parsec-vdd

✨ Standalone Parsec Virtual Display
Create virtual display up to 4K@240Hz

ℹ About

This project demonstrates a standalone solution to create virtual displays by using Parsec VDD, without relying on the Parsec app.

The Virtual Display Driver (VDD) is required to enable virtual displays on a Windows host. Virtual displays is a feature available for Teams and Warp customers that lets you add up to 3 additional virtual displays to the host while connecting to a machine you own through Parsec.

Parsec VDD is a perfect software driver developed by Parsec. It utilizes the IddCx API (Indirect Display Driver) to create virtual displays on Windows 10+. This virtual display is particularly useful in situations where a physical monitor may not be available or when additional screens are desired.

One of the notable features of Parsec VDD is its support for a wide range of resolutions and refresh rates, including up to 4K and 240 Hz. This makes it well-suited for gaming, as it can provide a high-quality visual experience. It enables users to simulate the presence of additional screens or work without a physical monitor, enhancing flexibility and customization in display management.

📺 ParsecVDisplay App

This is a complete driver application to control the Parsec VDD, written in C# and WPF. It can show the number of virtual displays added, allows adding multiple virtual displays and removing a specific selected one. Also allows to change resolution and take screenshot, and more..

👉 Check out Releases to download it.

Full source code of this application is located in the app folder.

🚀 Using Core API

Make sure you have installed the driver:

• parsec-vdd-v0.38
• parsec-vdd-v0.41
• parsec-vdd-v0.45 (recommended)

The core API is designed as single C/C++ header, see 👉 core/parsec-vdd.h. It has detailed comments, and can be added to any existing projects. There is also a simple usage demo, see 👉 core/vdd-demo.cc.

You can also unzip the driver setup to obtain the driver files and

./ nefconw.exe driver/ mm.cat mm.dll mm.inf

Command line method to install the driver using

start /wait .\nefconw.exe --remove-device-node --hardware-id Root\Parsec\VDA --class-guid "4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318"
start /wait .\nefconw.exe --create-device-node --class-name Display --class-guid "4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318" --hardware-id Root\Parsec\VDA
start /wait .\nefconw.exe --install-driver --inf-path ".\driver\mm.inf"

In additional, you can run the driver setup in silent mode to install it quickly.

.\parsec-vdd-0.45.0.0.exe /S

😥 Known Limitations

This list shows the known limitations of Parsec VDD.

1. HDR support

Parsec VDD does not support HDR on its displays (see the EDID below). Theoretically, you can unlock support by editing the EDID, then adding HDR metadata and setting 10-bit+ color depth. Unfortunately, you cannot flash its firmware like a physical device, or modify the registry value.

All IDDs have their own fixed EDID block inside the driver binary to initialize the monitor specs. So the solution is to modify this block in the driver DLL (mm.dll), then reinstall it with

2. Custom resolutions

Before connecting, the virtual display looks in the

SOFTWARE\Parsec\vdd
  key: 0 -> 5 | (width, height, hz)

To unlock this limit, you need to patch the driver DLL the same way as above, but 5 is enough for personal use.

😑 Known Bugs

This is a list of known issues when working with standalone Parsec VDD.

1. Incompatible with Parsec Privacy Mode

If you have enabled "Privacy Mode" in Parsec Host settings, please disable it and clear the connected display configruations in the following Registry path.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Connectivity

This option causes your main display to turn off when virtual displays are added, making it difficult to turn the display on and disrupting the remote desktop session.

2. // todo

🤔 Comparison with other IDDs

The table below shows a comparison with other popular Indirect Display Driver projects.

✅ - full support, 🆗 - limited support

Signed means that the driver files have a valid digital signature. H-Cursor means hardware cursor support, without it you will get double cursor on some remote desktop apps. Tweakable is the ability to customize display modes. Visit MSDN IddCx versions to check the minimum supported Windows version.

📘 Parsec VDD Specs

Preset display modes

All of the following display modes are set by driver default.

Notes:

• Low GPUs, e.g GTX 1650 will not support the highest DCI 4K.
• All resolutions are compatible with 60 Hz refresh rates.

Adapter info

• Name:
  Parsec Virtual Display Adapter
• Hardware ID:
  Root\Parsec\VDA
• Adapter GUID:
  {00b41627-04c4-429e-a26e-0265cf50c8fa}
• Class GUID:
  {4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Monitor info

• ID:
  PSCCDD0
• Name:
  ParsecVDA
• EDID:

00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00  42 63 D0 CD ED 5F 84 00
11 1E 01 04 A5 35 1E 78  3B 57 E0 A5 54 4F 9D 26
12 50 54 27 CF 00 71 4F  81 80 81 40 81 C0 81 00
95 00 B3 00 01 01 86 6F  80 A0 70 38 40 40 30 20
35 00 E0 0E 11 00 00 1A  00 00 00 FD 00 30 A5 C1
C1 29 01 0A 20 20 20 20  20 20 00 00 00 FC 00 50
61 72 73 65 63 56 44 41  0A 20 20 20 00 00 00 10
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 01 C6
02 03 10 00 4B 90 05 04  03 02 01 11 12 13 14 1F
8A 4D 80 A0 70 38 2C 40  30 20 35 00 E0 0E 11 00
00 1A FE 5B 80 A0 70 38  35 40 30 20 35 00 E0 0E
11 00 00 1A FC 7E 80 88  70 38 12 40 18 20 35 00
E0 0E 11 00 00 1E A4 9C  80 A0 70 38 59 40 30 20
35 00 E0 0E 11 00 00 1A  02 3A 80 18 71 38 2D 40
58 2C 45 00 E0 0E 11 00  00 1E 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 A6

Visit http://www.edidreader.com/ to view it online or use an advanced tool AW EDID Editor