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20-inch, 23-inch, and 30-inch aluminum LCD displays introduced by Apple in June 2004. Models A1081, A1082, and A1083 respectively.

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30” Cinema HD Display goes black

Sorry this post got way long, hopefully not too much info to get some advice. I didn't know what to edit out. I'd love to find a DIY fix for this problem and feel sure its the power source thats the issue, not the display picture.

2009 MacPro 2 x 2.26 Ghz Quad core Intel Xeon / 32 GB memory silver tower (Model No.A1289). 30” Cinema HD Display aluminum monitor with 2560x1600 resolution. Bought new - its a beautiful display and once a primo $5K workstation. I’ve been running OS 10.6.8 on it to continue using some obsolete legacy apps I happen to love. I also own a newer 27" iMac.

From the beginning, this display got very hot, so I’ve always had a small quiet fan blowing across the back of it. Starting years ago, for no apparent reason, the monitor would intermittently go “completely black”, usually after a few hours, while I’m doing nothing more than typing or moving the mouse. And the tiny green light in front bottom right goes out. After a few minutes, it might flicker back on and stay on, but eventually go black again. At first I’d restart the MacPro, which often helped. Then it didn’t help. I asked around, tried zapping PRAM and firmware updates.

Experimenting, I found the oval/racetrack-shaped plug connection (don’t know the proper term) in the 3-way cable that connects the monitor to the “Dual-link DVI” adapter brick (Apple HD Display 150W Power Adapter A1098) may be the problem, because unplugging and replugging it fixes the issue temporarily. But invariably, after some time, the monitor goes black again. As time goes by, I’d unplug/replug this adapter connection plug 3, 4, 5 times a day. Eventually after many mos. of unplugging & replugging, even that won’t get the monitor going again.

So I found a used adapter on eBay ($75+) and replacing it seemed to fix the problem. But after a few months, up to a year, the monitor starts to flicker/go black again. Frustrated, I buy another adapter, which gets the monitor going again, but eventually stops. I did this many times over the past 7 years. At this point, it seems likely I’m buying others’ problem adapters. Now my 5th used adapter no longer works after only 2 months, the plastic plug guard on the cable from the monitor has broken and it looks like replacing the three-way monitor cable is the only way forward.

I’m finally posting this request for help in exasperation. Thanks for reading it all!

Is there a way to confirm what the problem is, that replacing the cable would fix it? (e.g., could it be a logic or power board or graphics card?).

Is a cable still available? How to get the right one? Saw reports the 3 way cable is non-existent

Can I replace it myself without much tech experience? Checked this ifixit guide and viewed this Youtube video and think I could manage but never done anything more than swap in a graphics card and memory.

What I’ve tried:

- Unplugged replugged the cord from the MacPro to the DVI adapter

- Zapped PRAM

- Contacted Apple (“Obsolete hardware and systems aren’t supported”)

- Replaced the DVI adapter brick (5 times in 7 years)

- Asked for help on the Apple forum. Determined that its unlikely a graphics card or firmware issue

- Read numerous forum posts including:

• 27” Cinema Display turns off randomly

• How can I fix my display blacking out intermittently?

• I have a 30 inch Apple Cinema Display that just went blank

• Apple LED Cinema Display 27" LED Panel Replacement

• Apple Cinema HD Display 30" Teardown

- Shopped around for other 30” monitors, like this Dell UltraSharp U3014 But a reviewer states it requires a DVI dual link adapter system to work - which is apparently the same thing causing the issue with my Apple monitor

Update (01/23/25)

Heres my current adapter. I've kept the last 2 as well, thinking it may not be the adapters at all, but they are identical to this one. For all its life until only a few weeks ago, the (4-way) cord built into the monitor looked newish, but the plastic casing broke recently after I used a clamp to hold it in place into the adapter in frustration. It still worked for a time even with the guts exposed but admittedly it now looks like this is clearly the current reason for the problem even though thats not necessarily the case. I've cleaned the plug shiny many times over the years - and the hole as well - and that made zero difference, so now the metal is tarnished from constant plugging/unplugging.

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Thanks for trying to help me!

Update (01/30/25)

Had high hopes posting my question here would lead to getting help to fix my monitor. Anyone?

Apple Cinema HD Display Image

Guide

Apple Cinema HD Display 30" Teardown

Difficulty:

Moderate
Apple LED Cinema Display 27" LED panel Image

Guide

Apple LED Cinema Display 27" LED Panel Replacement

Difficulty:

Difficult

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1 - 2 hours
Answer this question I have this problem too

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I see your question, but unfortunately I don't have a solution.

First, I tried the Club3D CAC-1510-A USB Type C to Dual Link DVI-D Cable Adapter

and it gave me crazy patterns on the screen. Then, I bought basically the same thing, but from StarTech and the monitor was much clearer, but there were some fuzzy and busy lines in the black areas of the screen.

Next, I bought an Apple A1306 Mini DisplayPort Dual-Link DVI Adapter Connector Cable off eBay. I plugged it in and YEA! it worked ... until you did something very screen busy while working (ex: opening a window to full size), then it would go black and no pushing of buttons would bring it back. You had to unplug it from the back of the Studio Ultra M2 and plug it back in - until it went out again: it could be seconds ... or hours later. I, later, discovered that I had a brand new A1306 in my closet and tried that. YES! It worked ... but for how long? After three days, I was feeling very confident! Tonight it went out and (un)plugging makes no difference ...

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... I went back to the other eBay A1306 and nothing worked thru that one either. My next thought was that the monitor is toast (even tho there's a green "on" light). Really bummed out.

THEN, I plugged the monitor back into my old Mac Tower and it came up like it's always worked before, so... there's something going on that I can't use this monitor with any new Mac (maybe a laptop, but I've never owned one). So, I'm caught between buying a new monitor or keeping this one and hooking it up to the StarTech dongle and living with the bit of visual noise in the black areas.

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Thanks Rod. If nothing else, it shows the blacking out Cinema Display issue isn't unique to my system or setup - a lot of us have the same problem. It's likely the imaging display part itself isn't faulty and the electrical problem could be fixed with the right expertise. Very frustrating that Apple abandoned its loyal aficionados, forcing us to experiment with $$ parts that dont help and ask strangers online for help.

Since helpful responses dropped off here, I decided to buy another 30" cinema display + adapter on eBay (with shipping about $200). Figured if it doesnt work well as promised, I'd take a stab at pulling its 4way cable to put in mine. People are now charging $100+ just for the adapter.

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Well, the cold reality is that it's not in Apple's interest to keep every configuration working to the max if the general interest in it wanes. It's why I can't carry on about the obsolescence of my 2010 Tower that still is in great working condition, but can't rise above El Capitan. This 30" is something I bought about three years ago to replace my 20-year-old 23" CInema Display that went out, so it seems like I've barely had this beautiful monitor for very long - and it's worked great with the Tower ever since.

Anyway, my second StarTech dongle showed up this afternoon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VF1PP8T?ref...

and it's like I remember it - with visual noise - but it's lightly seen in the black areas and it's going to be a temporary fix until I get my new 2 month+ old computer all set up for me to get back to work. Meanwhile, I'll keep a watchful eye on new 5 and 6K monitors while I still have a (mostly) working one now.

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Let’s focus in to the simple stuff often forgotten! When we have two or more devices plugged into power (AC) we can unintentionally create a hot ground condition if the plug of the device doesn’t offer a ground pathway via the third pin and/or the outlet/s used are not correctly wired or even offer a ground connection either at the outlet or at the breaker panel.

Going to a local hardware shop you should be able to grab a simple plug-in tester to check your outlets are correctly wired. You will still need a DVM to check the voltage at the Neutral and Ground points of the outlet to see if voltage is present as well.

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The left blade side in this image is the Neutral

The cable/adapter could just be burning out due to the hot ground. This can also be caused by using different fed outlets which are using different phases of the service at the breaker between your system and monitor. To add to this it’s not only your computer gear it could be other devices in your home that sporadically run as the motor winding are bad.

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Thanks for the info. I'll look into a DVM and the idea of bad power. However in the last 7 years - when this problem has been occurring - I've lived in 5 different places in 3 states before I bought my current house, so its not a specific plug or circuit. But I've always had both computer and monitor plugged into the same surge protector power strip.

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@mph18008 - Well using a shared outlet removes the two from the issue, sadly it could be something else in your home. What items did you move with from the first occurrence? To be clear this is doesn’t mean there isn’t something else a miss here. I would still make the effort checking the outlets, all it takes one the Hot and Neutral flipped wire in one outlet to mess you up.

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Thanks Dan. I've used this same Belkin surge protector power strip for years - https://www.belkin.com/p/conserve-switch... - not a UPS, but not the cheapest either. Since dozens of others report the same issue, I suspect its a mfg. defect/something Apple should have made easily replaceable. If someone can help me fix my monitor, I'll take a closer look at the plug.

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@mph18008 - I’m confused, I wasn’t focusing on the outlet (surge strip here). The wiring of one outlet within your home could be the cause. That’s why you need the outlet checker to check them. What can make this maddening is the device plugged into this oddly wired outlet) would leak to the Ground circuit.


Where do you see others posting this issue? The only thing I’ve seen is the Capacitor plague being a sizable problem in power supplies around this time point of this display.

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I'm thankful for your suggestion. I linked to just a few of others complaints in my post, but there are many many more here on ifixit and Apple forums. "If" I can fix this monitor, I'll buy an outlet checking device, but given all the similar complaints, and that this same issue has happened in multiple homes in multiple states, it feels like a bad outlet is a long shot. My iMac is plugged into the same power strip with no issues. Cheers!

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@mph18008 two things that come to my mind. One is the heat issue that you mentioned. Those displays can get toasty but they really should not get this hot. Makes me wonder if this is some sort of thermal shutdown.

Next thing is that it works with the use of those different adapters, even if it only works for a while. That makes me think that it could be a wiring/cable issue. You may need to check your graphics card connector a bit closer and see if there is any sign of overvoltages etc. or even signs of arching on the contacts etc. Do the same with the cable. I would also try the monitor on different equipment to see if it still shuts down. If so, then the issue is at least narrowed down to the monitor.

Could you change the all in one cable? Sure you can ;-) Start off by checking the teardown to see what you would get yourself into. On the bottom of that page under Attached Documents, you will find the PDF teardown. Download that one since it has more information about the individual circuit boards and the all in one cable. Scariest part will be to remove that panel :-)

I still don't like the getting hot part. While you have your monitor open, double check the main board and the LED driver board. I would think that this is where the heat originates from. Double check for anything that may look like it is/has overheated.

Let us know what you find out.

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Thanks OldTurkey, appreciate all the help you've offered others.

I have zero electrical engineering chops but of course have scanned the teardown pdf and video I linked to. A quick look shows the MacPro's graphics card connections and cable have no signs of arcing.

I don't have another computer this monitor will plug into. Neither my iMac or 2015 MacBookPro accept it. Here's a pic of the 24-pin connector required: https://discussions.apple.com/content/at...

If I had a new "all-in-one" cable in hand, I'd be willing to tackle taking apart the monitor following the teardown guide, but this is my challenge: It's not just googling and buying this (4-way "All-in-one") cable as its not made anymore:

1) How do I find a new one, e.g., a simpler single cable (don't need monitor ports) that may not be made for this but should work? I don't even know what the 24-pin connector is called.

2) And how can I know this cable gone bad is the most likely fix to this problem?

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@mph18008 we probably won't find a new one but we surely can find a used one. One way to check that cable would be by doing a resistance test. I am not holding my breath on the cable. I think it is actually a bit deeper. I am thinking the main and driver boards are involved, but we got to start somewhere. Things like this "the tiny green light in front bottom right goes out" mean we are losing contact somewhere. Here comes the hard part. Those adapters. If those (at least in the past) got your monitor working again, we do need to check the cable but also where the signals terminate, which is the main board. My approach would be the cable first, then main board and yes, I'd check the power supply as well. Flaky power supplies do weird stuff. Not high on my list but it is on the list. Intermittent errors like the ones your monitor has are difficult to narrow down. It'll take patience and a lot of trial and error. I am frugal so I don't like to just change things for the sake of changing.

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Determining power flow or signal termination on circuitry or circuit boards sounds way beyond what I'm capable of. I wouldnt know where to start, the tools or what to look for. =0P

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@mph18008 then we can try and help with that. We’ll start with the cable :-) and replacing that is possibly the better option. Post some pictures of your adapters so we can see which ones you’ve used.

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Try to connect any device without an adapter

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Vedang Upadhyaya Thanks for the informative post (or was it a PM? Read it in my email app) What happened to it... Did you delete it? Notice that mods change posts/threads w/o notice on this site...

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@mph18008 regurgitated AI answers are being deleted. On here, we tolerate AI to assist with the writing of an answer but not AI composed AI answer. The poster has had numerous chances to rectify this but without avail.

Sometimes changes are big done to maintain clarity between answers and comments. i,e, comments that are posted as answers are being moved from answers to comments etc.

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Make sense. It wasn't a very natural response. I wonder if moving my "answer" response into an "update" below my original post prevents bumping? Will make sure to post future updates like that. I just hope those who may be following notice I added the requested info... and that I can figure out how to fix my monitor!

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150mph will be eternally grateful.
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