The upstream USB-C socket takes video in and sends power and data back to the laptop. Downstream USB ports feed peripherals, the RJ45 socket carries a fibre line, and DisplayPort Out passes a picture to a second screen. That list belongs to the R8,799 P3225DE.
Every port on a USB-C monitor's back panel is doing a specific, separate job, and knowing which is which turns a confusing row of sockets into a straightforward wiring plan. Dell's Pro 32 Plus P3225DE carries the full set worth understanding, for R8,799.
The upstream USB-C socket takes video in and sends power and data back to the laptop. Downstream USB ports feed peripherals, the RJ45 socket carries a fibre line, and DisplayPort Out passes a picture to a second screen. That list belongs to the R8,799 P3225DE.
This single port is doing more work than any other on the monitor, which is worth understanding first.
The upstream USB-C socket is the one connector that runs to the laptop, and it carries several signals at once: incoming video from the laptop's graphics output, USB data travelling in both directions, and outgoing power from the monitor back to the laptop at up to 90W. Every other port on the monitor ultimately routes through this single upstream connection, which is why it is the one cable that has to be properly rated for USB-C 3.2 and 90W Power Delivery rather than a basic charging-only cable.
These are separate from the upstream port and serve a different, simpler purpose.
Downstream USB-A ports connect regular peripherals, a keyboard, mouse, external drive or webcam, and route their data back through the upstream connection to the laptop. From the laptop's perspective, a device plugged into a downstream port behaves identically to one plugged in directly, just travelling through the monitor rather than a direct cable.
This port stands apart from the USB ports entirely, serving a purpose neither upstream nor downstream USB handles.
The RJ45 socket connects directly to a router or network point via a standard Ethernet cable, and Windows detects it as a wired network adaptor once the upstream USB-C connection to the laptop is active. This is a dedicated networking function, separate from the USB ports, which is why using it does not reduce how many downstream USB devices you can also connect.
This port is the one most people never use unless they are specifically planning a two-monitor setup, and it works differently from the other ports on this list.
DisplayPort Out sends a second video stream, split from the incoming signal using Multi-Stream Transport, out to a second monitor's DisplayPort input. Unlike the upstream port, this one only carries video, not power or general USB data, and it requires MST to be switched on in this monitor's own on-screen menu to function as a daisy-chain output rather than sitting unused.
Seeing all four categories side by side clarifies which cable goes where on an actual desk.
One upstream USB-C cable runs to the laptop, carrying video, data and power together. Downstream USB ports take a keyboard, mouse and other peripherals. The RJ45 socket takes a network cable from the router. DisplayPort Out, used only if a second monitor is part of the plan, takes a DisplayPort cable to that next screen. Compare the full port list across the office monitor range, check use hubs for expanding downstream USB capacity, and browse network cables for the router connection.
The single upstream USB-C port, which carries video, USB data and power all together in one cable.
No. Ethernet is a dedicated, separate function from the downstream USB ports, so using one does not reduce capacity on the other.
No. It is only relevant if you plan to daisy chain a second screen; a single-monitor setup can ignore it entirely.
No. It needs to support USB-C 3.2 data and 90W Power Delivery to carry video, full data and charging together; a basic charging-only cable will not carry video or full-speed data.
Yes. DisplayPort Out uses a standard DisplayPort cable, an entirely different connector and cable type from the USB-C lead running to the laptop, since it is transmitting only video to a second screen rather than the combined signal the upstream port handles.
Unpacking a new monitor with several unlabelled ports on the back panel is a common moment of confusion, and a short physical check resolves it quickly.
USB-C ports are small, oval and reversible in either direction; standard USB-A ports are the larger, rectangular, one-direction-only connector most keyboards and mice still use; RJ45 looks like a slightly oversized phone jack with a wider clip; and DisplayPort has a distinctive trapezoidal shape with a small locking clip on one side, physically different from both HDMI and USB-C. Most monitors also print a small label or icon beside each port on the back panel itself, which is worth checking against this list before assuming which port is which from memory alone, particularly on a first setup when the desk lighting behind the monitor makes small printed labels hard to read.
Knowing this list is not only useful on day one; it saves time whenever something needs troubleshooting or expanding later.
If a peripheral stops working, knowing whether it was plugged into a downstream USB port or connected some other way immediately narrows down where to look. If you decide to add a second monitor months later, already understanding what DisplayPort Out does and how MST works means the expansion is a five-minute cable job rather than a fresh research project. Compare monitors with a similarly clear port layout in the office monitor range, and check monitor accessories for any additional cables the full setup needs.
Ready to wire up every port correctly on the first try? Match each cable to its specific job using this port map before connecting anything.
The single upstream USB-C port, which carries video, USB data and power all together in one cable.
No. Ethernet is a dedicated, separate function from the downstream USB ports, so using one does not reduce capacity on the other.
No. It is only relevant if you plan to daisy chain a second screen; a single-monitor setup can ignore it entirely.
No. It needs to support USB-C 3.2 data and 90W Power Delivery to carry video, full data and charging together; a basic charging-only cable will not carry video or full-speed data.
Yes. DisplayPort Out uses a standard DisplayPort cable, an entirely different connector and cable type from the USB-C lead running to the laptop, since it is transmitting only video to a second screen rather than the combined signal the upstream port handles.
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