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Mac Mini M4 - Random HDMI Blackouts

ChpTrk

ChpTrk

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 24, 2003
48
81
I, along with a surprisingly large number of other M4 users, are tracking an issue in the Apple Community with seemingly random 2-4 second blackouts on monitors connected via HDMI to the Mac Mini M4. I wanted to see if anyone in the MacRumors community was experiencing the same and if they've found any potential causes or solutions. Any tips?
 
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After testing three high-quality 4K cables on my m4 mini Pro, I purchased an Anker 8K HDMI cable. It solved the issue with my Dell U3818DW. I prefer to use the Thunderbolt USB-C port for other things.
 
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haralds said:
After testing three high-quality 4K cables on my m4 mini Pro, I purchased an Anker 8K HDMI cable. It solved the issue with my Dell U3818W. I prefer to use the Thunderbolt USB-C port for other things.
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Indeed, at least some of us have resolved the problem with a high(er) quality/capability cable.
 
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Same problem here for the last 3 years or so with my Dell PC, Nvidia card, and Asus monitor from 2020, linked via Display Port cable. Never had this issue before. The three are good midrange devices from reliable brands, so I guess they're not the issue. Maybe the cable? I don't remember whether it came with the PC or was purchased online, but I suspect the latter. I've often read it's useless to splurge on a "high-end" cable (Monster, etc.), so I probably bought a cheap one and that's what I get.
That said, if you have an issue with an Apple cable, which I consider high-end, then it's either not a cable issue or Apple has had production defects.
 
Issue with my M2 (and reports of earlier) as well. initially resolved by using USB-C out to monitor (Acer here), but eventually found a HDMI cable that worked. Seems very hit-and-miss, which suggests to me that Apple hasn't really got a grasp on HDMI output on their computers.
 
ChpTrk said:
I, along with a surprisingly large number of other M4 users, are tracking an issue in the Apple Community with seemingly random 2-4 second blackouts on monitors connected via HDMI to the Mac Mini M4. I wanted to see if anyone in the MacRumors community was experiencing the same and if they've found any potential causes or solutions. Any tips?
Click to expand...
I've experienced that problem, but it's when I'm using my Windows 10 gaming PC with an LG HDR WFHD (ultra-wide) display connected via HDMI.

I'm assuming these blackout problems are related to HDMI's HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) because this is exactly what's supposed to happen when the HDCP handshake is invalid (block the video signal to prevent piracy, which leads to a black screen).

This is why you should always connect your displays via anything but HDMI if you have the ability to do so.
 
Yvan256 said:
I've experienced that problem, but it's when I'm using my Windows 10 gaming PC with an LG HDR WFHD (ultra-wide) display connected via HDMI.

I'm assuming these blackout problems are related to HDMI's HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) because this is exactly what's supposed to happen when the HDCP handshake is invalid (block the video signal to prevent piracy, which leads to a black screen).

This is why you should always connect your displays via anything but HDMI if you have the ability to do so.
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I'm using Display Port and have the same problem.
 
Minis have always, always had display issues.

My 2018 i5 had to be sent in and motherboard replaced, which pretty much fixed it. One of the reasons I am so hesitant to replace it with anything.

Literally every modern mini iteration has had people report display blackouts. Crazy.
 
LionTeeth said:
Minis have always, always had display issues.

My 2018 i5 had to be sent in and motherboard replaced, which pretty much fixed it. One of the reasons I am so hesitant to replace it with anything.

Literally every modern mini iteration has had people report display blackouts. Crazy.
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Were you using an Apple monitor?
 
Jeeve Stubbs said:
Were you using an Apple monitor?
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No always hdmi to a tv

Actually at the start when I got it I was going thunderbolt to a Dell monitor or something. I forgot about that. That stopped working completely. Like just blank screen no matter what I did. Upgraded my space to using a 4k tv and it was always turning off.

I've been hdmi to a 4k tv since apple worked on it and it's been pretty rocksteady.
 
LionTeeth said:
No always hdmi to a tv

Actually at the start when I got it I was going thunderbolt to a Dell monitor or something. I forgot about that. That stopped working completely. Like just blank screen no matter what I did. Upgraded my space to using a 4k tv and it was always turning off.

I've been hdmi to a 4k tv since apple worked on it and it's been pretty rocksteady.
Click to expand...
I see. I can already imagine Apple telling you "Macs are guaranteed to display properly on Apple monitors - we can't guarantee results with other brands".
Anyway, glad you've solved the problem. The alternative, I guess, would have been to switch to iMac or Studio Display.
 
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