If you own an original Xbox, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about the clock capacitor issue. Certain Xbox revisions shipped with a capacitor that is known to fail over time—and when it does, it can leak and permanently damage the motherboard.
The good news is that you don’t need to open your console to find out if you’re affected. In most cases, the manufacturing date on the bottom of the Xbox is all you need to determine whether your console requires a clock capacitor replacement.
Why the Clock Capacitor Matters
Original Xbox revisions 1.0 through 1.5 included a clock capacitor that is prone to failure as it ages. When this capacitor leaks, it can corrode nearby traces and components, leading to difficult or irreversible damage.
If your Xbox falls within this revision range, replacing the clock capacitor is strongly recommended as a preventative repair.
Revisions 1.6 and later use a different design and are not affected by the clock capacitor issue.
How to Tell If Your Xbox Is Affected
You don’t need to disassemble your Xbox to determine its revision.
Flip the console upside down and locate the label on the bottom. You’ll see information such as the serial number, barcode, and MFG Date. That manufacturing date can be used to determine your revision—and whether the clock capacitor is a concern.
Xbox Revisions by Manufacturing Date
Use the table below to match your Xbox’s manufacturing date to its hardware revision.
| Manufacturer Date | Model Revision | Capacitor Risk |
| 2001 -> 2002-07 | 1.0 | Yes |
| 2002-08-18 -> 2003-01-25 | 1.1 | Yes |
| 2002-12-01 -> 2004-03-15 | 1.2 | Yes |
| 2003-03-02 -> 2003-07-26 | 1.3 | Yes |
| 2003-07-20 -> 2004-04-10 | 1.4, 1.5 | Yes |
| 2004-03-14 -> 2004-09-06 | 1.6 | No |
| 2004-09-13 -> 2005-08 | 1.6b | No |
Example
An Xbox with a manufacturing date of 2002-05-24 falls into the Revision 1.0 range.
Because this revision includes the original clock capacitor design, replacing the capacitor is recommended to help prevent future damage.
If your Xbox is Revision 1.6 or later, no clock capacitor replacement is needed.
What to Do Next
If your Xbox revision falls between 1.0 and 1.5, addressing the clock capacitor sooner rather than later is a smart preventative step.
Related Product: Replacement Xbox Clock Capacitor
