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nMP - Monitor over HDMI not waking up after sleep

L

lesferdinand

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 17, 2013
143
0
Hi,

I've noticed that after my nMP in OS X goes to sleep due to inactivity, every now and then it won't send a video signal / wake up the monitor, once I wake the nMP itself.

I know the machine is 'awake' as I've managed to open additional tabs in Safari for example, which I was able to view after switching the machine off and turning it back on again.

This problem doesn't happen after I put it to sleep through the Apple menu and it never happens when running Windows.

Anyone else experiencing this? Any solutions? Is this another symptom of Apple's poor video drivers?
 
I had the same problem

lesferdinand said:
Hi,

I've noticed that after my nMP in OS X goes to sleep due to inactivity, every now and then it won't send a video signal / wake up the monitor, once I wake the nMP itself.

I know the machine is 'awake' as I've managed to open additional tabs in Safari for example, which I was able to view after switching the machine off and turning it back on again.

This problem doesn't happen after I put it to sleep through the Apple menu and it never happens when running Windows.

Anyone else experiencing this? Any solutions? Is this another symptom of Apple's poor video drivers?
Click to expand...

I fired up my nMP using a Sony TV (waiting for my new display) and found the TV in sleep mode - had to restart. I was using the nMP via wi-fi for the internet because it was just a test. I didn't pursue the problem any farther because I was running such a weird setup.

I did find this article:
http://gigaom.com/2014/02/05/airplay-problems-on-your-new-macbook-or-mac-pro-turn-off-bluetooth/
 
lesferdinand said:
Hi,

I've noticed that after my nMP in OS X goes to sleep due to inactivity, every now and then it won't send a video signal / wake up the monitor, once I wake the nMP itself.

I know the machine is 'awake' as I've managed to open additional tabs in Safari for example, which I was able to view after switching the machine off and turning it back on again.

This problem doesn't happen after I put it to sleep through the Apple menu and it never happens when running Windows.

Anyone else experiencing this? Any solutions? Is this another symptom of Apple's poor video drivers?
Click to expand...

Considering HDMI for Apple's current AMD/Nvidia drivers is still running on pre 1.3(2006) specification and probably hasn't been updates since that time, I'm not surprised.

Considering the price, it's a shame to see the nMP is also crippled.
 
So once the monitor connected with HDMI on nMP goes to sleep, it won't wake up no matter what ? Not even by pressing a key ? Or is it more specific ?

I'm a potential nMP buyer and the Samsung monitor I'll use will be connected with HDMI.
 
antonis said:
So once the monitor connected with HDMI on nMP goes to sleep, it won't wake up no matter what ? Not even by pressing a key ? Or is it more specific ?

I'm a potential nMP buyer and the Samsung monitor I'll use will be connected with HDMI.
Click to expand...

The current work around used to fix 4K displays @ 30Hz should fix the issue. Although it will add about $50 to the cost of the display:

HDMI to DVI adapter ($12) -> Active DVI to DP adapter($25) -> DP - mDP adapter($12)
 
antonis said:
So once the monitor connected with HDMI on nMP goes to sleep, it won't wake up no matter what ? Not even by pressing a key ? Or is it more specific ?

I'm a potential nMP buyer and the Samsung monitor I'll use will be connected with HDMI.
Click to expand...

It's a bit hit and miss. The monitor will wake up sometimes from a key or mouse button press, other times it won't. But only if the machine went to sleep because of non-use. If I put it to sleep via the Apple menu, both computer and monitor always wake up.

The last few times I've had more luck with pressing the function keys mapped to the volume controls for waking up the monitor. Haven't tried this enough to confirm that it's a potential solution versus just coincidence.

Going forward I may connect it via one of the Thunderbolt ports but I've been working a lot from home due to the bad winter weather and it's been awfully nice to be able to have both the Mac and the work laptop (which only supports DisplayPort) connected to the monitor at the same time.
 
Would re-inserting the HDMI cable also bring it back to life? Although forcing an on-screen update (sound, brightness keys etc) has been known to un-lock an unresponsive mavericks in the past.

Edit, also check the console to see if an error is reported at the time you wake it. e.g. something about display not found or other error so you can search for a more refined solution
 
Same problem with Displayport

I am having an almost identical problem, but I am not using HDMI.

I have three monitors hooked up. The middle one is a 2560 x 1440 display with Displayport. It is connected through a Displyport to miniDP cable.

The other two are 1920 x 1080 monitors with DVI output. They are connected via active DVI to miniDP adapters.

When the computer goes to sleep due to inactivity, upon waking up the two side monitors come on but the center one does not. Toggling the power switch or the source button does no good. If the video cable itself is disconnected and reconnected, then the monitor comes on.

If I put the computer to sleep myself and wait for the monitors to go into low power mode, then wake the computer up, there is no problem. So, this sounds like the identical problem.

While the monitor is in this state, if I pull up the Display control panel in one of the other monitors, the panels come up, including the panel for the blank monitor, but its panel comes up on one of the other monitors! The arrangement shown is the correct three monitor arrangement. So, the computer seems to be aware that there are three monitors present, but it also seems to be aware that the center one is not functional, since it brings that monitor's panel up on another monitor (something that never happens when the center monitor is operating normally).

Here is one possibly relevant detail. There is a technical note from Apple on attaching displays to the Mac Pro that shows the six Thunderbolt ports as belonging in pairs to three video "buses". They suggest plugging multiple monitors into separate busses when possible. Well I did that. The center monitor is plugged into bus "0" which is the two bottom Thunderbolt ports. The diagram in the technical note shows the HDMI port as also belonging to this bus.

So, it is possible that the problem is localized to this bus. I will test this theory by switching the connections and seeing if the problem moves to a different monitor. I'll have to wait for the computer to go to sleep by itself to conduct the test.
 
demars said:
So, it is possible that the problem is localized to this bus. I will test this theory by switching the connections and seeing if the problem moves to a different monitor. I'll have to wait for the computer to go to sleep by itself to conduct the test.
Click to expand...

OK, I tried it this evening and it didn't make any difference. It was the same monitor (an HP ZR2740w) that wouldn't come up, even though it was connected to a different bus. At this point I'd say it is likely to be unrelated to the problem with the HDMI port,, even though the symptoms are similar. (Note: this monitor did not do this with my old Mac Pro.)
 
I've been having the same problem with my Thunderbolt Display going dark-grey and not waking up. I've tried SMC and PRAM resets to no avail, and even reinstalled OS~X at AppleCare's suggestion. Then came also this past week's firmware update. Things went OK for a few days, but this morning the display went dark-grey again and couldn't be brought back up.

I sometimes switch to running Windows 8.1 from a "BootCamp" partition on an external HD to play with my Trainz game (and for no other purpose :D). I've gotten into the habit of doing the PRAM reset when rebooting OS X, only didn't do that on the last occasion... Could that be it?

Meanwhile, if it happens again to me, then I'll try reinserting the cable from the Thunderbolt Display.
 
I think I have the same issue on my Mac Mini (which would perhaps make this a more general issue than mac pro).

If the mini goes to sleep on it's own and my HDMI connected samsung monitor goes to sleep, then when I wake the mac the monitor won't come on, until i press it's soft power button twice.

If I send the mini to sleep via the apple menu, the display will resume just fine.
 
demars said:
I am having an almost identical problem, but I am not using HDMI.

I have three monitors hooked up. The middle one is a 2560 x 1440 display with Displayport. It is connected through a Displyport to miniDP cable.

The other two are 1920 x 1080 monitors with DVI output. They are connected via active DVI to miniDP adapters.

When the computer goes to sleep due to inactivity, upon waking up the two side monitors come on but the center one does not. Toggling the power switch or the source button does no good. If the video cable itself is disconnected and reconnected, then the monitor comes on.

If I put the computer to sleep myself and wait for the monitors to go into low power mode, then wake the computer up, there is no problem. So, this sounds like the identical problem.

While the monitor is in this state, if I pull up the Display control panel in one of the other monitors, the panels come up, including the panel for the blank monitor, but its panel comes up on one of the other monitors! The arrangement shown is the correct three monitor arrangement. So, the computer seems to be aware that there are three monitors present, but it also seems to be aware that the center one is not functional, since it brings that monitor's panel up on another monitor (something that never happens when the center monitor is operating normally).

Here is one possibly relevant detail. There is a technical note from Apple on attaching displays to the Mac Pro that shows the six Thunderbolt ports as belonging in pairs to three video "buses". They suggest plugging multiple monitors into separate busses when possible. Well I did that. The center monitor is plugged into bus "0" which is the two bottom Thunderbolt ports. The diagram in the technical note shows the HDMI port as also belonging to this bus.

So, it is possible that the problem is localized to this bus. I will test this theory by switching the connections and seeing if the problem moves to a different monitor. I'll have to wait for the computer to go to sleep by itself to conduct the test.
Click to expand...

I posted about this same issue a few weeks ago and no one seemed to have a solution. I too am using a Displayport to miniDP cable and whenever I put the display to sleep using a hot corner, the display refuses to wake up. When on, the display's power light is blue, and when asleep its amber. When I wake the display by moving the mouse or pressing a key, the light goes from amber to blue and then back to amber, then blue, etc. The only solution is to turn the display off and back on or unplug the miniDP cable from the back of the nMP. I too have tried PRAM and SMC resets as well as different ports on the nMP. Nothing. The only thing I can think of is that pre 10.9.2, the computer didn't have this issue, it only started after installing 10.9.3. So maybe some driver or something was changed?
 
Same Issue

I have a nMP and an NEC LCD2690WUXi monitor. When I first brought the nMP home, it worked fine. Then I started having issues similar to what others describe. The computer would go to sleep and the monitor light would turn to amber. When I hit the trackpad, the light would turn blue and then, after a few seconds turn back to amber and stay there. By some happenstance, I learned that pulling the thunderbolt adapter out of one port and plugging it in another resulted in the monitor working again. If I pulled it out and plugged it back in the same port, it would not work. I have just had the nMP in the shop for > a week. They ran some software and hardware testing and found a "sleep" error once. They have now completely re-installed the OS. I brought it home today only to find it started up doing the same thing again. Previously, I had done the pram reset which seemed to work for a few hours and then it started up again. I share everyone's frustration considering the cost of the computer. I am not sure what to do next other than to exchange it for a loaded iMac. I bought the nMP because of its upgradability. I would love to hear what others think.
 
drpfa said:
I have a nMP and an NEC LCD2690WUXi monitor. When I first brought the nMP home, it worked fine. Then I started having issues similar to what others describe. The computer would go to sleep and the monitor light would turn to amber. When I hit the trackpad, the light would turn blue and then, after a few seconds turn back to amber and stay there. By some happenstance, I learned that pulling the thunderbolt adapter out of one port and plugging it in another resulted in the monitor working again. If I pulled it out and plugged it back in the same port, it would not work. I have just had the nMP in the shop for > a week. They ran some software and hardware testing and found a "sleep" error once. They have now completely re-installed the OS. I brought it home today only to find it started up doing the same thing again. Previously, I had done the pram reset which seemed to work for a few hours and then it started up again. I share everyone's frustration considering the cost of the computer. I am not sure what to do next other than to exchange it for a loaded iMac. I bought the nMP because of its upgradability. I would love to hear what others think.
Click to expand...

I have a NEC PA272W and it had sleep issues where the monitor would not sleep. I found out that Apple removed some code that caused it not to sleep correctly. Ever since the 10.9.3 update it has been fine. Make sure you are running the latest OS update.
 
For those with multiple displays and one or more not showing up after sleep, open Display Preferences and hold "option"

The "Detect Displays" button will re-appear like magic. Try it.

This was part of Apple dumbing everything down.
 
I have 10.9.3. This started after installing it, I believe. So does the senior technical supervisor at Apple.
 
Having a similar problem here. Had this issue a few times, where my nMP won't wake my ASUS PB287Q monitor from sleep. Had to reboot computer and display. Really annoying.

I guess the most annoying thing is not knowing whether it's a problem with the Mac or a problem with the display.
 
lesferdinand said:
Hi,

I've noticed that after my nMP in OS X goes to sleep due to inactivity, every now and then it won't send a video signal / wake up the monitor, once I wake the nMP itself.

I know the machine is 'awake' as I've managed to open additional tabs in Safari for example, which I was able to view after switching the machine off and turning it back on again.

This problem doesn't happen after I put it to sleep through the Apple menu and it never happens when running Windows.

Anyone else experiencing this? Any solutions? Is this another symptom of Apple's poor video drivers?
Click to expand...

Hi,

I have an early 2015 MacBook Air and have the identical issue. Was wondering if any of you had found a definite fix or workaround. I have tried everything here and have also spent some time with Apple support on this. I personally believe it's related specifically to HDMI. I am using an HP 2311x monitor which probably has some early HDMI version and surely has some quirks of it's own. I have tried two TB to HDMI adapters and with the Belkin brand it seems to fail less but once in a while it fails to wake up the monitor exactly as stated by others here.

What is so frustrating about this issue is that is completely random. So I am wondering if anyone has tried TB to DVI or VGA and see if we can narrow it down to HDMI? Also which system logs exactly can we monitor? My hunch is that the TB to HDMI adapters are probably mostly crap and that HDMI quirks in the Apple hw as well as the monitors don't help. Maybe the DVI signaling is less prone to these problems? I don't know enough about the differences between HDMI and DVI but there is certainly a problem here and would be worthwhile to find some sort of workaround for the very many people having this *very* frustrating and random problem.

Finally, do you think a native Apple Thunderbolt monitor would also have these issues? I am so frustrated with this issue that I wouldn't mind buying an outrageously expensive Apple monitor if there was *any* guarantee it would work fine with TB directly. But not even Apple support could guarantee that to me so far!

TIA,
Alex
 
aleximass said:
Hi,

I have an early 2015 MacBook Air and have the identical issue. Was wondering if any of you had found a definite fix or workaround. I have tried everything here and have also spent some time with Apple support on this. I personally believe it's related specifically to HDMI. I am using an HP 2311x monitor which probably has some early HDMI version and surely has some quirks of it's own. I have tried two TB to HDMI adapters and with the Belkin brand it seems to fail less but once in a while it fails to wake up the monitor exactly as stated by others here.

What is so frustrating about this issue is that is completely random. So I am wondering if anyone has tried TB to DVI or VGA and see if we can narrow it down to HDMI? Also which system logs exactly can we monitor? My hunch is that the TB to HDMI adapters are probably mostly crap and that HDMI quirks in the Apple hw as well as the monitors don't help. Maybe the DVI signaling is less prone to these problems? I don't know enough about the differences between HDMI and DVI but there is certainly a problem here and would be worthwhile to find some sort of workaround for the very many people having this *very* frustrating and random problem.

Finally, do you think a native Apple Thunderbolt monitor would also have these issues? I am so frustrated with this issue that I wouldn't mind buying an outrageously expensive Apple monitor if there was *any* guarantee it would work fine with TB directly. But not even Apple support could guarantee that to me so far!

TIA,
Alex
Click to expand...
I can't help you except to suggest that you start a new thread about your problem, with an appropriate title as this one is not only 2 years old, but is for the 2013 Mac Pro and you have a Macbook Pro. You might get more attention with a title that matches your issue.
 
slippyr4 said:
I think I have the same issue on my Mac Mini (which would perhaps make this a more general issue than mac pro).

If the mini goes to sleep on it's own and my HDMI connected samsung monitor goes to sleep, then when I wake the mac the monitor won't come on, until i press it's soft power button twice.

If I send the mini to sleep via the apple menu, the display will resume just fine.
Click to expand...

Exactly what is happening to me....!
 
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