Macbook Pro Retina and Dell u3011 video driver problem

I had the exact same problem with a Dell monitor. After months of support calls and monitor replacements, it ended up being the cable.

The problem was using a Mini-DP to DP cable. For some reason, the DP chips in the cable is not sending a signal that Dell monitors are expecting or the length of the cable causes the signal to degrade.

The fix? Buy a Mini-DP to DP adapter then use a 1.2 DP to DP cable to connect to the monitor. I know it sounds lame and the MiniDP to DP cable should work but after I switched out the cable for this setup, I didn't experience the issue again.

Hope this helps.

I had a similar compatibility issue a few years back with a Dell monitor. After a replacement and multiple support calls, it ended up being the Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable. The embedded chip didn't send the proper info the Dell monitor is expecting.

After I replaced the Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable with a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter and a normal sized DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable, it worked properly.

There is some kind of incompatibility with Dell monitors and MDP to DP cables. I've used the MDP to DP cable with other monitors without problems but have only had success with Dells when using a MDP to DP Adapter with a DP-DP cable.

Hope this helps!