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You are here: MacNN Forums > News > Mac News > NewerTech accessory fools 'headless' Mac minis into turning on GPU

NewerTech accessory fools 'headless' Mac minis into turning on GPU
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NewsPoster
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Aug 12, 2014, 12:48 PM
 
NewerTech had released an accessory for the Mac mini, the Headless Mac Video Accelerator. Although Minis are often used as headless servers, the computer will automatically disable its GPU when a monitor isn't detected. This can potentially cripple performance in some tasks, such as accessing a Mini remotely, which is often necessary when it's in server mode.

The HMVA is a display adapter that fools a Mini into thinking a monitor is attached. This forces it to load video drivers, and hence both the OS X interface and any graphics-intensive apps should run at normal speed. NewerTech is selling the accessory for $19.


     
Grendelmon
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Aug 12, 2014, 01:46 PM
 
Reminds me of the old trick of attaching a VGA adapter to an old headless power mac so Timbuktu and VNC would work remotely...
     
macmad
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Aug 12, 2014, 01:55 PM
 
http://blog.macminicolo.net/post/33839671756/build-a-dummy-dongle-for-a-headless-mac-mini

Or build your own
     
macmad
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Aug 12, 2014, 01:55 PM
 
http://blog.macminicolo.net/post/33839671756/build-a-dummy-dongle-for-a-headless-mac-mini
     
Tralthamidor
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Aug 12, 2014, 03:31 PM
 
Does anyone know of a way to do this with a Pre-late 2013 Mac Pro? I keep the machines around to use with the older OSes through Screen Sharing but they won't run Final Cut Pro, or rip DVD's among other things because of no monitor.
     
Mike Wuerthele
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Aug 12, 2014, 04:19 PM
 
The same general idea works on DVI. There should be similar dongles.
     
TheGreatButcher
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Aug 12, 2014, 07:22 PM
 
Surprised there's no command line instruction to get around this...
     
ShortcutToMoncton
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Aug 13, 2014, 08:58 AM
 
I built my own. (Not a lot cheaper, though.) But eventually connecting a TV via HDMI also seemed to do the trick.
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
dmwalsh568
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Aug 13, 2014, 10:43 AM
 
Why did they use the Mini-Display port for this?!? The Mac mini only has one Thunderbolt port and this will block that port. An HDMI version would make MUCH more sense.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Aug 13, 2014, 10:59 AM
 
Your Thunderbolt devices don't have pass-through?
     
   
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