Static / snow on external display when waking up Mac

Question

I have a Philips 222E display connected via a mini-DP to DVI adapter and DVI cable to a Macbook Air (mid-2011).

Every time that the MBA wakes from sleep, the display shows this static:

The static is replaced with the proper desktop image after around 20 seconds, or after a power cycling the display (which could take only 10 seconds but is highly annoying just the same.)

Things I tried and their results:

1. A different display (LG) - no static
2. A different computer (Mac Mini) - no static
3. Different adapter and DVI cable - static remains
4. When booting the MBA (not rebooting) - no static
5. When disconnecting and reconnecting the 222E to the MBA - no static

Solution

I've been investigating a little bit and would be good for you guys have a try with this steps. The steps are written for a different type of Display, but can get the idea:

• Under "SIZE & POSITION" menu, go to "Image Size" and set to "Screen Fit"

• Under "SETUP & RESET" menu (down on the second page with my model), go to "Auto Source" and set to "Manual"

• Finally,still under the same "SETUP & RESET" menu page, go to "PC/AV Mode" and set to "AV"

Bingo! Now when the computer wakes up from sleep, the screens are going back on like a charm!

Here's the source:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/13221480#13221480

Comments

[Doug Harris]

I've seen this as well with my MacBook Pro, but rarely. I disconnect and reconnect the display cable. As you say, it's annoying.

[GJ.]

disconnecting and reconnecting causes the arrangement of windows across displays to get screwed up, so it's out of the question for me (far more severe than a few seconds of annoyance)

[Zev Eisenberg]

I see this as well with a Mac mini late 2012 on an external display connected with a Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adaptor (and I don’t see it on my other monitor connected via HDMI->DVI). This isn’t a fix, but an easy way to restart the displays without reconnecting them is with the keyboard shortcut Command-Control-Eject, then press any key or click the mouse.

[Dolan Antenucci]

I have the same issue with a MBPr'2014 and a Samsung SyncMaster P2570 monitor. I do not have this issue with a different monitor (Dell 2410 if I recall correctly). AppleCare says they're "reporting the issue to engineering, and also recommend reporting the issue to Samsung"