Seems like there ought to be a better solution. So we still need the DVI to VGA adapter and then need to trigger the sense pins on the VGA adapter to make it think there is a monitor. Apparently this site has instructions to make your own:
http://tvtool.info/go.htm?http://tvtool.info/english/dummy_e.htm which basically says to get 3 75ohm resistors and use them to connect pins 3 to 8, 2 to 7 and 1 to 6. If you have a VGA connector facing you with the wide edge up the pins are numbered left to right 5 4 3 2 1 on the top row, 10 9 8 7 6 in the next and 15 14 13 12 11 on the bottom row. One site suggested that you could just shove the wire ends of the resistors into the holes to make them work. Apparently the headless bootup problem is also prevalent for those trying to use Macs as servers and for Windows folks trying to use just the video (not VGA) our of their machine for media centers. Here is another site with better text descriptions of the pinouts: http://soerennielsen.dk/mod/VGAdummy/index_en.php So I hunted around for what is essentially a VGA terminator and they do make them, so if you're not up for soldering or pushing wires into pins here are a few places: $15 http://www.garrett-smarthome.com/proddetail.php?prod=MS8000TP $22 http://www.cables4computer.com/Cabling_Products/VGA-Terminator_Connectors_VGA_Terminator.html $25 http://www.altinexsuperstore.com/p-489-ms8000tp-vga-15-pin-hd-termination-plug.aspx $34 http://www.thenerds.net/SP_CONTROLS.SP_Controls_VGA_Terminator_Catlinc_VGA_L.CATLINCTERM.html?affid=8&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=CATLINCTERM%5E~%5ESP%20CONTROLS If you don't make one yourself you quickly approach the cost of an actual display by the time it's all said and done. I wonder if there is such a thing as a DVI terminator so the Apple DIV to VGA adapter wouldn't be needed. CB Kieren wrote: > Ok I see there is a lot of too-ing and fro-ing about what works and > what doesnt and why not with the 2009 mac mini's. > > here is the lowdown. for a start the mini dvi to composite video > adaptors which did work on pre 2009 model mini's will NOT work on > 2009+ models. > Apple in their infinite wisdom have dropped the analog output which > these adaptors used to pretend there was a monitor connected. > The mini dvi connection is now DVI-D (Digital only) previous models > had DVI-I which contained both analog and digital signals > you can tell the difference between the full size DVI connectors by > checking if it has 4 pins around the larger flat pin at 1 end. These > are DVI-I. > The DVI-D connectors are missing the 4 pins AND have a slightly > smalller flat pin hence some monitors not connecting to the included > mini DVI to DVI-D connector that comes with the new Minis. > > Ok I hope this clarifies things a bit ;) > > I had the same issue with the analog output, admittedly my mini is > used for a HTPC but the problem is the same. > I eventually had to buy 2 things. > 1. a mini DVI to VGA adaptor - AU $19 > 2, usb powered VGA to composite video Convertor - AU $50 delivered on > ebay. > these 2 combined will do what the analog adaptor did by providing a > pretend monitor output. > the convertor has composite video out, s-video out (will be digital > pass through) and vga passthrough will also be digital. > here are 2 links i found from a simple google search > http://www.newtechindustries.com/newtech/computer/vga_to_composite_svideo_converter.html > http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26804 > > I hope this helps clarify some issues over adaptors etc. > > On a side note most of the apple sales persons i talked to did not > know of the change to DVI-D and it was only through trial and error > and a small 1 line note on a review site > that got things sorted. > > HTH > > And yes they should make it work headless!!! > > Kieren > > On Nov 25, 3:43 am, "Rich Ring" <richr...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hello: >> I have finally gotten around to purchasing the mini to dvi adapter that many >> folks told me would solve the problems I am having with my Mac Mini's poor >> performance on the web, and its inability to play DVDS. I have been very >> busy because of a change in my job description, so I've kind of put the Mac >> on hold. However, life is calming down and I decided to get down to it with >> the mac. Imagine my frustration when, I received the adapter today, >> connected it to the back of my Mac, started the machine, and I have no >> speech. If I start the machine without this adapter connected, VO comes up >> as expected, and if I subsequently plug in the adapter all is still well, >> but Safari is still just as slow as it was before. I'm wondering why the >> system doesn't seem to come up if the adapter is plugged in. If any of you >> have an idea what could be causing this and, better yet, if any of you have >> a solution, I will be incredibly grateful. >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Jess Smith" <theeternal...@gmail.com> >> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 3:09 AM >> Subject: A question about streaming audio in vlc media player >> >> Hi all, >> >> Whenever I stream audio in Vlc through an m3u playlist, the player skips >> ahead to the next track in the playlist before the current one finishes >> playing. What's going on here, and how can I fix this? >> Thanks. >> >> Jes. >> >> -- >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group >> athttp://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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