HP Blackbird 002 BB5140rp Desktop PC (2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Core Q9450 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium)

by HP

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 22 x 9 x 23.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 88.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001AE6RPW
• Item model number: BB5140rp
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 10, 2008

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

HP's Blackbird 002 is the first PC system to combine HP innovation with VoodooPC's award-winning expertise in PC design and architecture, resulting in a desktop that delivers the look, versatility and performance gamers and high-end PC enthusiasts crave. Every element of the Blackbird 002--from its aluminum chassis to the cast-aluminum foot--contributes to its stunning look and extreme performance. It features patented, full system liquid-cooling to keep the processor running cool in even the most heated head-to-head gaming scenarios. And the system's removable side panel, completely open BIOS, and interior and back panel LED lighting make it convenient for gamers to get inside the machine for performance tuning.

HP Blackbird 002: Designed by gamers, for gamers.

The Blackbird 002 changes the look and feel of the high-performance PC with a completely redesigned cast-aluminum chassis. The aluminum chassis can take more punishment than plastic. Tool-free entry makes it upgrade-friendly. The main case hovers over a single cast-aluminum foot, for a gravity-defying aesthetic that also allows air to circulate under as well as around the PC. And the 900-watt power supply has more than enough juice for today's high-performance processors and graphics cards.

Hardware features include a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q9450, 500 GB of hard drive space (with four additional hard drive bays for expansion), 4 GB of Corsair Dominator 800MHz PC-6400 overclockable system RAM, multi-format and dual-layer LightScribe DVD±R drive, 7.1-channel onboard HD audio, next generation series 9 dual-SLIgraphics card from NVIDIA with support for Microsoft DirectX 10, and a hidden panel that conceals convenient USB, FireWire, and audio ports as well as a 15-in-1 memory card reader. It's preloaded with the Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition with Service Pack 1 operating system, which provides a stable, intuitive operating environment.

Rethinking PC Design
The HP Blackbird 002 PC was designed with two goals in mind: to bring innovation back to the gaming PC by delivering extreme customer-centric innovations, and to completely reinvent the look and feel of the performance PC. Its wedge-shaped design and vectored lines hint at the raw speed inside. The fins that line the top and front reflect a heat sink, paying homage to the Blackbird's extraordinary thermal management capabilities. And the tight fit and finish of the chamfered edges make it clear that this finely crafted machine is tuned to perfection.

It hovers over a single cast aluminum foot, capable of supporting up to 600 lbs. The cantilevered design allows airflow under the chassis, making it possible to seat the 900 watt power supply at its base and enabling an array of hidden vents to funnel air through all six sides of the chassis, dramatically improving overall internal cooling.

Keeping Things Cool
One of the most important metrics for a performance PC is how cool and quiet it operates. Taking a cue from Voodoo PC, the first performance-PC manufacturer to effectively implement liquid-cooling, HP jointly developed a factory sealed liquid cooling unit for the Blackbird 002 PC with Asetek LLC, an industry leader in thermal management. Not only is liquid cooling more efficient than air-cooling, it is also quieter, which is why the Blackbird is the quietest performance PC in its class.

Heat is the enemy of performance PCs, and the three biggest heat generators are the CPU, the GPUs, and the power supply. The Blackbird isolates each of them in its own thermal chamber, ensuring that cooling air isn't contaminated with heat from one component on its way to cool off another. Regardless of performance BIOS modification, the LCi can handle the heat.

The uncluttered interior of the Blackbird drastically improves airflow and makes upgrading components as easy as possible. Inspired by Voodoo's Origami cabling solution, every individually measured wire is neatly tucked away and is easily accessible via a separate access panel on the chassis. Micro vents line all six sides of the Blackbird's aluminum chassis. These micro-perforations create a quiet, even distribution of airflow by constantly drawing cool air in and expelling hot air.

Maximum Power, Maximum Performance
At nearly four times the capacity of the industry-average 300-watt power supply, the Blackbird's 900 watt power supply features multiple high-current rails, providing plenty of energy to drive today's high-performance graphics cards and processors, with power to spare for the future. The power supply sits at the bottom of the chassis, enclosed in a cooling thermal chamber that prevents it from contaminating internal airflow with excess heat. All of the power cabling is completely modular, keeping the chassis uncluttered and providing easy access for component modification. Finally, the power supply is industry-standard, as per Voodoo DNA specifications.

The HP Blackbird 002 PC's performance BIOS lets you customize the speed, power, and cooling. In fact, all liquid cooled Intel Xtreme processors and AMD FX processors ship from the factory already overclocked, using the Voodoo method for reliable factory overclocking.

The Blackbird 002 schematic.

The Basics

• Processor: With four execution cores, the 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 processor blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multitasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications. Part of Intel's "Penryn" line of 45nm processors, it features new hafnium-infused circuitry to reduce electrical current leakage in transistors and help this desktop run cooler. It also features Intel Trusted Execution Technology, which provides hardware-based mechanisms that help protect against software-based attacks and protects the confidentiality and integrity of data stored or created on the client PC.

  Whether you're creating multimedia, annihilating your gaming enemies, or running compute-intensive applications at one time, new quad-core processing will change the way you do everything. The Q9450 has a top-of-the-line 1333 MHz front-side bus (FSB), a whopping huge 12 MB shared L2 cache, and a nVidia nForce 780i motherboard. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

  With four complete execution cores in a single processor, you get four dedicated, physical threads help operating systems and applications deliver additional performance that enhance multi-tasking and multi-threaded performance across many types of applications and work loads. The Smart Memory Access feature improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed. The Advanced Digital Media Boost feature effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications. And with the Intel 64 Architecture, the processor can access larger amounts of memory. With appropriate 64-bit hardware and software, platforms based on an Intel processor supporting Intel 64 Architecture can allow the use of extended virtual and physical memory.

• Hard Drive: The Blackbird 002 comes with a 500 GB SATA hard drive. The Blackbird's five hard drive bays--one for the system drive and four for up to 5 TB of storage--give you the greatest number of RAID options possible. Create a RAID 0 for ultimate performance, a RAID 1 for maximum reliability and data protection, or a RAID 5 for optimized speed and reliability. (RAID is a data storage solution that uses multiple hard drives to improve reliability and read/write speed. ) Better yet, Voodoo DNA's tool-free design allows the Blackbird's hard drives to be swapped out in about 10 seconds.

• Memory: The 4 GB of installed RAM (800MHz PC-6400, 4 x 1 GB) maximizes the capacity for this notebook, and it offers a top-of-the-line 800 MHz speed. Additionally, the Corsair 8500 memory is SLI-enabled for enhanced performance on Nvidia motherboards.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This PC comes with the Voodoo Razer DeathAdder Mouse and the Voodoo Razer Tarantula Keyboard.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion

A top port dock closes when not in use.

A top external port panel is built into the Blackbird 002, which can be closed when not in use. It includes the following:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports
• 1 FireWire (IEEE 1394) port
• 1 Headphone and 1 Microphone jack ports (front)
• 15-in-1 memory card reader: supports SmartMedia, xD, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Mini Secure Digital, Compact Flash I, Compact Flash II, IBM Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+

The back panel comes with the following external ports:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports
• 2 eSATA
• 2 PS/2 for keyboard and mouse
• 7.1 channel audio jacks (6 jacks + 1 S/PDIF output)
• 2 RJ 45 Gigabit Ethernet ports
• 4 DVI-I ports (2 on each NVidia 9 Series video card with dual SLI configuration - only one active when configured in Dual SLI)

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit version) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Cyberlink PowerDirector, Grisoft AVG Professional anti-virus (1-year subscription)

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Blackbird 002 gaming PC, power cord, keyboard, mouse, and printed operating instructions. It's backed by dedicated HP Blackbird toll-free phone support and a one-year HP Limited Warranty.

Product Description

The Blackbird 002 by HP and VoodooPC. Its revolutionary innovative design features isolated thermal chambers, a maintenance-free liquid cooling system, tool-free accessibility, and cable-free hard drive installation. The Blackbird 002 changes the look and feel of the high-performance PC with a completely redesigned cast-aluminum chassis. Its striking shape combines stylish sensibility and cool practicality. The aluminum chassis can take more punishment than plastic. Tool-free entry makes it upgrade-friendly. The main case hovers over a single cast-aluminum foot, for a gravity-defying aesthetic that also allows air to circulate under as well as around the PC. The 900-watt power supply has more than enough juice for today¿s high-performance processors and graphics cards. Performance-tuned components provide exhilarating computing power, from the Intel Core 2 Quad processor and dual NVIDIA 9800GT graphics cards to Corsair Dominator memory and a completely customizable performance BIOS. Heat is the enemy of high-performance computing, and the Blackbird 002 is designed and built to overcome it. The Blackbird 002 isolates the three primary heat generators (CPU, GPUs, and power supply) in separate thermal chambers, so cooling air doesn¿t carry heat from one source to another. A revolutionary, factory-sealed liquid cooling system disperses heat efficiently, effectively, and quietly. Six-way airflow around the chassis contributes to the overall heat dispersion, and series of heat sinks and copper pipes also helps cool important internal components, such as the chipset. The Blackbird 002 is one of the most versatile and configurable PCs in its class. Industry-standard components help minimize driver conflicts and enable easy modification. Tool-less entry provides easy access to system components, while simple locking clips hold components in place. Five internal, hot-swappable hard drive bays and multiple PCI slots offer ample opportunities for upgrades and expansion.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great gaming machine, August 12, 2008

By 

P. Chike (Elizabeth, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: HP Blackbird 002 BB5140rp Desktop PC (2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Core Q9450 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

This is an awesome gaming machine. I researched different gaming machines, read all the reviews and went ahead and took the plunge. Yes it is expensive, but well worth the price. Very easy to set up, and very quiet. It is a large heavy machine, but how often do you move your computer? I've had it for a month now and no complaints at all.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blackbird 002, December 8, 2008

By 

D. Leverette "Tazz1" (FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: HP Blackbird 002 BB5140rp Desktop PC (2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Core Q9450 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

Awesome machine. I wanted a big machine for easy upgrades that would not be outdated next year. I think I have found the machine! Very quiet. About a month old now. Loaded with 3-500GB and 1TB at the moment. Another TB on order. Excellent for video editing. Cut my time in half from my P4 @ 3.0 GHZ with 2GB Ram.
Again, I agree that it is expensive but well worth the price. Very large and heavy. But, I love how easy it is to swap hard drives and configure. Had a few quirks with Windows Vista but read a few blogs and tried a few different solutions and the Blackbird is screaming!

Great Product!

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultra-rare, ultra-beautiful classic case, October 25, 2011

By 

Turtle in the City "Turtle in the City" (West Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP Blackbird 002 BB5140rp Desktop PC (2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Core Q9450 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

Back in its day the HP Voodoo collaboration created a rare, ultra-luxury gaming PC case, one of the few produced by a mainstream consumer brand (HP). The Blackbird 002 was marketed for around $2000 to $3000 and used all consumer components in a large, full-tower case allowing for future proof technology. (The case was so big, any future components should fit in it.)

The remarkable thing about the BlackBird 002 was its distinctive, aggressive design, which even to this day, is a world apart of from almost all gamer/enthusiastic PC cases. Made from all brushed aluminum, floating on a foot for improved cooling, and with door panels that swung open like a Ferrari, it remains a sight to behold. All the cords can be routed threw holes in the back of the case, and there are airflow panels separating the CPU, GPU, and power supply. The only case that can currently hold a candle to it is the Thermaltake Level 10.

Although current technology has passed by any of the components originally installed in the HP Blackbird 002 back in 2008, the case remains a perennial favorite and darling of the media. A chromed version of it was named Dream PC of 2009 by Maximum PC. And recently it waas named in there top ten list of Luxury Geek Things to own. The large size and full tower form factor means that it supports all EATX, ATX, and BTX motherboards so upgrading it to current specs isn't an issue. The Blackbird's only flaw is it's inability to fit newer liquid cooling components.

However, the HP Voodoo Blackbird case is slowly becoming a rare collectible, which often sells for between $600 - $2000 on Ebay. A current case on the site with a large scratch and dent is going for $900. If you can find one, snatch it up. These cases are a work of art and I think one day they will be considered equivalent to rare classic cars of the 1950's and 1960's.