The Plugable Twin HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) isn’t just like the others. It’d look that means, even sound that means judging by title alone. Nevertheless it isn’t. Positive, the UD-4VPD may need a reputation just like the tail finish of a Steam redemption code, however I discover that quite becoming — as it might make a superb addition to a gaming setup.
Not simply gaming both, the UD-4VPD has what it takes to be the guts of a tidy little content material creation hub, controlling high-resolution shows with a number of speedy information ports to switch media with ease. All whereas this little dock nails the fundamentals of energy supply and efficient cable administration.
Is it one of many finest laptop computer docking stations we’ve come throughout thus far? It’s actually within the operating. Let’s dive a little bit deeper into Plugable’s dock and see what makes it stand out from the competitors.
Plugable Twin HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) worth and availability
Docking stations are usually costly, particularly once they’re as well-built and versatile because the UD-4VPD. That being stated, Plugable’s Twin HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) is on the market for simply $199.95 at Amazon.
That’s a good worth for what you’re getting. Examine the UD-4VPD’s worth to the very equally specced $299.99 Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station and also you understand simply how fairly priced it’s. The distinction in $100 does imply you quit a spare port or two, however you might be additionally gaining sooner ports general — together with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port.
The one actual distinction between the 2 is that the UD-4VPD is USB4-backed (40Gbps), versus following Intel’s Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps) customary. Which, in a normal setup at the very least, gained’t make an excessive amount of of a distinction in any respect.
Plugable Twin HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) design
Plugable has stored it easy on this one to nice impact. Sporting an anodized aluminum silver chassis with black aluminum face and again plates, the UD-4VPD seems to be decidedly smooth. Its rounded corners tone down an in any other case boxy look and helps to chop a reasonably fashionable silhouette in your desk.
The acquainted Plugable brand takes its place atop the dock however past that, design-wise at the very least, it’s considerably of a humdrum affair. The aluminum chassis takes a lot of the highlight, and by way of premium construct — it completely nails it.
From the second you decide up the dock, you’ll be able to virtually measure its high quality in newtons alone. Its 3.15-pound heft makes it nigh unmovable even whereas swapping cables out and in — additional aided by 4 grippy, rubberized ft on the UD-4VPD’s base.
The dock measures 9.17 x 5.71 x 3.31 inches in complete, giving it a greater than manageable footprint that would simply discover a dwelling in even the smallest setups. The elongated body ensures that there’s beneficiant spacing between ports and loads of wiggle room for cable administration as soon as they’re stuffed.
One other boon for cable administration is the inclusion of the rear-facing host port, which is good if (like me) you’ll be able to’t stand any stray cables coiling their means round your workspace. The dock’s general design retains nearly all of ports to the rear of the system, permitting them to vanish over the sting of your desk and out of sight whereas holding the extra regularly accessed ports for information or charging on the entrance.
Whereas Plugable’s system is not any eye-sore, that doesn’t imply it’s dazzling both. It’s nice in the event you’re holding issues strictly enterprise, with its comparatively bland design posing no danger of turning into a desktop distraction.
However in the event you’ve obtained extra in thoughts in relation to Plugable’s dock than it being a workstation cable assistant, it might come throughout barely stiff wanting when surrounded by gadgets extra informal of their design — however we’ll get to that later.
Plugable Twin HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) ports and connectivity
The Plugable Twin HDMI Docking Station can connect with any USB-C laptop computer, although if you wish to take full benefit of the UD-4VPD’s spectacular 40Gbps switch speeds you’re going to wish a USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 suitable machine.
Outdoors of the dock’s energy enter, fueled by a mighty 170W energy provide included within the field, there are 11 ports on provide — 10 as soon as the USB4 host connection is made. It is a considerably beneficiant assortment of ports to select from, and it’ll have your entire bases lined, however in the event you’re a heavy peripheral person then don’t anticipate to get greater than three or 4 gadgets linked earlier than it’s a must to begin juggling issues out and in.
Looking on the entrance of the UD-4VPD we now have an influence change, a single USB Kind-A 3.1 Gen 2 port (10Gbps), a USB Kind-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) port with 20W Energy Supply, a set of Micro SD and SD card readers, and a 3.5mm mic/audio combo jack.
Spinning the dock round you’ll be greeted by a USB Kind-A 3.2 Gen 1 port (5Gbps), one other USB Kind-A 3.1 Gen 2 port (10Gbps), a supercharged 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, two HDMI 2.1 show outputs (permitting two 4K exterior shows @ 120Hz, or one 8K @ 60Hz), the USB4 (40Gbps) host port with as much as 100W of Energy Supply, and at last the ability in port.
As port picks go, the UD-4VPD’s providing isn’t unhealthy in any respect, particularly when contemplating its ~$200 price ticket. It’s an affordable choice of ports, all of which provide spectacular information speeds — just a few of which embody strong cost speeds as nicely.
Plugable Twin HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) efficiency
For normal use, the UD-4VPD is a solidly performing system with simply sufficient ports to handle an excellent few gadgets at anyone time whereas providing a past glorious set of exterior show choices that ship impeccable outcomes throughout the board.
Nevertheless, in the event you’re a little bit of an influence person or just have a necessity for added equipment past your customary keyboard and mouse (equivalent to exterior storage, or perhaps a desk fan or lamp) you then’re more likely to come up brief.
However by the gods don’t contact it after an extended day’s work until you’re about to hitch a secret authorities company and wish to present your initiative by melting off your individual fingerprints upfront.
That might be the final gist of this overview. Nevertheless, Plugable founder and CTO Bernie Thompson was type sufficient to reply once I requested him how he sees this docking station getting used to full impact.
Thompson was fast to level out the UD-4VPD’s show capabilities as a main. He confirmed nice courtesy by explaining the technical means through which these outputs work — a lot of which, I’ll be sincere, was so intelligent it made me really feel insecure concerning the reality me no mind good.
Nevertheless, Thompson kindly wrapped up his reply with the next: “Inventive and gaming audiences are inclined to search for these excessive resolutions and refresh charges.” And so, I wished to see if I’d ignored or undersold something that Plugable’s dock needed to provide.
I tweaked my setup to accommodate a extra artistic really feel. And, certain sufficient, the UD-4VPD was equally proficient. I took the dock on a video and picture enhancing tour that noticed each the front-facing MicroSD and SD card readers performing excellently, pulling massive photographs and movies from my digicam’s storage card at implausible speeds.
Whereas I couldn’t put the dock to the check with an 8K show, I joined up a second 4K display screen for much more of a digital canvas to work on and Plugable’s dock remained totally unphased — although, as beforehand identified it did begin to decide up a good quantity of warmth. Truthfully, if the field Plugable’s dock got here in stated it was additionally a micro radiator — I’d imagine it.
So, what about gaming? Effectively, to offer the dock its finest shot I swept the entire desk clear and began once more. Beginning with what players seemingly discover to be most necessary first.
I slapped as a lot RGB onto my desk as I may earlier than bathing every thing in neon hues. Which instantly resulted in Plugable’s dock wanting extra misplaced than a middle-aged man on a bouncy fortress.
It maintained a lot of its humdrum aesthetic even whereas donning a purple synthwave tint. Despite the hours I spent staring into that illuminated energy button, the little gamer inside me failed to achieve a concise conclusion about whether or not it was only a plain outdated white LED or the slowest RGB cycle I’d ever encountered.
By way of efficiency, Plugable’s dock is totally nice for gaming. Its means to transmit clear 4K photos with none noticeable lag or stutter at 120Hz made for a top-notch, visually clean expertise. Hooking up an RJ45 cable to the dock’s 2.5Ghz Ethernet port made gradual speeds and excessive ping a factor of the previous in on-line video games and gave me a substantial increase in pace when it got here to downloading the dozen or so updates cluttering up my Steam account.
Whereas the visuals have been completely charming, I ultimately needed to pull myself out of the expertise and get again to my overview. In any case, there’s solely a lot OlliOlli World a hardcore gamer like myself can endure.
The aftermath of my check session noticed the UD-4VPD now filled with wires to resupply my ailing wi-fi gadgets and surrounded by a litany of crushed soda cans and scattered Doritos crumbs. Just like the weepy child at their first sleepover, I may virtually hear this little out-of-place system cry out for me to take it dwelling — again below the secure glow of an incandescent mild bulb the place it belongs.
However that is your life now, UD-4VPD. That is the place you’ll keep. You’re now a prisoner of my gaming setup and also you’ll be tortured by the electrical snares of ambient Chillwave Lo-Fi Hip Hop Beats 24/7 reside streams on YouTube till the day you finally attain such important warmth ranges that many contemplate you the second coming of the Demon Core and my complete city has to evacuate out of environmental fears.
Backside line
Plugable’s dock proved to be a superb addition to every setup I attempted it with — however solely simply, and solely as a result of my setup was comparatively primary every time. Which was largely as a result of I had no room left to attach anything.
My wi-fi headset gathered mud on the shelf — and as for my exterior storage? There was no dwelling to be discovered. That’s with out me having the necessity for any specialised accent like a graphics pill, UHD webcam, or seize system that many streamers or content material creators would discover important.
The UD-4VPD is a dock brimming with potential, and it’ll make for a superb addition to the overwhelming majority of setups. It has glorious qualities for content material creation and gaming, however its restricted variety of ports means it’s not the dock for professionals or the hardcore crowd.
Plugable’s Twin HDMI Docking Station is a sure-fire win for a extra relaxed setup that isn’t too apprehensive about getting access to every thing . In order for you the core expertise with all of the efficiency bells and whistles then that is the docking station it’s essential hold your eye on.
Now, in the event you’ll excuse me. I’ve obtained Doritos to wash up.
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