JJ says
What is the original Xbox?
The Xbox is a home console by Microsoft, released in November 2001 in North America and March 2002 in Europe. It was Microsoft’s first foray into the console market — and a bold one. The Xbox was more powerful than its contemporaries (PS2, GameCube), had a built-in hard drive and introduced Xbox Live for online gaming. Worldwide, approximately 24 million units were sold.
Today, the original Xbox is a fantastic retro console, partly because it’s so easy to softmod. But there’s one thing you should do immediately: replace the CLOCK CAP capacitor. If it leaks, it can damage the motherboard — and then the console is irreparably lost.
Urgent: CLOCK CAP
Every original Xbox has a small capacitor (the "clock capacitor") that keeps the clock settings. That capacitor is poor quality and starts to leak over time. The acid corrodes traces on the motherboard. If you act now, the repair is simple and cheap. Wait too long and the damage may already be done. See our CLOCK CAP repair guide.
Original Xbox versions
| Version | Revision | Notes | CLOCK CAP present? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox 1.0 | 2001 | First revision | ✅ Yes — replace immediately |
| Xbox 1.1 | 2002 | Minor changes | ✅ Yes — replace immediately |
| Xbox 1.2 – 1.4 | 2002–2003 | Production improvements | ✅ Yes — replace immediately |
| Xbox 1.6 | 2004 | Last revision, different DVD drive | ✅ Yes — replace immediately |
All versions have the CLOCK CAP. There is no safe version.
Getting started {#getting-started}
Here’s what you need to play today:
- HDMI adapter — The EON XBHD is the best option; gives a clean digital picture
- Controller — Original Xbox controller (note: the early “Duke” controller is large, the S controller is more compact)
- CLOCK CAP repair — Do this first. See the CLOCK CAP guide
Tip: softmod after the CLOCK CAP fix
After the CLOCK CAP repair, a softmod is the logical next step. It unlocks the full capacity of the Xbox: emulators, XBMC media centre, playing games from the hard drive. No soldering required.
What you need
EON XBHD HDMI adapter:
🔗 [Affiliate link — Amazon: search term “EON XBHD original Xbox HDMI adapter”]
Replacement capacitor (for CLOCK CAP):
🔗 [Affiliate link — Amazon: search term “1000uF 6.3V electrolytic capacitor Xbox”] 🔗 [Affiliate link — AliExpress: search term “Xbox original clock capacitor replacement”]
Replacement controller:
🔗 [Affiliate link — Amazon: search term “original Xbox controller S replacement”] 🔗 [Affiliate link — AliExpress: search term “original Xbox controller S”]
Most popular games
Halo: Combat Evolved
The game that put Xbox on the map. A classic of the highest order.
Fable
Open-world RPG with moral choices. Funny, varied and charming.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Stealth gaming at its best. The Xbox version was by far the most impressive.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
The best Star Wars game ever made. Still a top experience today.
Jade Empire
BioWare at its best — a unique martial arts RPG exclusive to Xbox.
Project Gotham Racing 2
Stylish, fast and technically impressive for its time.
Burnout 3: Takedown
Crash racing with unmatched satisfaction. One of the best racing games ever.
Where to find games
Physical
- Second-hand markets — Plenty of stock, good prices
- A trusted retailer like Amazon — Reliable but more expensive
- A specialist retro game shop — For collectors and rare titles
Digital: softmod
After a softmod you can play games directly from the Xbox’s hard drive. Combine with a larger replacement HDD for a complete library. See the softmod guide.
Common problems & fixes
- CLOCK CAP leaking → Urgent repair needed. See the CLOCK CAP guide
- DVD drive not reading discs → Laser is worn; clean or replace
- Clock reset after turning off → Symptom of a failing or already removed CLOCK CAP
- No picture via HDMI → Check the HDMI adapter; ensure HDMI-compatible settings
Mods & improvements
- Softmod — Unlocks emulators, XBMC, games from HDD. No soldering. See the softmod guide
- EON XBHD HDMI adapter — Plug-and-play HDMI output for the original Xbox
- Hard drive replacement — The original HDD is old; a larger SATA HDD with adapter gives much more space
Homebrew
After a softmod, the original Xbox is a powerful homebrew machine. XBMC (the predecessor to Kodi) has been popular on Xbox for decades. Emulators for older systems run smoothly thanks to the relatively powerful hardware. A softmod is the simplest entry point — no chips, no soldering.
Questions or doubts? You’re not the first. We’re happy to help you through it.