Original Xbox: The Complete Buyer's Guide

Microsoft launched the Xbox in North America on November 15, 2001, marking its entry into the console market. It was the first console with a built-in hard drive and is remembered for Halo: Combat Evolved, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Xbox Live.

Quick facts

Models and what changed

There is one Xbox design, but it went through internal revisions known as versions 1.0 through 1.6. Early revisions contain a clock capacitor that can leak and damage the motherboard, so many owners have it removed as a precaution.

Xbox consoles shipped with DVD drives from Thomson, Philips, Samsung or, on the last revisions, Hitachi. Every brand is now prone to wear, and Thomson drives on early units are known for disc read errors.

The original North American controller is the large Duke. Microsoft later introduced the smaller Controller S, which became the standard pad and works the same way in every game.

Tips for buying one today

• Ask whether the clock capacitor has been checked or removed, especially on earlier revisions. A leaking capacitor can cause permanent damage.
• Test the DVD drive with a few games. Tray problems and laser wear are common. Original Xbox DVD drives can be swapped between consoles, but the hard drive is locked to its motherboard, so replacing it is not plug and play.
• The Xbox uses its own AV port. An official or third-party HD AV pack provides component output up to 480p, 720p or 1080i in supported games, and HDMI adapters for the port are also available.
• Original controllers use a breakaway cable connector, so confirm the cable is intact and the plug connects firmly.
• Xbox games are region locked, so North American consoles need NTSC-U discs.

Games to play first

• Halo: Combat Evolved
• Halo 2
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
• Fable
• Ninja Gaiden Black
• Jet Set Radio Future
• Project Gotham Racing 2
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Shop by genre

Original Xbox Action & Adventure Games · Original Xbox RPGs · Original Xbox Shooters · Original Xbox Fighting Games · Original Xbox Sports Games · Original Xbox Racing Games · Original Xbox Strategy Games

Guides

• Xbox at 25: Why the Original Xbox Is Still Worth Owning
• Games Like GoldenEye 007: 10 Shooters to Play Next

Frequently asked questions

What is the Xbox clock capacitor issue?

Early Xbox revisions use a capacitor that can leak corrosive fluid onto the motherboard over time. Removing it prevents the damage, and the only side effect is that the console forgets the date and time when unplugged.

Can the original Xbox output HD?

Yes. With component cables from an HD AV pack, supported games can run at 480p, 720p or 1080i. HDMI adapters for the Xbox AV port also work.

Can an Xbox 360 or Xbox One play original Xbox games?

Both support a selection of original Xbox games. The Xbox 360 requires a hard drive for its backward compatibility, and the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S play a smaller list of titles from disc.

Does Xbox Live still work on the original Xbox?

No. Microsoft shut down Xbox Live for original Xbox games in April 2010.