Thinking about getting An Xbox and...

[Retsudo]

was wondering if they still have those faulty thompson drives in them?
I heard things about games freezing and dirty disk errors.
Anyone buy one recently? Had maybe less then 6 months? Want to know the lowdown on the system before I purchase one.

What are your experiences with the Xbox.

If this was posted already, sorry.

[evildead2099]

I bought a brand new Xbox about this time last year and ended up with a piece of shit Thompson DVD Drive... Micro$oft, contrary to my expectations, did not phase those models from the market. Be wary.

[The-Bavis]

I think it's just a gamble. I have inherited a gently used launch XBOX (Thompson drive for sure) and have only had the disk read errors on Halo and it was between levels after it had saved. So, it was annoying, but I never lost any progress or anything.

[Gamereviewgod]

I've had a Thompson since launch. Had trouble with NCAA 2004. Nothing since or before.

[unbroken]

ive modded like 10 new xbox's and havnt came across one thompson drive, so i would figure you chances on getting a thompson in a new xbox would be very slim. im pretty sure 99.9% of new xbox's have phillips drives in them and even in that .01% chance you get a thompson drive just return it for another one.

[Dobie]

I've bought two Xbox consoles since March. Both were 1.6 with a Phillips drive. Both work flawlessly.

[Retsudo]

Thanks for the replies.

[Brisco]

When you buy the Xbox, ask to see the serial #. If it ends in a 05 or 06 you've got a Phillips or Samsung drive. I can't remember which is which, but you the 06 is best.

[Retsudo]

When you buy the Xbox, ask to see the serial #. If it ends in a 05 or 06 you've got a Phillips or Samsung drive. I can't remember which is which, but you the 06 is best.
Ok, I'll take ya word for it. Im off to buy one tomorrow. Thanks. I hope you're right :P

[SoulBlazer]

You can also do what I did -- go a store like EB, and ask the clerk to please power up the used XBox's that they have so you can see that they work AND you can see the CD tray. You can tell what drive the XBox has from that try (there are photos posted around the net). Samsung is the best, from everything I've read, with Philips a close second.

I have a Samsung drive and the only game that's given me any problems is NCAA Football 2005.

Plus if you buy used you save money even if you get the warrenty from them on it, which is better then you would get on a new one! :)

[Gemini-Phoenix]

What are the different drives they have used over the years?

Is there any way to tell which drive is included without actually taking the console apart???

What about all the LE consoles? Are they the same guts as the regular ones? (Ie, I have a green PAL one and a blue Canadian one)


Take the Panzer Dragoon Orta one for example - It would be a shame to go to all that effort, and then just include the standard crappy components which are in all the others...

[SoulBlazer]

Microsoft has used Thompson, Philips, and Samsung drives. You just need to have the tray open -- you can tell right away by looking at the CD tray what drive is inside the XBox. I don't know off the top of my head where you can find the pics so you can compare them, but I'm sure someone will come along who does. ;)

[spooie]

I got mine at Best Buy about 3.5 weeks ago when it was advertised as a generic sales feature for $149.99. It had the Samsung Drive. Works perfectly for me.

I had borrowed my cousin's, who had a Thompson Drive and hadn't used it in 2 years, and the thing would lag and lag and lag loading games, and even freeze up in the middle of loading.

[spooie]

These are probably what you're looking for...

http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Repairs/xbox_dvd_version_comparison.htm

And apparently, a 4th, newer drive from Hitachi...

http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/4/hitachi-lg/hl.jpg

[Retsudo]

You can also do what I did -- go a store like EB, and ask the clerk to please power up the used XBox's that they have so you can see that they work AND you can see the CD tray. You can tell what drive the XBox has from that try (there are photos posted around the net). Samsung is the best, from everything I've read, with Philips a close second.

I have a Samsung drive and the only game that's given me any problems is NCAA Football 2005.

Plus if you buy used you save money even if you get the warrenty from them on it, which is better then you would get on a new one! :)
Thanks, I will take that into consideration concerning buying used.
I already know the differences in the drives by site. I was thinking of buying a new one. I hate to get stuck with a Thompson.
Another thing, can you erase whats on the HD if I do consider buying used?

[SoulBlazer]

Yes, you can erase stuff on the HD.

I did'nt know about that Hitachi drive, though -- must be on the last batch of XBox's, possibly to phase out the Thompsons?

[phantomfriar]

I've had a Thomson drive in my Xbox since launch and have never had an issue with it. I guess it's luck of the draw...one thing the "version 1.0" Xboxes have going for them is that they're the easiest to "mod" if you so choose (which I did and haven't regretted! :D )

[bargora]

Re: The Thompson drive. The original Thompson drive on my Xbox started acting up soon after I got it and finally crapped out after less than a year. I replaced it with another Thompson drive (from another Xbox with a bad mobo, apparently) and that one has worked solidly for almost two years.

So I agree that there seems to be high variability in the reliability and performance with the Thompson drives, and that not all of them are bad.

[The_EniGma]

Indeed its a potshot chan (3 of xboxs ive seen including mine have sammy 1 has a phillips) so its pretty rare to fidn one of those crappy thommy drive. I believe the were near the launch xboxs but personally have never seen them in an xbox that is v1.2+.

Oh and be warned, the kasumi chan xbox have 1.0 boards and shitty thompsons :( but the inflatable pillow makes up for that i guess :p