













Plugable USB-C トリプル・ディスプレイ・ドッキング ステーション
$149.95 USD
SKU: UD-768PDZAmazon Rating : (72 Reviews)
機能
- Get Connected—Spread out with three HDMI displays, power up with 100W charging, connect with 5x USB ports, 1x USB-C port, Gigabit Ethernet, SD card reader, and an audio in/out port on this USB C dock
- Triple Display—Productivity abounds on this HDMI docking station for multiple monitors with room for all of your important screens. 3x HDMI ports offer resolution up to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz, even on laptops that only support one, like M1 and M2 Macs
- Power Delivered—This 3 monitor docking station keeps you charged all day with 100W Power Delivery. For your phone or accessories, a USB-C port on the front of the dock delivers up to 20W charging
- Compatibility—This USB C docking station works with systems running Windows 10 and newer, macOS 10.15+, and ChromeOS with USB4, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, and/or USB-C. Driver download required
- 2 年の品質保証 - Plugable は 2 年間の品質保証およびメールでのサポートをご提供いたします。正規販売元の Plugable Japan よりご購入ください。製品について質問がございましたら、Plugable Japan サポート nihongo@plugable.com までお気軽にご連絡ください。

The Plugable UD-768PDZ USB-C Triple Display Laptop Docking Station with 100W Charging is designed to deliver productivity to any desk it lands on. Three HDMI ports let you extend up to three displays, all at 1080P 60Hz resolution. And because this dock is built around a Silicon Motion chipset, that triple display even extends to M1 and M2-powered Macs that would otherwise only support one screen (driver download required).
In addition to the three HDMI ports, the USB-C docking station offers space for all of your peripherals. Connect with 4x USB 3.0 ports (5Gbps), 1x USB 3.2 (10Gbps), 1x USB-C (10Gbps) with 20W charging, an SD Card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, and an audio jack. It even delivers 100W charging, all through a single USB-C cable (included) back to your laptop.

トリプルディスプレイ対応
Three screens, each up to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz, even on laptops that might otherwise only support one screen, like M1 and M2-powered Macs.

13-in-1
Docking station for laptop includes thirteen ports including 3x HDMI, 5x USB, 1x USB-C, Gigabit Ethernet, and SD reader.

100W ホスト充電
Power your laptop with 100W charging. Convenient USB-C port with 20W for phone or accessories.
パッケージ内容
内容物と数量 | 注記 |
---|---|
1x Plugable USB-C UD-CA1A ドッキングステーション | |
1x クイックスタートガイド | |
1x USB Type-C - USB Type-C ケーブル | |
1x 170W Power Adapter |
グラフィック
ポート | 場所 | 仕様 | 最大解像度とリフレッシュレート | HDCP | チップセット |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1x HDMI (出力) |
背面 | HDMI 1.2 | 1920x1080 @ 50Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz1920x1080 @ 30Hz 1920x1080 @ 25Hz 1920x1080 @ 24Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 50Hz 720x480 @ 60Hz 720x576 @ 50Hz |
PC により異なる | IT6516B ITE Tech Inc. |
2x HDMI (出力) |
背面 | HDMI 1.2 | 1920x1080 @ 50Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz1920x1080 @ 30Hz 1920x1080 @ 25Hz 1920x1080 @ 24Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 50Hz 720x480 @ 60Hz 720x576 @ 50Hz |
非対応 | SM768 Silicon Motion |
グラフィック出力モード
ホスト出力技術仕様 | システム側ポートタイプ | 接続可能ディスプレイ数 | ディスプレイ毎の最大解像度 |
---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.2 | USB-C | 3 | 1920x1080 @ 50Hz 1920x1080 @ 60Hz1920x1080 @ 30Hz 1920x1080 @ 25Hz 1920x1080 @ 24Hz 1280x720 @ 60Hz 1280x720 @ 50Hz 720x480 @ 60Hz 720x576 @ 50Hz |
オーディオ
ポート | 場所 | 接続方法 | 最大ビット深度とサンプルレート | 信号出力 | チャネル | チップセット |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HDMI (出力) |
背面 | HDMI | PC により異なる | デジタル | PC により異なる | |
HDMI (出力) |
背面 | Silicon Motion チップによる HDMI 接続 | PC により異なる | デジタル | PC により異なる | |
Headset Jack Output |
前面 | 3.5mm (TRRS) | PC により異なる | デジタル | 2 | CS42L42 Cirrus Logic |
電源
ポート | 場所 | 電源 ホスト/デバイス | 接続タイプ | 備考 | 電圧 | アンペア | ワット数 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
電源 | 背面 | 周辺機器 | 電源アダプタ | UL 60950-1 認証 | 20.0V | 8.5A | 170.0W |
USB Type-C | 背面 | ホスト PC | USB-C PD 充電 | 20.0V | 5.0A | 100.0W |
デバイス接続用 USB ポート
ポート | 場所 | バージョンとリンクレート | 機能 | 電圧 | アンペア | ワット数 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4x USB-A | 背面 | USB 3.0(5Gbps) | 5V | 900mA | 4.5W | |
1x USB-C | 前面 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) | USB PD 充電 | 9V | 2200mA | 19.8W |
1x USB-A | 前面 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) | バッテリー充電規格 BC 1.2 | 5V | 1500mA | 7.5W |
ホストへの接続
ポート | 場所 | バージョンとリンクレート | 機能 |
---|---|---|---|
1x USB-C | 背面 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) | USB PD 充電 |
有線 LAN ネットワーク
ポート | 場所 | バージョンとリンクレート | 機能 | チップセット |
---|---|---|---|---|
ギガビット・イーサネット | 背面 | 1000BASE-T | ウェイクオン LAN(WoL)、高エネルギー効率イーサネット(EEE)、 9K ジャンボフレーム | AX88179A ASIX |
ストレージ
ストレージポートの位置 | ホスト接続 | ホスト接続ポート仕様 | 付属ケーブル(またはポートタイプ) | スロットとメディアタイプ | 容量(メディアが含まれている場合)または最大サポート容量 | チップセット |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
スロット 1 | SD、SDHC、SDXC SD、SDHC、SDXC、または MMC |
GL3232S Genesys Logic |
推奨される使用環境
本製品のような Silicon Motion 技術を使用した USB グラフィックス変換アダプター は、コンピュータによる制限を超えて外部モニターを追加し利用できるように設計されています。Silicon Motion 用ソフトウェア(デバイス・ドライバ)は、グラフィックス・ハードウェアをエミュレートすることでこれを実現しています。MS Office などのビジネス系アプリケーション、軽いウェブ・ブラウジングなどには最適ですが、2D または 3D グラフィックスやフルスクリーンのビデオ再生、ビデオ編集ソフトウェア、ゲームなどの、画面表示負荷が極めて高い用途では、このグラフィックス・アダプターの使用はお勧めできません。
性能やソフトウェアの互換性の問題を防ぐため、ホストコンピューターの OS、システムファームウェア、デバイス・ドライバーを最新状態にすることをお勧めします。これにより、予期せぬ切断やパフォーマンス低下の可能性を低減することができます。システム・ファームウェアのアップデートは、PC メーカーの Web サイト、またはデバイス製造メーカーから直接入手できます(例:グラフィックス・デバイスドライバのアップデートは、GPU の製造元から入手、など)。 Intel グラフィックス・ドライバーは、コンピューターメーカーまたは Intel 社のウェブサイトからダウンロードできます。
最低システム要件
オペレーティングシステム
- Windows 11 および 10、Home または Pro
- Windows Update をすべて適用し最新状態にしてください。
- Silicon Motion ドライバのインストールには管理者権限が必要です。
- macOS 13 (Ventura), 12 (Monterey), 11 (Big Sur)
- Apple 社提供の OS アップデートをすべてインストールしてください。
- Silicon Motion InstantView App installation requires administrative permissions
- MacOS ユーザーは、Silicon Motion と macOS との互換性に関する注意事項について、ここをクリックしてください。
サポートされていない構成と機能
すべてのOS
- コンピュータゲーム: ほとんどの 2D および 3D ゲームは、Silicon Motion グラフィックス・ソフトウェアで非対応のハードウェア・グラフィックスアクセラレーションを必要としています。したがってこのアダプタを使用して接続した外部モニタではゲームが正しく起動しない場合があります。
- 2D、3D グラフィックスアプリケーション:これらのアプリケーションは、Silicon Motion グラフィックス・ソフトウェアが非対応のハードウェア・グラフィックス・アクセラレーションに依存していることが多く、このアダプターを使用して接続した外部モニタではこれらのアプリケーションのパフォーマンス、機能、互換性が低下する可能性があります。
- ナイトシフト、ナイトライト、その他のブルーライト削減アプリケーションは、Silicon Motion グラフィック製品と互換性がありません。したがって当アダプターを使用して接続した外部モニタでは使用できません。
- HDCP(High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection)は、Silicon Motion グラフィック製品と互換性がありません。したがって当アダプターを使用して接続した外部モニタでは使用できません。
macOS
- Silicon Motion グラフィック技術では、画面の回転は Apple シリコンチップ搭載のモデル(M1 および M2 システム)上で macOS 12 以降を実行している場合のみサポートされています。画面回転は、Intel チップ搭載のモデルではされていません。
- Silicon Motion グラフィックアダプタ経由で接続されたモニタでは、Night Shift はサポートされません。
- Silicon Motion グラフィックアダプタ経由で接続されたモニタは、ディスプレイカラーキャリブレーションに対応していません。
- HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection)には対応していません。このグラフィックスアダプターがコンピュータに接続されている間は、HDCP コンテンツはどのディスプレイ(内蔵ディスプレイ、コンピュータに直接接続された外部モニタを含む)でも再生されません。
Windows 11、Windows 10
- Silicon Motion グラフィックアダプタ経由で接続されたモニタでは、Night light はサポートされません。
- Silicon Motion グラフィックアダプタ経由で接続されたモニタは、ディスプレイカラーキャリブレーションに対応していません。
Linux:
- Silicon Motion ベースのグラフィックスアダプター を Linux システムで使用することはできません。
ChromeOS / ChromeBooks:
- ChromeOS 上での表示パフォーマンスが不十分なため、Plugable 社はこの アダプタの ChromeBook での使用をサポートしていません。
- Windows Update をすべて適用し最新状態にしてください。
- Silicon Motion ドライバのインストールには管理者権限が必要です。
- Apple 社提供の OS アップデートをすべてインストールしてください。
- Silicon Motion InstantView App installation requires administrative permissions
- MacOS ユーザーは、Silicon Motion と macOS との互換性に関する注意事項について、ここをクリックしてください。
使用方法
Windows - 導入と構成
- Silicon Motion デバイス・ドライバをこちらのページからダウンロードし、システムにインストールします。
- 当グラフィックス変換アダプターを、ビデオケーブルを使ってモニターに接続します。
- システムの USB 3.0 または USB-C ポートに、当アダプターを接続します。
macOS - 導入と構成
- ナレッジベースにあるこの説明に従って、Silicon Motion 社製「macOS InstantView」 ソフトウェアをインストールし、設定します。
- 当グラフィックス変換アダプターを、ビデオケーブルを使ってモニターに接続します。
- システムの USB 3.0 または USB-C ポートに、当アダプターを接続します。
Silicon Motion ドライバーとソフトウェア:要導入
Windows 10 および Windows 11 システムでは、下記のリンクからこのグラフィックアダプタまたはドッキングステーションに必要な Silicon Motion ドライバをダウンロードしてインストールしてください。
macOS システムの場合は、ご使用の macOS のバージョンの横にある青い「情報」ボタンをクリックして、詳しい説明を参照してください。
クイックスタートガイド
製品に同梱されている PDF のスタートアップガイドはこちらからダウンロードできます。
すでに別のネットワークアダプター経由でインターネットに接続している Windows PCの場合は、Windows Update によって自動的にドライバーがダウンロードされインストールされます。
もし何らかの問題が生じた場合は、ASIX 社の提供する最新ドライバーを適用してください。
Windows RT や Windows X などの ARM ベースの Windows 版には対応しておらず、使用できません。
macOS 10.15 以降、macOS 上でのこれらのアダプターの使用は公式にはサポートされていません。詳しくはナレッジベースの記事を参照してください。
プラットフォーム | 重要な注意事項 | 日付 | バージョン、ダウンロード |
---|---|---|---|
Windows 11 | Windows 11 では、このアダプターの接続時にインターネット接続が可能であれば、Windows Update により最新ドライバが自動的にインストールされます。 |
1.18.19.1128 | |
Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 10 では、このアダプターの接続時にインターネット接続が可能であれば、Windows Update により最新ドライバが自動的にインストールされます。 |
2020年6月12日 | 1.20.7.0 |
Windows 10 (32-bit) | Windows 10 では、このアダプターの接続時にインターネット接続が可能であれば、Windows Update により最新ドライバが自動的にインストールされます。 |
2020年6月12日 | 1.20.7.0 |
Windows 8.x、7、Vista、XP | 2015年9月 | 2.90 | |
macOS 12.x | We have written detailed installation instructions for assistance in this process. The instructions can found on our Knowledge Base. |
2021年10月29日 | DEXT 2.0.0 |
macOS 10.15.x および 11.x | We have written detailed installation instructions for assistance in this process. The instructions can found on our Knowledge Base. |
2021年8月18日 | DEXT 1.3.0 |
macOS 10.6 から10.14.x まで | macOS 10.13-10.14.x では、サードパーティ製の拡張機能(ドライバ)を手動で承認する必要があります。そのためのステップバイステップの手順は、ナレッジベースに記載されています。 |
2017年4月26日 | 2.9 |
Linux カーネル 2.6 以上 | Linux 3.8 以前のカーネルは、カーネルモジュールをソースからコンパイルする必要があります。3.9 以降のディストリビューションでは、ドライバはカーネルに組み込まれています。 |
ダウンロード |
プラットフォーム | 重要な注意事項 | 日付 | バージョン、ダウンロード |
---|---|---|---|
Windows 11、10 | ドライバは通常、Windows Update を通して自動的にインストールされます。(ただし、最新バージョンが導入されるとは限りません。) |
2023年9月27日 | Silicon Motion driver v2.17 R02 |
macOS 14、13、12、11 | Silicon Motion InstantView インストール手順の詳細はこちらの情報を参照してください。 Silicon Motion デバイスドライバの詳細についてはこちらのナレッジベース記事を参照してください。 |
2023年9月27日 | Silicon Motion InstantView v3.17 R04 |
macOS 10.14 | このバージョンは、Plugable 社製品ではサポートされていません。 |
2021年6月3日 | カーネル拡張版 2.2.16.0 |
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.
How to Configure/Adjust Multiple Monitors Using a Windows System
We have a produced a series of short videos that introduce the general concepts of multi-monitor setups in Windows, how to make changes to the way things behave, as well as how to solve common problems.
Direct links to the introductory videos our customers have found the most useful are:
- Introduction to Multiple Displays in Windows
- Common Multi-Monitor Problem—Spatial Orientation
- How To Make a Display the ‘Main’ Display in Windows
- Multi-Monitor Problem—Spatial Orientation Part Two
- Introduction to Display Scaling in Windows
We also maintain a playlist that contains all of the multiple monitor tutorial videos we have made .
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.
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 |
Silicon Motion InstantView Installation Instructions for macOS 10.15, 11, 12, and 13+
How to install the Silicon Motion InstantView application based on your macOS version.
If you are unsure of the macOS version you are using → Click on the Apple logo in the top left of your mac display and select ‘About This Mac’.
macOS 13.x and newer
***For macOS 10.15 through macOS 12.x please click here***
1. Download the Silicon Motion InstantView application for your version of macOS from here.
2. Double-click on the file you downloaded to start the application installer

3. Drag the macOS InstantView app icon to the Applications icon: (Please be sure to drag the 'macOS InstantView' application to the 'Application' icon inside of the 'macOS InstantView' window itself.)

4. Navigate to your Launchpad or Applications folder to locate the InstantView app and double click to launch it

5. Click Open

6. Click Open System Preferences. Note: this should automatically open the Security and Privacy section, but if it does not you can manually open the Security and Privacy settings

7. Click on the switch to enable screen recording for the macOS InstantView application.

8. If prompted, enter your password and click the ‘Modify Settings’ button:

9. You will be prompted to Quit and Reopen the InstantView application in order for the change to take effect. Please do so:

11. The software has now been installed and you may connect your graphics adapter or docking station
** Please note - The Silicon Motion InstantView application does NOT in fact record or store any information. This permission must be granted in order for the InstantView application to access the information it needs in order to generate the image shown on the Silicon Motion-connected displays. **
Using the macOS Silicon Motion InstantView Application:
12. Right Click on the InstantView icon that is now present within the Apple Menu bar at the top of your screen. This will reveal the InstantView quick access menu:
13. Click "Display before Login" to enable the Silicon Motion-connected displays to be activated at the macOS Login Screen

14. In order to receive automatic InstantView application updates you can ensure that the Auto Update setting is checked
15. Left click on the InstantView icon within the Apple Menu bar at the top of your screen. This will reveal the InstantView application

16. You can quickly disconnect the displays and you can quickly change your Silicon Motion-connected displays to Mirrored or Extended mode
macOS 10.15 through macOS 12.x:
(Please click on the below to expand the instructions.)
How to install the Silicon Motion InstantView application on macOS 10.15 through macOS 12.x:
1. Download the Silicon Motion InstantView application for your version of macOS from here.
2. Double-click on the file you downloaded to start the application installer

3. Drag the macOS InstantView app icon to the Applications folder in the window that opens:

4. Navigate to your Launchpad or Applications folder to locate the InstantView app and double click to launch it

5. Click Open

6. Click Open System Preferences. Note: this should automatically open the Security and Privacy section, but if it does not you can manually open the Security and Privacy settings

7. Click on the gold padlock at the bottom of the application window to enable changes.

8. If prompted, enter your password and click the ‘Unlock’ button:

9. Click to place a checkmark next to the macOS InstantView entry:

10. You will be prompted to Quit and Reopen the InstantView application in order for the change to take effect. Please do so:

11. The software has now been installed and you may connect your graphics adapter or docking station
** Please note - The Silicon Motion InstantView application does NOT in fact record or store any information. This permission must be granted in order for the InstantView application to access the information it needs in order to generate the image shown on the Silicon Motion-connected displays. **
Using the macOS Silicon Motion InstantView Application:
12. Right Click on the InstantView icon that is now present within the Apple Menu bar at the top of your screen. This will reveal the InstantView quick access menu:
13. Click "Display before Login" to enable the Silicon Motion-connected displays to be activated at the macOS Login Screen

14. In order to receive automatic InstantView application updates you can ensure that the Auto Update setting is checked
15. Left click on the InstantView icon within the Apple Menu bar at the top of your screen. This will reveal the InstantView application

16. You can quickly disconnect the displays and you can quickly change your Silicon Motion-connected displays to Mirrored or Extended mode
Why Does Image Quality With My Silicon Motion Graphics Adapter or Docking Station Not Seem As Crisp As My Laptop Screen or Directly Connected External Monitor?
Silicon Motion technology uses the Silicon Motion software driver on Windows and Silicon Motion InstantView application on macOS to generate a "virtual desktop" image that is sent over a USB connection to the adapter. These pixels are rendered by the Silicon Motion chip within the adapter to then send a video image to the connected monitors.
Because of the amount of data being sent the software driver must compress the data being sent so it can pass through efficiently over USB connections. This is why some images may not appear as "crisp" using a Silicon Motion adapter or docking station.
In our testing, Red colors are primarily affected where they can appear pixelated or blurry when viewed closely.
Blue Light Reduction Applications Are Not Working While Connected to my Silicon Motion USB Dock or Adapter
The Silicon Motion driver does not currently support this type of color adjustment. As a result, applications like f.lux, Night Shift or Night Light will not affect displays connected to a Silicon Motion-based docking station or video adapter.
I Can't Use My Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD/ATI Graphics Utility to Manage the Monitors Connected to My Silicon Motion-Based Docking Station/Graphics Adapter. Why?
The graphical software utilities provided by Intel, NVIDIA and AMD/ATI are designed to only recognize and work with graphics adapters made by their respective manufacturers. As a result, they will not recognize USB-attached displays connected to a Silicon Motion-based docking station or graphics adapter.
It is recommended to use the facilities built-in to Windows to manage the connected displays. These would be the ‘Display Settings’ application on Windows 10 and ‘Screen Resolution’ application on Windows 8.1 and 7. Both of these applications are available by right-clicking on empty space within the Windows desktop and selecting the appropriate choice from the context menu that appears.
Why Doesn't the "Display Color Calibration" Tool in Windows Affect the Display(s) Attached to My Silicon Motion-Based Docking Station/Video Adapter?
The Silicon Motion driver does not support color calibration functionality of any kind. Most monitors have built-in controls that can be used to adjust the characteristics of the display, though we realize this approach may not be ideal in all cases. For environments that necessitate near-perfect color reproduction and display calibration capabilities via software, a dedicated graphics card is recommended.
Are Plugable USB Video Adapters or Docking Stations Based on Silicon Motion Technology Compatible With Touchscreens?
Touchscreens that do not require drivers and use the host’s operating system’s built-in USB Human Interface drivers (HID) to record touch inputs can be made to work with our products, however Plugable does not provide support for doing so due the complexity of multi-monitor touch screen setups.
If I Add a Silicon Motion-Based Docking Station or Graphics Adapter to My System, Will That Prevent My System’s Built-In Video Outputs From Working?
No, the Silicon Motion device's presence on your system will not preclude the use of any of your system’s built-in video outputs.
Can I Adjust the Brightness of a Display Connected to My Silicon Motion-Based Docking Station or Video Adapter via the Windows ‘Display Settings’ Application?
Windows does not have the ability to adjust the brightness of a display connected using Silicon Motion technology. We recommend making use of the display’s internal on-screen menu options in order to adjust the display's brightness.
Do Silicon Motion Graphics Adapters and Docking Stations Work on macOS?
Our Silicon Motion-based graphics adapters and docking stations are supported with macOS, albeit with potential limitations that one would expect with a directly connected external monitor.
Supports closed-display mode (aka clamshell mode) | - No with macOS 10.15 Catalina and macOS 11 Big Sur on Intel based systems - Yes with macOS 12 Monterey on Intel based systems (an external power source must be connected to the Mac) - Yes with macOS 11 Big Sur and macOS 12 Monterey on Apple M1 based systems (an external power source must be connected to the Mac) |
Supports display ‘rotation’ | - No with Intel based systems. - Yes with macOS 11 and newer when using an Apple M1 or M2 based systems, and when using the Silicon Motion InstantView app version 3.13 R02 or newer. Download available here. |
Supports macOS ‘Login screen’ | - Yes, by enabling "Display before Login" in the settings menu |
Supports Blue Light Reduction / Night Shift | - No, Night Shift and other blue light reduction software is not supported |
Applications That Use OpenGL Such As Google Sketchup or Google Earth Do Not Work As Expected When Connected to a Silicon Motion-Based Graphics Adapter or Docking Station
Graphics adapters and docking stations based on Silicon Motion USB video technology are in essence a 'virtual' graphics adapter that relies on the host laptop's CPU and internal physical graphics processing unit (aka as GPU) to generate the information shown on the Silicon Motion-attached displays.
In rare instances, Windows applications that use a technology known as OpenGL to draw the image shown on the display will attempt to direct OpenGL related tasks to the Silicon Motion-based virtual graphics adapter, and not to the 'real'/'physical' GPU within the laptop.
Since the adapter or dock is not a physical GPU that supports OpenGL, this can sometimes cause applications that make use of OpenGL (such as Google Earth or AutoCAD) to not work as expected or result in various types of error messages.
The true root cause of this behavior can vary, and ultimately lies outside of the adapter, docking station or its associated Silicon Motion driver. In some cases the root cause lies within the Windows driver for the host system's physical GPU and in rarer cases within the Windows operating system itself.
In some cases updating either the driver for the system's internal GPU or updating Windows itself (when Microsoft provides such updates) can help, however that is unfortunately not always the case.
If updating those components does not help, in most cases there are two possible workarounds.
The first is to configure Windows to have the ‘Main’ display set to a display directly connected to the host system's built-in internal GPU, whether that is an internal laptop display or another external display connected to one of the system's built-in video outputs (a quick guide to doing so is here -> https://youtu.be/7nnKztRZXsw).
If the first option does not prove a suitable workaround, the second option is to boot the system without the adapter or dock connected, launching the affected application, and then connecting the adapter or dock may also help.
Legacy macOS Silicon Motion Driver Installation Instructions
'Legacy' Silicon Motion Driver installation for macOS 10.14 Mojave
** Before you begin **
If have installed a previous version of the Silicon Motion driver, please uninstall it and then reboot your system before proceeding.
1. Download the latest driver for macOS 10.14 Mojave from here -> Link
2. Navigate to your Downloads folder and double-click on the Silicon Motion driver download
3. The disk image of the driver will mount, and automatically open the Silicon Motion Installer main landing page
4. Double-click on the ‘SMI USB Display Driver Installer.pkg’ file. The SMI USB Display Driver Installer page will open

5. Click ‘Continue’ at the Introduction step

6. Click the ‘Continue' at the Read Me step.
Note: This Read Me step mentions that the Silicon Motion software must be allowed in the macOS Security & Privacy settings - this is an important step starting in Step x of these instructions

7. Click ‘Install’

8. Enter your system password and click the ‘Install Software’ button

10. Click 'Continue Installation'

11. Click on the ‘Open Security Preferences’ button

12. Click the ‘Allow’ button at the bottom of the window to grant permission for the extension to be loaded.
** Important note – this approval must be granted within 30 minutes of the driver installation or the process will not work. A fresh installation must be performed to reset this timer. **

There is also a chance that the warning message about the blocked System Extension will not appear, but macOS may still block the extension. After the driver installation completes, please double-check that the necessary approval was granted by clicking the ‘System Preferences’ icon (the gear) and then clicking on the ‘Security & Privacy’ icon. From the window that appears please ensure the Silicon Motion driver is Approved by clicking the ‘Allow’ button.
12. Close the ‘Security and Privacy’ window. The Silicon Motion installation should now complete
13. You may also elect to move the Silicon Motion driver installer to the Trash Bin by clicking 'Move to Trash' or you may keep it by clicking 'Keep'

'Legacy' Silicon Motion Driver removal for macOS
1. Download the Silicon Motion driver package for macOS 10.14 Mojave from here -> Link
2. Navigate to your Downloads folder and double-click on the Silicon Motion driver download
2. Double-click on the 'SMI USB Display Driver Uninstaller' to begin the uninstallation wizard

3. Click the ‘Uninstall’ button

4. Enter your account password and click ‘OK’

5. After a few moments the process will complete. Click the ‘Restart’ button to complete the removal process.

Can Silicon Motion and DisplayLink-based Docking Stations and Graphics Adapters Work Together?
Yes! As long as the software drivers for both Silicon Motion and DisplayLink-based products are installed on the same computer these two USB graphics solutions can work together and be used at the same time.
My Silicon Motion-based USB Docking Station or USB Video Adapter Is Not Working As Expected
When a Plugable Silicon Motion device is not working as expected with a Windows system, the best practice is to disconnect the device from the host system (and remove it's external power source, if it has one) and perform a manual installation of the latest version we recommend of the required Silicon Motion software driver to help ensure both are in a good state. To do so, please follow these steps:
- Disconnect the Plugable Silicon Motion USB docking station or video adapter from the host system. If the product you are using has an external power adapter (for example a USB docking station), please also disconnect the power adapter from the product so that the unit resets. Please keep everything disconnected until prompted
- Uninstall any and all software with 'Silicon Motion' in the title that is present from within the Control Panel > Programs and Features (Apps and Features in Windows 10). If an entry is not listed in the Programs and Features application, the driver was likely installed automatically by Windows Update. Please then move on to the next step of installing the latest recommended driver
- Once the uninstallation has completed running, restart the host system (even if not prompted to)
- Download and install the latest version (that we recommend) of the Silicon Motion software driver
- If you disconnected the power adapter from your product in step one, please reconnect it so the device powers on, then reconnect the product to the host system. If the product is still not working as expected, please restart the host system one more time.
If, after having completed this process, your Plugable Silicon Motion device is still not working as expected, please reach out to us directly via support@plugable.com with the output of our PlugDebug diagnostic utility and we will be happy to help
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.
Plugable products with ASIX AX88179A based Ethernet may not perform as expected when running browser based speed tests in macOS 11.6 Big Sur.
Plugable products that have an ASIX AX88179A based Ethernet adapter may not perform as expected when using browser based speed tests, such as SpeedTest.net.
Problem:
If you are running a browser based speed test such as SpeedTest.net using a Plugable ASIX AX88179A based Ethernet product such as our USBC-7IN1E Hub on macOS 11.6 Big Sur. Example pictured below.
Resolution:
At this time the best solution would be to upgrade to macOS 12 if possible, as this problem is fully resolved in macOS 12 Monterey. Example pictured below.
You can manually start the update process to macOS 12 Monterey by following this link. --> https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-monterey/id1576738294
Notes:
The ASIX AX88179A is a driverless solution with macOS, and there are no drivers or firmware solutions for this problem at this time.
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.
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.