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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

Last Update: October 5th, 2026
Article ID: 1208569

Applicable To

  • UD-768PDZ, USBC-768H4, UGA-HDMI-2S, UGA-HDMI-S, UGA-DP-S

Some graphics-intensive or hardware-accelerated Windows applications may not display or operate as expected when their window is shown on a monitor connected through a Silicon Motion-based USB graphics adapter or docking station. This can occur when the application does not correctly use the computer's physical GPU for graphics acceleration.

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Update Windows to the latest available version.
  2. Update the graphics driver for the computer's Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD GPU using the computer manufacturer's recommended driver or the GPU manufacturer's current driver.
  3. Restart the computer after installing any updates.
  4. Set a display connected directly to the computer's internal graphics hardware as the Main display in Windows.
  5. Close the affected application.
  6. Reopen the application on the display connected directly to the computer.
  7. Move the application to the Silicon Motion-connected display after it has opened successfully.
  8. If the application provides its own graphics or rendering options, try changing the rendering mode.

For example, Google Earth Pro on Windows can use either OpenGL or DirectX. If Google Earth Pro does not display correctly, try switching between the available graphics modes.

https://support.google.com/earth/answer/6246289

Expected Result

The affected application should open and render correctly using the computer's physical GPU. In many cases, you can then move the application to the display connected through the Silicon Motion graphics adapter or docking station.

Some applications may still have limitations when used on a USB graphics-connected display, depending on how the application handles GPU acceleration.

If the Issue Persists

If the application still does not work as expected, disconnect the Silicon Motion-based adapter or docking station, restart the computer, and launch the affected application before reconnecting the Silicon Motion device.

If the issue continues, test the application on a display connected directly to the computer. If it works correctly there but not on the Silicon Motion-connected display, the behaviour may be related to how the application handles USB graphics or GPU acceleration.

For general Silicon Motion troubleshooting:

https://kb.plugable.com/1255592

If you need additional assistance, contact Plugable Support at support@plugable.com.