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danieloni

macrumors newbie
Jan 16, 2021
5
1
The only solution I've found so far to eliminate the flickering is to reduce my monitor refresh to 30hz instead of 60hz. It's not ideal by any means, but it worked on my Dell U2718Q monitor.
Well, I have to say I'd rather have flickering once or twice a day than having to use 30 Hz...
 
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Thomas_W

macrumors newbie
Jan 1, 2021
13
3
Randers
It seems like the guy eliminated his issue by plugging the monitor directly into the sockets and not using any extension cables.
I will try this as well for now.

Also, it could be something interfering with the signal.
Even though, I tested the video with different cables, I always had my USB Dongle attached for Power Passthrough.

For now, I have everything unnecessary unplugged and the monitor plugged into the socket directly.
There's not really any reason to believe an Xbox and an M1 Mac would cause the same problem. My monitor has a PC, the M1 Mac Mini, an Xbox One Series S, a Raspberry Pi and a MiSTer connected.

The Mac causes the problem on both HDMI and DVI whether connected directly or indirectly. I have no way of connecting via DisplayPort but also no real reason to suspect there would be a difference or improvement.

None of the other attached devices cause the problem to arise. I think something is out of spec with how Apple has implemented something display-related on the M1 machines. Between this and the number of crashes I really hope an update comes out soon. If I hadn't bought it for work, it wouldn't matter as much, but the system is far too unstable unless you reboot relatively often.
 

danieloni

macrumors newbie
Jan 16, 2021
5
1
There's not really any reason to believe an Xbox and an M1 Mac would cause the same problem. My monitor has a PC, the M1 Mac Mini, an Xbox One Series S, a Raspberry Pi and a MiSTer connected.

The Mac causes the problem on both HDMI and DVI whether connected directly or indirectly. I have no way of connecting via DisplayPort but also no real reason to suspect there would be a difference or improvement.

None of the other attached devices cause the problem to arise. I think something is out of spec with how Apple has implemented something display-related on the M1 machines. Between this and the number of crashes I really hope an update comes out soon. If I hadn't bought it for work, it wouldn't matter as much, but the system is far too unstable unless you reboot relatively often.

I have to be fair, I completely power off my MacBook everyday. Maybe that's why the system is otherwise fairly stable for me...
Yet, the issue did not occur for me since yesterday after changing how I plugged in my monitor and switching to the original power cable for my MacBook without the dongle in-between.
I also tried utilizing Ferrite beads for the cables I use to reduce the electromagnetic noise.
Don't know if those helped, but the issue could be related to electromagnetic noise..
 

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Thomas_W

macrumors newbie
Jan 1, 2021
13
3
Randers
I have to be fair, I completely power off my MacBook everyday. Maybe that's why the system is otherwise fairly stable for me...
Yet, the issue did not occur for me since yesterday after changing how I plugged in my monitor and switching to the original power cable for my MacBook without the dongle in-between.
I also tried utilizing Ferrite beads for the cables I use to reduce the electromagnetic noise.
Don't know if those helped, but the issue could be related to electromagnetic noise..
So your current working setup is MacBook with original power cable + HDMI cable connected directly between monitor and MacBook?

I don't have any ferrite beads to try, but otherwise my set-up seems to match yours. Obviously there isn't much to change power-wise on a Mac Mini, but I've tried a handful of HDMI cables from fancy 8K-capable ones to cheapo trash ones. Same behavior in all of them :-/ Did you attach the ferrite to the video cable? It looks thin for HDMI.
 

vexdev

macrumors newbie
Jan 18, 2021
1
0
Dropping in to say that I am having the same issue. Dell P2720DC, Macbook Pro M1.
I'm in contact with Apple to try to fix it, so far no luck.
 

kfe83

macrumors newbie
Jan 18, 2021
1
0
Hello,
Not sure if this helps since I'm using a 2017 MacBook Pro in clamshell mode, with an LG 32UN500-W as my external display, but I have also had these flickering issues.

I seem to have fixed the problem by playing around with the monitors picture settings. Not sure which setting finally fixed it, but I'd say it was changing the picture mode. Used to be in custom (whatever that was), after changing it to vivid it fixed the flickering problem.
 

danieloni

macrumors newbie
Jan 16, 2021
5
1
So your current working setup is MacBook with original power cable + HDMI cable connected directly between monitor and MacBook?

I don't have any ferrite beads to try, but otherwise my set-up seems to match yours. Obviously there isn't much to change power-wise on a Mac Mini, but I've tried a handful of HDMI cables from fancy 8K-capable ones to cheapo trash ones. Same behavior in all of them :-/ Did you attach the ferrite to the video cable? It looks thin for HDMI.
It's a DisplayPort to USB C cable. Did it with both actually and with the power cable of my monitor.
Have not had an issue till now.
 

HumanSquid

macrumors newbie
Sep 27, 2016
10
2
Can you check the OSD to see whether the color mode is RGB or YPbPr?

There is an issue with Dell displays and M1 Macs where the computer outputs the wrong color space, makes text in particular look over-sharpened.
Yes I checked and it is YPbPr (the default) when I switch to RGB the colours go all wrong (greens and yellows)
 
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wazzco

macrumors newbie
Jul 4, 2016
9
0
Hi all,

I've connected my Apple Cinema Display 23" to my Mac mini M1 (Big Sur 11.1) by HDMI to DVI single link passive adaptor (Club3D).
I get Pink squares (see at very beginning of the movie), a pink static line at the very left of the screen and TERRIBLE GHOSTING (screens persisting after closing).
The crazy thing is that the ghost windows persist after a full reboot and appear through the boot screen at startup. same with full power-off and reboot.

The screen has a pink-is sheen and is micro-checkered (as if I was looking through a fine mesh), making it look much brighter than it should. No flickering issues though.
Note that NONE of this behaviour shows when I use this with my old 2011 MBP over mini DP, so it's not the screen.
Apple said in the M1 mini specs that cdmi to DVI should work - clearly not.

Have a look at this:


Absolutely horrible...
 
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mikeadams198512

macrumors newbie
Jan 21, 2021
2
0
Just got of the phone to apple over this, my mac mini m1 is being replaced. They dont know what the issue is, its clearly not a monitor or cable issue.

Not to impressed so far, i may have to go back to the hackintosh...
 

mikeadams1985123

macrumors newbie
Jan 25, 2021
4
2
forgot my log in details...SO...

from my previous post..

the m1 Mac mini has gone back, Ive brought into work the m1 MacBook Pro we also bought at the same time. hooked this up to the monitor using a thunderbolt to Hdmi cable (which works fine on the home tv)
and low and behold...the display does the same. So now I'm lead to believe this isn't a hardware issue as such, just a compatibility issue between either both hardwares or software - monitor.

Could everyone post there monitor there using and cable (Hdmi, DP etc) so we can. try and rule out these issues


M1 Mac mini - ghosting, flickering, vertical lines

MONITOR : AOC U2879VF
CABLE: HDMI

M1 MAC PRO - ghosting, flickering, vertical lines

MONITOR: AOC U2879VF

thunderbolt to hdmi
 

camsoft

macrumors regular
Nov 11, 2007
143
65
Brighton, Sussex, UK.
First of all:
I have a MacBook Pro M1 (8GB, 512Gb) and I am using it with an Asus VP28U 4K 60Hz Display.
Sadly, I have the same issue... I have linked a Video and a Photo. I already tried several Resolution Settings and a few different cables/adapters (DP to DP with DP to USB-C Adapter, DP to USB-C Cable, USB-C Dongle with HDMI Cable). Nothing seemed to help.
Also, I contacted the Apple Support a few times and they suggested Booting into Safe Mode, and reinstalling Mac OS and finally they suggested sending the MacBook back. I just got it a week ago and I have quite a lot of work to do right now, so I couldn't send it back for now (Cannot wait another week or even more..).
I also tested the monitor with my Windows Laptop from work and it seems to work fine.

Yet, I found out the following:

At least for me, the issue seems to be quite consistent with the open windows. That means, when the issue starts happening at a certain Safari Tab and stops when I switch to another Tab than I can trigger the issue by switching back to the "problematic" Tab.
I don't know why, but the issue also seems to happen quite often when opening this page on MacRumors... :D
Also, the issue is often triggered by grey areas.

Yet, the issue can only be triggered at certain times, but if it happened once I can manually cause it with certain tabs and/or programs. That's why I assume it could be something regarding the environment around the Mac (TrueTone, Automatic Brightness, etc.)

I found out, that for my monitor "Automatic Brightness" is listed as On (see attachment), yet I do not know how to switch it off. Also there is something hidden in the Display Settings called "Allow Extended Dynamic Range" that is normally checked. I disabled it already and it didn't really change anything.

I also played around with my monitor settings (enabling/disabling adaptive sync, etc.) and color settings without any success.

As one of my last steps, I disabled True Tone a few Minutes ago and for now I did not have the issue. Maybe that one fixed it for me...

So in summary:
- The issue is very consistent with the programs and tabs it is triggered by
- The issue (at least for my part) is not linked to any resolution or display setting
- The issue happens with multiple cables
- The issue seems to be triggered by grey areas
- The issue often happens in certain "time windows" (maybe linked with the environment)
- The issue still happens in Safe Mode and after a Reinstall of MacOS

So if anyone finds out which setting is causing this issue, I'd be very thankful if you could share it.
I really hope it is nothing with the hardware of my MacBook, but if this issue does not resolve itself, I will have to turn it back in... :(

Also, I will keep you updated regarding the TrueTone setting.


Edit 1:
I am on the latest MacOS (11.1)

Edit 2:
I could also recreate the "burn in" mentioned and photographed by the original post once, but I did not manage to take a photo of it..

Edit 3:
The issue just happened again. True Tone is not the cause...


View attachment 1713931
This is literally like for like with my setup same laptop same monitor, also did all the things Apple support suggested but I did indeed accept a swap so have to wait for replacement and see if this is isolated to a batch of M1 laptops or a design flaw.
 

mikeadams1985123

macrumors newbie
Jan 25, 2021
4
2
Update from APPLE,
spent an hour on the phone to tech support regarding a macbook pro m1 causing the same issue on external displays.
Was advised there is an update due out soon and to wait and see if that fixes it. They did try and make me buy there own brand of cable and adapters, but told them not the issue as multiple adaptors and cables have been tried, and these are known to work with my older macbook and mac pro. So ruled them out. Only common denominator is the M1 CHIPSET.


will wait for this update and see what happens
 

yoshiokyoto

macrumors newbie
Jan 29, 2021
2
0
京都市山科区
M1 Mac mini - no issues so far (with some limitations !)

Hi, my report so far; M1 Mac mini (OS 11.01) with 2 external monitors attached, under these conditinos.
  1. MONITOR1 : DELL S2721QS (3008 x 1692 @ 60.00Hz)
  2. MONITOR2 : Eizo S2100 (1600 x 1200 @ 60.00Hz)
  3. MONITOR1 connection: Mac Mini USBC port => CABLEDECONN USBC-DisplayPort 1.4 8K => DELL S2721QS (DisplayPort).
  4. MONITOR2 connection: Mac Mini HDMIport => HDMI => S2100
note
  1. I once had the same flickering issues with an older cable - “uni USB Type C-DisplayPort 1.2 cable 4K@60Hz”. Replacing the cable with a one above resolved “Most” of the issues.
  2. Even if with this 8K cable, either changing display’s resolution to “Large Text” or switching on a “High Dynamic Range” box induces the flickering issues again.
  3. With this flickering’s happening, removing the USB-C-DisplayPort cable once from a working Mini then re-connecting it may -most of the time - resolve the issue.
Hope this info may be of some help.
 
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yoshiokyoto

macrumors newbie
Jan 29, 2021
2
0
京都市山科区
M1 Mac mini - no issues so far (with some limitations !)

Hi, my report so far; M1 Mac mini (OS 11.01) with 2 external monitors attached, under these conditinos.
  1. MONITOR1 : DELL S2721QS (3008 x 1692 @ 60.00Hz)
  2. MONITOR2 : Eizo S2100 (1600 x 1200 @ 60.00Hz)
  3. MONITOR1 connection: Mac Mini USBC port => CABLEDECONN USBC-DisplayPort 1.4 8K => DELL S2721QS (DisplayPort).
  4. MONITOR2 connection: Mac Mini HDMIport => HDMI => S2100
note
  1. I once had the same flickering issues with an older cable - “uni USB Type C-DisplayPort cable 4K@60Hz・2K”. Replacing the cable with a one above resolved “Most” of the issues.
  2. Even if with this 8K cable, either changing display’s resolution to “Large Text” or switching on a “High Dynamic Range” box induces the flickering issues again.
  3. With this flickering’s happening, removing the USB-C-DisplayPort cable once from a working Mini then re-connecting it may -most of the time - resolve the issue.
Hope this info may be of some help
Oh, I forgot to mention one thing, you need to reboot your mac and the monitor when nothing else helps. In my case, it resolves the problem every time. Thanks
 

aleks24

macrumors newbie
Jan 30, 2021
2
0
Hello, I'm having the same issues with my MacBook Air M1 (I have a 16gb of RAM and a 7 core GPU model).
I am using a Dell S3221QS monitor, which has been in use for months and doesn't have any flickering issues or lines when connected to either my Windows PC or my Mac Mini running Snow Leopard. It's a 4K 60hz display.
I have used two different cables (HDMI), two different display adaptors (including an official apple one), and I have used a different 1080p monitor (just to rule out the possibility of a dodgy display), all with the same results. The issue appears to be with the MacBook itself.
When I contacted apple support they claimed that the monitor was at fault... Even after explaining that two of the monitors I had tested had the same issues 🙃.
I ended up sending the MacBook back and ordered another one, after plugging the new one in I can confirm that it still suffers from the flickering and line issues, even on 11.1.
From my experience however, the issue only presents itself during video playback, gaming, and when certain dark colours are displayed on screen.
I've also had an issue where the colours get messed up upon waking the device from sleep, I've attached them below.
I haven't found any fixes as of yet ☹️.
 

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AAPLGeek

macrumors 6502a
Nov 12, 2009
729
2,271
It seems more and more like external display support was an afterthought on these new M1 Macs.
 

MacMediaNet

macrumors member
Nov 1, 2014
73
109
Unbelievable, I do not understand - I have not been using the Mac mini M1 for two days, I turned it on and the picture is correct, no ghosting, no flickering. (Big Sur 11.2, HDMI of Mac mini M1 - Apple HDMI to DVI Adapter - Apple Cinema HD 23-inch Display/first generation). It seems that Big Sur is unpredictable, it did not work correctly since the beginning, now it works, I did not change anything.
 
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