Headless Mac Mini Display Emulator

[mmomega]

Since sometime in 2010 I've had this problem as well as a number of people on here and I just came across another possible solution from MacMiniColo.
The problem being that if you use your Mac Mini as a home server or just remote into it without a monitor connected, your remote screen will randomly be completely black or parts of it blacked out.

This has happened with a 2010, 2011 and 2012 Mini through Lion, ML and Mavericks.

The 1st solution being to get a VGA adaptor and sticking a resistor into certain pinholes to make the Mini believe a monitor is connected so the video card stays active and you don't receive blacked out screens when you remote in.

The other solution I found on amazon is an HDMI emulator. Just plug it into the Mini's HDMI port and it "acts as an active monitor".

I was just wondering if anyone has had similar problems and has used an HDMI emulator to fix the problem.

Here's the Amazon link

 

[jimj740]

Yes and yes, using the exact part from the exact vendor on Amazon.

Tells the mini there is a HDMI attached monitor so the HD4000 drivers fire up.

No complaints at all...

Good luck,

JimJ

 

[808?]

The 1st solution being to get a VGA adaptor and sticking a resistor into certain pinholes to make the Mini believe a monitor is connected so the video card stays active and you don't receive blacked out screens when you remote in.

I made one of these using a HDMI > VGA adapter, works very well.

 

[swordturtle]

Mac Headless display emulator

I agree with the above comment. The CompuLab HDMI display emulator works nicely for headless display. I had fuzzy display in ARD and plugging in the emulator solved it.

 

[DFWHD]

I've been using the CompuLab 4K Display Emulator (fit-Headless 4K) for a few months now on my Mini. I got it on Amazon for $25 and it works great.

 

[nkawal]

Thinking of doing the same, what are the best options for remote into the Mac Mini.

 

[DFWHD]

I've been using the delivered screen sharing app and set it to stay in the dock. Works fine for me.

 

[WilliamG]

I've been using the CompuLab 4K Display Emulator (fit-Headless 4K) for a few months now on my Mini. I got it on Amazon for $25 and it works great.

Yep, I'm using a CompuLab emulator, too. I didn't like the 4K model (I have it and the 1080p model) because it was just... odd... not picking up 60hz (53hz max), but either way - that's the way to go.

 

[drsox]

Thinking of doing the same, what are the best options for remote into the Mac Mini.

I use one of these fit-PC dongles and connect via VNC (https://www.realvnc.com).