2. My Dell Latitude, Precision or XP...

My Dell Latitude, Precision or XPS System Is Unable to Output Dual 4K With This Dock

Last Update: October 16th, 2026
Article ID: 2998094

Summary

Certain Dell Latitude, Precision, and XPS laptops with Intel 11th Generation (Tiger Lake) processors may be unable to output dual 4K displays at the expected resolution or refresh rate when connected to a USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt docking station.

This can occur because Display Stream Compression (DSC) is disabled by default on some Dell systems.

Dell provides instructions for enabling DSC, which may help resolve these display limitations on supported systems.

Applicable To

This issue may affect certain Dell laptops equipped with Intel 11th Generation (Tiger Lake) processors.

Affected Dell laptop models:

  • Latitude Series: 9520, 9420, 7x20, 7320, 5x21, 5x20, 3x20, 3320
  • Precision Series: 7760, 7560, 5760, 5560, 3561, 3560
  • XPS Series: 17, 15, 13, 13 2-in-1

Affected Plugable docking station technologies include:

  • USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode docks, such as the Plugable UD-MSTH2
  • USB4 docks, such as the Plugable UD-4VPD
  • Thunderbolt docks, such as the Plugable TBT4-UDZ

Other docking stations that rely on the host computer's native graphics output may also be affected.

Note: Plugable docking stations that use DisplayLink USB graphics for their display outputs are not affected by this specific DSC limitation.

Background

Display Stream Compression (DSC) is a technology that compresses video data to reduce the bandwidth required to transmit high-resolution display signals.

This allows compatible computers and docking stations to support display configurations that might otherwise exceed the available video bandwidth.

On certain Dell laptops with Intel Tiger Lake processors, DSC may be disabled by default.

When DSC is disabled, the available display bandwidth may be insufficient for certain dual 4K configurations, resulting in reduced resolution, reduced refresh rates, or an inability to use the desired display configuration.

This does not necessarily indicate a problem with the Plugable docking station.

How to Enable Display Stream Compression (DSC)

Dell provides official instructions for enabling DSC on affected Latitude, Precision, and XPS systems.

The process involves modifying a setting in the Windows Registry associated with the Intel graphics driver.

Important: Modifying the Windows Registry incorrectly can cause operating system problems, including preventing Windows from starting properly.

Before making changes, Dell recommends backing up the Windows Registry. If you are unfamiliar with Registry Editor or are using a company-managed computer, contact your IT administrator or Dell Support for assistance.

For detailed instructions, including screenshots and the required Registry settings, please follow Dell's official support article:

Dell Support: How to Enable Display Stream Compression on Latitude, Precision and XPS

After following Dell's instructions and restarting the computer, reconnect your docking station and check the available display resolutions and refresh rates in Windows Display Settings.

Important Notes

  • Enabling DSC may help resolve display limitations caused by DSC being disabled, but it does not guarantee dual 4K output on every configuration.
  • The maximum supported resolution and refresh rate depend on the computer's graphics capabilities, docking station, connected monitors, cables, and available display bandwidth.
  • Not all Dell systems are affected by this issue, even when they belong to one of the listed product families.
  • Docking stations using DisplayLink USB graphics are not affected by this specific limitation because DisplayLink uses a different method of providing video output.
  • For systems managed by an IT department, consult your administrator before making changes to the Windows Registry.

Need Assistance?

If you continue to experience display resolution or refresh rate limitations after reviewing Dell's DSC instructions, please contact Plugable Support at support@plugable.com.

When contacting support, please include:

  • Your Plugable docking station model
  • Your Dell laptop model
  • Your Windows version
  • The number and models of connected monitors
  • The resolutions and refresh rates you are attempting to use
  • The resolutions and refresh rates currently available
  • Whether you have followed Dell's instructions for enabling DSC

This information will help our support team evaluate your display configuration and determine whether the issue is related to DSC, available display bandwidth, or another compatibility limitation.