DisplayPort Alternate Mode is a feature available to USB-C that handles video as if the USB-C cable was a DisplayPort cable. USB-C monitors can therefore connect directly to your laptop or via a USB-C hub or USB-C or Thunderbolt dock. However, not every USB-C cable supports video transfer so you need to choose the right type of cable. If your external display supports a direct USB-C connection, look for a cable that has at least a data-transfer rate of 5Gbps for 4K at 60Hz or 10Gbps for 6K. For 8K we recommend you use a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 cable. The higher the bandwidth, the less risk of signal degradation. Consider cable length, too. While compression technologies should kick in, the longer your cable, the more the signal can degrade so opt for as short a cable as you require when connecting from your MacBook or dock to a USB-C monitor. A fully featured C-to-C cable that is 1 meter or shorter will work just fine for 95% of what people need. The Cable Matters 10Gbps/100W 1m USB-C Cable is a recommended solution. If you need a longer cable, a 2m Thunderbolt 4 cable, such as the Cable Matters 2m Thunderbolt 4 cable. Some USB-C monitors can provide between 65W to 90W of power back to the laptop, so ensure your USB-C cable supports at least 100W if you want to use your USB-C monitor to power your laptop.