HP Takes Blackbird Game System Quad Core

January 21, 2008 By Geoff Duncan

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.

Showing 5 comments

Pete Town at 11:11am 22nd January 2008 I said this yesterday, will try again. The original Blackbird 002 that came out last Oct had the QX6850 which IS a quad core. If you price out the parts at newegg.com it comes to $4500. No other game builder price is as low as the Blackbird.
Pete Town at 11:11am 22nd January 2008 Man are you guys ignorant! The first Blackbirds came with the qx6850 which IS a quad cpu! Now they offer the 9650.

I doubt the Dells offer two video cards in one machine for 2 grand less.

Price out the parts at newegg.com, it runs about $4,500 just for the parts.
Jake in LA at 11:07am 21st January 2008 I'm all about a good gaming rig, but for $5500K plus, I'd rather build my own. Adding quad core is nothing when they claim to already have the best gaming rig out there. I'll stick w/my Dell.
Tim Stevens at 10:08am 21st January 2008 Does this system come with Vista? XP doesn't support quad core, right?
Ari at 10:04am 21st January 2008 Umm why didnt the blackbird have a quad core option in the first place? Even Dells XPS 720 systems have that option, and they are like two-grand cheaper.

HP seems to be milking people a little here. $5500 for a system with quad-core is nuts.