HP's Blackbird 002 gaming rig up close
By Ryan Block 
posted September 5th 2007 7:31PM
posted September 5th 2007 7:31PM
posted September 5th 2007 7:31PM
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I for one welcome our household name built gaming rig overlords.
That's hot
sweeeeey
I dont even care for gaming rigs, but this is the s#!t...
Nothing like a custom home built gaming rig.
Ever since I learned how to build a desktop, I've never even thought about buying a desktop through one of the major companies. But this, this could change that.
Who FU@# uses PS/2 ports for their mouse and keyboard?
Um... Apparently not the people who took the pictures???
They still make mice and keyboards with the PS/2 interface you know. You have to stop making the peripherals before you can stop making the port for them.
I actually prefer using a USB Mouse and Keyboard with a ps/2 converter. It saves USB Ports.
I know I can get many USB hubs etc, but I still prefer doing this.
There are still a ton of vintage keyboard buffs that still rely on PS/2 for their good old truty boards with out that damn Windows key that always gets in the way at the most inopportune times.
Since PS/2 relies on a hardware controller, I have found that my mouse does not stutter as much during periods of frame drops.
Will it blend? Pidgeon says it will....
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/IBD-0001-19375707.htm
I am glad HP spent some time on this designing it to look good instead of cheesy!
badass!
ohh jesus i want one. that thing's pretty slick
The case look cool, brainchild of that voodoo pc guy maybe.
damn....looks like a real gaming machine! congrats HP
Wow what a nice over priced gaming rig... And look it comes with free smudge and dust magnets too... Those Ribs will be a pain to clean and all the clear purspex fan are going to look nasty after a month of running...
Is it worth it? No... Are you still better off building your own rig? Yes.
Nice design though shame it wasnt thought through.
Those ribs won't be hard to clean, what good computer geek doesn't have a can of compressed air within a few feet of their machine?
As a long time Waterbending Master I was ready to give this thing (cause it was from HP) the Big MEH! But know what? I can't. Well done Sirs, Well done!
----------
FB a.k.a LDM
Water-bending Master
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/ldm_master_builder!.jpg
Stunning design. Nice to see that at least one of the big computer manufacturers are getting their act together and battles with Apple in the design department.
I love it. Looks just like a hardcore gaming computer should look like.
How is this in any way beautiful, modern, simple or in fact powerful with off the shelf parts? It looks cheap and at best like a adolescent version of its idol a MAC Pro which is in fact beautiful, modern, simple and powerful and don't give me that crap of upgradeable at leas it works flawless with its installed OS and with no encrypted error messages.
I'm looking to buy instead of a macPro. The reason, I can upgrade everything as the powersupply is more than robust enough. Also I could in the future reverse learn and install a new motherboard.
I am so fed up with Apple products, cool macPro but only 3 expansion slots if you discount the graphics card slot. And you're stuck with a closed platform in terms of parts. See where they put the cpu x2 and compare to the ease of HP Blacbird 002? Yeah it looks pretty but until Leopard everything in real life is hindered by OSX, which is a slug and utter bloat-ware.
My MacBookPro can only be used as a desktop as the MagSafe takes forever to connect and recharge my battery.
HP sadly is limited to XP or Vista but once I'm using Adobe products it really does not matter which OS I use.
The other sad thing is that Adobe codes better for Windows but they might have instruction from Jobs to make their Apple products need a new Apple computer. As for Apple's own software it's utter bloat always have to upgrade.
I like the Blackbird, yes its only rival really is the macPro but I'll be so happy to go with a grown up company. No more "one dollar" Jobs hype telling us how much faster, really, really the G4 was?
I'm switching if the real hands on reviews match up o.k. against the MacPro
im actually impressed
i mean, i hate HP, and now that Voodoo is owned by them, i hate Voodoo...but this kinda makes me want to like them
and when i say i hate HP, i mean i love the fact that they keep my repair business IN business....
anyway, i can still beat the price on the custom gaming rigs...so everything should be good.
this could very well be the greatest pc ever built by mankind.. i would whore out my girlfriend for one of these.
How much? Do I have to pay extra for her basket trick again?
This system LOOKS decent, but there is nothing like the satisfaction of building your own...for almost half the price!
Definitly an attractive looking case by HP. I'm impressed. Dell and HP used to have butt ugly cases for their rig but they finally realize this is what people wants.
she looks pretty enough, but can she cook?
Most likely... 1.1KW PSU..
makes my power bill cry.
I think it's a nicely designed computer, though I think that the bottom stand is a bit weird and could possibly break. I'm definitely liking their cable management skills, everything's perfect except for the cpu watercooling hoses. I also think the pop up card reader is pretty swank.
"The stand can also support up to 600 pounds, allowing users to stand on the system or set a couple concrete blocks on it." Hahah it's hardcore.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=8691
And I think that water-cooling is pretty snazzily done, would at least take me a lot more effort than I'd care to put in.
That foot is pretty neat. Considering how much crap my comp sucks out of the carpet, maybe it even has some practical value?
Ughh. Give me an iMac any day. Retracting ports? That's so 10 years ago. Wires? I guess they have all you'd want strewn about. Seriously, how is this cool? Oh yeah, and just because someone makes a cheap PS/2 Mouse and Keyboard does NOT mean you have to put the ports on your comp. I hear some people still use zip drives, where's the slot for my old 100MB diskette?
cooks, cleans, and mops up!
ROTFLcopter - An iMac over this? Are you on crack?
Just ignore him, probably mad about the iPod fun today.
For those wanting more:
•The case is all aluminum and the large pieces are stamped from a single sheet—only one factory in the whole of China can do this, and they usually do car doors.
•The foot cal holds 800 pounds and is lit by an array of LEDs.
•The back panel has LEDs
•To help deaden the sound of fans, they're mounted deep in the front of the case.
•There is a card reader and front mounted ports on the top. Click on the case to have it soft-open.
•The front of the machine has
•All components are tool-less. Except the back panel. Lo, there is a built-in tool kit for this! (Allen wrench)
•The sixth side, the bottom, is an air intake. It has a mesh grill, but won't stop dust. This thing needs filters, in my opinion. Dust is everywhere, on every floor!
•The graphics cards and other cards are in their own channel for cold air, and are secured by a single lid with springs and a latch. Card ends seem to be customized for this case, which is weird. Do you have you upgrade to HP cards later on?
•The graphics cards and CPU are watercooled, but no peltiers, as they tend to add too much heat to the case, says Rahul Sood. The radiator and output fans, which look like 12cm fans (two of em) are roof mounted.
•The VoodooDNA is their "ingredient brand".
•The 5 drive slots for 3.5 inch HDDs are tool free, as well.
wow 800 pound, so 5 of me can sit on top of the case and the feet still won't bend, awesome!
Looks WAAAAY nicer than the Dell XPS line. HP has been coming correct with their machines lately!
All the new notebooks have these really cool and beautiful (albeit smudge magnet) case designs. Mine is called "radiance" and is very hip looking. I think HP is starting to turn around and actually is caring about how it's computers look and perform. I have good specs for a good price and the cover design is really attractive. Still, their PCs aren't exactly as eye-catching as they should be.
Overall, I'm very excited about HP's future.
It's too bad that such a beautiful machine would have to be modded immediately after purchase...
...it only comes with Vista. Horrible.
changing operation system is not modding! And although Vista is not perfect, it's far from been horrible!
Its still not a mac http://www.apple.com/macpro/gallery/
Stick your finger in your eye & visit www.hatejeff.com
Looks very nicely built. Wish it wasn't quite so curvy though...and that foot thing could be subtler.
Apparently only 518 are going to be made of this revision.
If you want more information than here, visit hp.com/blackbird
The website list tech specs, air design, case design, etc.
Cool so ill make my own brand of custom gaming PC's.
Grab a set of high-end parts, and put them in a custom case that can't be bought off the shelf, then add on 500+$ to the price...
I kinda dig it.
Let's make it a firm, "we'll see."
Now if only HP didnt bundle their crapware into every machine they make I would buy one of these.
I miss the old VooDoo...
HP didn't do anything but buy voodoo PC. This is just an extension of the voodoo line in my eyes (some of the best built - and most expensive - computers on the market)
Looks nice.
I think it's a nice design overall.
The case is nice and clean. Reminiscent of an accordion or an old camera.
I guess I'm an early adopter. I had cold cathodes in 1999, water in 2000, and dual CPUs in 2001. Now I'm a bit more modern, but still, all these designs seem a bit tame.
Now I'm married, so I can't realistically spend money on my PC. :(
How freakin hard is it for your picture-taking guy to have a good macro lens and learn how to focus? Ugh...
And HP, Blue LEDs are yesterday. Give me Red or atleast a choice of "infinitely-variable" multi-colour LEDs...
Good night.