Blackbird 002 gets a little cheaper for the holidays, now starting at $2,399
By Nilay Patel 
posted Dec 17th 2007 2:37PM
posted Dec 17th 2007 2:37PM
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I would pay extra for them to keep Vista off the machine.
Wow. ZING!
Is it just me, or does two gigs sound a little light for such an expensive machine?
That's what I'm thinking. But, if you offer four gigs and XP, you'll only be able to use 3.7 of it :(.
"That's what I'm thinking. But, if you offer four gigs and XP, you'll only be able to use 3.7 of it :(."
much less than that after sli or simply 1 512mb video card
you can use more than 3.7 gb's.
There is a work around to that.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/virtualserver/2005/proddocs/vs_operate_Best_practices.mspx?mfr=true
Unless you have a Windows XP 64-bit... NOOBS
The memory limitation is from 32-bit x86, not Windows.
Here's a loaded question! Is PC gaming really so much better than console gaming that you'd drop $2500 for a computer to run the games.
I've always been a console kind of guy and never got into PC games due mainly to how expensive hardware is. Outside of the ability to play MMORPGs (since console games really lack a similar experience), are the games really that much better? Is it really worth all that cash?
It's pretty much the same 'game', but it's a different 'experience'. Plus you do SO much more on a computer than a console it negates the price difference. Consolers are paying aprox. $400+ to play games and watch movies, then the new ones come out 3 yrs later and you get that, not to mention if you buy all the consoles.
As utilitarian as PCs are, I think that it's more fair to compare the price of the console to the price of the graphics card - $250 bucks gets you a great GPU.
One doesn't *have to* spend $2,500 on a gaming machine, but it helps. :) The biggest thing that keeps me away from consoles is the inflated game prices; PC versions of the same game are usually at least $10 cheaper.
Is this post a sign that engadget is owned in part by HP?
Good point, however I'd like to add that not only is computer gaming hardware ridiculously overpriced compared with consoles, but it is also obsolete just about every half year, which comes to another point:
This computer is a ripoff even at this reduced price, I don't even care if it is liquid cooled. For that much coin, I would expect at the MINIMUM a q6600, 4gb of ram (which is DIRT cheap nowadays, but computer makers like dell/hp still think they can charge an arm and a leg for it), and a HEFTY discount, not some measly $300 off a nearly $3000 computer.
Also, Computers have Graphics capabilities that are light years ahead of consoles, mainly for the fact that you can upgrade them. Consoles aren't upgradable, you want better graphics on a console, wait for the next gen.
That is the best thing about PCs, the mix and match feature. You want this and this and it makes it (Duh) much more of a Personal computer.
You can build your own gaming computer for about $1k. One with similar specs to the Blackbird would cost about $1300. And you save a lot of money on games by downloading on bittorrent. Or so I hear.
Are you saying that you can save a lot on games by stealing them? If you are, that is some seriously flawed logic...
And so we learn that loaded questions are indeed... loaded.
Consoles usually have a 5 year life span and the ps1, dreamcast, ps2, xbox, gamecube, wii all launched at under $400.
You're right, they build these in Canada...
This just shows the kind of markup they have on their machines not made in America. I wouldn't set my wallet anywhere near a Compaq(HP) desktop or laptop.
What a ripoff. You can put together a better system with their pricing.
I just finished ordering all the parts for my current rig and the specs seem pretty similar to this: Core 2 Duo E6750, 2GBs Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12, 500GB SATA HDD, BFG 512MB 8800 GT, Cooler Master RC-690 case. Including all of the parts (mobo, DVD drive, card reader, CPU cooler, keyboard (but no mouse/monitor/speakers) and deducting the rebates from the total, it cost me roughly $850. Configuring a very similar setup to mine on HP's website (except theirs with a Voodoo Mouse, Orange Box, and Vista Ultimate) comes to $2,589. That's nearly $2,000 more than what it's costing me to build my own. Even without the deal hunting a rebates I'm doing, it's easy for someone to build that PC for well under half of HP's price. There's no excuse for this kind of price gouging.
I just wish they sold the case. I'd pay $300 or so just for that. Not so mucht the looks as the internal swapability and wire management.
You can build the same computer right now just using items found on pricewatch.com for less than half the price:
liquid cooled case: $265.11
turbo cool P/S: $29.99
processor/mobo (Dual core E6750): $238.70
2GB ddr2-900 RAM: $121.61
GeForce 8800gt: $368.75
SATA 500GB HDD: $87.00
Windows Vista Ultimate: Nevermind, your old copy of XP does just fine.
Total: $1111.16
So exactly why do I want to pay $1200 for an hp logo?
I'm sorry, I didn't realize the liquid cooled cases started at $3550. Thats almost $2500 off the HP price. Enough to throw in a top notch mobo and Kingston RAM and still enough left over to buy a PS3 on top of it all.
Your numbers are wrong. A $30 power supply will explode if it ever manages to power that system, and $230 is not enough to buy both the CPU and the motherboard. A decent (nF 680i) motherboard costs at least $150. Also, an 8800GT costs $250.
Regardless, this rig is for people who have a lot of money, and don't care enough to build it themselves. Even then, its still a pretty horrible deal. If you don't want to or can't build a computer yourself, at least buy a normal Dell or HP and just stick a decent video card in it.
Like an alienware it looks cool, it's name brand, and is basically pre-built. I agree with you though. If your going to buy that powerful of a machine, then learn to build it.
@cmonkey
I don't know where you buy your p/s (best buy maybe) but the one I listed is a 680W Chiefmax. If you need more than that you can get a HP 800W for $78. But you don't need more than that.
The CPU/mobo combo is with a basic mobo, but you can get the nF 680i mobo with the processor for another $150 ($400 total).
Your right on the 8800GT, the one I listed was a GTS. It has 650Mhz clock speed with 1.94Ghz memory clock, so slightly better, but the GT is probably more for the money. Stick with that.
You still save just under $2500, and if you can't figure out how to plug a few wires together yourself, you don't deserve that kind of a machine. You could always spend the money you saved on a few computer courses at the local community college.
Like I said in a another reply before I saw this comment, I built a system very similar to the one they're offering. I have to deal with some rebates and I made sure to get sale prices, but all the parts were purchased over the course of two weeks and it could've been quicker were I not busy with finals.
CoolerMaster RC-690 Case - $30 @ NewEgg
ThermalTake 700W ToughPower PSU - $52 @ NewEgg
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R motherboard - $127 @ ClubIT
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 - $195 @ NewEgg
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro - $14 (combo w/ E6750) @ NewEgg
Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 - $35 - Fry's
Saitek Eclipse Keyboard - $32 @ ClubIT
Samsung Spinpoint T 500GB w/ NCQ support - $105 @ NewEgg
Samsung 20x DVD±RW SATA - $32 @ NewEgg
BFG 8800 GT OC - $209 @ Best Buy
Factoring in the occasional tax and shipping charge, it's roughly an $850 machine. A very similar rig from HP costs $2,600. What a ripoff.
I wouldn't use that computer if someone gave it to me. HP is garbage.
Jon, you sir are a moron. HP makes some of the best designed hardware in the world.
Actually, that's $2,700 for an air cooled machine. You have to pay $3,550 to get the LC (Liquid Cooled) model.
I couldn't give a damn what's in the computer, I just want that case!
In all seriousness though I've seen people calculate the value of this particular PC on various forums, and frankly the markup isn't really THAT bad. You do get a full fledged 680i motherboard that can run SLI AND Crossfire, as well as all retail level parts. A desktop's lifetime may very well be ~5 or less, but something tells me you'd be able to use that case for a loooong time...
Correct me if I am wrong but a 680i Mobo will not run crossfire. That's ATI tech not Nvidia.
Well..not officially, but the Voodoo guys at HP have a custom BIOS loaded on the motherboard to let it run Crossfire AND SLI on the NVidia chipset.
and while we are at it . . .
$45K for a Shelby Mustang? are you crazy?
4 tires from Costco - $137.50
cool rims from Walmart - $98.98
crate engine - $1200
Xcaliber fiberglass kit - $2100
brand new Chevy Aveo - $13,749 +TT&L
total - just over $15K it's just as good and I have plenty left over for a Vespa too!
$45K just because it looks great, runs great, has a warranty and is already put together?!?! what a rip off! Hey I wasn't born yesterday
Apples to ummmmm.....cars?
FYI, the gt500 crate motor is $15,000, and rightfully so being essentially the same as the one in the ford GT.
The tires probably cost around $1000, more than that for the rims.
Sorry, your comparison sucks. You could build a computer with IDENTICAL components, not cheap pos ones, for $1000 less, not including the case of course but if you like that thing over a silverstone or lian li......
Lian li- $300
Ultra x3-$300
Q6600- $300
4gb ddr2-$120
500gb hdd$100
asus p35 $130
dvd/rw -$40
8800gt -$250
=GRAND TOTAL $1,540
for a system that will SMOKE the hp and is upgradeable down the road.
S, you would never need a $300 PSU unless you are running a triple SLI board with a couple HDD's
That computer you made simple need a ~520w PSU for around $120
I agree. Nice case.
better bang/buck with a Mac Pro in terms of hardware, which is saying something.
Not really saying anything... :/
Yah until you want to upgrade your GPU and motherboard down the road.
4000$ for a config similar with the blackbird beside the cpu... Why does adding stuffs to workstations cost so much( it the same with every manufacturer)???
I checked the sofa and found 31 cents.
That case reminds me of the Banana Jr 6000 from Bloom County... http://www-i5.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/mbp/bloom/
what your paying for is a voodoopc for HP. it is the same deal as alienware but better quality. no prebuilt manufacturer has come close to the quality voodoopc puts in its systems. as to the psu you are a fool thinking any of those power supplies are god enough. the minimum you have to pay to power this kind of system is 75-80.00 and thats with a sale. the best brands are corsair, pc power & cooling and silverstone. there are a few other but they have been at the top for some time now. the corsair 620w is the best on the market.
vista = devil
end of story
LOL
HP computers are decent but hope nothing ever goes wrong with it, they tried to screw me out of 6 months of my warranty; their customer service is based in a foreign country where their english is choppy at best, you cant understand them and my husband knows more about computers than those idiots reading out of a manual.
I'll bite if they throw in "peth" to the case design.
http://www.candlelightrecords.co.uk/downloads/opeth/Opeth-logo(low-rez).jpg