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The Virtual Display Driver supports loading custom EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) files to emulate specific monitors and automatically configure display capabilities.

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EDID Integration System

EDID integration allows automatic configuration from parsed EDID files, eliminating manual setup for display modes, HDR capabilities, and color profiles.

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Basic Configuration

Enable EDID integration in vdd_settings.xml: 
<edid_integration>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
  <auto_configure_from_edid>true</auto_configure_from_edid>
  <edid_profile_path>EDID/monitor_profile.xml</edid_profile_path>
  <override_manual_settings>false</override_manual_settings>
  <fallback_on_error>true</fallback_on_error>
</edid_integration>
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enabled
boolean
default:"false"
Enable EDID integration system. When disabled, all EDID features are bypassed.
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auto_configure_from_edid
boolean
default:"false"
Automatically apply settings from monitor_profile.xml at driver startup.
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edid_profile_path
string
default:"EDID/monitor_profile.xml"
Path to XML profile file relative to C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\.
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override_manual_settings
boolean
default:"false"
  • true: EDID settings take priority over manual vdd_settings.xml configuration
  • false: Manual settings take priority; EDID fills in missing values
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fallback_on_error
boolean
default:"true"
Use manual settings if EDID profile fails to load or parse.

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Monitor Profile Format

The monitor_profile.xml file contains parsed EDID data: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<IddCxMonitorConfig>
  <MonitorModes>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>3840</Width>
      <Height>2160</Height>
      <RefreshRate>59.940</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>999</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
  </MonitorModes>
  
  <HDRCapabilities>
    <HDR10Supported>true</HDR10Supported>
    <DolbyVisionSupported>false</DolbyVisionSupported>
    <HDR10PlusSupported>false</HDR10PlusSupported>
    <MaxLuminance>1670.838</MaxLuminance>
    <MinLuminance>10.615</MinLuminance>
  </HDRCapabilities>
  
  <ColorProfile>
    <PrimaryColorSpace>sRGB</PrimaryColorSpace>
    <Gamma>2.200</Gamma>
    <Chromaticity>
      <RedX>0.6250</RedX>
      <RedY>0.3398</RedY>
      <GreenX>0.2803</GreenX>
      <GreenY>0.5947</GreenY>
      <BlueX>0.1553</BlueX>
      <BlueY>0.0703</BlueY>
      <WhiteX>0.2832</WhiteX>
      <WhiteY>0.2979</WhiteY>
    </Chromaticity>
  </ColorProfile>
  
  <PreferredMode>
    <Width>4096</Width>
    <Height>2160</Height>
    <RefreshRate>59.940</RefreshRate>
  </PreferredMode>
</IddCxMonitorConfig>

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Parsing EDID Files

The driver includes an EDID parser (edid_parser.txt) that extracts capabilities from binary EDID files.

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Supported EDID Features

The parser extracts:
  • Video modes: Resolution, refresh rates (including fractional rates like 59.94Hz)
  • HDR metadata: Static metadata type 1 (SMPTE ST.2086)
  • Color capabilities: Primaries, white point, gamma, color spaces
  • Display limits: Min/max refresh rates, pixel clock limits

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Included EDID Files

Sample EDID files in EDID/ directory:
  • 8K240HzHDR.edid - 8K 240Hz HDR reference
  • lolhero_edid.bin - Gaming monitor profile
  • digihome_edid.bin - Home theater display

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Parsing EDID to XML

Use the EDID parser tool (edid_parser.txt:719-1001): 
# Parse EDID binary to XML profile
EDIDParseDL.exe 8K240HzHDR.edid
This generates monitor_profile.xml with extracted capabilities.

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Fractional Refresh Rates

EDID profiles support fractional refresh rates using the multiplier system: 
<MonitorMode>
  <Width>1920</Width>
  <Height>1080</Height>
  <RefreshRate>59.940</RefreshRate>
  <RefreshRateMultiplier>999</RefreshRateMultiplier>
  <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
</MonitorMode>
Multiplier values:
  • 1000 = Exact rate (60.000 Hz)
  • 999 = NTSC rate (59.94 Hz = 60 × 999/1000)
See Floating-Point Refresh Rates for details.

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Custom EDID Binary Files

To use raw EDID binary files instead of XML profiles: 
<edid>
  <CustomEdid>true</CustomEdid>
  <PreventSpoof>false</PreventSpoof>
  <EdidCeaOverride>false</EdidCeaOverride>
</edid>
Place user_edid.bin in C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\. The driver will load this binary EDID directly.
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CustomEdid
boolean
default:"false"
Load user_edid.bin binary EDID file instead of generating EDID from configuration.
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PreventSpoof
boolean
default:"false"
Prevent manufacturer ID spoofing when using custom EDID files.
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EdidCeaOverride
boolean
default:"false"
Override CEA extension block in generated EDID with custom data.

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Auto Resolution Management

When EDID integration is enabled, configure automatic resolution management: 
<auto_resolutions>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
  <source_priority>combined</source_priority>
  <edid_mode_filtering>
    <min_refresh_rate>24</min_refresh_rate>
    <max_refresh_rate>240</max_refresh_rate>
    <exclude_fractional_rates>false</exclude_fractional_rates>
    <min_resolution_width>640</min_resolution_width>
    <min_resolution_height>480</min_resolution_height>
    <max_resolution_width>7680</max_resolution_width>
    <max_resolution_height>4320</max_resolution_height>
  </edid_mode_filtering>
  <preferred_mode>
    <use_edid_preferred>true</use_edid_preferred>
    <fallback_width>1920</fallback_width>
    <fallback_height>1080</fallback_height>
    <fallback_refresh>60</fallback_refresh>
  </preferred_mode>
</auto_resolutions>

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Source Priority Modes

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source_priority
enum
default:"manual"
Controls which resolution list is used:
  • manual: Use only manual resolutions from vdd_settings.xml
  • edid: Use only resolutions from EDID profile
  • combined: Merge both lists (removes duplicates)

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EDID Parsing Implementation

The parser (edid_parser.txt) supports:

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Base EDID (128 bytes)

  • Established timings (bytes 35-37)
  • Standard timings (bytes 38-53)
  • Detailed timing descriptors (bytes 54-125)
  • Chromaticity coordinates (bytes 25-34)
  • Display range limits

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CEA Extension Blocks

  • Video Data Block: VIC (Video Identification Code) modes
  • Vendor Specific Data Block: HDMI/DisplayPort capabilities
  • Extended Tag Block 0x06: HDR Static Metadata
  • Extended Tag Block 0x07: HDR Dynamic Metadata
  • Extended Tag Block 0x05: Colorimetry Data

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HDR Detection

The parser detects HDR support from: 
// EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) support
if (eotf_support & 0x04) {  // SMPTE ST2084 (PQ)
    hdr_metadata.hdr10_supported = true;
}
if (eotf_support & 0x08) {  // Hybrid Log-Gamma
    // HLG support detected
}
See edid_parser.txt:618-677 for HDR parsing logic.

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Configuration Examples

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EDID-Only Configuration

<edid_integration>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
  <auto_configure_from_edid>true</auto_configure_from_edid>
  <override_manual_settings>true</override_manual_settings>
</edid_integration>

<auto_resolutions>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
  <source_priority>edid</source_priority>
</auto_resolutions>

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Hybrid Configuration (Manual + EDID)

<edid_integration>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
  <auto_configure_from_edid>true</auto_configure_from_edid>
  <override_manual_settings>false</override_manual_settings>
</edid_integration>

<auto_resolutions>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
  <source_priority>combined</source_priority>
</auto_resolutions>

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Safe Fallback Configuration

<edid_integration>
  <enabled>true</enabled>
  <auto_configure_from_edid>true</auto_configure_from_edid>
  <fallback_on_error>true</fallback_on_error>
</edid_integration>

<auto_resolutions>
  <preferred_mode>
    <use_edid_preferred>false</use_edid_preferred>
    <fallback_width>1920</fallback_width>
    <fallback_height>1080</fallback_height>
  </preferred_mode>
</auto_resolutions>
The driver limits mode lists to 32 modes for optimal performance (Driver.cpp:1104-1110). Enable filtering to prevent mode list overflow.

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Validation and Debugging

Enable detailed logging to verify EDID loading: 
<logging>
  <logging>true</logging>
  <debuglogging>true</debuglogging>
</logging>
Log output shows: 
[INFO] EDID Profile loaded: 24 modes, HDR10: Yes, Color space: Rec.2020
[INFO] Enhanced mode management completed:
  Original manual modes: 3
  Generated EDID modes: 24
  Final optimized modes: 27
  Preferred mode: 3840x2160@60Hz

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