New Dell u2713hm connected to 2011 Mac mini giving random black screen

[amac4me]

So I just hooked up a new Dell u2713hm to my 2011 Mac mini Server 2 days ago via the StarTech 6-Feet Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Adapter Cable - M/M (MDP2DPMM6) that I purchased from Amazon.

Today the monitor is giving random black screen every few minutes or so. Anyone know what I can do to address this issue?

Also, any other advice on how best to use this monitor with a 2011 Mac mini would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[blanka]

Is it happening when XBMC is launched?
I had similar problems, but mine were caused by a conflict in the energy mode of OSX and the one from XBMC. It results in apparent random black screens, but they are not random.

Solution: turn of energy saving in XBMC, and put the OSX one to say 3 minutes for screen blackout.
XBMC will keep OSX awake when playing movies, even when 3 minutes without input activity are passed.

Also, use the trial of Switch Res X to add some custom refresh rates like 50 and 47.952Hz. You don't need to buy it, just add those refreshes and remove the tool. OSX will remember the added values.
With 50Hz you can watch PAL content without judder, and with 47.952 you can watch 24p movies without judder. If I am correct, this Dell can handle some non 60Hz refresh rates.

 

[CausticPuppy]

I have the exact same monitor but I haven't had issues with random black screens.

I do occasionally have an issue where the screen won't come on after the Mini has put it to sleep; I have to power cycle the monitor or even unplug the DisplayPort cable. That's apparently a well known problem with Dell monitors using the Display Port connector on the mac mini.

 

[CausticPuppy]

OK, I started seeing a problem when I hooked up a spare monitor to the HDMI port. At random times, generally when running flash player or something, the Dell just goes into sleep mode even when I'm actively using the system. The second monitor stays on.

This happened last night and I couldn't get the Dell to wake back up; even unplugging re-plugging the DisplayPort cable wouldn't do it. While fiddling with the cables I noticed that the exhaust was very hot from the back of the Mini.

I powered down the system, unplugged the spare monitor, and plugged the Dell back in. I didn't have any issues after that, so for me it seems to be an issue running dual monitors (MiniDP + HDMI).

 

[newrecruit]

I have the same frustrating/distracting problem using an Early 2011 Macbook Pro w/ OSX 10.8.4

I bought two u2713hm displays with two different DisplayPort cables. Both screens will go black at random for 2 seconds several times per day. Roughly once per hour.

 

[CausticPuppy]

I have the same frustrating/distracting problem using an Early 2011 Macbook Pro w/ OSX 10.8.4

I bought two u2713hm displays with two different DisplayPort cables. Both screens will go black at random for 2 seconds several times per day. Roughly once per hour.

Does that happen when you have only 1 display hooked up?

Mine seems to work fine with just the u2713hm on the displayport, but adding the 2nd display on HDMI causes the first display to black out after a while.

The 2nd display is just an old 1280x1024 LCD I had lying around.

 

[amac4me]

Does that happen when you have only 1 display hooked up?

Mine seems to work fine with just the u2713hm on the displayport, but adding the 2nd display on HDMI causes the first display to black out after a while.

The 2nd display is just an old 1280x1024 LCD I had lying around.

No, it only happens when I have 2 displays hooked up. I have the Dell connected to the Thunderbolt port (Mini DisplayPort) and the second monitor connected via HDMI.

When I disconnect the monitor connected via HDMI, the random blank screen no longer occurs.

So I get the same behavior as CausticPuppy.

 

[CausticPuppy]

No, it only happens when I have 2 displays hooked up. I have the Dell connected to the Thunderbolt port (Mini DisplayPort) and the second monitor connected via HDMI.

When I disconnect the monitor connected via HDMI, the random blank screen no longer occurs.

So I get the same behavior as CausticPuppy.

I guess that makes it officially a bug.

 

[kubbing]

same issue here

macbook pro late 2011
dell u2713hm

blanks more often when playing flash videos…

 

[kubbing]

I have the same frustrating/distracting problem using an Early 2011 Macbook Pro w/ OSX 10.8.4

I bought two u2713hm displays with two different DisplayPort cables. Both screens will go black at random for 2 seconds several times per day. Roughly once per hour.

Any solution? Same thing happens to me and it's annoying :/.

 

[calvol]

Are these Mini's with the Intel GPU (HD3000)? If so, there were similar HDMI issues with the 2012 Mini with the HD4000 GPU which are probably related -- random blank screens, crushed whites, and snowy screens. There was a firmware update, but seems like the issues persisted for most users.

I returned a 2012 Mini with this problem, and bought a 2011 with Radeon 6630m GPU, and have not seen these issues.

There were tons of threads on this issue on the Intel support forums over the last couple years....

 

[c0rtland]

dell u2713hm MBP early 2011

i have a MBP osx 10.9.1 and am using the thunderbolt port with mdp to dp cable. when i use any resolution above 1080p I get random flickering and also random black screens. they occur very often and last anywhere from 1-4 seconds. when i use mdp to hdmi i do not have the problem either, but again that is maxed out at 1080p so i'm unable to test higher resolutions with that cable. I want to max out the display at 2560x1440.

does anyone have this flickering and black screen problem with my setup? what should i do??

This is a brand new monitor and i received it today!

thank you.

 

[theSeb]

I have the same issue, but with a 24" ACD. 2011 mini.

It does not happen with a 2009 MBP, or a 2012 rMBP.

 

[Miltz]

For comparison I have the same monitor that I'm using with the gold plated version of a similar cable on a 2013 MBA, no issues here. Video looks great.
Perhaps it's a firmware issue on the mini.

 

[Ample Pie]

Probably not relevant, as I'm on a PC, but I've been Googling this issue and this thread came up - the symptoms you describe are exactly what I see here; frequent blackouts lasting a second or two, that are more frequent while watching video. Also while playing games (don't tell my boss work PC and all).

I've got an i5-3570 here, so that's HD2500 graphics, with a Dell P2213 (awful business monitor) over DisplayPort, with a 2nd 1280x1024 VGA Dell monitor that doesn't do it at all. I've not tried the P2213 on its own to see if it still blacks out, or over VGA as I'm limited by ports on the PC.

Can't seem to find much else on the issue . . . Sorry to hijack your mac forum - just though it might be useful to know it's probably Dell/Intel as opposed to Apple.

It's blacked out three times in the past 15 minutes strangely... Annoying!

 

[HolidaySeason]

It might be the cable. My 30" Korean 2560x1600 was freaking out with my display port cable. It would flicker in and out and black out at times. Swapped to a different cable and it worked fine.

 

[MrGIS]

OK, I started seeing a problem when I hooked up a spare monitor to the HDMI port. At random times, generally when running flash player or something, the Dell just goes into sleep mode even when I'm actively using the system. The second monitor stays on.

This happened last night and I couldn't get the Dell to wake back up; even unplugging re-plugging the DisplayPort cable wouldn't do it. While fiddling with the cables I noticed that the exhaust was very hot from the back of the Mini.

I powered down the system, unplugged the spare monitor, and plugged the Dell back in. I didn't have any issues after that, so for me it seems to be an issue running dual monitors (MiniDP + HDMI).

I use a the 27 Dell by itself with no issues. You may want to try another cable. Monoprice sells great cables for cheap. I too had a second 1080p monitor briefly, and if I recall correctly there was some intermittent problems. But because it was just way too much monitor in front of me, I immediately got rid of the secondary display.

I have to wonder however if asking the Intel 3000 graphics to drive that kind of resolution at the same time is just too much? No tech info to back that up, but it may be worth looking into.

 

[spda242]

I have the problem with my AMD Mac mini 2011 a Dell U2711 since 10.9.2
No problem before or i Windows.

 

[BrianAz]

So I just hooked up a new Dell u2713hm to my 2011 Mac mini Server 2 days ago via the StarTech 6-Feet Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Adapter Cable - M/M (MDP2DPMM6) that I purchased from Amazon.

Today the monitor is giving random black screen every few minutes or so. Anyone know what I can do to address this issue?

Also, any other advice on how best to use this monitor with a 2011 Mac mini would be appreciated.

Thanks!

OK, I started seeing a problem when I hooked up a spare monitor to the HDMI port. At random times, generally when running flash player or something, the Dell just goes into sleep mode even when I'm actively using the system. The second monitor stays on.

This happened last night and I couldn't get the Dell to wake back up; even unplugging re-plugging the DisplayPort cable wouldn't do it. While fiddling with the cables I noticed that the exhaust was very hot from the back of the Mini.

I powered down the system, unplugged the spare monitor, and plugged the Dell back in. I didn't have any issues after that, so for me it seems to be an issue running dual monitors (MiniDP + HDMI).

Does that happen when you have only 1 display hooked up?

Mine seems to work fine with just the u2713hm on the displayport, but adding the 2nd display on HDMI causes the first display to black out after a while.

The 2nd display is just an old 1280x1024 LCD I had lying around.

No, it only happens when I have 2 displays hooked up. I have the Dell connected to the Thunderbolt port (Mini DisplayPort) and the second monitor connected via HDMI.

When I disconnect the monitor connected via HDMI, the random blank screen no longer occurs.

So I get the same behavior as CausticPuppy.

Just wanted to add my experiences to this old thread for anyone else who is encountering this issue.

I have this issue with my Mac Mini Mid 2011 w/ the AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics. When attempting to use my Asus PB278Q via MiniDP->DP cable at 2560x1440 AND a secondary monitor HDMI->HDMI (happens to be a Dell P2217 @ 1680x1050) the DP connected monitor (Asus) will occasionally go black for a few seconds. The frequency of this is difficult to track as it is intermittent but it happens maybe once every 1-2 hours or so.

When this happens, the secondary monitor (Dell on HDMI) keeps working like there is no issue. After 1-3 seconds, the Asus will pop back on. Additionally, on my monitor when it sleeps normally, the power button switches from Blue to Yellow... When this issue happens, the power button stays blue like it's fully awake while the monitor blanks out.

Additionally, every so often the Asus will flash/flicker for a fraction of a second.


I really enjoy having dual monitors and the issue is intermittent, so at this point I've done only limited testing but it seems to line up with the experiences above. This is what I've done so far... I'll update with my notes as I progress through my troubleshooting.

• I swapped DP and HDMI connections for my two monitors: This limited the Asus to 1080p on the HDMI cable and the Dell continued to use it's optimal resolution via the DP connection. I worked with this setup for ~ 3 weeks and did not experience a single hiccup.

Next Up (will test each for a few weeks or until I see an issue):

1. Going to keep the Asus on MiniDP->DP and the Dell on HDMI, but am going to force the Asus to 1080p to see if the issue persists at the lower resolution.
   • UPDATE: Made the change 5/1... Dell still on HDMI, Asus on MiniDP->DP @ 1080p.
     • First Asus black screen @ ~ 1:45pm. Same behavior, lasted 2 seconds then popped back to life. I think this confirms that setting the primary monitor to 2560x1440 is not causing the issue. Will continue with this setup for a few more days until I have experienced the black screen several times to confirm it persists.
2. I have a new work laptop (Windows/HP) with DP connections that should be able to drive the Asus at full resolution. I will test this as well to confirm I do not see this flickering.
3. I also have a MacBook Pro (2015). I have a desk stand on order and will eventually get around to testing this with my dual displays to confirm the issue isn't a compatibility issue with Asus and Macs.

Goal:

This Asus PB278Q at 2560x1440 is beautiful when it's at full resolution and the issues above are not happening. I am looking to upgrade to a more powerful Mac Mini later this year with dual miniDP/TB ports and would like to add a second Asus PB278Q instead of the Dell I'm using now. Before I spend that money though, I want to make sure there's not some general issue running at full resolution and that there aren't any issues if I were to run two of them on a new Mac Mini.