monitor_profile.xml Reference

The monitor_profile.xml file is an XML representation of a monitor’s EDID (Extended Display Identification Data). It allows the Virtual Display Driver to automatically configure itself based on a real monitor’s capabilities, including supported resolutions, HDR metadata, and color profiles.

Purpose: Import EDID data from real monitors to configure the virtual display with accurate capabilities, ensuring compatibility with HDR streaming and capture applications.

Generation

The monitor_profile.xml file is typically generated using the included EDID Parser utility:

EDIDParser.exe monitor.bin

This reads a binary EDID file and generates a structured XML profile.

File Structure

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<IddCxMonitorConfig>
  <MonitorModes>...</MonitorModes>
  <HDRCapabilities>...</HDRCapabilities>
  <ColorProfile>...</ColorProfile>
  <PreferredMode>...</PreferredMode>
</IddCxMonitorConfig>

Monitor Modes

The <MonitorModes> section defines all supported display modes (resolution and refresh rate combinations).

Show MonitorModes Structure

<MonitorModes>
  <MonitorMode>
    <Width>3840</Width>
    <Height>2160</Height>
    <RefreshRate>59.940</RefreshRate>
    <RefreshRateMultiplier>999</RefreshRateMultiplier>
    <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
  </MonitorMode>
  <!-- Additional modes... -->
</MonitorModes>

MonitorMode Fields

MonitorMode.Width

integer

required

Horizontal resolution in pixels.Valid Range: 640-10240Example: 3840 for 4K UHD

MonitorMode.Height

integer

required

Vertical resolution in pixels.Valid Range: 480-4320Example: 2160 for 4K UHD

MonitorMode.RefreshRate

float

required

Actual refresh rate in Hz (including fractional rates).Common Values:

60.000 - Standard 60 Hz
59.940 - NTSC fractional rate (60Hz * 999/1000)
120.000 - High refresh rate
23.976 - Cinema frame rate

Example: 59.940

MonitorMode.RefreshRateMultiplier

integer

required

Multiplier for fractional refresh rates (Z value).Values:

1000 - Exact refresh rate (e.g., 60.000 Hz)
999 - NTSC fractional rate (multiply by 999/1000)

The actual refresh rate is calculated as:

ActualHz = NominalRefreshRate × (RefreshRateMultiplier / 1000)

Example: 999 for 59.94 Hz (60 × 999/1000)

MonitorMode.NominalRefreshRate

integer

required

Nominal (rounded) refresh rate in Hz.Example: 60 for both 60.000 Hz and 59.940 Hz modes

Fractional Refresh Rates Explained

NTSC Fractional Rates: Some refresh rates use a 999/1000 multiplier to achieve NTSC-compatible timings:

60 Hz → 59.94 Hz (60 × 999/1000)
30 Hz → 29.97 Hz (30 × 999/1000)
24 Hz → 23.976 Hz (24 × 999/1000)

These fractional rates are required for proper HDMI/broadcast compatibility.

Example Mode Definitions

<!-- 1080p @ 60 Hz -->
<MonitorMode>
  <Width>1920</Width>
  <Height>1080</Height>
  <RefreshRate>60.000</RefreshRate>
  <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
  <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
</MonitorMode>

<!-- 1080p @ 59.94 Hz (NTSC) -->
<MonitorMode>
  <Width>1920</Width>
  <Height>1080</Height>
  <RefreshRate>59.940</RefreshRate>
  <RefreshRateMultiplier>999</RefreshRateMultiplier>
  <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
</MonitorMode>

<!-- 4K @ 120 Hz -->
<MonitorMode>
  <Width>3840</Width>
  <Height>2160</Height>
  <RefreshRate>120.000</RefreshRate>
  <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
  <NominalRefreshRate>120</NominalRefreshRate>
</MonitorMode>

HDR Capabilities

The <HDRCapabilities> section defines the HDR support and luminance ranges.

Show HDRCapabilities Structure

<HDRCapabilities>
  <HDR10Supported>true</HDR10Supported>
  <DolbyVisionSupported>false</DolbyVisionSupported>
  <HDR10PlusSupported>false</HDR10PlusSupported>
  <MaxLuminance>1670.838</MaxLuminance>
  <MinLuminance>10.615</MinLuminance>
</HDRCapabilities>

HDRCapabilities.HDR10Supported

boolean

required

Indicates HDR10 support (SMPTE ST.2084 PQ EOTF).Values:

true - Display supports HDR10
false - SDR only

HDRCapabilities.DolbyVisionSupported

boolean

required

Indicates Dolby Vision support.

Dolby Vision support in virtual displays is limited. Most streaming applications only require HDR10.

HDRCapabilities.HDR10PlusSupported

boolean

required

Indicates HDR10+ (dynamic metadata) support.

HDRCapabilities.MaxLuminance

float

required

Maximum display luminance in nits (cd/m²).Common Values:

400.0 - Entry-level HDR
600.0 - Mid-range HDR
1000.0 - Premium HDR
1600.0 - High-end HDR
4000.0 - Reference HDR monitors

Valid Range: 50.0-10000.0

HDRCapabilities.MinLuminance

float

required

Minimum display luminance in nits.Lower values indicate better black levels. OLED displays can achieve near-zero minimum luminance.Typical Values:

0.001 - OLED displays
0.05 - High-end LCD with local dimming
0.1 - Standard HDR LCD

Valid Range: 0.0001-10.0

HDR Configuration Examples

<HDRCapabilities>
  <HDR10Supported>true</HDR10Supported>
  <DolbyVisionSupported>false</DolbyVisionSupported>
  <HDR10PlusSupported>false</HDR10PlusSupported>
  <MaxLuminance>600.0</MaxLuminance>
  <MinLuminance>0.1</MinLuminance>
</HDRCapabilities>

Color Profile

The <ColorProfile> section defines the color space and chromaticity coordinates.

Show ColorProfile Structure

<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>

ColorProfile.PrimaryColorSpace

string

required

Primary color space identifier.Options:

sRGB - Standard RGB (most common)
Rec709 - ITU-R BT.709 (HDTV, same primaries as sRGB)
Rec2020 - ITU-R BT.2020 (UHDTV, wide gamut)
DCI-P3 - Digital Cinema color space
Adobe RGB - Adobe RGB (photography)

ColorProfile.Gamma

float

required

Gamma correction value.Common Values:

2.200 - sRGB standard (most common)
2.400 - Pure power gamma (Rec.709)
1.000 - Linear (no gamma)

Valid Range: 1.0-3.0

Chromaticity Coordinates

Chromaticity coordinates use the CIE 1931 color space, with values from 0.0 to 1.0.

Chromaticity.RedX

float

required

Red primary X coordinate.Valid Range: 0.0-1.0

Chromaticity.RedY

float

required

Red primary Y coordinate.Valid Range: 0.0-1.0

Chromaticity.GreenX

float

required

Green primary X coordinate.Valid Range: 0.0-1.0

Chromaticity.GreenY

float

required

Green primary Y coordinate.Valid Range: 0.0-1.0

Chromaticity.BlueX

float

required

Blue primary X coordinate.Valid Range: 0.0-1.0

Chromaticity.BlueY

float

required

Blue primary Y coordinate.Valid Range: 0.0-1.0

Chromaticity.WhiteX

float

required

White point X coordinate (typically D65 illuminant).D65 Standard: 0.3127Valid Range: 0.0-1.0

Chromaticity.WhiteY

float

required

White point Y coordinate.D65 Standard: 0.3290Valid Range: 0.0-1.0

Standard Color Space Chromaticities

Show Standard Color Space Reference

sRGB / Rec.709:

<Chromaticity>
  <RedX>0.6400</RedX>   <RedY>0.3300</RedY>
  <GreenX>0.3000</GreenX> <GreenY>0.6000</GreenY>
  <BlueX>0.1500</BlueX>  <BlueY>0.0600</BlueY>
  <WhiteX>0.3127</WhiteX> <WhiteY>0.3290</WhiteY>  <!-- D65 -->
</Chromaticity>

DCI-P3:

<Chromaticity>
  <RedX>0.6800</RedX>   <RedY>0.3200</RedY>
  <GreenX>0.2650</GreenX> <GreenY>0.6900</GreenY>
  <BlueX>0.1500</BlueX>  <BlueY>0.0600</BlueY>
  <WhiteX>0.3127</WhiteX> <WhiteY>0.3290</WhiteY>  <!-- D65 -->
</Chromaticity>

Rec.2020 (Wide Gamut):

<Chromaticity>
  <RedX>0.7080</RedX>   <RedY>0.2920</RedY>
  <GreenX>0.1700</GreenX> <GreenY>0.7970</GreenY>
  <BlueX>0.1310</BlueX>  <BlueY>0.0460</BlueY>
  <WhiteX>0.3127</WhiteX> <WhiteY>0.3290</WhiteY>  <!-- D65 -->
</Chromaticity>

Preferred Mode

The <PreferredMode> section specifies the default display mode.

PreferredMode.Width

integer

required

Preferred mode width in pixels.Must match one of the defined MonitorModes.

PreferredMode.Height

integer

required

Preferred mode height in pixels.Must match one of the defined MonitorModes.

PreferredMode.RefreshRate

float

required

Preferred mode refresh rate in Hz.Must match one of the defined MonitorModes.

Example Preferred Mode

<PreferredMode>
  <Width>3840</Width>
  <Height>2160</Height>
  <RefreshRate>60.000</RefreshRate>
</PreferredMode>

Complete Example Profiles

Show Example: Standard 4K HDR Monitor

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<IddCxMonitorConfig>
  <MonitorModes>
    <!-- 1080p modes -->
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>1920</Width>
      <Height>1080</Height>
      <RefreshRate>60.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>1920</Width>
      <Height>1080</Height>
      <RefreshRate>59.940</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>999</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    
    <!-- 1440p modes -->
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>2560</Width>
      <Height>1440</Height>
      <RefreshRate>60.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    
    <!-- 4K modes -->
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>3840</Width>
      <Height>2160</Height>
      <RefreshRate>60.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>3840</Width>
      <Height>2160</Height>
      <RefreshRate>59.940</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>999</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>3840</Width>
      <Height>2160</Height>
      <RefreshRate>50.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>50</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>3840</Width>
      <Height>2160</Height>
      <RefreshRate>30.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>30</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>3840</Width>
      <Height>2160</Height>
      <RefreshRate>29.970</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>999</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>30</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>3840</Width>
      <Height>2160</Height>
      <RefreshRate>24.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>24</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>3840</Width>
      <Height>2160</Height>
      <RefreshRate>23.976</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>999</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>24</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
  </MonitorModes>
  
  <HDRCapabilities>
    <HDR10Supported>true</HDR10Supported>
    <DolbyVisionSupported>false</DolbyVisionSupported>
    <HDR10PlusSupported>false</HDR10PlusSupported>
    <MaxLuminance>1000.0</MaxLuminance>
    <MinLuminance>0.05</MinLuminance>
  </HDRCapabilities>
  
  <ColorProfile>
    <PrimaryColorSpace>sRGB</PrimaryColorSpace>
    <Gamma>2.200</Gamma>
    <Chromaticity>
      <RedX>0.6400</RedX>
      <RedY>0.3300</RedY>
      <GreenX>0.3000</GreenX>
      <GreenY>0.6000</GreenY>
      <BlueX>0.1500</BlueX>
      <BlueY>0.0600</BlueY>
      <WhiteX>0.3127</WhiteX>
      <WhiteY>0.3290</WhiteY>
    </Chromaticity>
  </ColorProfile>
  
  <PreferredMode>
    <Width>3840</Width>
    <Height>2160</Height>
    <RefreshRate>60.000</RefreshRate>
  </PreferredMode>
</IddCxMonitorConfig>

Show Example: High Refresh Gaming Monitor (1440p 165Hz)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<IddCxMonitorConfig>
  <MonitorModes>
    <!-- 1080p modes -->
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>1920</Width>
      <Height>1080</Height>
      <RefreshRate>60.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>1920</Width>
      <Height>1080</Height>
      <RefreshRate>120.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>120</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>1920</Width>
      <Height>1080</Height>
      <RefreshRate>144.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>144</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    
    <!-- 1440p modes -->
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>2560</Width>
      <Height>1440</Height>
      <RefreshRate>60.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>60</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>2560</Width>
      <Height>1440</Height>
      <RefreshRate>120.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>120</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>2560</Width>
      <Height>1440</Height>
      <RefreshRate>144.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>144</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
    <MonitorMode>
      <Width>2560</Width>
      <Height>1440</Height>
      <RefreshRate>165.000</RefreshRate>
      <RefreshRateMultiplier>1000</RefreshRateMultiplier>
      <NominalRefreshRate>165</NominalRefreshRate>
    </MonitorMode>
  </MonitorModes>
  
  <HDRCapabilities>
    <HDR10Supported>true</HDR10Supported>
    <DolbyVisionSupported>false</DolbyVisionSupported>
    <HDR10PlusSupported>false</HDR10PlusSupported>
    <MaxLuminance>600.0</MaxLuminance>
    <MinLuminance>0.1</MinLuminance>
  </HDRCapabilities>
  
  <ColorProfile>
    <PrimaryColorSpace>DCI-P3</PrimaryColorSpace>
    <Gamma>2.200</Gamma>
    <Chromaticity>
      <RedX>0.6800</RedX>
      <RedY>0.3200</RedY>
      <GreenX>0.2650</GreenX>
      <GreenY>0.6900</GreenY>
      <BlueX>0.1500</BlueX>
      <BlueY>0.0600</BlueY>
      <WhiteX>0.3127</WhiteX>
      <WhiteY>0.3290</WhiteY>
    </Chromaticity>
  </ColorProfile>
  
  <PreferredMode>
    <Width>2560</Width>
    <Height>1440</Height>
    <RefreshRate>165.000</RefreshRate>
  </PreferredMode>
</IddCxMonitorConfig>

Integration with vdd_settings.xml

To use a monitor_profile.xml file, configure the EDID integration section 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>

Priority: When override_manual_settings is false, manual settings in vdd_settings.xml take priority. The EDID profile fills in gaps where manual settings aren’t specified.

Workflow: From EDID to Monitor Profile

Extract EDID from Monitor

Use Windows Device Manager or third-party tools to extract the EDID binary from a real monitor.Save as monitor.bin

Parse EDID Binary

Run the EDID Parser utility:

EDIDParser.exe monitor.bin

This generates monitor_profile.xml

Copy to Driver Directory

Place monitor_profile.xml in the driver’s EDID directory:

C:\VirtualDisplayDriver\EDID\monitor_profile.xml

Enable EDID Integration

Configure vdd_settings.xml to use the profile (see Integration section above)

Reload Driver

Restart the driver to apply the new configuration:

.\ToggleVDD.ps1 restart

vdd_settings.xml

Main driver configuration file reference

EDID Files

Working with binary EDID files

EDID Parser Utility

Complete guide to the EDID Parser tool

EDID Integration

Comprehensive EDID integration guide

Configuration Reference

PowerShell Scripts

Utilities

Driver API

monitor_profile.xml Reference

monitor_profile.xml Reference

Generation

File Structure

Monitor Modes

MonitorMode Fields

Fractional Refresh Rates Explained

Example Mode Definitions

HDR Capabilities

HDR Configuration Examples

Color Profile

Chromaticity Coordinates

Standard Color Space Chromaticities

Preferred Mode

Example Preferred Mode

Complete Example Profiles

Integration with vdd_settings.xml

Workflow: From EDID to Monitor Profile

vdd_settings.xml

EDID Files

EDID Parser Utility

EDID Integration

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Configuration Reference

PowerShell Scripts

Utilities

Driver API

​monitor_profile.xml Reference

​Generation

​File Structure

​Monitor Modes

​MonitorMode Fields

​Fractional Refresh Rates Explained

​Example Mode Definitions

​HDR Capabilities

​HDR Configuration Examples

​Color Profile

​Chromaticity Coordinates

​Standard Color Space Chromaticities

​Preferred Mode

​Example Preferred Mode

​Complete Example Profiles

​Integration with vdd_settings.xml

​Workflow: From EDID to Monitor Profile

​Related Documentation

vdd_settings.xml

EDID Files

EDID Parser Utility

EDID Integration

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

monitor_profile.xml Reference

Generation

File Structure

Monitor Modes

MonitorMode Fields

Fractional Refresh Rates Explained

Example Mode Definitions

HDR Capabilities

HDR Configuration Examples

Color Profile

Chromaticity Coordinates

Standard Color Space Chromaticities

Preferred Mode

Example Preferred Mode

Complete Example Profiles

Integration with vdd_settings.xml

Workflow: From EDID to Monitor Profile

Related Documentation