Introduction
The Xbox One X is Microsoft's latest gaming console. It promises 40% more power than any other console for immersive, true 4K gaming. We've seen two previous versions of the Xbox One on our teardown table—the original and Xbox One S—and both impressed us with their ease of disassembly and modular components. Will the Xbox One X continue this trend, or does all that extra horse power come at the price of decreased repairability? There's only one way to find out and that's to tear this thing down!
What you need
Video Overview
- Only a few tools are required to take the whole console apart.
- Once inside, a clean, no-nonsense modular design allows the drives, fan, heat sink, PSU, wireless board, and front daughterboard to be easily replaced.
- Fewer interlocking body panels and a simpler clip arrangement make opening this generation of Xbox easier than its senior.
- Replacing the hard drive will require both voiding your warranty and some difficult hackery to make it serviceable.
Final Thoughts
Repairability Score
8
Repairability 8 out of 10
(10 is easiest to repair)
(10 is easiest to repair)
21 Comments
Uhg, the HDD reformat is the worst part. Why are we getting so many devices without guides? The video is more for entertainment than help for repair. I'd rather have less teardowns with complete guides. Last of all, why don't we get a Pixel 2 teardown? That's like getting a iPhone 8 plus teardown but no regular teardown. Especially considering the regular model is probably more popular.
George A. - Reply
Hi @pccheese! We’ll have guides eventually, but they take much longer to create than a teardown. You’re right, teardowns are not meant to be used as instructions and are no substitute for a proper guide. As far as Pixel 2, our team is small and we only had the bandwidth for a full teardown on one of the two Pixel phones. The XL was chosen in part because it has gotten more attention, due to the more dramatically updated design. FYI the vanilla Pixel 2’s internals look very, very similar to the original Pixel XL, but with the addition of the same Active Edge strain gauges we saw in the 2 XL.
Jeff Suovanen -
@jeffsu If you have these devices and you are tearing them down internally, perhaps iFixit can take the pictures and the community could write the guides. I have no problem writing the guides- but my photography setup isn't always set up when I'm about to fix something.
A proper step by step teardown is much more helpful for repair then a video. I'm sure people use the teardown all the time for repair on many devices.
George A. -
@jeffsu So what about the guides?
George A. -
Taking pictures is actually quite time-consuming, otherwise I’m sure we’d take you up on that. :) Bear with us a bit, the guidewriting team is down a few people so our pace is definitely not what we’d like it to be in terms of guide production at the moment. We’re working on it!
Jeff Suovanen -
Hello
This teardown is only availablein video or there is a text version, as the other teardowns?
Mariano - Reply
Wheres the reassembly video
Emily Cunningham - Reply
Emily, the reassembly is the reverse to the tear down. Hope this is of some help. Regards.
George -
It’s actually not that hard to format the XB1 HDD now. There is a Windows script available on the net. That script can make the self installed hard drive perform like the factor one by changing the UUID. I tested the script, it’s super easy to use, just pick the standard 1TB or 2TB option, then it will do everything for you.
After that, simply install the new hard drive back into the XB1, and then boot from OSU1 to re-install the OS.
I have a 2TB SSHD formatted by this script, and I tested it on my XB1. Factory reset works, no more error code, it’s just like a factory 2TB SSHD XB1.
Someone claim that even 4TB options works, but I never tested by myself. Not sure how can that work flawlessly without any official 4TB XB1 as reference.
There is no need (in fact, prefer not) to mess around with Linux, self adjust the partition size, create folders / copying files to the system partition…… anymore.
martin.mt.lo - Reply
Will there be a written one soon?
Jack tritanki (tritanki) - Reply
My Xbox X recently broke but the internal HDD is in tact. If I buy a new Xbox X, can I put my original Xbox X internal HDD into the new Xbox X WITHOUT HAVING TO REFORMAT OR HACK IT? Can I just swap them out or is each internal HDD linked to the hardware/console in which it was originally manufactured?
topaznutsack - Reply
I am sorry for hearing that your Xbox X recently broke .There are few people on this website who are in the same situation as yours.It is suggested that you visit www.xbox.com and call for official and professional help there:-)
Richard Ye -
What is the part that screws onto the metal chassis with two screws?
Skyfire - Reply
I need this part: https://imgur.com/175mAT5 can someone please please tell me where I can get It replaced? Thanks.
Quizure - Reply
Come on guys, I’ve only buy all your tools and only use your guides over any other because they’re so in depth. Can you please release one as its almost over a year now. i’ve already misplaced a few screws that i have no idea where they should go. Its hard to get to grips on certain stages of the disassembly process purley relying on a video.
I plan on putting a bigger SSHD in mine but without your awesome guide it’s been a daunting process to say the least. Yours guides are always so professional too!
Gaurav Bahadur - Reply
So will the XBOX ONE X function without the wireless daughter board? Is there anyway to remove the wireless or disconnect it so no wireless is emitting from the XBOX One X?
Dave Davis - Reply
Why Would Microsoft use a 5400 RPM HDD instead of a tried and true 7200 PRM. I think we the public are getting the short end of the stick yet again. IMHO!
James R Erasmus
James - Reply
Why is there still no guide or article for this? I was hoping to install an SSD in my One X without breaking a ton of plastic clips.
Miles Petty - Reply
My One X Scorpio edition’s fan is getting loud when playing the newer games like Gears 5 and Borderlands 3. Would replacing the fan be worth it?
Terence Begay - Reply
I know this is an older topic but just wanted to say instead of questioning ifixit(which this is my first time actually checking their page out so I’m no fanboy) about why their guides aren’t up to your standards, I think you should maybe question these tech company’s about why you should even have to teardown or repair anything yourself in the first place. Or if they don’t wanna manufacture sturdier products, they why they aren’t making things as user friendly as possible.. I mean I know why they don’t unfortunately but my point is you coming at these guys for trying to make your life’s easier instead of the ones milking us consumers for lackluster components or hardware if any kind. I’d say it’s about time the consumers start realize they should have the power not the other way around.
Trapjackson69 - Reply
Heck what a bunch of moaners on this topic. They give this info out for free and still people complain - so entitled. Also there are plenty of written and video guides to tell you how to disassemble and reassemble. There’s a bunch on YouTube.
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For me the console is about a 7 because it’s fairly modular but re-applying thermal paste requires a little more finesse in terms of getting the X-Clamp off (mobo out of chassis) and carefully scraping the dried paste away without damaging the SoC. Cleaning the fan is a lot easier than on the PS4 Pro though, I have to say - you can lift the whole unit out without completely removing the PSU and Blu-ray drive, and unscrew it to get right into the fan chamber. Fitting an SSD is trickier than PS4 console mode but then those have a dedicated trap door and single screw mount whereas in the the X1X it’s buried, but not overly tricky. SSD highly recommended.
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Great design by MS overall.
whoiscuriousgeorge - Reply