I've heard of USB port power reducing over time...

Try pulling the mouse out and see if it makes any difference...
Click to expand...

I was using the g9x mouse wired mouse . Normally it shouldnt be a problem right? because apple put a usb port on the adapter cable and it was meant for us to use it...anyway, I unplugged the g9x and replace it with a wireless mouse receiver. I guess the wireless mouse receiver consumes less power?
 
matreya said:
Yes, because your wireless mouse is powered by batteries, rather than drawing current from the USB port...
Click to expand...

Ok..it can take as long as 4 days to see if the signal lost will come back.I will let you guys know regardless the outcome . :)
 
Update: this is no good guys. It just happened again, the monitor lost signal for around 2 seconds and quickly come back on. I removed my wired mouse from the usb port on the dual link dvi adapter this morning. Any idea why this is happening. It is the fourth time and it seems like it happens more frequently comparing the first three times. :(
 
howareyoukk said:
Update: this is no good guys. It just happened again, the monitor lost signal for around 2 seconds and quickly come back on. I removed my wired mouse from the usb port on the dual link dvi adapter this morning. Any idea why this is happening. It is the fourth time and it seems like it happens more frequently comparing the first three times. :(
Click to expand...

The only thing that comes to mind now is that the dual-link adapter is faulty or your MBP is faulty...
 
matreya said:
The only thing that comes to mind now is that the dual-link adapter is faulty or your MBP is faulty...
Click to expand...

my mac is the refurbished version but it functions properly. And i got the dual-link adapter around three weeks ago. Do you think apple will be much help in this kind of situation? Because I feel like this issue is totally random and apple can just blame on the monitor if they dont want to help me..
 
howareyoukk said:
my mac is the refurbished version but it functions properly. And i got the dual-link adapter around three weeks ago. Do you think apple will be much help in this kind of situation? Because I feel like this issue is totally random and apple can just blame on the monitor if they dont want to help me..
Click to expand...

I would call them and get it on record and bring it in to the Genius Bar.
 
Altemose said:
I would call them and get it on record and bring it in to the Genius Bar.
Click to expand...

Ok. i will call them tomorrow. thanks for the suggestion :). I have a theory: is it possible that my 2k monitor needs more than usual amount of power from the my laptop, and it does not allow me to plug anything else into the remaining usb ports as it will interrupt the power flow? Because my monitor model is view sonic vp2770 and it displays 10bit of colour while using the dvi input. I am not sure if the advanced display option is too much for the macbook pro too handle....
 
howareyoukk said:
Ok. i will call them tomorrow. thanks for the suggestion :). I have a theory: is it possible that my 2k monitor needs more than usual amount of power from the my laptop, and it does not allow me to plug anything else into the remaining usb ports as it will interrupt the power flow? Because my monitor model is view sonic vp2770 and it displays 10bit of colour while using the dvi input. I am not sure if the advanced display option is too much for the macbook pro too handle....
Click to expand...

I do not believe so. Are you saying this doesn't happen when nothing else is plugged in?
 
Altemose said:
I do not believe so. Are you saying this doesn't happen when nothing else is plugged in?
Click to expand...

I have my playstation 4 plugged in at the same time via hdmi port and it never had signal drops problem while using the hdmi input.
 
Altemose said:
I mean when nothing else is connected to the MacBook's USB ports but the adapter it works correctly?
Click to expand...

hmmm..havent try that...its because I need keyboard and mouse to control my laptop and this thing happens so random...I mean this morning I just bought a usb splitter and decided to plug the mouse and keyboard receiver on the laptop itself and tried to stay away from the usb port that is on the dual link adapter..but then at night I still got that signal drops and that was the fourth signal drops. The first three times did not happen that frequently..

Lets say if everything works correctly without any cable attached to my laptop besides the dual link adapter. what does it tell us? Not enough power?

I am not sure if the apple expert that i will talk to tomorrow have this kind of knowledge to help me...
 
howareyoukk said:
hmmm..havent try that...its because I need keyboard and mouse to control my laptop and this thing happens so random...I mean this morning I just bought a usb splitter and decided to plug the mouse and keyboard receiver on the laptop itself and tried to stay away from the usb port that is on the dual link adapter..but then at night I still got that signal drops and that was the fourth signal drops. The first three times did not happen that frequently..

Lets say if everything works correctly without any cable attached to my laptop besides the dual link adapter. what does it tell us? Not enough power?

I am not sure if the apple expert that i will talk to tomorrow have this kind of knowledge to help me...
Click to expand...

It would tell us that there is a power fluctuation coming from the USB ports on your MacBook. It isn't likely however...

I personally think the adapter is defective.
 
This monitor causes me so many troubles.. At first the display port cable I got from ebay didn't work quite well and I thought something wrong with my mac or the monitor and my laptop were not compactable. At the end, I took a chance on applle's dual link adapter and now it works but the I am getting frequent signal drops...

Anyway, I think my adapter is a little bit over 14 days.. Will apple still give me a new one ?
 
Same thing happens to me. Pretty common with the dual-link DVI adapter.

But since the disconnects are far in between, I don't mind.
 
boast said:
Same thing happens to me. Pretty common with the dual-link DVI adapter.

But since the disconnects are far in between, I don't mind.
Click to expand...

you got the exact same problem???? But i dont think this is normal right? How can apple sell us a device that doesn't function properly?
 
update: so i just got off the phone with apple service support and they instructed me to reset the PRAM..The resetting process was weird-just holding down 4 buttons and I didn't even see any message box come out and the lady on the phone heard the system sound and the she told me to the PRAM was reset. So in the end, she asked me to observe this issue further and left me a case number..
 
Update: Shi*t. The issue still persists even after I reset the PRAM earlier this morning. It is the fifth time and it seems like it is happening more frequently.(once a day or something). I am gonna call apple support tomorrow.....
 
boast said:
Yeah. If you check amazon reviews, or apple.com reviews I don't remember, other people have similar issues.
Click to expand...

I read most of the reviews from both websites, and most of the people fixed their issues by plugging the usb cable of the adapter into a external usb power hub. In my case, I plugged into a iPhone charger so It ensures sufficient amount of power flowing through.Not sure about what will happen, will update.

Have you tried to plug the usb cable to a external usb power hub ?
 
This is also an issue with my Thunderbolt Display and 2013 15" MacBook Pro. It happens whenever I touch the Thunderbolt cable in some way. Many other people have the same issue, so I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens constantly, even without you touching the cables.


howareyoukk said:
Sorry guys, some of you may notice that I have another thread here in regards of the same issue. Please disregard that thread as it wasn't clear.

So I just had this issue again while I was browsing on internet: I having a 2k monitor with resolution of 2560x1440 and I connect my macbook pro 15 inch with it via thunderbolt-dual link dvi adapter (the one from apple ). I have my mouse plugged into the usb port on the power hub of the adapter, the two cables from the adapter plugged straight into the thunderbolt and usb ports on my laptop and one wireless keyboard receiver on the last usb port on my laptop. The monitor will sometimes lose singal for few seconds and come back by itself very quick.(dont even see the message where it says no signal detected) Also, the power light on the monitor is on (doesn't change colours )and the display on my macbook pro remains the same while the monitor signal is lost. And this only happened while I use my monitor on dvi input(I have a ps4 connect to the same monitor via hdmi and it never had signal lost).

I checked the adapter and the cable twice and I am sure they are plugged in tight(it has to be tight right...). So I am not sure where it goes wrong that caused my monitor randomly lose signal while using the dvi input..please help. ...

thank you all in advanced. :)

EDIT:
-broken monitor? (but my friend was using my monitor for his pc via the dvi port and it didn't happen to him)
-broken laptop?(but the display on the laptop remains the same while the signal on the external monitor drops)
-broken cable?(not sure about this one)
-The signal drops doesn't happen everyday. The third time it happened is four days after the second time.


Some people may ask me why I am not using a mini display port-display port cable. Its because the mini display port-display port cable does not work with my 15 inch laptop and this specific monitor. It shows red static line on the top edges of the monitor if i use that cable(and yes i did get one on ebay). However, the dual link dvi adapter worked perfectly until I discovered this issue recently and it already happened three times)

Thanks:)
Click to expand...
 
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