# Vintage XBox (2001) displaying black and white on a 4k UHD tv **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518 "2021-01-26T12:09:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gretzky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gretzky/32/6682_2.png) [@Gretzky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretzky)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/1 "2021-01-26T12:09:47Z")
I have a 2001 XBox which I connected successfully to an RCA 60-inch 4K, UHD tv, but it displays in black and white. I manipulated all relevant settings on the tv and the XBox with no joy. Is there a solution to this dilemma or is the XBox just incompatible with such technology. I bought a 32-inch LCD tv which fixed the problem, but, of course, I want to play on the 60-inch monster. Am I SOL, or can I fix it? ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/2 "2021-01-26T12:22:23Z")
How are you connecting it? I’ve had bad component color connections that resulted in black and white picture on “newer” TVs. ---
**Author:** ![Gretzky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gretzky/32/6682_2.png) [@Gretzky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretzky)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/3 "2021-01-26T12:26:38Z")
The composite connectors which come with the original X-Box. The red-white-yellow connectors. I’m confident I have the connectors in their appropriate jacks. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/4 "2021-01-26T12:33:30Z")
I definitely believe you, because composite wouldn’t even give you a black and white picture if you were plugged into the wrong jacks. For a modern tv, you generally will need to go into your menu settings on the TV and find an option to change your input to “Composite” or “Video”, and how to do that depends on the TV and manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/5 "2021-01-26T14:12:35Z")
You may need one of these: > **[Amazon.com: POUND HD Link Cable for Original Xbox - Compatible with All Modern...](https://www.amazon.com/POUND-Link-Cable-Original-System-microsoft/dp/B07D19QQHW)** > > Amazon.com: POUND HD Link Cable for Original Xbox - Compatible with All Modern TVs, HDMI Cable for HD Video Quality and 480i/720p Resolution On Xbox Classic : Video Games I had to get one of those for a PS2 in order for it to display on my 4k TV. Like you, I was only getting black and white images. This adapter fixed the issue. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/6 "2021-01-26T14:24:46Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > For a modern tv, you generally will need to go into your menu settings on the TV and find an option to change your input to “Composite” or “Video”, and how to do that depends on the TV and manufacturer. I concur with this. A lot of new TVs use a single connector for either the Y cable if you’re doing component connection, or the standalone composite connection. You should also check the list of inputs - for my LG, there are 2 different input selections for component & composite, even though they use the same physical connectors. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/7 "2021-01-26T18:41:46Z")
The OP sounds like s/he’s doing something 8 Bit Guy would do, except 8 Bit would be more likely to connect an Intellivision to his flat-screen. > **[The 8-Bit Guy](https://www.youtube.com/user/adric22)** > > A computer video series focusing mainly on retro technology from the 80's, 90's and 2000's. However, once or twice a year I'll create something totally "out there." My main goal at this point is to make educational content about retro technology... ---
**Author:** ![Gretzky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gretzky/32/6682_2.png) [@Gretzky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretzky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/8 "2021-01-27T03:51:18Z")
Thanks for the reply. I tried every branch of every relevant menu tree on both the XBox and TV. I also changed “input” to composite. In composite mode, I get a signal but no color. ---
**Author:** ![Gretzky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gretzky/32/6682_2.png) [@Gretzky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretzky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-xbox-2001-displaying-black-and-white-on-a-4k-uhd-tv/931518/9 "2021-01-27T03:52:36Z")
Ooh, this looks promising. Thank you.