















Plugable USB4 Dual Monitor Docking Station with 4K 120Hz HDMI, 100W Charging
$274.00 USD
SKU: UD-4VPDAmazon Rating : (61 Reviews)
Features
- 40Gbps Performance—USB4 dual monitor dock with 2x HDMI 2.1 ports for dual 4K 120Hz, 100W charging, 3x USB, 1x USB Type C 10Gbps with 20W fast charging for phones and other devices, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, SD card readers, combo audio jack. Basically, everything
- Dual 4K 120Hz—This USB4 laptop docking station dual monitor lets you extend to one 4k monitor or two at up to 120Hz, or 1x computer monitor at 8K 60Hz. Get a crisp picture that’s perfect for detailed tasks like video editing, 3D and graphic rendering, gaming
- 100W Charging—Docking station for laptop with 100W charging. For laptops that need less power, the USBC dock negotiates with the host to deliver the optimal charge. For your phone, tablet, and other USB-C devices, quick charge with 20W USB-C port
- Works With—This Plugable docking station offers driverless compatibility with Windows 10 and newer. 4K 120Hz requires full-featured USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 port. Not recommended for Apple MacOS devices
- 2-Year Warranty—We love our Plugable products and hope you will too. All of our products are backed with a 2-year limited parts and labor warranty as well as Seattle-based email support

Full-featured USB4 so laptop dock is compatible with USB4, Thunderbolt, even legacy USB-C systems

Intelligent charging provides up to 100W for laptops, 20W for fast-charging phones and tablets

Compatible with Windows 10 or newer. On Mac, extend to a single display. Capabilities depend on host







Power
Front-facing Power Button for easy access
USB-C
10 Gbps USB-C port for high speed data and charging
Card Readers
UHS-II SD Card Reader and Micro SD Card Reader
2.5Gbps Ethernet
2.5Gbps Ethernet Port, because you can't always count on the Wi-Fi around here
HDMI
2x HDMI ports for up to 4K 120Hz (or up to 8K 60Hz if you're only using one screen)
USB-C to Host
USB4 port connects to the host with up to 40Gbps and 100W Power Delivery

The full power of USB4 is on display in the Plugable 11-in-1 Dual Monitor Docking Station (UD-4VPD). Featuring two HDMI 2.1 ports that support up to 4K 120Hz, to provide crisp, smooth clarity across your HDMI monitor setup. If you really want to pack in the pixels, extend to 1x screen at 8K 60Hz.
The UD-4VPD computer docking station doesn’t just bring you the best-in-class display options as a dual monitor adapter. It also resets the expectations of what a USB C dock should be capable of. And it does that with business-grade ports and specs. Native USB4 controller enables massive 40Gbps bandwidth for USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 systems. Connect your peripherals with 2x USB 10Gpbs ports, and 1x USB port 5Gbps. Connect to your network with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. Transfer data and images with SD and Micro SD card readers. Take advantage of the USB-C port with 10Gbps data and 20W fast charging for phones and tablets.
Perhaps the most helpful feature, this USB-C docking station provides up to 100W charging so you never have to crawl under your desk to find a plug. And it does all of this through a single USB4 cable (3.3’ (1m) USB4 cable included).
In The Box
Item and Quantity | Item Notes |
---|---|
1x Plugbale USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station | |
1x Quick Start Guide | |
1x USB4 40Gbps USB-C Cable (1m / 3.3ft) | |
1x 170W Power Adapter |
Video
Port | Placement | Specification | Max Resolution and Refresh Rate | HDCP | Chipset |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2x HDMI (Output) |
Rear | HDMI 2.1 | 3840x2160 @ 60Hz 3840x2160 @ 120Hz3840x1600 @ 60Hz 3440x1440 @ 60Hz 2560x1440 @ 60Hz 2560x1080 @ 60Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 1600x900 @ 60Hz 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 1280x800 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1152x864 @ 60Hz 1024x768 @ 60Hz 800x600 @ 60Hz 640x480 @ 60Hz |
Host Dependent |
Video Output Modes
Host Stream Specification | Host Port Type | Number of Displays Used | Max Resolution at Display Count |
---|---|---|---|
DisplayPort 1.2 | USB-C (with DisplayPort Alt Mode) | 1 | 3840x2160 @ 30Hz 3840x2160 @ 30Hz3840x1600 @ 30Hz 3440x1440 @ 30Hz 2560x1440 @ 60Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 1600x900 @ 60Hz 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 1280x800 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1152x864 @ 60Hz 1024x768 @ 60Hz 800x600 @ 60Hz 640x480 @ 60Hz |
DisplayPort 1.2 | USB-C (with DisplayPort Alt Mode) | 2 | 1920x1080 @ 50Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz1920x1080 @ 30Hz 1920x1080 @ 25Hz 1920x1080 @ 24Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 50Hz 720x480 @ 60Hz 720x576 @ 50Hz |
DisplayPort 1.2 | Thunderbolt™ 3 (Single Display Stream) | 1 | 3840x2160 @ 30Hz 3840x2160 @ 60Hz3840x1600 @ 30Hz 3440x1440 @ 30Hz 2560x1440 @ 60Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 1600x900 @ 60Hz 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 1280x800 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1152x864 @ 60Hz 1024x768 @ 60Hz 800x600 @ 60Hz 640x480 @ 60Hz |
DisplayPort 1.2 | Thunderbolt™ 3 (Single Display Stream) | 2 | 1920x1080 @ 50Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz1920x1080 @ 30Hz 1920x1080 @ 25Hz 1920x1080 @ 24Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 50Hz 720x480 @ 60Hz 720x576 @ 50Hz |
DisplayPort 1.4 | Thunderbolt™ 4 | 1 | 3840x2160 @ 60Hz 7680x4320 @ 30Hz3840x1600 @ 60Hz 3440x1440 @ 60Hz 2560x1440 @ 60Hz 2560x1080 @ 60Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 1600x900 @ 60Hz 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 1280x800 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1152x864 @ 60Hz 1024x768 @ 60Hz 800x600 @ 60Hz 640x480 @ 60Hz |
DisplayPort 1.4 | Thunderbolt™ 4 | 2 | 3840x2160 @ 60Hz 3840x2160 @ 120Hz3840x1600 @ 60Hz 3440x1440 @ 60Hz 2560x1440 @ 60Hz 2560x1080 @ 60Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 1600x900 @ 60Hz 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 1280x800 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1152x864 @ 60Hz 1024x768 @ 60Hz 800x600 @ 60Hz 640x480 @ 60Hz |
Audio
Port | Placement | Connection | Max Bit Depth and Sample Rate | Signal Output | Channels | Chipset |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Headset Jack Bi-Directional |
Front | 3.5mm (TRRS) | 16-bit 48KHz | Analog | 2 | ALC4030U Realtek |
Power
Port | Placement | Power Host / Device | Connection Type | Notes | Voltage | Amperage | Wattage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Supply | Rear | Device | Region-specific Power Adapter | UL 60950-1 Certified | 20.0V | 8.5A | 170.0W |
USB-C to Host | Rear | Host | USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 | 20.0V | 5.0A | 100.0W |
USB To Devices
Port | Placement | Version and Link Rate | Features | Voltage | Amperage | Wattage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1x USB-A | Rear | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) | 5V | 900mA | 4.5W | |
1x USB-A | Rear | USB 3.0 (5Gbps) | 5V | 900mA | 4.5W | |
1x USB-A | Front | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) | Battery Charging 1.2 | 5V | 900mA | 4.5W |
1x USB-C | Front | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) | USB Power Delivery | 9V | 2200mA | 19.8W |
Connection To Host
Port | Placement | Version and Link Rate | Features |
---|---|---|---|
1x USB-C | Rear | USB4 (40Gbps) | USB Power Delivery |
Wired Network
Port | Placement | Version and Link Rate | Features | Chipset |
---|---|---|---|---|
2.5 Gigabit Ethernet | Rear | 2.5GBASE-T | RTL8156B Realtek |
Storage
Storage Port Location | Host Connection | Host Connecton Port Specification | Attached Cable (Port Type if No) | Slot and Media Type | Capacity (If Media Included) or Max Supported Capacity | Chipset |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Slot 1 | SD or
SDHC or
SDXC SD or
SDHC or
SDXC or
MMC |
GL3231S Genesys Logic |
||||
Slot 2 | MicroSD (Trans-Flash) or
MicroSDHC or
MicroSDXC Micro SD |
GL3231S Genesys Logic |
Included Cables
Port Type (Side 1) | Cable Specification | Port Type (Side 2) | Cable Length | External Power for Cable |
---|---|---|---|---|
1x Male USB-C (with DisplayPort Alt Mode) | USB4 (40Gbps) | 1x Male USB-C (with DisplayPort Alt Mode) | 1.0m/3.3ft | No |
The UD-4VPD is compateible with USB4, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB Type-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode notebook computers running Windows 10 or Windows 11. Compatibility for USB4, Thunderbolt, and USB-C can be complex; please view the below information prior to purchasing and feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com for compatibility assistance if needed, we'll be happy to help!
Please note, dock capabilities are highly dependent upon system specifications.
We go into greater detail in our Knowledge Base article here.
Display Features
Windows 10 or 11 notebooks with USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 and DSC can support upto two 8K 30Hz, or two 4K 120Hz displays.
Windows 10 or 11 notebooks with Thunderbolt 3 can support up to two 4K 30Hz external displays, a single 4K 60Hz external display, or two 1080P 60Hz displays.
Windows 10 or 11 notebooks with USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode may support from two 1080P 60Hz displays, to two 4K 60Hz displays depending on the graphics controller.
Apple Mac notebook and desktop computers do not support DisplayPort MST and when used with this docking station can support a single external display in extended desktop mode. Connecting a second HDMI display to the docking station will generally result in both displays showing the same output (mirroring in hardware). Using two displays of different resolutons and an Apple host computer will cause unpredictable results, one or both of the external displays may be non-functional.
Charging and Power Delivery
This computer supports USB Power Delivery 3.0 and can replace a computer's original USB Type-C power supply rated up to 100W. Computers that do not include a USB Type-C power supply, or require more than 100W may need to have the original power supply connected to the computer to power and charge the computer while using this docking station.
USB Data
This docking station provides down-stream USB 5Gbps and USB 10Gbps data connections, for USB 10Gbps the host computer must support USB 10Gbps (formerly described as "USB 3.1 Gen 2" or "USB 3.2 Gen 2"). The docking station may still be used with computers that support USB 5Gbps but all ports will be limited to 5Gbps data rates.
2.5Gbps Ethernet
This docking station provides a wired Ethernet connection capable of supporting Gigabit and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet networks with the same Realtek RTL8156B controller used in our USBC-E2500 stand-alone 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet adapter. For 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet the docking station needs to be connected to a 2.5Gbe or faster Ethernet switch using at minimum Category 5e, however Category 6 or 6a is recommended for optimal network performance. Network data transfer, and internet speeds depend on many factors.
SD and MicroSD Cards
The UD-4VPD supports both SD and MicroSD cards and can utilize both cards at the same time, with support for SDXC UHS-II cards up to 312 MB/s read and write speeds (actual speeds depend on SD card specifications).
3.5mm TRRS Headset port
This 3.5mm TRRS (Tip Ring Ring Sleeve - describes the conductor positions on the connector) audio port supports common headsets with integrated stereo headphone and mono microphone. This can also be used to connect 3.5mm TRS headphones, or speakers to the docking station. Audio is provided by a USB Audio Adapter that should show up in the Windows audio device list as "Realtek USB2.0 Audio".
Power Button
The power button turns off/on the docking station, it will not power on the computer from an off state, nor intialize a safe shutdown. Please use the computer's built-in power button to power on and software shutdown (Windows Menu > Power > Shutdown) to power off. When powered off the docking station will not provide power or any data connectivity to the host computer, or connected USB devices.
Power LED
The power LED is illuminated when the docking station is powered on, with or without a host computer connected.
1. Connect to power
Connect the included power power cable and power supply together, then connect the power cable to the wall socket, power strip, or battery backup (UPS), finally connect the power supply to the docking station.
2. Connect the dock to the host
Use the included USB4 data cable to connect from the USB Type-C port on the back of the docking station, directly to a USB4 (Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB 3 Type-C) port on the notebook computer.
3. Connect peripherals
Connect HDMI displays, USB devices, Ethernet, audio, or SD/Micro SD cards to the docking station and begin using the docking staion with your computer.
4. Power Button
The docking station's power indicator LED is located in the power button, if this is not illuminated press the power button once to power on the docking station. The power button controls power to the docking staiton and connected USB devices, it does not power on or off the computer.
Windows PCs with internet access via another network adapter should automatically download and install drivers from Windows Update without a separate download.
If you experience issues with the adapter, first try applying the drivers listed here. Then, if issues continue, try the latest drivers from Realtek, available here .
Please reach out to us at support@plugable.com if you encounter issues.
Platform | Important Notes | Date | Version and Download |
---|---|---|---|
Windows 11 | Windows 11 should install the latest driver automatically, provided an Internet connection is available when the device is connected. You will likely need to look in the Optional Updates section of Windows Update. |
August 28, 2023 | 1156.13.20.0420 |
Windows 10 | Windows 10 should install the latest driver automatically, provided an Internet connection is available when the device is connected. |
August 28, 2023 | 10.59.20.0420 |
Windows 8.x and Server 2012 | December 28, 2021 | 8.68.20 | |
Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 | December 28, 2021 | 7.61.20 | |
10.6 to 10.15 | Up-to-date Mac systems (approximately 10.14.3+) will have the driver for the adapter built-in, though throughput is limited without installing the driver. |
1.0.22 | |
macOS 11.x to 12.x | There are some minor issues using the adapter in macOS 11.x+. Please see the Get Started information on this product for details. |
Built-in | |
UEFI | Get from Realtek . |
Filter Help Articles and Frequent Questions by Category
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You can always contact support if you need help too!
USB Port Types
USB-A
pietz, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
This is the standard USB connection that most computers offered prior to the introduction of USB Type-C (USB-C). Even after the introduction of USB Type-C, this is still quite common.
It can provide data transfer rates up to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 gbps) specification depending on the host and device, but does not directly support video in the way that USB-C Alternate Mode does. This limitation makes DisplayLink USB graphics adapters and docking stations ideal on systems that do not have USB-C, or in instances where more displays are needed beyond available video outputs of a PC.
USB-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This type of connection comes in a couple different styles depending on whether USB 3.0 and higher transfer rates are supported (bottom graphic). Usually this type of connection is used to plug into USB devices that do not have a fixed cable connected, such as USB docking stations, USB hubs, printers, and others.
USB Mini-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
One of the first connectors for charging a smartphone, wireless game controller (such as the Sixaxis and DualShock 3), and other small devices such as external hard drives. Not commonly used today, but is still used in some cases. Most devices using USB Mini B are using USB 2.0, though a USB 3.0 variant does exist. This specification also added USB On-The-Go (OTG) functionality, though it is more commonly implemented with Micro USB.
USB Micro-B
Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
IngenieroLoco, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A smaller connector that serves many of the same uses as the Mini B connector, with added optional features such as Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) to allow devices like smartphones to output video to larger displays without requiring a dedicated port for video output.
The larger variant of USB-B is most commonly used for external hard drives for higher 5Gbps transfer rates.
USB-C, Thunderbolt™ 3, and Thunderbolt™ 4
Niridya , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The most recent USB connection, USB Type-C (USB-C), represents a major change in what USB can do. The connector is smaller, can be connected in two orientations, is able to carry substantially more power and data, and can directly carry video signals of multiple types (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) Intel has also adapted the USB-C connector for use with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.
It is important to note that while all Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 connections are USB-C, not all USB-C connections can be used with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 devices.
More details regarding physical USB connections can be found on Wikipedia . The graphics depicted here are adapted from Wikimedia Commons by various artists under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Can I Connect a DisplayPort (DP) Monitor to the HDMI Port on This Device Using an Adapter or Cable?
No, this is not possible. Please note that DisplayPort to HDMI cables (as with most cables involving protocol/signal conversion) are not bidirectional adapters, which means they only work in one direction -- from a DisplayPort output to a HDMI input.
Connecting these type of cables backwards will not allow an HDMI output port (such as those on a dock) to function with a DisplayPort input on a monitor.
Understanding and Troubleshooting Network Performance
Computer networking is a complex topic. In this article, we'll be taking a deep dive on the nuances of network performance for those who need some additional explanation while striving to be concise, and to educate users of various experience levels relating computer hardware and computer networking.
If you just need to know how to perform a network performance test/benchmark, jump down to configuring iPerf.
Core Network Concepts
LAN vs WAN
With regards to network performance, it is crucial to first separate whether an issue is with Wide Area Network (WAN) performance, or if the issue is with Local Area Network (LAN) performance.
Your LAN is essentially the network inside your home or business. Many homes use a combination modem/router device provided by their Internet Service Provider (ISP). In some cases, especially in businesses, you may have a separate modem and router, along with other equipment connecting to the router such as a network switch.
Your modem, and the connection it establishes to your ISP—whether through coaxial cable, fiber, phone lines, or long-range wireless—essentially marks the point between the WAN and the LAN. The connection your modem makes to your ISP is the WAN, and any devices you connect through your router behind that modem belong to the LAN.
Link Rate
Almost every type of connection your computer makes to any piece of hardware will have a link rate of some kind. The link rate establishes how fast data can possibly be transferred across any given connection, but it does not guarantee how fast the hardware on either end of the connection will actually transfer data.
The concept of link rates, and their related bottlenecks, is likely best conveyed by giving an example of what connections might be involved in transferring a file from one computer on your LAN to another.
- 800Mbps—The file source is a USB 3.0 thumb drive capable of 100MB/s (800Mbps) read/write.
- 480Mbps—The USB 3.0 thumb drive is plugged into a USB 2.0 port on the PC, which has a maximum throughput of 480Mbps
- 1000Mbps—PC1's Ethernet connection establishes 1Gbps (1000Mbps) link to the router via Ethernet
- 300Mbps—The router connects to a second PC (we'll refer to this as PC2) via Wi-Fi, and it has established a 300Mbps link to the Wi-Fi adapter on PC2
- 480Mbps—The Wi-Fi adapter on PC2 is connected via a USB 2.0 port. The link rate of the USB connection to PC2 is at 480Mbps
- 6000Mbps—PC2 is going to store the file on an internal hard drive with a link rate of 6Gbps
- 1600Mbps—File Destination: SATA hard drive capable of 200MB/s (1600Mbps) read/write.
Following this chain, we see that 300Mbps is the slowest link rate established. This means that, regardless of the link rates established elsewhere, the absolute maximum the data can possibly be transferred is 300Mbps.
if we were to change the Wi-Fi connection to a wired Ethernet connection capable of 1Gbps, our performance bottleneck would then become the USB 2.0 connection to the USB drive where the file is stored.
Ports and Interfaces
Interfaces
A network interface represents connections, whether wired or wireless, that are made to form a network between devices.
Ports
Some may refer to physical hardware connections as "ports". For the purposes of networking, ports are logical constructs that can also be referred to as "network ports". Each network interface has 65,535 of these logical ports. Each port on a network interface is a separate data connection.
Benchmarking Network Adapter Performance
To properly benchmark network adapter performance, we need to:
- Use a simple LAN configuration
- Eliminate bottlenecks, especially link rate bottlenecks
Websites like speedtest.net, fast.com, and other performance tools in your web browser are going to use your WAN connection, and are not appropriate for determining if a network adapter is working well.
Transferring files from one computer to another on your LAN is typically not the best way to benchmark a network adapter. File transfers are bottlenecked by a number of things, including performance limitations of the disk the data is on, and often times a lack of establishing parallel network connections to perform the task.
One of the most accurate ways to benchmark network performance on a LAN is by using iPerf . To more effectively benchmark network adapter performance, it is best to establish a point-to-point connection between two PCs, rather than connecting through a router or switch.
Configuring iPerf
To test a connection using iPerf, you'll need at least two network interfaces, and preferably two computers. You'll also need to know the IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned to each network interface . One network interface will function as an iPerf server, and the other network interface will function as an iPerf client. Lastly, you'll need to download the version of iPerf 3.x that's appropriate for your computer's operating system and extract/install it .
Windows
- Make sure the drivers for both network interfaces involved in the test are using up-to-date drivers. Drivers for Plugable products can be found here.
- Download and extract iPerf for Windows
- Open Command Prompt
- Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter
cmd
in the window that appears - Search the Start Menu for
Command Prompt
, and open it
- Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter
- Navigate Command Prompt to the directory the directory where iPerf is located
- The
cd
command is for 'change directory'- If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command
cd %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\iperf
- If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command
- The
- Run iperf in server mode via Command Prompt
iperf3.exe -s
macOS
- Usually it is best to install iperf on macOS using brew in Terminal
- Make sure the drivers for both network interfaces involved in the test are using up-to-date drivers
- Open Terminal
- Run iPerf in server mode
iperf3 -s
Linux
- Usually it is best to install iperf using the package manager in your Linux distro. For example, in Ubuntu, use
apt
: sudo apt install iperf3
- Make sure the drivers for both network interfaces involved in the test are using up-to-date Drivers
- Open Terminal
- Run iPerf in server mode
iperf3 -s
Next, you'll need to run iPerf in client mode, targeting the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode. Additionally, we'll run the test for 30 seconds using -t 30
and with four parallel connections using -P 4
. Running 4 parallel connections is optimal for saturating a network link.
Windows
- Open Command Prompt
- Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter
cmd
in the window that appears - Search the Start Menu for
Command Prompt
, and open it
- Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter
- Navigate Command Prompt to the directory the directory where iPerf is located
- The
cd
command is for 'change directory'- If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command
cd %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\iperf
- If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command
- The
- Run iperf in client mode via Command Prompt (replace 192.168.0.200 with the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode)
iperf3.exe -c 192.168.0.200 -t 30 -P 4
macOS / Linux
- Open Terminal
- Run iPerf in client mode (replace 192.168.0.200 with the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode)
iperf3 -c 192.168.0.200 -t 30 -P 4
iPerf should start performing a network performance test. If the test fails to start, make sure that iPerf is not being blocked by your PC's/Mac's firewall.
Why iPerf is Ideal for Benchmarking
Unlike a file transfer, iPerf runs in memory on the PC and generates data to send using the CPU directly. This alleviates potential bottlenecks generated by storage devices, and allows you to explicitly control how many parallel connections are being used to transfer data rather than being unsure if parallel network connections are being used by other means.
Conclusion
There's a lot more to networking that isn't covered in this article, but we hope this helps explain enough to get an accurate measure of your network performance.
If you need assistance with your Plugable product that features network connectivity, please contact us for further assistance.
No Sound? How to Change Your Default Audio Device to Your Plugable Product
Whether you're on Windows, macOS, or Linux, it's common to add new audio devices to your computer.
Some examples of additional audio devices you may want to switch to include:
- Bluetooth headsets, headphones, and speakers
- Speakers built into a display, such as a TV or monitor
- A USB sound card, digital audio converter (DAC), or analog to digital converter (ADC)
- USB microphones
- Audio jacks on a docking station
These steps don't apply to the Plugable Performance NIX HDMI Capture Card (USBC-CAP60).
Here are the steps that you need to set a new default audio recording or output device on different operating systems.
Set Audio Output Device
Set Audio Recording Device
Set Default Playback Device in Windows
- Check that your device is properly connected, and that any necessary drivers are installed
- It is also a good idea to make sure that your sound device is turned on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
- Right-click on the speaker symbol in the Windows taskbar/system tray
-
Windows 7/8.x—Select Playback Devices. The Sound window will open with the Playback tab highlighted
-
Windows 10/11—Select Open Sound Settings then click the link under 'Related Settings' for Sound Control Panel, then click the Playback tab
- Alternatively, after selecting Open Sound Settings, use the dropdowns under the Output header
-
Windows 7/8.x—Select Playback Devices. The Sound window will open with the Playback tab highlighted
- Find your device in the window
- A Plugable USB 3.0 docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as Plugable Audio
- A Plugable USB 3.0 Silicon Motion docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as SMI USB Audio
- A Plugable USB 2.0 docking station will appear as USB Multimedia Audio Device
- A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device
- Right-click on the device you found in step 3 and select Set as Default Device. A check mark should appear next to your device, and sound should now play through it
- Click OK to exit the window
Additional Configuration for Bluetooth
Please see our pairing and configuration guide for Bluetooth devices.
Set Default Playback Device in macOS
- Open System Preferences
- Click Sound
- Select Output
- Select the most appropriate device
- A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device
Set Default Playback Device in Linux
- Ensure that you audio device is connected to the PC
- If the audio device is self-powered, it is a good idea to make sure that it is powered on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
- Launch the 'Settings' application in your distro
- Go to the 'Sound' option
- Find the dropdown for your 'Output Device', and change it to your preferred output device
- For additional sound device controls, you may want to consider using Pulseaudio Volume Controls (package name pavucontrol)
Set Default Recording Device in Windows
- Check that your device is properly connected, and that any necessary drivers are installed
- It is also a good idea to make sure that your sound device is turned on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
- Right-click on the speaker symbol in the Windows taskbar/system tray
-
Windows 7/8.x—Select Recording Devices. The Sound window will open with the Recording tab highlighted
-
Windows 10/11—Select Open Sound Settings then click the link under 'Related Settings' for Sound Control Panel, then click the Recording tab
- Alternatively, after selecting Open Sound Settings, use the dropdowns under the Input header
-
Windows 7/8.x—Select Recording Devices. The Sound window will open with the Recording tab highlighted
- Find your device in the window
- A Plugable USB 3.0 DisplayLink docking station or sound-enabled display adapter will appear as Plugable Audio
- A Plugable USB 2.0 docking station will appear as USB Multimedia Audio Device
- A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device
- Right-click on the device you found in step 3 and select Set as Default Device. A check mark should appear next to your device, and sound should now play through it
- Click OK to exit the window
Additional Configuration for Bluetooth
Please see our pairing and configuration guide for Bluetooth devices.
Set Default Recording Device in macOS
- Open System Preferences
- Click Sound
- Select Input
- Select the most appropriate device
- A Plugable USB Audio adapter will appear as USB Audio Device
Set Default Recording Device in Linux
- Ensure that you audio device is connected to the PC
- If the audio device is self-powered, it is a good idea to make sure that it is powered on, and that the device's volume control is not at the absolute minimum setting
- Launch the 'Settings' application in your distro
- Go to the 'Sound' option
- Find the dropdown for your 'Input Device', and change it to your preferred input device
- For additional sound device controls, you may want to consider using Pulseaudio Volume Controls (package name pavucontrol)
My Docking Station/Adapter Works Well With My Windows Laptop, but When I Close the Lid the Displays and Laptop Turn Off or Sleep. How Do I Fix This?
Most Windows notebook computers power management settings will default to putting the computer to sleep with the lid closed, regardless of any external displays, keyboard, or mouse connected to the computer. If this is happening but you would prefer the system to remain active with the lid closed utilizing the external display or displays, these settings can be changed by performing the following:
For Windows 10:
- Start by right-clicking on the Start button and select Power Options from the menu.
- From the right side of the Power Options settings page, select the blue link for Additional power settings
- From the choices present on the left-hand side of the Power Options window, please click on Choose what closing the lid does
- Make sure the setting for When I close the lid under the Plugged In column is set to Do Nothing
- Click the Save Changes button and restart the system (making sure that the laptop’s power adapter is also connected) and test the behavior again.
For Windows 11:
- Start by right-clicking on the Start button and select Power Options from the menu.
- In the upper left corner of the settings window, in the search box, type "lid" then select Change what closing the lid does from the search results
- Make sure the setting for When I close the lid under the Plugged In column is set to Do Nothing
- Click the Save Changes button to apply the new settings.
Closing the lid should no longer put the computer into sleep mode when an external display and power source is connected, instead one of the external displays should now become the Primary display with the desktop icons instead of the laptop's built-in display.
The lid may still need to be opened to perform the following tasks:
- To power on the computer from a fully powered off state
- To log into the computer if logged out or if the computer is restarted with the lid closed
- To wake the computer from a deep sleep state ( hibernation, or Windows hybrid sleep states )
My Windows Laptop Will Not Boot Properly When My Docking Station Is Connected
If your Windows laptop will not boot properly when a docking station is connected to the laptop, most often the cause is an external device connected to the docking station (for example an external USB storage drive) as opposed to the dock itself.
If you are affected by this condition, please follow these steps in order to isolate the behavior further:
- Disconnect all USB devices from the docking station and put them aside for the moment.
- Disconnect any displays connected to the dock's video outputs.
- Disconnect any audio devices connected to the dock's audio ports (if present).
- Disconnect the Ethernet network cable from the dock's Ethernet port (if present).
- The only remaining connections should be the dock's power adapter cable and the USB cable used to connect it to the laptop. No other external devices should be connected to the dock.
- While in this state, reboot the laptop to test the behavior.
- Assuming the laptop boots as expected, please reconnect each device back to the dock one at a time and reboot after each one to test the behavior again. Please reconnect the displays first, then the audio devices, then the Ethernet cable. Please reconnect any USB devices to the dock last, again rebooting after each one is added to test the behavior.
In our experience helping others, the most common cause of this behavior is an external USB storage drive connected to one of the dock's USB ports. In some cases, a laptop may try to boot from an external storage drive by mistake as opposed to the laptop's built-in storage drive. Since most external USB storage drives are not 'bootable', this can interrupt the boot process.
If this behavior occurs, the most common way to mitigate the behavior is to access the laptop's System BIOS (also known as UEFI firmware) to change the 'boot order' settings to ensure that the laptop's internal storage drive is the first boot option. Doing so helps ensure that the laptop will not try to boot from an external USB storage device.
Every laptop system is different, so the best resource for accessing the System BIOS and changing the settings is the manual for the laptop provided by the laptop manufacturer.
Network Adapter Prioritization on Windows
There are various reasons and configurations that can benefit from having more than one network adapter present on a PC.
For users with newer networking products, featuring 2.5Gbps link rates or greater, it may be beneficial to prioritize that network connection over others on your PC that are still connected to your network/LAN.
Replacement Docking Station Power Adapters
Below is a list of pre-tested power adapters and corresponding power prongs/cables for Plugable docking stations that can be purchased on eBay if a replacement is needed.
If the power adapter for your docking station or region is not listed or if it out of stock on eBay please contact us at support@plugable.com and we will be happy to assist further.
We offer a 30-day return period for our replacement power adapters listed on eBay.
Dock Models | Power Supplies |
---|---|
USB Products | |
UD-3900 UD-3000 UD-5900 UD-PRO8 |
|
UD-3900H | |
UD-3900PDZ | |
UD-3900Z | |
UD-6950 | |
UD-6950H | |
UD-6950Z | |
UD-CA1 UD-CA1A |
|
UD-ULTCDL (MK1 original and MK2 updated version) |
|
UD-ULTC4K (MK1 original and MK2 updated version) | |
USB4-HUB3A | |
Thunderbolt Products | |
TBT4-UDZ |
North America plug |
TBT3-UDC1 | |
TBT3-UDV | |
TBT3-UDZ | |
TBT3-UDC3 | |
TBT4-HUB3C |
My Plugable Dock Is Missing a Component Such As the Power Supply, USB Cable, or Other Adapter.
If your package is missing one or more of the items that should be included with your Plugable dock (included items are listed on a chart on the side of the box), start by double checking if the part is still in the packaging. Pieces can occasionally get stuck in the corners under the main insert in the box.
If you are still unable to locate the piece, please contact support@plugable.com with the following information:
1. Amazon Order ID (or other proof of purchase) associated with your Plugable device.
2. A description of the parts that are missing from your order.
3. Your preferred shipping address (and a phone number associated with that address).
4. The serial number of your Plugable Dock.
Can I Connect My High Refresh Rate Monitor (e.g. 120Hz, 144Hz) to a Plugable Dock?
Most Plugable docks do not officially support monitors over 60Hz including 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate unless otherwise specified on the Plugable product page or listing.
DisplayLink USB Graphics technology and Silicon Motion based docking stations and graphics adapters, like our USB 3.0 dual display and USB Type-C triple display docking stations, are limited to 60Hz fresh rate by the USB graphics controller hardware.
USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode docking station and ports on our USB Type-C Triple Display Docking Stations can support higher refresh rates, but may be limited by the computer's capability and available bandwidth to the docking station. Additionally, when paired with DisplayLink or Silicon Motion USB graphics, having displays at different refresh rates may reduce overall system performance. Due to this we normally recommend limiting all connected displays to 60Hz refresh rate when using DisplayLink and Silicon Motion graphics technology with directly connected, or USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode controlled displays.
Monitors with refresh rates higher then 60Hz may be connected to a docking station operating at up to 60Hz, or connected directly on the computer's HDMI or DisplayPort to ensure the display is powered by the system's native GPU.
Do Plugable products support the Apple SuperDrive?
Unfortunately Plugable products do not support the Apple SuperDrive.
The Apple SuperDrive has stringent power requirements that can only be met by directly connecting the SuperDrive to your host laptop. As a result at this time Apple recommends only using their USB-C adapter cables. You can find more information on that here -→ How to connect the Apple USB SuperDrive
If you have purchased a Plugable product to use with your Apple SuperDrive, and would like some additional assistance please do not hesitate to reach out. You can do so by emailing support@plugable.com, or going to Plugable.com/Support.
My Plugable product with wired Ethernet is no longer working on macOS. What can I do?
Please Note
The below guide is an advanced troubleshooting step, and we do not recommend doing so unless you are comfortable manually altering files on your Apple product running macOS. You may not be able to perform the below troubleshooting step if you are unable to execute administrative credentials on your laptop. Please reach out to our support first if you do not wish to attempt the below instructions. You can do so at Plugable.com/Support
How to delete a specific Ethernet adapter from your Network devices on macOS
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your primary monitor, and select ‘System Preferences’
- Next select ‘Network’ in the ‘System Preferences' window.
- In the now visible list, please select the Plugable Ethernet, or Thunderbolt Ethernet device that may not be working as expected.
- Once selected click on the minus button in the bottom left of the network window.
- Click on Apply in the bottom right.
- Next click on the plus button in the bottom left of the network window, and add the previously removed device.
- Click on Apply in the bottom right.
- Test to see if this has resolved the unexpected behavior, and assure that your Ethernet is now working.
- If this does not resolve the problem, please proceed to the next section (As noted previously the next section is for advanced users only!)
Manually erase your macOS Network Settings to fully reset the Network configuration
(Advanced! Click to reveal)
Warning!
This will fully erase all of your Network configuration! Do not skip any steps, and proceed only if you are comfortable with each step!
- Open the ‘Finder’ app, then in the ‘Go’ menu at the top of your screen select ‘Computer’
- Click on ‘Macintosh HD’ then Library, Preferences, SystemConfiguration
- Copy the file named ‘NetworkInterfaces.plist’ to your desktop as a backup of your current configuration.
- Delete the original version of the ‘NetworkInterfaces.plist’ located in the SystemConfiguration directory.
- Restart your Mac
- Login to your Mac, and return to System Preferences → Network
- If the list is now empty, please re-add the Plugable or Thunderbolt network adapter by clicking on the plus button in the bottom left of the Network window. Once done click on 'Apply'.
- Test to see if this has resolved the unexpected network behavior
I am still unable to get my Ethernet connection working on my Mac
If this is the case please reach out to our support team. When you do please include a diagnostic log gathered using our PlugDebug tool (instructions are provided on the PlugDebug page). If you are not able to gather the PlugDebug diagnostics do not worry we are still here to help! Please reach out to our support team at support@plugable.com or Plugable.com/Support with a detailed description of your problem, and the model of Plugable product you are using.
Can I leave my notebook computer connected to a charging dock overnight, or should I discharge and recharge the notebook battery regularly?
We are often asked if it is okay to leave a notebook computer connected to one of our USB-C docking stations with Power Delivery for extended periods of time. The short answer is yes, it is no different from leaving the laptop connected to the manufacturer's original USB-C power supply for the same time. The long answer is yes for modern laptops, and maybe for older (1990s-early 2000s laptops) and involves going into the different battery technologies used in consumer electronics devices.
Another common question is if it is possible to use the docking station but to disable powering and charging the computer. When a modern notebook computer runs on battery power it will often set the system to a reduced power state which may impact performance, or connected devices and we recommend always powering the computer when using a desktop docking station. For all of our docking stations that provide power to the host computer this will not affect the lifespan of the computer's battery.
Modern Laptop Batteries: Lithium-Ion
Lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries are found in a wide range of consumer electronics from notebook computers and cell phones, to electric cars, power tools, and wearable electronics like wireless earbuds. Li-ion offers fast charging, high-current discharging, fairly long service live compared to other rechargeable battery technologies and are relatively inexpensive.
The life-span of a rechargeable battery depends on many factors including age, temperature history, charging patterns, the chemical composition of the specific battery, and usage. For example batteries stored at 100% charge will degrade faster than batteries stored at 50% charge, this is why most consumer electronics devices arrive from the manufacturer with between 25% to 75% charge.
Lithium-ion batteries are consumable components, however in most modern computers, cell phones, and tablets these are not user serviceable components. To help maintain the battery all modern computers and most consumer electronics will include battery charge and protection circuits. These can be fairly simple, charging up the battery at preset rates depending on the charge level to help maintain the battery life, or complex software controlled charging that monitors battery temperature, voltage and current draw to maintain the fastest charging while maintaining the battery longevity.
Modern notebook computers can be left connected to the original power cable or a docking station with charging capability for extended periods, and do not benefit from regular discharge/recharge cycles. Our docking stations with charging capability rely on USB Type-C Power Delivery to power and charge compatible computers. USB Type-C Power Delivery is a negotiated charging protocol between the host computer and the docking station or USB Type-C power supply, this allows the computer to draw only the power it requires, and even select the best voltage level for powering the computer. In combination with a computer's built-in battery charging controller the computer is capable of maintaining the battery's optimal state even when left connected to a power source for an extended period of time.
Legacy Laptop Batteries: NiCad and NiMH
Older laptops, from the 1990s and some early 2000s, as well as some consumer electronics, and most rechargeable AA or AAA battery replacements use Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) or Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. These batteries are slower to charge and discharge than li-ion batteries, and require very simple charge controllers, and in some cases can even be trickle-charged ( very low-current continuous charging ) if desired.
These batteries generally don't have smart charging controllers and to prolong the life of the battery required "training" or fully discharging and recharging the battery every so often. Many laptop manufacturers recommended fully charging and discharging a new laptop 2-3 times to train the battery, this is not necessary with modern laptops.
Conclusion
Modern notebook batteries are managed by the computer's built-in battery charging circuit, and require little to no user intervention to maintain optimal battery health. It does not harm the battery to leave the computer connected to an external power supply, so long as the computer is being used regularly. If the computer is to be stored for a prolonged period then discharging the battery to between 50-75% can help to maintain the battery life.
Batteries are consumable components and degrade over time, however modern notebook computers can extend the battery life generally to meet or exceed the life of the computer's other electronic components.
What are the display output capabilities for the UD-4VPD?
The Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station for Windows UD-4VPD relies on DisplayPort MST to support two HDMI external displays from a single USB Type-C connection when used with a compatible host computer.
Compatible Windows 11 notebook computers with USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 and support for DisplayPort 1.4 with HBR3 (High Bit Rate version 3) and DSC (Display Stream Compression) can support up to two 4K 60Hz displays. Unfortunately these technologies are not required to be implemented on all computers with USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 capability and not all systems will be capable of supporting these high resolution displays.
This docking station is also compatible with Windows USB 3 Type-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode, and Thunderbolt 3 systems. These host systems will have reduced external display resolution or refresh rate.
Apple Mac systems will only be capable of supporting a single extended display with this docking station, with limited refresh rates. Additionally, when connecting two displays to the docking station, generally both displays will show the same desktop, applications, and mouse movements ( just like mirrored mode ).
Multiple display capabilities for USB4/Thunderbolt 4 systems:
- USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Windows systems with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 DSC (High Bit Rate 3 with Display Stream Compression) can support a single 8K (7680x4320) 60Hz display, or dual 8K 30Hz displays. Dual 4K (3840x2160) 120Hz displays, or dual 1080P 120Hz displays.
- Apple Silicon (M1/M2) Mac computers do not support DisplayPort MST (Multi-Stream Transport) technology, this can support a single display through this docking station, however if two displays are connected their outputs will be mirrored (the same desktop workspace will be displayed, with the same applications and they will not be individually usable displays, mirroring occurs in the docking station hardware and is not configurable within macOS). Apple Silicon computers can support a HDMI display up to 4K 60Hz.
Multiple display capabilities for Thunderbolt 3 systems:
- Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems can enable up a single 4K 30Hz display, or two 1080P 60Hz Displays in extended HDMI displays.
- Thunderbolt 3 Apple Macs with Intel processors can enable a single 4K 30Hz display, or mirrored 4K 30Hz displays (mirroring occurs in the docking station hardware and is not configurable with macOS).
Multiple display capabilities for USB-C only Windows systems:
- USB-C DP Alt Mode MFDP Windows systems with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 with DSC (High Bit Rate 3 with Display Stream Compression) can support up to two external displays at 4K 60Hz, or one 8K 30Hz display.
- USB-C DP Alt Mode MFDP Windows systems with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 without DSC (High Bit Rate 3 without Display Stream Compression) can support up to two 1440P (2560x1440) 60Hz displays, or one 4K 60Hz display.
- USB-C DP Alt Mode MFDP Windows systems with DisplayPort 1.2 HBR2 (High Bit Rate 2) can support a single 4K 30Hz display, or two 1080P 60Hz displays.
Display Capability Table
System Capabilities | HDMI 1 | HDMI 2 |
---|---|---|
USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort 1.4 with HBR3 DSC) For example: Intel 12th Gen CPUs with Iris Xe GPU |
7680x4320 @ 60Hz or 3840x2160 @ 120Hz |
-not connected- |
-not connected- | 7680x4320 @ 60Hz or 3840x2160 @ 120Hz |
|
7680x4320 @ 30Hz or 3840x2160 @ 120Hz |
7680x4320 @ 30Hz or 3840x2160 @ 120Hz |
|
Apple Silicon (M1/M2) Macbook Air/Pro, Mac Mini & iMac systems from 2020 onward |
3840x2160 @ 60Hz | -not connected- |
-not connected- | 3840x2160 @ 60Hz | |
3840x2160 @ 60Hz - Mirrored | 3840x2160 @ 60Hz - Mirrored | |
Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-C (DisplayPort 1.2 with HBR2) For example: Intel 7th-10th Gen CPUs with Intel UHD or Iris GPU |
3840x2160 @ 30Hz | -not connected- |
-not connected- | 3840x2160 @ 30Hz | |
1920x1080 @ 60Hz | 1920x1080 @ 60Hz |
Important Notes:
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems will try to mirror/clone attached displays by default upon first connect, it will be required to separate any mirrored/cloned displays and change them to be extended in the Windows Display Settings.
- Some Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems will only support a single DisplayPort stream, this limits the maximum refresh rate to 30Hz when using two 4K displays. Please check with your system manufacturer to verify dual displays via Thunderbolt 3 are supported. (a common example would be the popular Intel NUC hosts which usually only support a single display through Thunderbolt 3)
- High Refresh Rates (above 60Hz) may cause reduced system performance especially with multiple high refresh rate displays, this is most often a limitation of the computer's graphics hardware, not all computers can support high refresh rate displays.
- We do not support HDR (High Dynamic Range) or adaptive sync/variable refresh rate (such as AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync technologies)
- Notebook computers with dual-graphics controllers, for example Intel and NVIDIA, in a switchable graphics mode may have reduced maximum resolutions and refresh rates compared to either of the individual graphics controllers.
- Apple macOS does not support DisplayPort MST and can only support a single display connected to this docking station. If two displays are connected they may be mirrored (showing the same content) or only one display will be active and the second display will remain blank.
- Linux is not supported with this docking station, in testing Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 23.04 and Fedora 38 were not able to reliably detect or enable the external displays connected to the docking station, capability may change with future releases or Kernel updates and we will reassess support as time goes on.
Terms and definitions:
-
MFDP or Multi-Function DisplayPort: A USB Type-C port with DisplayPort 'Alternate Mode' capability to transmit native DisplayPort formatted video signal to a connected display or docking station.
- DisplayPort MST: Multi-Stream Technology, effectively "splits" the DisplayPort bandwidth between multiple displays, allowing a single DisplayPort connection to support multiple external displays.
- USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode or "Alt-Mode" for short: this is an optional USB Type-C port feature which allows for the USB Type-C port to support external displays like a native DisplayPort
- Thunderbolt DisplayPort: similar to USB Type-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode this allows for a display to be connected to a host computer through a Type-C port, however Thunderbolt tunnels DisplayPort data instead of providing dedicated conductors for video data.
- DisplayPort HBR2, HBR3: DisplayPort High Bit Rate 2 and High Bit Rate 3 sets the available bandwidth for a DisplayPort connection, HBR3 doubles the bandwidth of HBR2 allowing for higher resolution displays.
- Display Stream Compression or "DSC" for short: is a VESA developed "visually lossless" video compression technology to provide additional bandwidth on both DisplayPort and HDMI connections. This allows for higher resolutions and refresh rates using the same physical hardware.
- CPU the Central Processing Unit is the computer's main processor handling most of the computational operations, manufacturers include Intel, AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), and Apple (M1/M2 Apple Silicon).
- GPU the Graphics Processing Unit is the computer's graphics processor handling graphics computations like drawing the display, and rendering 2D and 3D images. Manufactures include Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, and Apple (M1/M2 Apple Silicon).
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@plugable.com and we'll be happy to assist!
HDMI Resolution Issues with Nvidia Graphics Equipped Notebooks
If you are having issues with your HDMI display(s) not working at their expected native resolution from your TBT4-UDZ or UD-4VPD docking station HDMI outputs, and your notebook computer is equipped with discrete NVIDIA graphics (or hybrid AMD/Intel + NVIDIA graphics), you may need to install an earlier version of the NVIDIA graphics driver to resolve the low-resolution behavior.
This behavior with low resolution over HDMI (usually 800x600 or 720x576) is due to a what we believe is a regression with the NVIDIA graphics driver past version 532.03. Based on our internal testing and reports from customers any newer driver version at this time will cause this low-resolution behavior.
It is our current recommendation that if you are running a newer version of the NVIDIA graphics driver and are experiencing this issue to roll-back to version 532.03 which can be found below:
https://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/204970/en-us/
Please note that this specific behavior only affects our TBT4-UDZ* and UD-4VPD docking stations and is currently under investigation (*TBT4-UDZ DisplayPort outputs are unaffected). Once there is a newer NVIDIA graphics driver available that does not exhibit this regression this article will be updated.
To update the NVIDIA Graphics Drivers to the compatible version:
1) Download the latest graphics drivers from NVIDIA linked above, by clicking on the green "Download" button on this and the next page, save the drivers to the Desktop or Downloads directory
2) Save and close any open applications, unplug the docking station from the computer, and connect the original power supply
3) Navigate to the downloaded graphics driver, then right-click on the saved driver installation file and select "Run as administrator" to start the installation process
4) Allow the NVIDIA driver installation through the "User account control" window
5) Select the "Custom Installation" option, and on the "Custom Installation" screen, select the checkbox next to "Perform a clean installation" near the bottom of the window, then follow the on screen instructions to update the NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
- If there are any errors, please take a screenshot ( using the Windows Snipping tool, or screenshot shortcut [Win]+[Shift]+[S] and attach the screenshot of the error message to an email to ‘support@plugable.com’ and we will be happy to help
6) When complete please restart the computer ( Start > Power > Restart ) before reconnecting the docking station
Please contact us at support@plugable.com for further assistance.
Understanding how adaptive/optimized charging methods have an impact on your smartphone's battery life, performance, and longevity.
With most modern smartphones you may have likely noticed a notification message while charging your phone indicating that your phone has entered "Optimized Battery Charging", this is how Apple refers to its smart charging messaging. With Android devices they will also show this notification message while charging although they refer to it "Adaptive Charging". Through these intelligent charging methods your phone will artificially reduce its charging speeds so that in the long run it will lengthen its overall battery life.
When setting up a new smart phone it may take a few weeks of machine learning to recognize your usage behavior and charging habits. Batteries go through wear and tear to which the more charge cycles it goes through the less healthier the overall battery becomes leading to it holding a lesser charge and other issues.
Your phone will alert you with a notification when it enters into a battery preserving charging state. At night you may notice your phone charging significantly slower along with a message saying “Battery full by 7:00 AM”. Even though it has the ability to fully charge in a much shorter time. If you set an alarm for an even earlier time your phone can adjust to finish charging at your alarm time. This is your phone prolonging the time it takes to charge to 100% in order to preserve battery health.
The reason why your phone will artificially slow its charging rate is to spend less time at 100% battery, and the less time your phone spends at 100% the more it helps with your overall battery health.
It is possible to disable Optimized/Adaptive Charging in your device's battery and charging settings although it is ideal for the majority of users to leave this setting enabled.