HP Blackbird 002 PC springs from nest

by Zack Stern { Sep 5th 2007 at 7:30PM }

As previously leaked, HP has just launched its Blackbird 002 PC, the first team-produced product between HP and previously acquired VoodooPC. This high-end computer fits in the question mark of HP's ~~food~~ product pyramid, one step below the VoodooPC luxury treatment.

The Blackbird 002 is a customizable, built to order system that offers customers a choice of Intel or AMD motherboards and processors. Options from graphics rivals ATI and Nvidia are also available. Buyers even pick between Vista and XP.

HP touts the user-upgradeable design as a main selling point; PCI cards, drives, and other parts can be swapped without tools, and the wiring elegantly runs though the back of the aluminum case to avoid tangles.

Gallery: HP Blackbird 002

Targeted to media makers, gamers, and tech enthusiasts, the system parts are overclockable. Base specs begin at $2,500 for an AMD A64X2 6000+ 3GHz processor, 256MB ATI RX630XT video card, 2GB DDR2-666 RAM, and a 500GB 7,200 RPM SATA drive.

The Blackbird 002 scales up to a liquid-cooled, factory-overclocked Intel QX6850 3GHz chip, dual Nvidia GeForce 8800 cards, and much more. Expect to pay about $6,500 for all of the extras.

The Blackbird 001 was an earlier HP project and the forbearer to this PC. The new VoodooPC team pointed out flaws in that computer, and HP decided to redesign it before launch.

The Blackbird 002 is now available for order -- you can get more details through HP.

Tags: blackbird, blackbird002, computer, hp, overclock, pc, voodoopc

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neebs @ Sep 5th 2007 7:37PM

ATI RX630XT

The hell is that?

mr nimblewick @ Sep 5th 2007 9:01PM

The reason I no longer care about PC gaming...

Chameleon @ Sep 6th 2007 12:24PM

@ mr.nimblewick

why i found that funny i do not know, but i thank you immensely.

Neebs @ Sep 6th 2007 2:35PM

No, in seriousness, I have never heard of such an arcane model number.

Guybrush Threepwood @ Sep 5th 2007 7:52PM

Why buy the Blackbird 002 when I can build a computer that's better than it for less money?

Bigfoot @ Sep 5th 2007 8:55PM

Because not everyone knows how to put together a PC. Also, I'm sure a business(LAN center or something) would prefer to be able to buy these in bulk rather than build their own.

archie91s @ Sep 5th 2007 10:58PM

yea, I would build my own only because it took computer repair in school. most people probably don't even know what a dick drive is.

archie91s @ Sep 5th 2007 11:00PM

Sorry, I meant disk drive. I'm cracking up at my typo.

Slaziman @ Sep 5th 2007 7:52PM

I'd rather build my own performance monster for well under 6500$!

TheGuy @ Sep 5th 2007 7:59PM

Nintendo fanboy comment:

"Your paying at-least 10x the price of a Wii for a gaming rig that doesn't even have waggle?"

Sony fanboy comment:

"Without the Cell and Blu-Ray, this can't be considered a next-gen gaming rig."

Microsoft fanboy comment (and my personal favorite):

"Liquid cooling systems are so overrated."

phattie @ Sep 5th 2007 8:03PM

Meh, I'll probably never own another desktop computer in my life.

Jerk Face @ Sep 5th 2007 8:28PM

I hear you, phattie. What is the point anymore?

I mean, TheGuy's comments are funny and accurate and all, but in all seriousness why drop the price of a 1998 Honda Civic on a gaming rig when a PS3 or 360 can almost match it's prowess?

And they CAN almost match it; I don't want to hear it from you PC gaming elitists. It's like building a 600 HP torque monster for an old lady to drive. The games coming out don't require two freaking 8800 cards to look good. They just don't. They look good with WAY less power than that.

So really, why drop TEN TIMES the price of a PS3! A FREAKING PS3!!! That is the console that is the most infamous for being overpriced, and we are talking about dropping ten times the price! To hell with that!

Shawn @ Sep 5th 2007 11:38PM

jerkface, until consoles will allow me to play with mouse and keyboard as an option for every game, especially shooters, and until the mod scene hits consoles the way it is on pc, millions of gamers will be enjoying pc gaming over console gaming. Also, you need to remember that a lot of PC Gamers, like myself, enjoy console gaming too, so it's not always a console vs. pc debate for many people. It's more like: I love pc gaming for these reasons and I love console gaming for these reasons. I build my own pc's, so price isn't that big of a deal for what I'm getting in return, after all, it's a pc for christ's sake, not just a gaming solution.

Ted @ Sep 5th 2007 11:39PM

'Jerk Face', I wouldn't quite say that there's no point... If you've got the money you can definitely get a lot out of a PC. If you can afford dual 8800's and a super powerful processor, you can also buy a 30" monitor which supports resolutions higher than 1080p. You can then play PC games at that resolution, which I'm sure looks absolutely awesome (Company of Heroes/Bioshock/Crysis/Medieval2 Total War @ 2560x1600... drool...)

So yeah... I agree that it's perhaps expensive and stuff, but if you can afford it I'd say that it's worth it.

Slaziman @ Sep 5th 2007 8:09PM

Consoles > PC as far as bang for your buck goes.

Shawn @ Sep 5th 2007 11:33PM

yeah, because you can do so much more with a console than a pc, don't be so short minded. No shit a PC is more expensive than a console, it's a PC! Most people would agree that a PC gives you exponential more value than a gaming only machine. To turn your average PC into a gaming rig doesn't cost much at all.

Slaziman @ Sep 6th 2007 1:57AM

I should've specified that I meant as far as gaming goes, because a PC that does most "normal" things can be had for 200 dollars, the only reason to drop ungodly amounts of cash is for gaming.

Normal PC + Console > Gaming rig

Vidikron @ Sep 6th 2007 2:40AM

@Shawn

Hah... I don't think you have any clue what "average" actually means. Most people are using PCs that are not only several years old, are also just plain old off-the-shelf PCs with integrated graphics and minimum RAM. Your "average" PC would actually require a pretty good overhaul to play upcoming games like Crysis.

Slaziman @ Sep 5th 2007 8:09PM

Consoles > PC as far as bang for your buck goes

Slaziman @ Sep 5th 2007 8:10PM

Triple posting apology ftw.

SAWRY

Premaximum @ Sep 5th 2007 8:40PM

While I agree that consoles can almost match up to a PC performance and appearance wise, they still don't do everything that a PC can do.

I paid eight-hundred dollars for my PC, and it's still almost twice as good as an Xbox360 in almost every aspect. Not to mention it looks prettier to start with because I don't have an HD TV.

Any time I have to choose between a PC and a console game I choose the PC game. The only console games I'll buy are console-exclusives.

By the way, I play all of my games with an Xbox360 controller, except for RTS, so this isn't a question of which has the better input.

That said, there's no way I'd buy a rig for what they're asking. You can get a perfectly good gaming PC for under 1k.

ark_v2 @ Sep 5th 2007 9:12PM

The design is cool...but $2,500 for THAT BASE config? WTF?!

LAZoftheTamarinds @ Sep 5th 2007 10:06PM

Heck with all that money a blackbird costs I could buy a Xbox 360, Ps3, and Wii. And I'd have more games on them than pc.

Shawn @ Sep 5th 2007 11:42PM

how's that dvd burner, email client, dedicated server, audio encoder, video encoder, porn solution, web browsing, the hundreds of other things you can do on a PC, etc..etc.., working on your 360? That's what I thought...

LAZoftheTamarinds @ Sep 6th 2007 12:41AM

Yeah Pc's are good on somethings. All i'm saying however is that I don't really play games on the computer. Plus I don't need to spend that much money when I already have a windows XP for under $1000.

Slaziman @ Sep 6th 2007 5:12AM

And a 300$ PC that can do most of the things Shawn mentioned! Come on Shawn, give it a rest, gaming rigs are for gaming.

lessbiasedthanmost @ Sep 5th 2007 10:11PM

We interrupt your regular posting with an annoying false news story.

It seems a small child was punished today for placing a penny on the front of his parent's Blackbird 002 pc. Why was he punished for such a petty thing? Well it seems the weight of a single penny will cause the tower to tip over. This reporter highly recommends that you keep this machine away from pets, windows, doors, or any place that may cause the slightest breeze.

Andrew Fong @ Sep 5th 2007 11:57PM

If you look at the site, apparently that tiny stand thing can hold 600 pounds.

Bill @ Oct 5th 2007 12:36PM

so the YouTube video I saw of one of the VooDoo people standing on top of the computer was Photoshopped? Doubtful

Andrew Fong @ Sep 6th 2007 12:03AM

Too rich for my blood, but damn, it looks good. If they sold just the case by itself for a halfway reasonable price I'd get it. Toolless entry. Fewer wire tangles. They even have a little LCD to light up the innards so you don't have to hold a flashlight in one hand! Mmm ... tasty.

redphoxv @ Sep 6th 2007 2:55AM

At the poster saying it's insane to drop the price of a used car when consoles can be had for much less: This is a boutique item for people with either the money or the will. With your logic it is insane to buy a corvette to get you from point A to B, or a sporty Civic, or anything but a Kia Rio.

At the poster saying Console > PC: Are you currently typing this post with your Wii? (lol!) With your PS3 USB Keyboard? With your 360 Gamepad Keyboard? Or god help us, the PSP or DS...

SeriousKriss @ Sep 6th 2007 4:34AM

It's not just even about the PC's capabilities for me, it's about the games. A console simply can't be considered an alternative to PC gaming if you enjoy strategy, adventure, tactical FPS or simulation titles for example.

Slaziman @ Sep 6th 2007 5:22AM

Adventure games on the PC? List some please, I'm curious.

Obviously I meant that as far as gaming goes a console is better, the PC has more functionality but the expensive parts that make the shiny graphics possible aren't needed for most of those functions anyway.

All I've seen on the PC are pretty shooters and RTS games (and MMORPG's, but those aren't real games), variety must suck.

SeriousKriss @ Sep 6th 2007 9:43AM

Errr Myst? Broken Sword? Grim Fandango? You DO know what "adventure game" refers to, right?

And really, it's your own problem if you don't inform yourself about PC games. That would be like claiming that there are only sports and action/adventure titles on console... There's lots of great PC games in every genre except 3D fighting.

Zeus the God @ Sep 7th 2007 12:01AM

Slaz, every game you console guys get, we get like, ten- not to mention our game libraries are FAR larger than what the consoles have. Replay-ability is also better, what with all the user created content and FREE downloadable content.

I feel sorry for you console boys and how you don't get the full experience or nearly the level of graphical detail and framerate. I feel for you- I really do.

Slaziman @ Sep 7th 2007 5:04PM

How about you list NEW and UPCOMING adventure games instead of THREE old games? That's just beyond stupid. The best game ever on the PC is Bioshock according to GameRankings, and that's available on the 360 as well.

For the record, I own a gaming rig, and as far as I know there are currently no promising exclusive games coming that aren't FPS, RTS, or MMORPG's, but feel free to correct me, in fact, I encourage you.