ASUS ROG Strix XG259QNS 24.5-inch 380Hz Gaming Monitor: specs explained

The ASUS ROG Strix XG259QNS is a 24.5-inch gaming monitor built around speed. It pairs a Full HD Fast IPS panel with a refresh rate of 380Hz (overclocked), a combination ASUS designs for professional esports play. Here is what the main specifications mean.

What 380Hz (OC) means

Refresh rate is how many times per second the screen updates. A standard monitor refreshes 60 times a second. At 380Hz, the image updates more than six times as often. The "OC" in the listing means the top rate is reached by switching on an overclock option in the monitor's settings.

The benefit is only visible if the computer can produce that many frames per second. In fast shooters at low settings, a powerful PC can get close. In demanding games it usually cannot, though the extra refresh headroom can still make motion feel smoother.

Response time and Fast IPS

ASUS quotes a response time of 0.3ms (min.) and describes Fast IPS as switching liquid crystals up to 10 times faster than conventional IPS panels. Response time measures how quickly a pixel changes colour, and slow changes show up as smearing behind moving objects. The quoted figures are the best case, which is typical for gaming monitor specifications. The listing title also gives 1 ms (GTG).

The panel is 24.5 inches with a 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) resolution. This is the usual size and resolution for esports, because it puts the whole screen within easy view and keeps frame rates high.

ELMB SYNC and FreeSync Premium

ELMB SYNC (Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync) lets the monitor combine motion blur reduction with variable refresh rate. These two normally have to be chosen between. ASUS says this removes ghosting and tearing.

FreeSync Premium is AMD's adaptive sync technology. The monitor matches its refresh rate to the frames the graphics card delivers, which stops tearing. It's most often used with AMD cards, and other graphics cards may support it too, so check your card's documentation.

Stand and software

A socket in the base holds a mobile phone upright in front of you. A quarter-inch tripod socket on the stand lets you attach a camera or small extra display, useful for a streaming setup. DisplayWidget Center lets you change on-screen display settings with a mouse instead of the buttons on the panel.

The monitor measures about 22.0 inches wide and weighs 12.3 lb. The listing also mentions HDR support. On a monitor of this class, the HDR label is typically a basic compatibility tag rather than a full high-brightness HDR experience.

Who it suits

It suits competitive players of fast shooters and similar games who own a graphics card that can produce very high frame rates, and who value motion clarity over resolution.

What to check before you buy

• Your hardware: a high-refresh monitor needs a graphics card and CPU that can deliver very high frame rates.
• Cable and port: confirm which cable carries 380Hz and that your graphics card has the right output.
• Overclock setting: the top rate needs to be switched on in the menu.
• Resolution: Full HD at 24.5 inches is sharp enough for gaming but offers less workspace for office tasks.
• Desk space: check the stand's depth and height adjustments.
• What's in the box: check which cables are included.

The short version

• A 24.5-inch Full HD Fast IPS gaming monitor.
• 380Hz (OC) refresh rate and a 0.3ms (min.) response time.
• ELMB SYNC and FreeSync Premium for smooth, tear-free motion.
• Phone socket in the base and a tripod socket on the stand.
• Best used with a PC that can reach very high frame rates.

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