Headless mini resolutions?

I have a mini as a media server & home automation.
It was hooked to the TV via VGA.
I work on it via screen sharing.
Prob is that If I have a DVI connection, VGA connection or no connection, the screen resolution options on screen sharing are all different.
Now with it headless, the res is horrible on screen sharing.
Any way to force a desired res?
(I don't want to hook up the tv just to get a res. I like as few cables as possible.) I don't understand why the connection or lack of to the video port changes things. Having it sense for best results is good, but when the 'best results' are far from it, makes that feature poor. Apple knows what I want/need better then I do?

Adding a device is a backwards answer. I could just run the cable to the TV. The whole point is to reduce power sucking devices and reduce cable counts.
Defaulting to lowest res is not exactly right. Because then it would default to 640x480. And defaulting to it is fine by me. But one should be able to change if they choose.
Actually I just tried again and seems to be back to normal (was able to get 1680x1250) I've been playing off and on for a month or so since I rewired the entertainment system. Maybe its was an issue with screen sharing that got fixed with a system update? Strange part is that at this res, it fits best on my macbook screen Which isn't that high a res, I don't think). The other choices seemed have an aspect ratio issues.

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