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.
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?
Guide
Apple Cinema HD Display 30" Teardown
Difficulty:
Moderate
Guide
Apple LED Cinema Display 27" LED Panel Replacement
Difficulty:
Difficult
—
1 - 2 hours
Is this a good question?
4 Comments
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 ...
by Rod Stasick
... 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.
by Rod Stasick
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.
by 150mph
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.
by Rod Stasick