Xbox360 DVD drive brand/model detection

There are currently 6 models of DVD drives used in the Xbox 360 console. It's possible to find out which brand/model your Xbox 360 uses without opening the console. However it's not possible to find the firmware/revision of the drive without opening up the case and look-up the information on the manufacturer sticker located on top of the DVD drive case.

The List of Xbox360 DVD drives and Revisions:
1/ Toshiba-Samsung TS-H943 (often called 'Samsung') - Revisions: MS25, MS28
2/ Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L (often called '(old/fat) Hitachi') - Revisions: 0032, 0036, 0040, 0046, 0047, 0058, 0059, 0078FK, 0079
3/ Philips-BENQ/LiteOn VAD6038 (often called 'BENQ') - Revisions: 62430C, 64930C
4/ Philips-LiteOn DG-16D2S (often called '(old/fat) LiteOn') - Revisions: 74850C, 83850C v1v/2, 93450C
5/ Philips-LiteOn DG-16D4S (sometimes called 'new LiteOn', 'Slim LiteOn' or 'Philips') - Revisions: 9504, 0225
6/ Hitachi-LG DL10N (sometimes called 'new Hitachi', 'Slim Hitachi') - Revisions: 0500AA

STEP1: DVD TRAY CHECK - TS-H943 vs GDR-3120L vs VAD6038/DG-16D2S/DG-16D4S vs DL10N

Open the DVD tray and look at the shapes on the tray. The colour can sometimes differ so DO NOT look for that - there are enough shape differences on these 4 trays to find out which one you own. A few of the differences have been marked with an arrow, but there are many more - check the high-res picture of more details.



If your DVD tray matches:
DVD TRAY 1/ You have a Toshiba-Samsung TS-H943 (often called 'Samsung')
DVD TRAY 2/ You have a Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L (often called 'Hitachi')
DVD TRAY 3/ You have a Philips-BENQ/LiteOn VAD6038, Philips-LiteOn DG-16D2S or Philips-LiteOn DG-16D4S. Check the next STEP2 below.
DVD TRAY 4/ You have a Hitachi-LG DL10N (sometimes called 'new Hitachi', 'Slim Hitachi')

STEP2: BORDER CHECK - VAD6038/DG-16D2S vs DG-16D4S

This check is probably not really required because as far as we know the Philips-LiteOn DG-16D4S only comes in the 'new' Xbox 360 S/Slim and so far all S/Slim 360s also come with this drive. So it's probably pretty safe to say that if you have a new Xbox 360 S/Slim you have a Philips-LiteOn DG-16D4S. If you still own an 'orginal' Xbox360 you have the Philips-BENQ/LiteOn VAD6038 or Philips-LiteOn DG-16D2S and you should check the next step to find out which drive you have.

However there is a small difference on the tray if you compare the VAD6038/DG-16D2S vs DG-16D4S. Both the VAD6038 and DG-16D2S have a little border sticking out the DG-16D4S doesn't have. Check out the picture below.



1/ Border sticking out: You have a Philips-BENQ/LiteOn VAD6038 or Philips-LiteOn DG-16D2S, check STEP3 below.
2/ No border sticking out: You have a Philips-LiteOn DG-16D4S (sometimes called 'new LiteOn', 'Xbox360 S LiteOn' or 'Philips').

STEP3: WIRE-COLOUR CHECK - VAD6038 vs DG-16D2S

Note: This check might not be 100% accurate - to be confirmed.
Remove the faceplate and find the little hole under the Xbox 360 logo of the dvd drive (shown in the red rectangle below). With good lightning you should be able to see the color of the wires inside.



1/ If all the wires are white you have a Philips-BENQ/LiteOn VAD6038 (often called 'BENQ').
2/ If at least one of the wires is yellow (or all of them) you have a Philips-LiteOn DG-16D2S (often called '(old) LiteOn')

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