Three variations of charge coupled device (CCD) based x-ray detectors have been constructed and evaluated, two of which are used for routine data collection on small angle x-ray diffraction beamlines at Princeton. The first detector consists of a commercially available CCD camera system lens coupled to the output of a four-stage magnetically focused image intensifier. The second system, assembled to gather test data, consists of a CCD fiber-optically coupled to an x-ray conversion phosphor via a 5:1 reduction fiber-optic taper. The final detector configuration was comprised of this fiber-optic taper system with the addition of a single stage proximity-focused image intensifier. Rationale is given for choosing components to be used in the assembly of CCD-based detectors. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.