2. UGA-4KDP: Performance, Limitation...

UGA-4KDP: Performance, Limitations & FAQ

Last Update: December 29th, 2025
Article ID: 3640696

Overview

The Plugable UGA-4KDP is a USB graphics adapter based on the DisplayLink DL-5500 chipset. It lets you connect a 4K DisplayPort monitor to a computer that may not natively support 4K or DisplayPort, or to add extra displays beyond what your built-in graphics card can handle.

Because this adapter sends video over USB and relies on your computer’s CPU and GPU to render the image in software, it behaves differently than a direct connection to a dedicated GPU (for example, HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C Alt Mode from the laptop itself).

This article covers the most common questions about:

  • Performance and typical use cases
  • Content protection (HDCP) and streaming services
  • OS limitations on Windows and macOS
  • Troubleshooting tips

1. One Adapter = One Monitor

Q: Can I daisy-chain monitors from the UGA-4KDP?
A: No. The UGA-4KDP supports one monitor per adapter. It does not support MST (Multi-Stream Transport) daisy-chaining.

To connect multiple monitors using USB graphics:

  • Use one UGA-4KDP per additional monitor.
  • Maximum recommended configurations:
    • Up to 8 adapters at 1920x1080 on Windows and ChromeOS
    • Up to 4 adapters at 4K on Windows and ChromeOS
    • Up to 4 adapters on macOS

Actual limits depend on your system’s CPU performance and USB bandwidth. For more detailed display-count guidance, see our article: “How many displays can be added to a computer via USB?”

2. Content Protection (HDCP) & Gaming

Q: Why is my screen black when watching Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc.?
A: The UGA-4KDP uses DisplayLink technology, which does not support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection).

Here’s why:

  • Video is compressed and encrypted in software before being sent over USB.
  • This process breaks the secure HDCP handshake required by many streaming platforms.
  • Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other DRM-protected content will often result in a black screen with audio only.

What usually works:

  • Most non-DRM content (such as YouTube and many web videos) typically works as expected.
  • Local, non-protected video files (for example, training clips or presentations) also generally work fine.

Q: Can I use this adapter for gaming?
A: We do not recommend the UGA-4KDP for gaming or rendering.

  • While fine for productivity (Excel, Code, Web), the USB 3.0 bandwidth limit and software compression introduce latency. High bandwidth content (gaming, heavy video editing, AutoCAD) may appear choppy or cause high CPU usage. For this type of use case, it's best to utilize the native GPU for the best performance.

3. Pitfalls of Using Multiple Adapters

Q: I plugged in three adapters, and now my mouse is lagging. What’s happening?
A: All devices on a USB bus share the same USB bandwidth and power. Multiple 4K USB graphics adapters can saturate that bus.

Common causes:

  • Several UGA-4KDP adapters on a single USB 3.0 port (directly or through a hub)
  • System resources are not adequate to support multiple USB-powered displays.
  • Using an unpowered USB hub, which can’t provide enough power and bandwidth

Recommendations:

  • Spread adapters across different USB 3.0 ports on your laptop or desktop where possible.
  • Use a high-quality powered USB 3.0 hub (such as the Plugable USBC-HUB7BC) to ensure:
    • Stable power delivery
    • Sufficient bandwidth for multiple displays

If you notice:

  • Mouse or keyboard lag
  • Stuttering video
  • Disconnected or flickering displays

A USB bottleneck or insufficient system resources are likely causes if you are experiencing issues with three or more virtual displays.

To resolve this, try one of the following:

  • Redistribute adapters.
  • Use a powered hub.
  • Test by adding one display adapter at a time.

If your system is older, it may lack the necessary resources to support multiple displays. To diagnose this, connect one display at a time and monitor performance. If single or dual displays work fine, but triple or quad configurations degrade performance, your system is likely struggling to support that many displays.

4. macOS Requirements (“Screen Recording” Permission)

Q: I installed the driver on my Mac, but the DisplayLink monitor is blank. Why?
A: On macOS, the DisplayLink Manager app must be granted “Screen Recording” permissions for any USB graphics adapter (including UGA-4KDP) to show content.

Apple treats “reading pixels from the screen to send over USB” as a form of screen recording. Plugable and DisplayLink do not save or store your screen content, but macOS requires this permission to allow the adapter to work.

To enable this:

  1. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording.
  2. Find “DisplayLink Manager” in the list.
  3. Toggle it ON.
  4. Restart your Mac if prompted (or if the display is still blank after enabling).

Once this is set, your DisplayLink-connected monitor should begin showing your desktop.

Troubleshooting Checklist

If your UGA-4KDP is not working as expected (black screen, flickering, error messages, or “USB device not recognized”), try the following:

1. Check Cables & Adapters

  • Make sure you’re using a standard, good-quality DisplayPort cable between the UGA-4KDP and the monitor.
  • If converting from DisplayPort to HDMI, use an active DP-to-HDMI adapter (passive cables/adapters will not work).

Follow the instructions provided in our knowledge base article: My DisplayLink-based USB Docking Station or USB Video Adapter Is Not Working As Expected with a Windows computer

Follow the instructions provided in our knowledge base article: DisplayLink Manager App Installation Instructions for macOS 13 Ventura, macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 15 Sequoia, & macOS 26 Tahoe

4. Still stuck?


Reach out to us support@plugable.com