Apple today released a new EFI update for the Mac mini that is said to correct a problem with using the Mac mini's HDMI output.
Courtesy of Apple
Ever since the 2012 Mac mini was released in the fall of 2012, there have been occasional reports of poor image stability or quality when connecting the HDMI output directly to the HDMI port on an HDTV. The usual complaint was flickering or poor image quality, usually involving color rendition.
Surprisingly, when the HDMI port was used with a DVI adapter, the issues tended to go away. Among those who used the Thunderbolt port to drive a display, no image issues were ever reported.
The problem seemed to be caused by the Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip that drives the HDMI port. Intel produced an update to the graphics in the form of a new driver, but until now, Apple hadn't released the update.
This update to the EFI firmware is said to correct the HDMI video issues. You can download the update via the Software Update item in the Apple menu, or directly from Apple's support web site.
If the update does indeed correct the HDMI video problem, then the new Mac mini may be a great candidate to serve as the central component in a home theater system.
If you have the 2012 Mac mini, please leave a message here letting us know if you had the video problem, and if this update corrected it.
Hi. Just got Mac mini. It has latest firmware and hdmi to hdmi is lousy. No matter what setting. Right out of box no software added. It is a 720p lcd 24 in TV. Resolution and image quality is lousy. Cant look at it. I went back to my dell display with the dvi adapter and that is fine. So if they say it is fixed they are not accurate. They may have fixed some issues but not all. The e driver fix is what I think is needed now but they have not released it yet. Thanks Tim.
Tried the update and the monitor image is the same as before.
What a disappointment!!! A brand new Mac Mini i7 and the HDMI output quality to my Samsung 1080 24″ is ridiculuous!! I’m running Mountain Lion’s latest update and there’s no help but to use a adaptor to a VGA port to make it look descent… shame on you, APPLE!
Same here!! Mac Mini i7 and HDMI to HDMI in my samsung hdtv monitor 24″ looks horrible, so i had to use the adapter HDMI to DVI on my other samsung 22″ monitor.
I bought an iMac which had a fault. It`s a long story,but in short on the 4th of March Apple gave me a full refund. I went through 2 new iMacs same fault,and i am not going to buy another iMac,because they have a fault.
So i am looking to buy a Mac Mini,because i am using one off 2007 hooked up to a Samsung Monitor using VGA.
By your column it seems i will not be buying the new mac mini,because i had a terrible time trying to get my money back off the iMac..
Can you tell me if Apple has fully fixed the problem with the Mac Mini,or do you still after download the firmware update 1.7 that addresses the HDMI problem.
I just bought a mac mini last week, with lastest OSX 10.8.3. but the HDMI problem still there.
everything is normal untill yesterday i turn the mac on and it just flickering every 2sec .i can’t even shut down my mac ,all i can do is unplug the power cord.But nothing has change when i restart it ,it just keep flickering .
i’m so disappointed with the mac mini and going to refund within this week. terrible mistake from apple.
My Mac Mini HDMI out looks fine but the problem I am having is intermittent output problems to the monitor. It randomly loses sync or just goes blank. Whatever the case, I get nothing. It just goes black and the monitor starts flashing “NO INPUT”.
I originally thought it was a problem with the monitor I have not the mini, but now I am using it with my HD TV and I get the same problem.