HP Takes Blackbird Game System Quad Core

Get your frag on: HP's new Blackbird 002 alpha gaming system (and selected Voodoo Omen systems) now feature 45nm Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 quad core processors.

Hewlett-Packard might still hold the top spot for worldwide computer sales, but the company still wants to win over the hearts and minds of gamers. To that end, the company has just announced its Blackbird 002 alpha desktop gaming system, now featuring a new 45nm Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 quad-core processor. The QX9650 uses Intel’s Hi-K hafnium-based metal gate in its transistosrs, boosting performance and lowering power consumption compared to its Core 2 predecessors.

“We’re thrilled to offer gamers the speed and strength of the new Intel architecture,” said CTO of HP’s global gaming unit Rahul Sood, in a statement. “The HP Blackbird 002 was designed to redefine the gaming experience and delight even the hardest-core user. Intel’s new technology helps us to continue to deliver on that promise.”

The Blackbird 002 alpha features dual ATI Adeon X2900 video cards with 1 GB of video RAM, 2 GB of system memory, a 160 GB 10,000 rpm hard drive, a 16× combo drive and a 16× DVD±RW drive, an Ageia PhysX 100 Series PCI-E accelerator card, a factory-sealed liquid-cooled CPU, a 15-in-1 memory card reader, and Microsoft Vista Home Premium. Prices on the Blackbird 002 alpha start at $5,499.

If going through a more-traditionally boutique high-end PC brand is more your style, HP is also offering the QX9650 quad-core processors on Omen desktop systems available through its VoodooPC subsidiary…just don’t expect the prices to be any friendlier.