EDIDCRAFT

EDID Analysis & Generation Tool

Master EDID Technology

Complete Guide to Extended Display Identification Data

128+ Bytes of Data
10+ Extension Types
8K+ Resolutions Supported

🔍 EDID Fundamentals

📊

What is EDID?

Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) is a standardized data structure that allows displays to communicate their capabilities to connected devices. Think of it as a "digital passport" for your monitor.

  • 128-byte base block (EDID 1.x)
  • Optional 128-byte extension blocks
  • Manufacturer and model identification
  • Supported resolutions and refresh rates
  • Color characteristics and gamma
  • Physical dimensions
🔄

How EDID Works

When you connect a display to a computer, the graphics card reads the EDID data via DDC (Display Data Channel) to automatically configure optimal settings.

1 Display Connection
→
2 EDID Request
→
3 Data Transfer
→
4 Auto Configuration
⚡

Why EDID Matters

Proper EDID ensures seamless display compatibility and optimal visual experience across different devices and platforms.

  • Plug & Play: Automatic resolution detection
  • Color Accuracy: Proper color space configuration
  • Refresh Rates: Optimal timing parameters
  • HDR Support: High dynamic range capabilities
  • Audio: Integrated audio channel information

🏗️ EDID Structure Deep Dive

Base Block (128 Bytes)

00-07

Header Pattern

Fixed 8-byte signature: 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00

Identifies valid EDID data
08-17

Vendor Information

Manufacturer ID, product code, serial number, and manufacture date

• Manufacturer: 3-letter PnP ID • Product: 16-bit code • Serial: 32-bit number • Date: Week/Year
18-19

EDID Version

Structure version and revision

• Version 1.4: Most common • Version 2.0: Future standard
20-24

Display Parameters

Input type, screen size, gamma, and feature support

• Digital/Analog input • Bit depth & interface • Physical dimensions • Power management
25-34

Color Characteristics

Chromaticity coordinates for color primaries and white point

• Red/Green/Blue primaries • White point coordinates • Color gamut definition
35-53

Timing Information

Established timings and standard timing identifications

• Established: Legacy resolutions • Standard: Common resolutions • Detailed: Custom timings
54-125

Detailed Descriptors

Four 18-byte descriptors for detailed timings or monitor information

• Detailed Timing Descriptors • Display Range Limits • Monitor Name/Serial • Color Point Data
126-127

Footer

Extension count and checksum

• Extension blocks count • 8-bit checksum

🔬 Interactive EDID Structure Visualization

Explore the complete 128-byte EDID structure with real-time hex values and detailed explanations. Click on any section to learn more about its purpose and format.

EDID Base Block (128 Bytes)

Header (0-7)
00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00
Manufacturer (8-9)
XX XX
Product (10-11)
XX XX
Serial (12-15)
XX XX XX XX
Date (16-17)
XX XX
Version (18-19)
01 04
Display Params (20-24)
XX XX XX XX XX
Color Characteristics (25-34)
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
Established Timings (35-37)
XX XX XX
Standard Timings (38-53)
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
Descriptor 1 (54-71)
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
Descriptor 2 (72-89)
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
Descriptor 3 (90-107)
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
Descriptor 4 (108-125)
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
Extensions & Checksum (126-127)
XX XX

Section Details

Click a section to explore
🔍

Interactive EDID Explorer

Click on any section of the EDID structure to learn about its purpose, format, and typical values.

128 Total Bytes
15 Sections
4 Descriptors
Exploration Progress 0/15 sections

Sample EDID Data

00: 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 10 AC 40 40 4C 38 42 30
10: 2C 16 01 03 80 34 20 78 EA EE 95 A3 54 4C 99 26
20: 0F 50 54 A5 4B 00 B3 00 D1 00 71 4F A9 40 81 80
30: D1 C0 01 01 01 01 02 3A 80 18 71 38 2D 40 58 2C
40: 45 00 09 25 21 00 00 1E 00 00 00 FF 00 59 59 59
50: 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 0A 00 00 00 FC 00 44
60: 45 4C 4C 20 50 32 34 31 34 48 0A 20 00 00 00 FD
70: 00 38 4C 1E 53 11 00 0A 20 20 20 20 20 20 01 02

Example: Dell P2414H Monitor

This sample shows a real EDID from a 24" 1920×1080 monitor with standard timing support.

🔌 EDID Extensions Explained

EDID extensions provide additional capabilities beyond the base 128-byte block. Modern displays often require multiple extensions to fully describe their features.

📺

CTA-861 Extension (Tag: 0x02)

Consumer Technology Association

The most common extension for modern displays, defining audio/video capabilities for HDMI, DisplayPort, and other digital interfaces.

🎥 Video Capabilities

  • Supported video formats (VICs)
  • YCbCr 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 support
  • HDR static and dynamic metadata
  • Dolby Vision support
  • Variable refresh rate (VRR)
  • Quick Frame Transport (QFT)

🔊 Audio Features

  • Audio format support (PCM, DTS, Dolby)
  • Speaker allocation data
  • Audio sample rates and bit depths
  • Audio return channel (ARC/eARC)
  • Room configuration data

🎮 Gaming Features

  • Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
  • Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
  • Quick Media Switching (QMS)
  • Game content type signaling

Common Data Blocks:

Audio (0x01) Video (0x02) Vendor (0x03) Speaker (0x04) Extended (0x07)
🖥️

DisplayID Extension (Tag: 0x70)

VESA Standard

Advanced extension for high-resolution displays, tiled displays, and complex display configurations.

🎯 Timing Capabilities

  • Type I-VII detailed timings
  • Formula-based timing generation
  • Range-based timing limits
  • Adaptive-Sync parameters

🔗 Interface Features

  • Interface identification
  • Link capabilities
  • Bandwidth requirements
  • Multi-stream transport (MST)

🧩 Tiled Displays

  • Tile topology information
  • Bezel compensation
  • Multi-display coordination
  • Video wall configurations
⚙️

Other Extensions

Specialized Use Cases
VTB (0x20): Video Timing Block for additional timing data
LS (0x40): Localized String for multi-language support
DI (0x60): Digital Interface for specific interface data
Block Map (0xF0): Maps extension block layout
Manufacturer (0x80-0xFF): Vendor-specific extensions

🚀 Beyond 4K: Ultra High Resolution Formats

As display technology advances, we're seeing resolutions far beyond traditional 4K. These formats require sophisticated EDID configurations and advanced timing standards.

🎯 Current Generation (2024-2025)

8K UHD

7680 × 4320
Pixels: 33.2 Million
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Bandwidth (60Hz): ~48 Gbps
Interface: HDMI 2.1, DP 2.0
HDR10+ Dolby Vision VRR

5K UltraWide

5120 × 2160
Pixels: 11.1 Million
Aspect Ratio: 21:9
Bandwidth (60Hz): ~22 Gbps
Interface: DP 1.4, USB-C
Professional Color Critical

🔮 Next Generation (2025-2030)

16K UHD

15360 × 8640
Pixels: 132.7 Million
Bandwidth (60Hz): ~192 Gbps
Interface: DP 3.0, Future HDMI
Experimental

32K Cinema

30720 × 17280
Pixels: 530.8 Million
Use Case: Cinema, VR
Research

🔧 Technical Challenges & Solutions

⚡

Bandwidth Requirements

Ultra-high resolutions require massive bandwidth, pushing the limits of current interfaces.

Solutions:
  • Display Stream Compression (DSC)
  • Chroma subsampling (4:2:0)
  • Multiple cable connections
  • Advanced compression algorithms
🔄

Timing Standards

Traditional timing formulas become inadequate for extreme resolutions.

Solutions:
  • CVT-RBv3 for adaptive sync
  • Custom timing descriptors
  • DisplayID timing extensions
  • Formula-based timing generation
🎮

Gaming Performance

High refresh rates at ultra-high resolutions challenge GPU capabilities.

Solutions:
  • Variable refresh rate (VRR)
  • Dynamic resolution scaling
  • Frame rate optimization
  • AI-assisted upscaling

🔌 Interface Evolution for Ultra-HD

2024

HDMI 2.1 / DisplayPort 2.0

48 Gbps bandwidth, 8K@60Hz with DSC

2026

DisplayPort 2.1

80 Gbps bandwidth, improved compression

2028

HDMI 3.0 (Projected)

100+ Gbps bandwidth, 16K support

2030

Next-Gen Interfaces

Optical connections, 500+ Gbps

Coordinated Video Timings (CVT)

The VESA Coordinated Video Timings (CVT) Standard provides a standardized method for generating display timing specifications, ensuring compatibility between source devices and displays.

⚡

Key Features

  • Reduced Blanking Timings for modern displays
  • Precise pixel clock control (0.001 MHz)
  • Adaptive-Sync support (RBv3)
  • Forward compatibility
🔄

Timing Versions

RBv2 (Version 2)

  • Fixed 80-pixel horizontal blanking
  • 460 µs vertical blanking (300 µs alternate)
  • Positive H-sync, Negative V-sync

RBv3 (Version 3)

  • Flexible 80-200 pixel horizontal blanking
  • Variable vertical blanking
  • Adaptive-Sync optimization
⚙️

Key Parameters

Pixel Clock 0.001 MHz precision
H-Blank Range 80-200 pixels (RBv3)
V-Blank Min 460 µs (300 µs alt)
Refresh Offset +350 ppm (RBv3)

CVT Calculator

Try our interactive CVT calculator to generate timing parameters for your display:

Open CVT Calculator →

EDID Timing Standards

EDID supports multiple timing standards to define how display signals are formatted. Understanding these standards is crucial for proper display configuration.

📊

CVT (Coordinated Video Timings)

Modern timing standard optimized for digital displays.

  • Reduced Blanking versions (RBv1, RBv2, RBv3)
  • Adaptive-Sync support
  • Precise pixel clock control
  • Standard and custom resolutions
⚡

GTF (Generalized Timing Formula)

Legacy standard for CRT and early LCD displays.

  • Secondary GTF curves
  • Flexible blanking periods
  • Wide compatibility
  • Historical support
🎯

DMT (Display Monitor Timings)

Standardized timings for common resolutions.

  • Fixed timing parameters
  • Industry standard resolutions
  • Guaranteed compatibility
  • VESA-defined standards

Timing Standards Comparison

Feature
CVT
GTF
DMT
Modern Displays
✅ Best
⚠️ Limited
✅ Good
Custom Resolutions
✅ Flexible
✅ Supported
❌ Fixed
Adaptive-Sync
✅ RBv3
❌ No
❌ No

🎥 Best Timing for Ultra-High Resolutions (≥ 4K)

For resolutions beyond 4K, CVT Reduced-Blanking v2 / v3 is the preferred timing formula. These newer CVT profiles dramatically shorten horizontal & vertical blanking intervals compared with legacy GTF or fixed DMT timings. The reduced overhead translates into:

  • Lower Pixel Clock – Up to 40 % bandwidth savings at 8K 60 Hz versus classic CVT;
  • Compliance with HDMI 2.1 & DisplayPort 1.4 bandwidth limits without resorting to DSC;
  • Better VRR/Adaptive-Sync support (RB v3 defines a constant minimum v-blank period).

GTF was designed for CRT era blanking and wastes bandwidth at modern resolutions. DMT offers fixed presets only up to 2560 × 1600, so it cannot describe 4K+ modes. Therefore, when you craft EDIDs for 4K, 5K, 8K or ultrawide panels, always choose the latest CVT-RB version that your sink & source both advertise – typically RB v2 for HDMI and RB v3 for DisplayPort.

EDID implementation: describe these modes in either a Video Timing Block (VTB, tag 0x10) or, preferably, a DisplayID extension (tag 0x70) using Type VII/X CVT-RB timing data blocks.

Common EDID Issues

Checksum Errors

Invalid checksum values can cause display detection problems.

Solution: Verify and recalculate checksums using the EDID validator.

Timing Mismatches

Incorrect timing parameters can lead to display artifacts or blank screens.

Solution: Use standard timing parameters or validate custom timings.

Extension Errors

Malformed extension blocks can cause compatibility issues.

Solution: Ensure extension blocks follow proper format specifications.

Available Tools

📊 EDID Decoder

Analyze and understand your display's EDID data with detailed breakdowns

⚙️ EDID Encoder

Create custom EDID files for your specific display requirements

✅ EDID Validator

Verify EDID data integrity, compliance, and detect potential issues

📐 Timing Calculator

Calculate CVT and GTF timing parameters for custom resolutions