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Does My Laptop Support the Plugable UD-MSTH2? What to Check Before Buying

Last Update: March 23rd, 2026
Article ID: 3738268

Summary

The Plugable UD-MSTH2 is a driverless USB-C docking station that supports up to two external HDMI displays, along with USB, Ethernet, audio, and up to 65W charging through a single cable.

Display performance depends on the capabilities of the connected computer. The dock does not increase graphics performance or create additional display bandwidth. It uses the video signal already provided by the host system.

Before purchasing, it is important to confirm that your system supports the required USB-C video features.

Requirements

To use the UD-MSTH2 as intended, your system should support the following:

  • A full-featured USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode
  • Windows 10 or Windows 11, or ChromeOS 100 or newer
  • Host graphics and display bandwidth sufficient for the desired resolution and refresh rate

For charging through the dock, the host system should also support USB-C Power Delivery.

Important: Not all USB-C ports support video output. If the USB-C port only supports data transfer or charging, the dock will not provide video.

Does the USB-C port support video?

The most important requirement is that the host USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode.

You may see this listed in system specifications as:

  • USB-C with DisplayPort
  • USB-C with DP Alt Mode
  • USB4
  • Thunderbolt 3
  • Thunderbolt 4

If the port specifications only mention USB data speeds or charging, that does not confirm video support.

How MST affects compatibility

The UD-MSTH2 uses Multi-Stream Transport (MST) to support multiple external displays over a single connection.

MST allows the dock to split the video bandwidth already available from the host system. It does not add graphics capability or increase available bandwidth.

Because of this, the final display result depends on the laptop’s:

  • USB-C video support
  • DisplayPort version
  • Graphics capability
  • Operating system support

DisplayPort version and expected performance

DisplayPort capability is one of the main factors that determines the maximum resolution and refresh rate supported through the dock.

DisplayPort capability Expected performance
DP 2.1 Supports dual 4K 60Hz.
DP 1.4 with DSC Best-case result for the UD-MSTH2. Supports up to dual 4K 60Hz.
DP 1.4 without DSC High resolutions may still be possible, but available bandwidth may be lower than what is required for dual 4K 60Hz.
DP 1.2 Typically supports up to dual 1080p 60Hz.

What is DSC?

Display Stream Compression, or DSC, is a display technology that compresses video data so higher resolutions and refresh rates can fit through a connection like DisplayPort, HDMI, or USB C without a noticeable loss in image quality. It helps devices support demanding display modes, such as 4K at high refresh rates, when the connection would otherwise not have enough bandwidth.

For the UD-MSTH2, dual 4K 60Hz requires DP 1.4 with DSC (DP 2.1 does not require DSC). Without DSC, there may not be enough available bandwidth for two 4K 60Hz displays.

Supported operating systems

Supported

  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  • ChromeOS 100 or newer
  • macOS

macOS does not support MST for multiple extended displays in the same way as Windows and ChromeOS. When used with the UD-MSTH2, macOS will typically support one extended display and one mirrored display, rather than two independently extended displays.

 

Expected display performance

Host capability Expected result
No DP Alt Mode No video output
DP 1.2 host Up to dual 1080p 60Hz
DP 1.4 host without sufficient bandwidth or DSC Varies by system
DP 1.4 with DSC Up to dual 4K 60Hz
DP 2.1 Dual 4K 60hz
macOS One extended display and one mirrored display

Monitor and cable requirements

In addition to host compatibility, the displays and cables used must also support the desired resolution and refresh rate.

For best results:

  • Use monitors with HDMI 2.0 input support for 4K 60Hz
  • Use certified HDMI 2.0 cables
  • Confirm that each display input supports the target resolution and refresh rate

How to check compatibility before purchasing

Use the following checklist:

Confirm that the system is running Windows 10/11 or ChromeOS 100+

  • Verify that the USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode
  • If charging through the dock is important, verify support for USB-C Power Delivery
  • Check the system’s DisplayPort capability
  • For dual 4K 60Hz, confirm support for DP 1.4 with DSC
  • Confirm that the monitors and HDMI cables support the desired resolution and refresh rate

FAQ

Why does the dock say dual 4K 60Hz if my laptop cannot achieve that?

The UD-MSTH2 supports up to dual 4K 60Hz, but the final display result depends on the capabilities of the connected computer.

Display performance is determined by:

  • The laptop’s graphics hardware
  • Whether the USB-C port supports DP Alt Mode
  • Available DisplayPort bandwidth
  • Whether the system supports DP 1.4 with DSC

For example:

  • A DP 1.4 host with DSC can support up to dual 4K 60Hz
  • A DP 1.2 host is typically limited to up to dual 1080p 60Hz

Is my laptop compatible with Plugable Multi-Stream Transport (MST) products?

How do I know if my computer supports Multi-Stream Transport (MST)?

Understanding USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode