HP Firebird gaming towers with VoodooDNA to start at $1,799

It'd be a gross understatement to say that we weren't remarkably excited about the HP Firebird 803 when we caught wind of it last week, but now you can safely say that our emotions have settled down after hearing the price. Granted, the $1,799 starting figure for the Firebird 802 isn't totally unexpected -- after all, the Blackbird 002 went for upwards of three large -- but we still see the sticker as a touch high given the weaker innards and the lack of upgrade options. Those of you who vehemently disagree can certainly hand over your wallet starting on January 9th, or you can wait for the boxes to hit unnamed retail outlets in February.

[zioncat @ Dec 30th 2008 11:34AM]

Seriously I can build a kick ass computer with an asus based motherboard along with the new i7 processor for way less than that.

[KilgoreTrout @ Dec 30th 2008 12:16PM]

Yeah, probably I could too, but I must admit that it would be nowhere near as beautiful as this thing, It would take quite a few hours of my precious time, it would reqiure a few trips downtown, it would'nt have a guarantee, and in the end I will have saved less than 200 $ max.

No guys, let's be honest: this is a kick ass contraption.
A guy I work with has got three of these babies (older models obviously) standing side by side in his den and I can promise you they are quite an impressive array of computing might.

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 30th 2008 12:50PM]

That case alone is worth somewhere north of $1000?

[shibathedog @ Dec 30th 2008 8:25PM]

@KilgoreTrout

You are wrong about nearly everything you have said:

1. The case - This is a matter of opinion, Personally I think a lot of the cases you can buy look a lot better than this, and there are just so many cases to choose from you HAVE to be able to find something that is at LEAST just as nice if not better.

2. Time to assemble - Well if you where smart and got everything you needed at once you wouldn't need multiple trips, If you where smart and bought online you wouldn't need multiple trips or even one trip anywhere, This would save you a lot of time. Personally I can slap a PC together in about 15 minutes (minus the time it takes to unwrap all the packaging and install the OS) so I can't figure out why it takes you hours. Even if its your first build its really not that complicated, just read the manual and you'll be fine. Even if it does take you a long time you only have to do it once.

3. No guarantee - This is where you fail the hardest. Many of the components in my PC came with LIFETIME warranties. Try getting lifetime anything from one of these pre-built manufacturers. Many companies who sell PC components offer lifetime or ridiculously long (like 5 years) warranties for free replacement. Some even offer whats called double lifetime warranties where you get a lifetime warranty and the person who you later sell the part to will also get a lifetime warranty, Good luck getting something like that on a pre-built.

4. Not saving money - Okay, keep telling yourself that, Dell would sell my current rig at around 4000 dollars, I paid maybe 1000, and this is being generous because even on Dells top rig it doesn't offer specs that go as high as my rig so they would probably sell it for more. You can get into things like overclocking to save even more money, but I don't think that's really a fair argument so I wont get into it.

5. Your friend who bought three - Is a tool.

[coffee @ Dec 30th 2008 11:37AM]

I guess "VoodooDNA" doesn't mean as much as it used to.

[BlurMagic @ Dec 30th 2008 11:39AM]

Engadgets comment system sucks.

[BlurMagic @ Dec 30th 2008 11:43AM]

They stole the graphic on the case from Resident Evil.

[msalivar @ Dec 30th 2008 1:54PM]

apostrophe

Your words are falling on... dead ears.

[Jeramiah Dooley @ Dec 30th 2008 11:42AM]

Especially sad is that it comes at the expense of the Blackbird line, which it appears HP/Voodoo is going to abandon altogether. It looks like Voodoo is ceding the meat of the performance gaming market to Dell/Alienware and others, since they will have the Omen way at the top of the cost scale and the Firebird at the low end, and NOTHING in the middle.

[Andrew @ Dec 30th 2008 12:02PM]

The article mentions that Voodoo/HP remain committed to the high end SUV type gaming PC.

[Jeramiah Dooley @ Dec 30th 2008 2:51PM]

I'm skeptical. They have come out and said that the Blackbird is done, and that they aren't going to release an i7-equipped gaming PC. Combine that with the absurd rants from the "VP" about systems that need multiple graphics cards, a large memory footprint and *gasp* more than two internal drives, and I see Voodoo bailing on the market. Maybe it's a problem with profitability, maybe it's the fact that the customers are too demanding, who knows?

[AntEater @ Dec 30th 2008 12:00PM]

Im finding Voodoo a little full of hot air. I was hoping for a gaming notebook. Oh well.
While the Firebird looks ok, for that price and all the hype Mr Sood has been giving over the last 5 months im a little underwhelmed!! Shame. I am really in the need for a new notebook! The wait continues........ Just my opinion!!

[Richard @ Dec 30th 2008 12:21PM]

Be patient... Rahul said they are coming. One of his video blogs mentioned that they are on track for two new product launches in 09. I'd be surprised if one of them wasn't a gaming notebook.

[Andrew @ Dec 30th 2008 12:02PM]

Any discussion on the worth of the machine depends on what the final performance specs are. Until we see those, we can't say whether this is a worthy entry.

As to Voodoo's statements that PC gaming hardware has gotten ridiculous, I have to agree with that totally. And the blame lies squarely with developers and graphics card manufacturers : AMD and Nvidia.

[chris @ Dec 30th 2008 12:29PM]

"As to Voodoo's statements that PC gaming hardware has gotten ridiculous, I have to agree with that totally. And the blame lies squarely with developers and graphics card manufacturers : AMD and Nvidia."

Does he ever back up his bluster? PC gaming hardware has never not been ridiculous, it's significantly less ridiculous than it has been in the past, and just bitching without working toward a viable solution to whatever it is that he's bitching about here is counterproductive.

[Richard @ Dec 30th 2008 12:14PM]

I just bought a Blackbird case and I LOVE it so far. Despite the massive size (obviously not for everyone), the overall design is beautfiul and the internals are flawless. I know for the next few years I will be able to fit just about anything inside that case without worrying about proprietary parts or anything like that.

This Firebird, although a cool idea, just doesn't seem right to me. Upgrade options seem way too limited. If you are a hardcore PC gamer, you will either build your own pc or buy something like the Blackbird. You are also going to plan on upgrades in the future to maximize the use of the case you just invested in. This seems more like its geared to a more casual gamer, but the cost is way too prohibitive for what you get.

I'm not really sure what market they are after :/

[KilgoreTrout @ Dec 30th 2008 12:22PM]

OOPs I'm sorry , I thought this was a new Blackbird.
Forget all I said about this being a kick ass contraption , I was referring to the mighty blackbird; this one I know nothing about.

[Dave @ Dec 30th 2008 12:28PM]

Is that case made out of carbon fiber?

[Matthewmongan @ Dec 30th 2008 12:45PM]

Well, Its hard to say what the performance numbers will be on this machine, but with the lack of i7 adoption I think that they are misrepresenting their target audience. After all this is a "Gaming PC" first and a style statement second, right? would this be high up on a serious gamer's list given the availability of superior systems at comparable prices, or has HP conceded to the idea that fashion moves products? I think the latter is probable given the push of the stylish hp mini 1000 revision over the form of the hp 2339. However, if it is a good performer the good looks will be a plus. personally, I don't think its too much for a stylish low power machine that can satisfy my addiction to Steam DLC if it can handle it.

[superhobo @ Dec 30th 2008 1:12PM]

Gaming laptops are the only gaming PCs worth buying from a manufacturer.

[Laughing Man @ Dec 30th 2008 4:07PM]

*Applause* Thank you for pointing out the obvious. It was needed.

[poematik14 @ Dec 30th 2008 1:19PM]

You can build your own for less...and it may even be more powerful.

[Jon @ Dec 30th 2008 1:43PM]

for the love of god, does some idiot always need to make this same comment???! Ok, your point is well taken and may even be true, but did you ever consider that some people don't have the ability, time, or patients to build their own......AND oh wait, maybe they want a warranty too? Unbelievable to consider I know.

[Jon @ Dec 30th 2008 1:46PM]

HO HUM. Another guy that can build a computer for less money.

[Iridium @ Dec 30th 2008 1:57PM]

I love the blackbird case but holy crap is it huge. I wish they made the same case 30% smaller.

[Al Bundy @ Dec 30th 2008 10:05PM]

well if done right to fool the computer illiterate, they might sell this well. the machine is really worth half that price as of today, but at least you'll be paying $800 for a shiny plastic case...

[Thunderbuck @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:04AM]

Most of the commenters here are missing the point.

Can you build a machine for less? Sure. I just built a machine with a remarkably similar spec for under a grand. No, it does not have the same case, though that does have a bearing here; HP recently sold a batch of Blackbird cases for over $1K a pop (and, yes, that Firebird case IS carbon fibre). The case alone is a big part of the cost difference.

More important, though, is the idea that this represents a more "responsible" gaming rig, attempting to provide performance with lower power consumption. Most of us "hobbyists" would be hard-pressed to build a machine with this spec that typically consumes less than 400W.