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Solved my problem entirely by going from mini DP to DVI to mini DP to DP cable. This is consistent with other users finding success moving away from the mini DP to DVI cable (adapter) to cables using more or less the same connections. Eg. mini DP to DP and HDMI to HDMI.
 
I am having the same issue. My Mac Mini was purchased on 16th Feb 2015.
This is running 10.10.2.

I am using an iiyama 24 inch monitor with it.

The issue happens with HDMI to HDMI connection or mini display port to DVI connection.
I have called apple on the issue and they failed to resolve it, simply suggesting I buy an Apple display. I pointed out this thread to the apple tech and he said he would raise this with the 2nd level engineering support team.
The case remains open.
 
I experience this issue also but a little differently.

When the monitor does act up about 25% of the time it can occur under different scenarios.

Under both it (the monitor) has a very garbled/ off color look. Turning the monitor off and back on usually fixes it.

Monitor is an AOC 29" 21:9 2560x1080 Connected to 2 computers. Mini is connected via MDP to DP cable. PC is connected via DVI at both ends. Switching between the two via choosing the input on the monitor.

Mini is a 2014 top stock spec Mini.

Scenario 1: Waking the Mini up from sleep it will happen about 25% of the time and the monitor input is DP ( Mini connection).

Scenario 2: When using the PC and switching over to the Mini it will happen about 25% of the time. I have tried both waking the Mini before switching over and switching the monitor over before waking the mini. Does not seem to have a pattern that I can see.

Did Not have this issue with a 2011 Mini.

Never happens with the PC.
 
Yes, how strange.... Have Apple crippled the output for screens other than their own? Bring Your Own screen my arse.....:apple:
 
This has been an ongoing issue with my 2012 Mac Mini. Lolz.

I'm running a DP to DVI to a Dell 24 inch. Apple suggested reseting the bios, new monitor cable, etc. But none of these things helped.

My only fix is to turn the monitor off then back on again.
 
New monitor and now all is fine.... So far...

So I took the plunge today and bought a new monitor. Now all is working just fine. So the Mac Mini likes new or newer monitors. My old monitor was bought in 2009, and would not play nice with the mini. Now we will see what happens with a brand new Monitor.
I would not think that the older monitor was at the end of life, it is still a good monitor, just not good for the Mac Mini.
It is going on guMtree in the morning, got to get something for it.:rolleyes:
 
This thread has been going for quite some time with little more than a description from users having problems. No other research into the root cause.

New to mac - 2014 mini 2.6 OSX 10.10.2 - Same problem with mdp > dvi like most. Some in this forum describe snow/noise from hdmi > dvi. Very few have problems with vga. I don't have a problem with hdmi > dvi using rocketfish adapter.

2 AOC 20" monitors connected in different configurations using hdmi > dvi, mdp > vga, mdp > dvi.

The common thread to all the difficulties mentioned centers around "dvi".
DVI and HDMI have built-in support for "HDCP" content protection. When the monitor wakes from sleep there is a "handshake" which takes place with dvi and hdmi to prevent copying the output.

Could this be the problem?

My monitor(s) connected through dvi will eventually wake up from sleep but takes about 15 seconds - the vga connected monitor(s) wake up immediately without noise. Also it makes a difference in which mdp the dvi connected monitor is plugged into if used in dual display with one monitor connected vga.

When the mdp > dvi connected monitor is plugged into the mdp closest to the power cord and the second monitor mdp > vga is connected to the second mdp port the dock jumps from monitor to monitor at random.

Add the dock jumping from monitor to monitor in a dual monitor configuration and this could very well explain the "hdcp" theory.
 
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And just to revive a very old thread because this information is relevant for all users regardless when the display problem first was posted—

I'll add this to the conversation:

• Monitor: 2008 Samsung 21" using DVI.
• Computer 1: 2007 Mac Mini, Snow Leopard 10.6.8.
• Computer 2: 2010 Mac Mini. Snow Leopard (10.6.8) one partition, El Capitan (10.11.6) the other partition.

For me, the wake from sleep white noise only occurs (for 5-8 seconds) on the 2010 Mac mini with a hdmi>DVI adapter running Snow leopard.
When the same 2010 Mac mini is booted into El Capitan, (instead of SL) the wake from sleep is fine. No noise.
The 2007 MacMini has no problems either.

So it's not a monitor problem.
Nor is it specifically an OS problem
Nor is it specifically a hardware problem.
Nor an adapter problem.

It's a combo
 
Solved my problem entirely by going from mini DP to DVI to mini DP to DP cable. This is consistent with other users finding success moving away from the mini DP to DVI cable (adapter) to cables using more or less the same connections. Eg. mini DP to DP and HDMI to HDMI.

Data point to the contrary: mini-DP -> DP on BenQ monitor exhibits regular loss of connection / white snow periods for me on a "new" 2014 Mac Mini.
Edit: Swapping cables seems to have fixed the issue (both cables made by Monoprice).
 
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Data point to the contrary: mini-DP -> DP on BenQ monitor exhibits regular loss of connection / white snow periods for me on a "new" 2014 Mac Mini.
Edit: Swapping cables seems to have fixed the issue (both cables made by Monoprice).

For me the fix is as simple as just turning the monitor off and back on.
Since I've upgraded to El Capitan, 10.11.6 it seems to have resolved itself by resetting the display several times if it comes up with the snowy display.. I still see it come up after waking but it self resolves.

I know i have not yet gone to Sierra..
AntonQ
[doublepost=1503160457][/doublepost]
Data point to the contrary: mini-DP -> DP on BenQ monitor exhibits regular loss of connection / white snow periods for me on a "new" 2014 Mac Mini.
Edit: Swapping cables seems to have fixed the issue (both cables made by Monoprice).

For me the fix is as simple as just turning the monitor off and back on.
Since I've upgraded to El Capitan, 10.11.6 it seems to have resolved itself by resetting the display several times till the display shows up again... I still sometimes see it come up after waking but it self resolves.

AntonQ
 
@now i see it
thanks for "reviving"... and I'll continue.

YES it's still an issue after several years - one I've decided I just live with.
I continue to observe patterns and have decided this might be a factor...

SETUP
Old Macmini 2.5 GHz i5. Apple bluetooth magic keyboard and magic trackpad. Well maintained and never skips a beat (touch wood) in use daily. I have 2 identical BENQ monitors - one connected via an apple VGA adapter to mini DVI (no issues at all there), the 2nd monitor is connected HDMI to HDMI.

Put aside potential side issues (software fails due to still running 10.9.5) which don't seem related to the core problem ONE test plays out over and over.

If I wake the mac using the keyboard there's never an issue.
IF I wake the mac by touching the trackpad I get a snow screen, remedied by turning on/off the monitor.
It's not a problem for me but I thought it might help others pin down the fault - in my mind there's something about that "handshake" pmstewart suggested above.

cheers,
A.
 
Why not! I'll revive again. The late Mac mini connected from HDMI port to a DVI monitor with an
AmazonBasics HL-007347 HDMI to DVI Adapter Cable just started doing it. I thing it was after the lates mohave upgrade
 
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My mini and a different monitor went on the road recently. More strange behaviour. The DVI-VGA adapter cable would not work at all until I returned home and went back to the usual 2-monitor setup.
The HDMI cable did work but again the usual SNOW. Interestingly with only one monitor I detected a pattern, perhaps coincidental?
If I disabled monitor and CPU "sleep" (energy saver control panel) then the monitor stayed connected but only if I have a single monitor connected.
Three possibilities: faulty HDMI cable, faulty HDMI port, fault with MacOS handling refresh rates for two different types of monitor.
 
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