What’s the Purpose of an Upstream Cable?

An upstream cable typically refers to a USB cable that connects your monitor to your computer. It’s used to enable USB ports on the monitor so you can plug in devices like a keyboard or mouse directly into the monitor. If you're still confused, I suggest you look it up, but if you provide more details, we'd be happy to help further!

In my case, the upstream cable helps me control the on-screen display (OSD) of my MSI monitor through an app. It also allows firmware updates, but I'm hesitant to use that feature because it can be risky.

Honestly, most people don’t need to worry about it unless you’re using your monitor’s USB features. If your monitor has USB ports and you want to use them, then yes, you’d need that upstream cable.