2

I'm trying to use an external display with my MacBook Pro laptop. The laptop detects the display and the display is running at its native resolution of 1680 by 1050.

However, there are constant green pixels randomly flashing on and off evenly across the entire display area.

The display is connected via a mini DVI to HDMI adaptor.

I tried power cycling everything.

I also verified that this display works fine with a different MacBook Pro -- a much older one with the old HDMI out port.

  1. Is anyone else seeing this problem?

  2. Is there any way to fix it?


The computer

  Model Name:   MacBook Pro
  Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,4
  Processor Name:   Intel Core 2 Duo
  Processor Speed:  2.53 GHz
  Number Of Processors: 1
  Total Number Of Cores:    2
  L2 Cache: 3 MB
  Memory:   4 GB
  Bus Speed:    1.07 GHz
  Boot ROM Version: MBP53.00AC.B03
  SMC Version (system): 1.49f2

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M:

  Chipset Model:    NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
  Type: GPU
  Bus:  PCI
  VRAM (Total): 256 MB
  Vendor:   NVIDIA (0x10de)
  Device ID:    0x0863
  Revision ID:  0x00b1
  ROM Revision: 3448
  Displays:
Color LCD:
  Resolution:   1440 x 900
  Pixel Depth:  32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
  Mirror:   Off
  Online:   Yes
  Built-In: Yes
LA2205:
  Resolution:   1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
  Pixel Depth:  32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
  Display Serial Number:    3CQ0132VF9  
  Main Display: Yes
  Mirror:   Off
  Online:   Yes
  Rotation: Supported

The monitor

HP Compaq LA2205wg
1
  • "However, there are constant green pixels randomly flashing on and off evenly across the entire display area." - Click it to loot the corpse...
    – EBGreen
    Aug 31, 2011 at 21:09

2 Answers 2

2

It could simply be a faulty adapter, or a problem with the input port itself (a damaged pin or the like). Try another adapter, or the same adapter on a different machine.

There could be a problem with the internal graphics card as well, although that's relatively unlikely if the internal display is working fine. Still, to rule it out, you'd need to try an entirely different monitor on this machine.

2
  • On reading your answer I reached over and pushed on the mini-DVI adapter. The sparkles stopped briefly. I messed around with it some more and now they're gone -- at least for the time being. So I guess it's a problem with the adapter and/or the port. Thanks for the help.
    – Ethan
    Aug 31, 2011 at 21:20
  • @Ethan - No problem. It's entirely possible that it just wasn't seated properly, honestly...I made the assumption you'd reseated it but apparently I may have been wrong.
    – Shinrai
    Aug 31, 2011 at 21:31
0

This is down to poor shielding somewhere on the connection. In my case, it was an actual split in the wire casing, through the wire shieldig, allowing interference. It could easily just be down to poorly seated connectors, or cheap / faulty wires.

Good news is, it's almost certainly just the wire or adapters, rather than the laptop / TV - it's interference on the signal which is otherwise fine.

1
  • 1
    As it’s currently written, your answer is unclear. Please edit to add additional details that will help others understand how this addresses the question asked. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.
    – Community Bot
    Oct 31, 2023 at 21:38

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .