How to connect an original Xbox to an HD TV or monitor

Here is how to connect an original Xbox to an HD TV or monitor, now that we have moved away from good-old SCART and composite.

It’s easy to get all wide-eyed about the latest Xbox and PlayStation consoles, mmm terraflops, but for not a lot of money you can go back in time and enjoy some awesome games. Just squint a little to cope with the graphics.

One of my favourite consoles is the Xbox original, AKA the Xbox OG, the one that started it all for Microsoft. But as great as it is, arriving in 2002 means it relies on older TV connections such as SCART and component. Most modern TVs and monitors want HDMI.

So here’s my guide on how to connect an Xbox original console to a TV or monitor, with their respective pros and cons including price and visual quality. I will say that some solutions can cost more than the console itself, but it need not be that way.

RCA (yellow, red and white) to HDMI converter

The cable that comes out the back of the Xbox original and ends up splitting into red, white and yellow is the composite cable or RCA as it’s also known. It was what you got in the box, which means it’s most likely the one you will get when buying a console.

Unfortunately, it’s the weakest in terms of image quality and requires a plastic box to convert its lowly 480i analog video signal into a digital HDMI one. Said boxes can be picked up for under £20 on Amazon.

Avoid using one that upscales as this can add input lag, which means a delay between when you press a button and see it happen on screen. Not ideal in fast-paced games. Plus some visual enhancements can look bad.

The RCA to HDMI converter is a workable solution, but you can do better. Just make sure to buy the right box as some output to HDMI while others input. Check the photos, usually you’ll see a connection diagram.

Quick summary: Weakest image quality

AV component to HDMI

Microsoft also offered a component cable, which has five wires: Red, green and blue for visual and white and red for audio. This allows up to the maximum 1080i resolution, as well as the much more common and more visually pleasing 720p.

Basically, the ‘I’ in 1080i means interlaced and this can look bad and work badly with newer televisions. While 720p has fewer pixels, the ‘P’ bit is more visually preferable.

As with the RCA to HDMI method, you can use a little box to convert the component signal. Only this time it costs a bit more and there are fewer options. A combination of this and the component cable itself means £40 total or more.

The other issue is that you need to softmod your console if it’s from a PAL region, as only the NTSC-M and NTSC-J could output 480p, 720p and 1080i. So you will want to install Rocky5’s softmod software as this lets you adjust the region of your Xbox.

I’ll be doing a video on how to do this, stay tuned, but it’s not that complicated. You basically need a particular game, USB stick that works with the original Xbox, Xbox to USB cable and some software. There’s no need to open your Xbox and solder anything so it’s worth considering.

Quick summary: Best image quality, no optical for 5.1

AV component / RCA to game capture card

Another option is to connect your Xbox original to a TV or monitor indirectly through a game capture card. My Elgato Game Capture HD, for example, came with a component connector. That means a component cable to the capture card, then HDMI to the display.

This method can be great as it allows you to record your gameplay and also provides useful display settings that can help if you want to avoid softmodding. However, capture cards are not cheap so if you never plan on recording gameplay, you may want to look elsewhere.

I saw my Game Capture HD card second-hand on Ebay for around £60. Have a hunt as you may find a better deal in your area. Just remember that capture cards usually require a USB connection for power so you will want a PC or laptop nearby.

Quick summary: Good for recording gameplay, no optical

XOSVP

Want another way to connect an Xbox original to an HD TV or monitor?The little XOSVP device – short for Xbox Open Source Video Project – is relatively cheap given that it allows you to use optical audio. But you will need to buy a component cable separately and then convert it to HDMI if your TV lacks any other type of connection.

If, however, your TV or monitor is component-cable friendly, this method works well. Although it appears you cannot buy it new anymore so may have to hunt around.

Xbox Open Source Video Project Complete

Quick summary: Pricier (£40) but actually includes optical if direct and saves on need for any other bits

Pound Technology

Pound Technology offers another well-known solution for connecting an original Xbox to an HDMI TV. It costs US$30 and comes with the box converter, which connects to the console, and then the HDMI cable from the box to your display.

This solution saves on wires, will work with new televisions and monitors and can do all the highest resolutions. However, a few users have noted it’s not number one in terms of image quality although it should comfortably beat a standard AV cable.

Buy

Quick summary: Not such good quality apparently, but also saves on wires

Internal mods

If you’re good with a soldering iron and happy to take the original Xbox apart – which I would seeing as the leaking clock capacitor issue can cause console failure – there is the option of fitting an HDMI output to the motherboard.

This mod is great because it gives you the highest output possible at source. But it does also need you to cut a hole in your case at the back and requires technical knowhow. The kit is around £30 on Ebay if you’re feeling confident and own a soldering gun.

Quick summary: Takes some knowhow but it’s elegant, can actually mean HDMI from source for the ultimate signal although many games only output at 480p

Old TV with SCART

Why not pick up an older television or monitor with a component, SCART or AV connection? You’ll enjoy your Xbox the old way and it could cost you peanuts. Of course, some of these old screens are deeper than they are wide and tall so prepare to lose space.

Quick summary: Could work if you already have an old TV or can get one cheap

Microsoft Advanced AV Pack / HD AV Pack

Microsoft actually made two official solutions to anyone wanting to improve the visual quality of the original Xbox, the latter of which unlocks higher resolutions. It’s an elegant solution, but you will still need to softmod if it’s a PAL console for those superior resolutions some games support.

Unfortunately, it’s rare and costly. I’ve seen the HD AV Pack sell for around £80 on Ebay. Sometimes they appear in classifieds at a more reasonable price. You will also need to buy a component cable and then a converter to HDMI if your TV only has this type of connection.

The Microsoft AV Pack, meanwhile, is cheaper but cannot do the higher resolutions so not really that useful unless you want the optical audio and S-video outputs, the latter of which offers better colours.

Buy

Quick summary: Elegant and official, but former lacks image quality & pricey

Mod an Xbox 360 cable

Another solution that requires a soldering iron and technical expertise. Except this one is arguably easier and cheaper plus you get decent levels of shielding so no picture defects. I actually bought a pre-made one on Ebay for £25, which works faultlessly There are written and video guides if you want to try.

Xbox 360 component cables are cheap to buy. Just remember that you will once again need to convert from component to HDMI unless you have a TV with those older connections.

Watch

Quick summary: Soldering required

Hyperkin Panorama

Another easy-to-use solution is the Hyperkin Panorama. It can be hard to track down and supposedly you will get better image quality from using component. However, it’s an all-in-one solution that goes straight to HDMI.

Scour Ebay, Amazon and other second-hand classifieds to see if you can find one as I don’t think it’s being made anymore. Prices seem to be around £30 but will vary due to lower production numbers.

Buy

Quick summary: Great but can be hard to find

LevelHike Cable

This US$30 cable shares the same idea as the Hyperkin. It plugs into the original Xbox, then into a box that outputs at HDMI. Nice and simple, no need for any other extras. The downside is that it appears you will need to shell out as much as US$18 dollars for delivery, depending on your location.

All cables are included, and all resolutions up to 1080i are supported. What’s nice about this option is that supposedly the colours have been specifically calibrated for the original Xbox so, in theory, no weird colouring or unnecessarily dark scenes.

Buy

Quick summary: Calibrated for Xbox, can be expensive to have delivered

Chimeric Systems HDMI

Another elegant solution, except this one costs more and seems to have a longer lead time so will probably be harder to buy. It is, however, well-designed and includes decent levels of shielding and will convert component to HDMI at the best possible quality. Plus great audio conversion.

Buy

Quick summary: Great quality video and audio, long lead time

So which option is best for my original Xbox?

It really depends on your TV or monitor, level of expertise, budget and whether your Xbox is capable of outputting at higher resolutions. I already had an Elgato Game Capture HD lying around and I wanted to capture gameplay so it was an easy choice.

Were it not for this fact, I’d probably attempt the HDMI mod. Or buy one of the pre-made component to HDMI options or a converter box as these seem cheapest, most convenient and visually adequate, especially with a softmodded Xbox.