Suddenly going blank - is it because of my old Mac?

[Toove]

So, the problem is that the signal to the screen suddenly disappears, but then shows up again soon after. I don't think it has to do with connection, since it can happen when I don't even touch anything, but just sit and watch a film or something, and the connection comes back without me doing anything.
.
Mint Cinnamon Una, but it has been like that for a while, also with Ulyana. More often lately. This means I just have to buy a new computer soon, right?
.
I have a Mac Mini from 2009, the type without any screen. The screen is Finlux, and seems to be working just fine.
.
Do you know if the newer Mac Minis with a bit higher RAM is compatible with Linux? My RAM is just 4 GB, which is starting to be a bit small, but still works. My plan was to buy a newer (second hand) computer in one or two years, but maybe I have to do it sooner. Are there other computers today with only harddisc and no screen, that might be better for Linux? (It also depends on what I can get hold of second hand.)

 

[Brickwizard]

Check your cable ! How long has it been continuously connected,? how old is the VDU
Cable terminals can break down over time or if connected for a long time form a dry joint, First disconnect the connector at each end and reconnect it a couple of times before switching on, this will clean any corrosion from the terminals, next is to try a different cable,
if the VDU [screen] is getting old, that could also be on the way out

 

[Brickwizard]

4 GB, which is starting to be a bit small, but still works. My plan was to buy a newer (second hand) computer

Depends on what you want to use your computer for, 4gb ram is ample for office work, surfing, streaming,[normal everyday home use] if you want to render high graphic pictures, edit video or do gaming them more ram is required,
I don't know your location but a compact [mini ] desktop/tower about 6-8 yrs old, will be fine for every day. [I use a 2016 HP Prodesk SFF]

 

[DexTheDog]

if its running a NVIDIA card check drivers and try other ones to see if that helps.

Also I have had problems with Ubuntu based mint and NVIDIA.

(Edit) Looks like most 2009 mac mini's have NVIDIA graphics

 

[Brickwizard]

@DexTheDog good idea

@Toove can you run from a terminal inxi -G and paste back the results
[you may have to install inxi from the software manager]

 

[Toove]

Graphics:
Device-1: Intel Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.13 driver: modesetting
unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1920x1080i~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 5000 (HSW GT3)
v: 4.5 Mesa 21.2.6

But there just was a quick black-out again, and I noticed that the light on the keyboard and mouse where still on. That would mean that it simply is the wire, no?

 

[Brickwizard]

That would mean that it simply is the wire, no?

Inxi looks fine.
Have you tried the connections yet?

 

[DexTheDog]

What is the specific model of mac mini.

Also from apple

• HDMI video output
  • Support for 1080p resolution at up to 60Hz
  • Support for 3840-by-2160 resolution at 30Hz
  • Support for 4096-by-2160 resolution at 24Hz

 

[Toove]

I did the wire thing, and will buy a new wire, but it is going to take me a week or so before I get it. Also I checked on the local second hand market, and there are quite a lot of similar machines, slightly better than mine, that is of a reasonable price, so if/when I do have to buy a new machine, it will not be too bad. But I will wait and see. Thank you for being so patient.


------------------------
Not sure if this answers your question?:
sudo lshw -short
H/W path Device Class Description
========================================================
system Macmini7,1 (System SKU#)
/0 bus Mac-35C5E08120C7EEAF
/0/0 processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4260U CPU
/0/0/2 memory 64KiB L1 cache
/0/0/3 memory 512KiB L2 cache
/0/0/4 memory 3MiB L3 cache
/0/1 memory 64KiB L1 cache
/0/5 memory 4GiB System Memory
/0/5/0 memory 2GiB SODIMM DDR3 Synchronous 16
/0/5/1 memory 2GiB SODIMM DDR3 Synchronous 16
/0/b memory 1MiB BIOS
/0/2fdd memory 1019KiB BIOS
/0/100 bridge Haswell-ULT DRAM Controller
/0/100/2 display Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics
/0/100/3 multimedia Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller
/0/100/14 bus 8 Series USB xHCI HC
/0/100/14/0 usb1 bus xHCI Host Controller
/0/100/14/0/1 input Svive Titan X Pro
/0/100/14/0/3 bus BRCM20702 Hub
/0/100/14/0/3/3 communication Bluetooth USB Host Controller
/0/100/14/0/4 input IR Receiver
/0/100/14/0/7 input ActiveJet K-2024 Multimedia Key
/0/100/14/1 usb2 bus xHCI Host Controller
/0/100/16 communication 8 Series HECI #0
/0/100/1b multimedia 8 Series HD Audio Controller
/0/100/1c bridge 8 Series PCI Express Root Port
/0/100/1c.2 bridge 8 Series PCI Express Root Port
/0/100/1c.2/0 network BCM4360 802.11ac Wireless Netwo
/0/100/1c.3 bridge 8 Series PCI Express Root Port
/0/100/1c.3/0 enp3s0f0 network NetXtreme BCM57766 Gigabit Ethe
/0/100/1c.3/0.1 generic BCM57765/57785 SDXC/MMC Card Re
/0/100/1c.4 bridge 8 Series PCI Express Root Port
/0/100/1c.4/0 /dev/fb0 bridge DSL5520 Thunderbolt 2 Bridge [F
/0/100/1c.4/0/0 bridge DSL5520 Thunderbolt 2 Bridge [F
/0/100/1c.4/0/0/0 generic DSL5520 Thunderbolt 2 NHI [Falc
/0/100/1c.4/0/3 bridge DSL5520 Thunderbolt 2 Bridge [F
/0/100/1c.4/0/4 bridge DSL5520 Thunderbolt 2 Bridge [F
/0/100/1c.4/0/5 bridge DSL5520 Thunderbolt 2 Bridge [F
/0/100/1c.4/0/6 bridge DSL5520 Thunderbolt 2 Bridge [F
/0/100/1f bridge 8 Series LPC Controller
/0/100/1f.2 storage 8 Series SATA Controller 1 [AHC
/0/100/1f.3 bus 8 Series SMBus Controller
/0/2 system PnP device PNP0103
/0/3 system PnP device PNP0c02
/0/4 system PnP device PNP0b00
/0/6 system PnP device PNP0c02
/0/7 system PnP device PNP0c01
/0/8 scsi0 storage
/0/8/0.0.0 /dev/sda disk 500GB APPLE HDD ST500L
/0/8/0.0.0/1 volume 512MiB EFI GPT partition
/0/8/0.0.0/2 /dev/sda2 volume 465GiB EXT4 volume

 

[Brickwizard]

That is basically the same spec as my HP Prodesk SFF down to the 4th gen I5, except I boosted the ram to 8gb
it should give you years of life yet

 

[Toove]

Great! I really save a lot of money by going Linux, defrosting my fridge regularly, etc.

 

[Toove]

It seems that to mess with the wires and taking them in and out again a few times, was enough. It hasn't happened since. Thank you!

 

[Brickwizard]

It seems that to mess with the wires

light corrosion [you may not even see it] causing what is known as a dry joint, is often overlooked, pulling the plugs a couple of times is the safest way to clear it,

 

[Toove]

But the problem was solved by taking the wires in and out?

 

[Brickwizard]

oops sorry posted on wrong thread..my apologies I will delete comment