StarTech 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT USB4 40Gbps Multiport Adapter

Overview

The StarTech 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT is a USB4 40Gbps multiport adapter built for professionals who need full bandwidth utilization and native protocol support from a single host connection. Designed for workstations, creative workstations, and data-intensive computing environments, it consolidates dual-display output, high-speed peripherals, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, and 140W Power Delivery into a compact aluminum enclosure measuring just 5.6 x 2.2 x 0.7 inches — thin enough to disappear on a desk but capable enough to drive serious workflows. The space gray aluminum body dissipates heat passively, keeping the adapter stable through sustained transfers without a fan. If you need a single-cable docking solution that does not compromise on USB4 bandwidth allocation or display fidelity, the 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT (often searched as 174B USB4 MULTIPORT) is worth a close look.

Key Features

• USB4 40Gbps Host Interface: The USB4 host connector delivers 40Gbps aggregate bandwidth — four times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 2. That headroom matters when you are simultaneously streaming video to two 4K displays, transferring files at 10Gbps, and pushing data through 2.5GbE. You are not forced to choose which peripheral gets throttled.
• Dual Display Output — Up to 4K 144Hz: One HDMI 2.0 port and one DisplayPort 1.4 port drive two independent displays simultaneously. HDMI 2.0 supports up to 4K at standard refresh rates; DisplayPort 1.4 pushes the envelope to 4K 144Hz or up to 8K 60Hz on a single screen. For video editors or engineers running reference monitors alongside a primary display, this eliminates the need for a discrete GPU dock in many scenarios.
• USB 3.2 Type-C with DisplayPort Alt-Mode: The external USB-C port (10Gbps) supports DisplayPort Alt-Mode, giving you a third display path if your monitor accepts USB-C video input — the spec sheet lists maximum digital resolutions of 8K 60Hz and 4K 240Hz across outputs, though actual output depends on host GPU and display capability.
• 140W USB Power Delivery (Rev. 3.2): The adapter passes through up to 140W of charging power to the host — enough to charge a 16-inch laptop at full rate while every port is active. You get a powered workstation without a separate charger occupying another outlet. Rev. 3.2 compliance means it negotiates correctly with modern high-wattage hosts rather than defaulting to lower charging profiles.
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (2.5G/1G/100Mbps/10Mbps): The RJ-45 port auto-negotiates down to legacy speeds but delivers 2.5GbE where your switch supports it — that is 2.5x the throughput of a standard gigabit NIC without upgrading the switch, since most managed switches with 2.5G uplinks are already in the field. For NAS access, large file transfers over LAN, or IP camera management from a laptop, this matters.
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A at 10Gbps: The single Type-A port runs at 10Gbps — fast enough for NVMe enclosures, high-speed flash drives, or capture cards that would saturate a 5Gbps USB 3.1 port. One port may feel limiting, but at 10Gbps it replaces two or three slower ports in actual throughput terms.
• Bus-Powered with Host USB-C: The adapter draws up to 30W from the host connection and requires no external power brick for operation — power comes from the USB4 host cable itself. Keep in mind: while the adapter is bus-powered, it is the host that supplies the 140W PD passthrough to your laptop. No wall adapter for the hub itself simplifies cable management.
• Compact Aluminum Build — 0.4 lb, 8-inch Attached Cable: At 0.4 lb and with an 8-inch integrated USB4 cable, this adapter sits flat on a desk without pulling at the host port. The aluminum material handles heat from sustained 40Gbps transfers better than plastic enclosures and gives the unit durability appropriate for daily travel or a permanent desktop dock.
• Operating Environment 0°C to 40°C, 10–85% RH: Rated for standard office and studio environments. Not designed for industrial or outdoor use — if you are deploying in an environment outside these parameters, a different solution is warranted.

Integration and Compatibility

The 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT requires a USB4 host port on the connected system — USB4 is backward-compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4 and USB 3.2, but maximum bandwidth and display capabilities are only realized on a native USB4 host. Confirm your laptop or workstation has a USB4 port (not just USB-C) before specifying this adapter. The USB 3.2 Type-C (10Gbps) port with DisplayPort Alt-Mode expands display options for USB-C monitors, but requires the host GPU to support multi-stream transport. The 2.5GbE port is compatible with 2.5G, 1G, 100Mbps, and 10Mbps networks — no driver installation issues on modern operating systems that natively support 2.5GbE NICs. Power Delivery at 140W follows USB PD Rev. 3.2, so the host device must support high-wattage PD negotiation to receive the full 140W; older PD implementations will charge at their rated maximum instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT require a USB4 host port, or does it work with any USB-C port?

A: A USB4 (40Gbps) host port is required to access full bandwidth and dual-display capability. The adapter will physically connect to USB-C ports running USB 3.2, but bandwidth and display output will be limited by the host port's actual specification. Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 hosts are generally compatible at full performance.

Q: What is the maximum resolution supported by the 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT?

A: The adapter supports up to 8K 60Hz and 4K 240Hz across its display outputs. The HDMI port follows the HDMI 2.0 standard; the DisplayPort follows DisplayPort 1.4. Actual output resolution depends on both the host GPU and the connected display's capabilities.

Q: How much Power Delivery does the 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT pass through to the host laptop?

A: Up to 140W via USB Power Delivery Rev. 3.2 — sufficient to charge most 16-inch laptops at full rate while all ports remain active. The host device must support high-wattage PD to receive the full 140W.

Q: Does the 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT need an external power adapter?

A: No external power brick is required for the adapter itself. It draws up to 30W from the host USB4 connection (bus-powered). The 140W PD passthrough is sourced from the host system's charging input, not from a separate adapter.

Q: What Ethernet speeds does the RJ-45 port support?

A: The RJ-45 port supports 2.5G, 1G, 100Mbps, and 10Mbps — it auto-negotiates to the highest speed your network switch supports. Full 2.5GbE throughput is available on switches with 2.5G-capable ports.

Q: What is the warranty on the 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT?

A: StarTech provides a 3-year manufacturer warranty on the 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT.

Marty Allison

The spec that jumps out immediately on the 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT is the 140W Power Delivery passthrough running alongside a full 40Gbps USB4 host connection — that combination means you are not trading charging speed for data bandwidth, which is the compromise you typically hit on lower-spec docks using shared bus allocations. If you have specified hubs before and found that simultaneous display output and high-speed storage access caused one or the other to throttle, the USB4 40Gbps pipe here gives you genuine headroom to run everything concurrently.

Technical Highlights:

• USB4 40Gbps Host Bandwidth: Four times the ceiling of USB 3.2 Gen 2 — dual displays, 10Gbps peripherals, and 2.5GbE can all run simultaneously without competing for the same narrow pipe.
• DisplayPort 1.4 Output: Supports up to 4K 144Hz on the DP output — useful for color-critical workloads or high-refresh workflows where HDMI 2.0's ceiling is a limiting factor. The HDMI port handles standard 4K; DP handles the demanding edge cases.
• 140W PD Rev. 3.2: Rev. 3.2 compliance matters for hosts rated above 100W — older USB PD implementations cap at 100W. This adapter negotiates correctly with 140W-capable systems so you are not undercharging a high-performance laptop.

Deployment Considerations:

• Bus-powered operation draws up to 30W from the host USB4 port — verify your host can supply adequate bus power, particularly on battery-constrained ultrabooks where USB-C bus output is sometimes limited in power-saving modes.
• The single USB Type-A port (10Gbps) will feel limiting in high-peripheral-count setups. If your workstation needs multiple USB-A devices simultaneously, plan for a downstream USB hub on that port — the 10Gbps ceiling handles the additional hub's load without significant throughput loss.

The 174B-USB4-MULTIPORT is the right call for a mobile creative or engineering workstation setup — think a MacBook or high-end Windows ultrabook docked at a dual-monitor desk with a NAS on the local network. The 2.5GbE port alone is worth specifying for anyone transferring large files to a NAS over LAN, where the jump from 1Gbps to 2.5Gbps meaningfully cuts transfer time on a matched switch.