External display with macbook pro 15 inch losing signal randomly

[howareyoukk]

UPDATE: FAIL FAIL AGAIN! Even with the usb cable on the adapter directly plugged into an external usb power source, i still get signal drop and this happens more frequently now, it happens once per day..not sure why. Just called apple and they told me to monitor this issue on safe boot mode and a new account mode. Now I am doing it on a new account since the safe boot mode is extremely slow and I basically can't test anything on it.
Will update, I will find the solution on way or another.

 

[Altemose]

UPDATE: FAIL FAIL AGAIN! Even with the usb cable on the adapter directly plugged into an external usb power source, i still get signal drop and this happens more frequently now, it happens once per day..not sure why. Just called apple and they told me to monitor this issue on safe boot mode and a new account mode. Now I am doing it on a new account since the safe boot mode is extremely slow and I basically can't test anything on it.
Will update, I will find the solution on way or another.

To be dead honest with you, I would look at using a different cable. Either get this adapter replaced or order a different type of cable. I think your previous Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable was bad. Looking at the reviews for this adapter, they really aren't all that stellar and they date to 2008.

 

[howareyoukk]

To be dead honest with you, I would look at using a different cable. Either get this adapter replaced or order a different type of cable. I think your previous Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable was bad. Looking at the reviews for this adapter, they really aren't all that stellar and they date to 2008.

hey Altemose, how you doing today? I appreciate your suggestions. My mini display port to display port was ok. It just doesn't work with the 15 inch macbook pro and this specific monitor. I tried it with my friend's 15 inch macbook pro(non retina) and 13 inch retina pro. Both of mine 15 inch pro and his have the same red static lines issues. However, the 13 inch retina pro was completely ok -it displayed full resolution and the colour looked good to me. Also, I came across with a review on amazon where a person happens to have the same monitor as mine and he also stated that mini display port to display port doesn't work with his setup.

As for the review of this adapter, I know it doesn't have the best reputation out there and it maybe the worst apple product. And I read all of the reviews on amazon and apple.com last night and found out there were almost none of them have the "signal drop" issue. The most identical issue they have was "screen flickering" and they managed to solve that with an external usb hub. In this case, I tried it with a 12w iPhone charger and it still happened this morning. So i start to think maybe this is not a power issue.

I called apple this morning and they want to make sure this is not a software issue from my mac. So they asked me to create a new account and monitor this issue under the new account. If this issue still happens under the new account, then i think it can be the cable, laptop or the monitor...i hope its not my monitor because i drop 900 AUD on that...its a great great monitor when it doesn't lose signal....

 

[howareyoukk]

UPDATE:IT even happened again under a new user account. Definitely not a software issue. Apple store closes tomorrow so I will borrow my friend's 13 inch macbook pro and try it out. This signal drops occurs more frequently now. It used to happen once a four days or even one week. But it happened twice a day. Not sure if it is the cable, laptop or the monitor .....

 

[Altemose]

hey Altemose, how you doing today? I appreciate your suggestions. My mini display port to display port was ok. It just doesn't work with the 15 inch macbook pro and this specific monitor. I tried it with my friend's 15 inch macbook pro(non retina) and 13 inch retina pro. Both of mine 15 inch pro and his have the same red static lines issues. However, the 13 inch retina pro was completely ok -it displayed full resolution and the colour looked good to me. Also, I came across with a review on amazon where a person happens to have the same monitor as mine and he also stated that mini display port to display port doesn't work with his setup.

As for the review of this adapter, I know it doesn't have the best reputation out there and it maybe the worst apple product. And I read all of the reviews on amazon and apple.com last night and found out there were almost none of them have the "signal drop" issue. The most identical issue they have was "screen flickering" and they managed to solve that with an external usb hub. In this case, I tried it with a 12w iPhone charger and it still happened this morning. So i start to think maybe this is not a power issue.

I called apple this morning and they want to make sure this is not a software issue from my mac. So they asked me to create a new account and monitor this issue under the new account. If this issue still happens under the new account, then i think it can be the cable, laptop or the monitor...i hope its not my monitor because i drop 900 AUD on that...its a great great monitor when it doesn't lose signal....

Since Apple warranties the accessories and for an even longer time if you have AppleCare, you should have no issues getting it replaced. I think you just have a really touchy adapter as it shows all the signs of being one.

The fact that it didn't drop with the old MDP-->DP cable proves it isn't wrong with the port on your MBP unless it sustained damage since then. I would speak to AppleCare or the Genius Bar about this.

 

[howareyoukk]

Since Apple warranties the accessories and for an even longer time if you have AppleCare, you should have no issues getting it replaced. I think you just have a really touchy adapter as it shows all the signs of being one.

The fact that it didn't drop with the old MDP-->DP cable proves it isn't wrong with the port on your MBP unless it sustained damage since then. I would speak to AppleCare or the Genius Bar about this.

haha, I barely used the MDP->DP cable because it has those red static lines. So I wont be sure if the same issue will happen on that cable.

I connected my friend's 13 inch retina pro (the one that worked with my monitor via MDP->DP without red static line) to the monitor already and I have been testing it.

I have this crazy thought: lets say I dont get signal drops with this 13 inch retina pro. Then it means something is wrong with my 15 inch pro right? If i present this issue to apple, how is apple going to fix it assuming they even acknowledge that its the problem from the laptop? Will there just replace the old logic board with a new one (because the DP and usb ports are integrated with the logic board ) or they will just replace me with a new laptop thats equivalent to the specs and price of the current one?

 

[kyriostrife]

If you're lucky then yes, otherwise they'll just replace the logic board and see if that fixes it.

 

[Altemose]

haha, I barely used the MDP->DP cable because it has those red static lines. So I wont be sure if the same issue will happen on that cable.



I connected my friend's 13 inch retina pro (the one that worked with my monitor via MDP->DP without red static line) to the monitor already and I have been testing it.



I have this crazy thought: lets say I dont get signal drops with this 13 inch retina pro. Then it means something is wrong with my 15 inch pro right? If i present this issue to apple, how is apple going to fix it assuming they even acknowledge that its the problem from the laptop? Will there just replace the old logic board with a new one (because the DP and usb ports are integrated with the logic board ) or they will just replace me with a new laptop thats equivalent to the specs and price of the current one?

Generally they try repair until it is no longer in their best interest to do so.

 

[howareyoukk]

no good.. should have got the retina version at the first place. feels like retina macbook is the way to go now. The main reason i got the older version was for the antiglare display. But now after all this, I feel like retina macbook is more stable..who would know a 13 inch retina pro can out perform my 15 inch pro in terms of connectivity...

Anyway, I will keep you guys updated till i fix this problem for my OWN laptop. Thanks for all the support and messages

 

[howareyoukk]

If you're lucky then yes, otherwise they'll just replace the logic board and see if that fixes it.

my laptop is 5 months old already....

 

[howareyoukk]

UPDATE: Just made an appointment with genius bar for tomorrow.

I have been doing some testings with my friend's retina 13 inch pro for almost 2 days and I didnt get any signal drops. Very stable. I am using the same monitor, cable and only difference is the laptop. I am afraid that something is wrong with my macbook pro. However, I have this feeling that I am not sure if this is the problem for all 15 inch macbook pro (non-retina) or just for my laptop.

Remember when I first tried to connect two 15 inch macbook pro (non retina, one from me and the other one from my friend) via the MDP-DP cable, both of them showed red static lines on the screen. And this issue did not happen on that exact retina 13 inch pro. This time around with the right cable my 15 inch macbook pro has this random signal drop issues whereas the retina 13 inch pro is working fine. It makes me wonder if this monitor even have full support towards 15 inch macbook pro(non -retina). However I didnt get to run the tests on my friend's macbook pro 15 inch(non-retina).

However there are no logical reasons to believe that this monitor only supports 13 inch retina pro or perhaps 15 inch retina pro. I mean the manufacturer of the monitor could not possibly design a monitor that only support specific groups of mac laptops considering the monitor was first released on 2012 and non retina models were still co-exist with the retina model back then...

I hope apple will fix this issue for me tomorrow ...

 

[Altemose]

UPDATE: Just made an appointment with genius bar for tomorrow.

I have been doing some testings with my friend's retina 13 inch pro for almost 2 days and I didnt get any signal drops. Very stable. I am using the same monitor, cable and only difference is the laptop. I am afraid that something is wrong with my macbook pro. However, I have this feeling that I am not sure if this is the problem for all 15 inch macbook pro (non-retina) or just for my laptop.

Remember when I first tried to connect two 15 inch macbook pro (non retina, one from me and the other one from my friend) via the MDP-DP cable, both of them showed red static lines on the screen. And this issue did not happen on that exact retina 13 inch pro. This time around with the right cable my 15 inch macbook pro has this random signal drop issues whereas the retina 13 inch pro is working fine. It makes me wonder if this monitor even have full support towards 15 inch macbook pro(non -retina). However I didnt get to run the tests on my friend's macbook pro 15 inch(non-retina).

However there are no logical reasons to believe that this monitor only supports 13 inch retina pro or perhaps 15 inch retina pro. I mean the manufacturer of the monitor could not possibly design a monitor that only support specific groups of mac laptops considering the monitor was first released on 2012 and non retina models were still co-exist with the retina model back then...

I hope apple will fix this issue for me tomorrow ...

Keep us posted and let us know how it turns out.

 

[howareyoukk]

Keep us posted and let us know how it turns out.

Hey altemose, miracle happened last night that made me cancel the genius bar appointment today.

Remember the MDP-DP cable? It had funky pixels when i connected my mac to the monitor. It turns out to be the thunderbolt or mac system's problem! not the cable or the monitor. How do I know that? Check out the link here:

http://www.macworld.co.uk/review/di...stency-viewsonics-big-screen-display-3464460/

please check the comment under the name "liu sam" I posted a question around 1 month ago and I forgot to check messages for a while. There was a guy who replied my message 5 days ago and provided an external link that solved the funky pixels issues with MDP-DP cable.

Apparently, there are some people out there who have the similar high res 27 inch non apple monitor setup and they have issues with the MDP-DP cable. I followed the instruction on a website and override the display system on my mac. Basically the code force the mac to display in SRGB mode which apple should have done at the first place...

So now I am connecting my mac with my external monitor via MDP-DP cable for few hours now and i havent got any random signal drops yet..i guess this time everytihng will be fixed.. I will keep monitoring this issue for few days and make sure it doesnt come back...

I will update in the next few days Happy Easter Altemose

 

[Altemose]

Hey altemose, miracle happened last night that made me cancel the genius bar appointment today.

Remember the MDP-DP cable? It had funky pixels when i connected my mac to the monitor. It turns out to be the thunderbolt or mac system's problem! not the cable or the monitor. How do I know that? Check out the link here:

http://www.macworld.co.uk/review/di...stency-viewsonics-big-screen-display-3464460/

please check the comment under the name "liu sam" I posted a question around 1 month ago and I forgot to check messages for a while. There was a guy who replied my message 5 days ago and provided an external link that solved the funky pixels issues with MDP-DP cable.

Apparently, there are some people out there who have the similar high res 27 inch non apple monitor setup and they have issues with the MDP-DP cable. I followed the instruction on a website and override the display system on my mac. Basically the code force the mac to display in SRGB mode which apple should have done at the first place...

So now I am connecting my mac with my external monitor via MDP-DP cable for few hours now and i havent got any random signal drops yet..i guess this time everytihng will be fixed.. I will keep monitoring this issue for few days and make sure it doesnt come back...

I will update in the next few days Happy Easter Altemose

Happy Easter to you as well. Glad you got that working, but now you may want to return that adapter and get your money back.

 

[davidpv]

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.

After testing in three different monitors and a couple more cables got it working upgrading my miniDP-DP cable to a HBR2 ("High Bit Rate 2") compatible cable. StarTech.com MDP2DPMM1M

 

[michaelk7]

If we are speaking of the same thing years ago I read the adapter plug and cable was losing contact. An individual suggested placing a very small piece of tin foilor gum wrapper around the plugs or connector to gain the connection. I sat at the desk with small screw driver and tweezers placing the tin foil or gum wrapper to close complete the gap or distance. It took a few times and I had to always hold it so close yet, I was so surprised when it actually worked. I'm not sure this is what you are referring to yet felt I would mention it. I do not have one of the old monitor around at this time. Do remember working with the adapter. Wish I could point you to the tread regarding tin foil or gum wrapper on monitor adapter.

2 cents
Michael