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Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC

by Mark Kaelin | 02-21-08

Tags: Video Card, Hewlett-Packard Co., PC, CPU, Gamer, Blackbird 002 DE LCi, Games, Video Cards, RAID, Corporate Communications, Personal Technology, Hardware, Components, Storage, Marketing, Mark Kaelin, Computer gaming, cracking open, off topic, geekend, blackbird

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First computer in a trunk I've seen

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First computer in a trunk I've seen
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For hardcore computer gamers, there is no such thing as too much power when it comes to their personal computer; there is only the question: How much can I afford? The Blackbird 002 DE LCi is definitely in the "money is no object" category. Sporting dual ATI Radeon X2900 XT video cards, each with 512MB of GDDR4 SDRAM, an Intel Core2 Extreme Quad-Core 3.0GHz QX6850 CPU, 2GB 1066MHz Corsair PC2-8500 SDRAM, three hard drives in a RAID array, and liquid cooling for the video cards and the CPU, this PC is a gamer's dream machine. And at about $6200, for many gamers, it will remain only a dream. HP loaned us a Blackbird 002 to review, and we just had to take a look inside.

The Blackbird arrived in a solid trunk -- I never expected that. I guess FedEx and UPS could not be trusted.
                                                                   

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WOW!!! But ... rebrinsonmd@... | 02/12/08
ATI? n.gurr@... | 02/15/08
ATI garyreds01@... | 02/25/08
ATI!!! nix_hed | 03/12/08
no HDMI-connectors goran.thyni@... | 02/15/08
ATX Form Factor - Not Big Enough okn916@... | 02/15/08
SLI Forum Surfer | 02/15/08
lol for a second i thought those video cards were hard drives richie086@... | 02/20/08
they are mostly air Neon Samurai | 02/20/08
I was wondering when someone would notice that typo. eludeman30@... | 02/20/08
Doh! - Megabytes Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 02/21/08
I feel your pain; where have all the bare bones mobo gone? Neon Samurai | 02/15/08
Its not a crappy motherboard. Squireldoo@... | 02/16/08
good to hear it's all supported now, striker 2 is here waiting for parts Neon Samurai | 02/17/08
I think you're repeating last year's Linux shortcomings, Neon. Absolutely | 02/17/08
It was this time last year that I was adding the Striker to my buy sheet happy Neon Samurai | 02/17/08
Good tip. Absolutely | 02/17/08
I'd be interested to see that list Neon Samurai | 02/18/08
Better alternatives mail@... | 02/15/08
Except... Spiritusindomit@... | 03/12/08
Flagship Lago | 02/15/08
Totally agree chaneys@... | 02/15/08
Amen jlabossiere@... | 02/20/08
Don' forget... frantic9k@... | 02/20/08
Yeah, but you'd think they could come up with a case... olePigeon | 03/31/08
yesterday's technology Neon Samurai | 02/15/08
Cost? Squireldoo@... | 02/16/08
Lmao Squireldoo@... | 02/16/08
WOW? - This PC is a gamer's dream machine? JohnBeaman | 02/20/08
Your a retard before you even list your reasons dest@... | 02/26/08
Hp vs Custom Squireldoo@... | 02/26/08
TOTAL BS mlambert890@... | 04/18/08
I have to call you out on this one Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 02/26/08
Pssst.... drivel.... Spiritusindomit@... | 03/12/08
The other thing is.. loss4words | 02/20/08
$6,200?! joel.richards@... | 03/22/08
So wrong its silly mlambert890@... | 04/18/08
Better late than never perry_awm@... | 10/14/08
And that sweet, sweet chassis Neon Samurai | 10/14/08
ASUS woes... Forum Surfer | 10/15/08
I'm considering a ram change a last try Neon Samurai | 10/16/08
what worked for me... Forum Surfer | 10/17/08
Maybe that "SLI Ready" ram setting is my grief then Neon Samurai | 10/17/08
the Crucial cancer has been removed and replaced with Mushkin prosthetics Neon Samurai | 10/19/08
Hope that works for you! Forum Surfer | 10/20/08
"..and I was able to get a very comparable gaming PC for about $3000." 2WiReD | 02/12/08
Okay Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 02/12/08
when?!?!... ahrimann | 02/15/08
+1 loss4words | 02/20/08
Mark is right. nighthawk808 | 02/15/08
The comparison is published Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 02/21/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) brolls@... | 02/12/08
Cup holders are cheap. nighthawk808 | 02/15/08
I agree. If a Toyota Tercel has cup holders ... lalogos | 02/20/08
Ho HUM techalon | 02/15/08
More... Hey Mark!!! Price is wrong on this unit and it's not an LCi techalon | 02/15/08
Confused? scottcwilcox@... | 02/20/08
I am looking at the fact sheet Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 02/21/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) williamjamesw@... | 02/15/08
RE: Typo askidmore@... | 02/15/08
Takes a moment to wander jyri.poldre@... | 02/15/08
Nvidia 8800 series Squireldoo@... | 02/16/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) rahuman@... | 02/15/08
2 GB of RAM? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? mporcellana@... | 02/15/08
Not really 2GB dave.amorde@... | 02/15/08
Yes, Dave, you're technically right... mporcellana@... | 02/20/08
ram on the gpu is for video only though isn't it? Neon Samurai | 02/20/08
ya overklokan@... | 04/16/08
I think . . . bill@... | 02/15/08
$6200 for what!!! wolf421@... | 02/15/08
6200 is wayyy too much Forum Surfer | 02/15/08
BUMP!!!!! cgatling2@... | 02/16/08
(OT) A suggestion gareth.faull@... | 02/15/08
Not that OT. JohnBeaman | 02/20/08
Load the Mac OSX carlitosway0@... | 02/15/08
Re Load the Mac OSX Another Canadian | 03/10/08
run a search for hackintosh Neon Samurai | 03/10/08
Epic Fail WoW > Work | 02/15/08
Dell owns AlienWare justin.ellenbecker@... | 02/15/08
Dell +Alienware= dead company in 2 years Squireldoo@... | 02/16/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) adhetola | 02/15/08
Why?!!? takaharu | 02/15/08
$2000 Forum Surfer | 02/15/08
But seriously now. SavageMind1@... | 02/21/08
Look at the marketing demographics cgatling2@... | 02/16/08
Nice Pc bookkeeper@... | 02/15/08
alternate configs schieppati@... | 02/15/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) justin.ellenbecker@... | 02/15/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) RGuernsey@... | 02/15/08
it's not for a builder /gamer bpolo | 02/15/08
Get a Mac - it's cheaper barryhumphus@... | 02/15/08
Order the same system on a custom builder site cheaper mathomp3@... | 02/15/08
Erm...not really. garyreds01@... | 03/17/08
Equivalent to professional VAIO ivan_dmitriev@... | 02/15/08
This rig looks like all stock parts though Neon Samurai | 02/15/08
onboard sound Absolutely | 02/15/08
My past alsa grief was with creative Neon Samurai | 02/22/08
Somebody's prototype---shrink tube-- BALTHOR | 02/15/08
Hmmm ... Like having a Ferarri in the office maxx.e@... | 02/15/08
Poor choice of components PrinceGaz | 02/15/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) afai1971@... | 02/15/08
Nothing's new business.libra@... | 02/16/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) ProperName | 02/17/08
I don't think anyone has considered the product life cycle either Neon Samurai | 02/18/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) scorpion_saga@... | 02/19/08
I am not saying what it is worth Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 02/19/08
I can build a better unit for 3k.... coogrrr@... | 02/19/08
Case is Most Impressive Part willcomp | 02/20/08
Big deal... 3_jeeps | 02/20/08
2 video cards, each with 512 GB SDRAM? cristiangeorge1@... | 02/20/08
Typos ... I hate them Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 02/21/08
Traveling case DL@... | 02/20/08
re: Traveling case pristle | 02/20/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) jjervis@... | 02/20/08
Tech Specs eugene.alexander@... | 02/20/08
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii hoood2007r@... | 02/20/08
Super Overpriced - Super nOOb Rig!!! cdoran@... | 02/20/08
BLACKBIRD 002 britontn | 02/20/08
?3000! ripp off dmstenhouse@... | 02/20/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) dave@... | 02/20/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) EJB64 | 02/20/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) garyreds01@... | 02/20/08
Does it do laundry...? Master G | 02/20/08
Thanks for the specs... kristina.hough@... | 02/21/08
Whatcha gonna do with all that junk mike21b@... | 02/20/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) ohms@... | 02/20/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) retrimble@... | 02/20/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) duckles10 | 02/21/08
64? loss4words | 02/22/08
nice but... orc.27.dahl@... | 02/27/08
Mobo Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 02/28/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) NamelessFor Now | 03/10/08
Price? are you crazy? James@... | 03/13/08
US$3000 is over-priced for it PrinceGaz | 03/14/08
Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 - where's the hair dryer hose? jlafitte | 03/29/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) haynturtle1971@... | 03/31/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) agonzalez@... | 04/02/08
Not a Striker Logo rhughes@... | 04/08/08
HP timothy.jankowski@... | 04/19/08
RE: No cup holders (Cracking open the HP Blackbird 002 DE LCi gaming PC) bizboy13@... | 12/22/08

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