intel experience

Usually the problem is with the machine not wanting to run at all,
and the solution for that can sometimes be to hook a video adapter
onto the machine to trick it into thinking it has a display. This
seems like something different, but it's still worth a try.

Ian

On Dec 1, 2006, at 2:05 PM, hiaz wrote:

> hi!
>
> i have just made a strange experience working on an intel mini mac
> we use for an installation.
>
> i was planning to run the machine without a display connected as
> its output is only sound and dmx with another part of the patch
> doing jitter video processing of a live camera feed.
>
> in such a situation i use a VNC server to be able to operate the
> machine remotely.
> this works flawlessly when an actual screen is connected to the
> mini mac.
> if i unplug the screen, though, and reboot without a display the
> jitter performance drops from 30 fps to 5 fps.
>
> now, if i do the same to a PPC mini mac the same thing happens, but
> not quite as bad.
> the frame rate drops from 11 fps to 7.5 fps, so that in the end the
> PPC outruns the intel machine (!) which is actually 3 times as fast.
>
> would anyone know a way to explain this?
>
> as far as i understand it the intel machine does not have any
> dedicated video ram anymore, but uses a part of the computers memory.
> presumably the size of memory changes depending on the size of the
> display and without an actual screen there, it could be very small.
>
> could i fool the intel machine that there really is a nice 20 inch
> screen there somewhere..?
>
> any pointers would be appreciated!
>
>
> many thanks
> hiaz
>