HP Blackbird 002
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | Prototype by Tom Szolyga |
| Founded | September 2007 |
| Founder | Tom Szolyga |
| Successor | HP Firebird 803 |
Key people | Rahul Sood, Phil McKinney, Todd Bradley, Paul Campbell |
| Products | Gaming desktop computers |
The HP Blackbird 002 represented a high-end gaming desktop engineered by HP’s Voodoo Business Unit and was introduced in September 2007. It garnered more than ten Editor’s Choice accolades, including a 9.3 out of 10 score from C-NET. The system's enclosure was crafted from brushed aluminum, complemented by a cast aluminum base that lifted the unit to enhance airflow.
History
The concept of the Blackbird 002 originated as an independent initiative by HP engineer Tom Szolyga, who built a powerful gaming rig prior to HP officially targeting this segment. After presenting the concept to executives Phil McKinney, Todd Bradley, and Paul Campbell, the project received corporate backing and resources.
The original prototype was abandoned, and collaboration with the Compaq team in Houston led to a redesigned iteration. Following HP’s acquisition of VoodooPC, founder Rahul Sood contributed valuable insights that helped complete the Blackbird 002, integrating VoodooPC’s specialized knowledge before its 2007 launch.
Eventually, the Blackbird 002 was replaced by the HP Firebird 803 model.
Performance and design
Constructed with a full aluminum frame, the Blackbird 002 was customized according to buyer specifications and featured an unlocked BIOS to allow user overclocking. Its capabilities were comparable to the Falcon Northwest Mach V, prominently displaying "VoodooDNA" branding internally.
Early editions utilized an ASUS Striker Extreme 680i motherboard compatible with Intel CPUs and DDR2 memory configured at either 2 or 4 GB running at 1066 MHz. Subsequent models upgraded to an EVGA 780i SLI motherboard.
Graphics configurations included Nvidia or ATI cards with support for Nvidia SLI, both available with liquid cooling options. The system accommodated multiple RAID setups across five drive bays and incorporated dual optical drives capable of reading Blu-ray and HD DVD-ROM media.
Cooling solutions ranged from air cooling alone to liquid cooling for the CPU or combined liquid cooling for both CPU and GPU components.
Aluminum chassis and foot
The chassis featured a wedge-shaped aluminum design supported by a cast aluminum base capable of bearing up to 600 pounds. Its structure included fins on both the top and front panels that acted as heat dissipation elements. The elevated cast aluminum foot improved ventilation beneath the Blackbird 002, optimizing cooling for its 1.1 kW power supply situated at the bottom of the case.
Heat management employed liquid cooling systems targeting the CPU, motherboard, and graphics cards. The interior was divided into three thermal chambers isolating critical heat-generating parts to ensure cool air circulation around vital components.
All hardware inside could be removed without tools through a side panel, facilitating swift upgrades or maintenance tasks.
Reviews and awards
- C-NET Editor’s Choice
- PC Magazine awarded a perfect 5 out of 5
- Computer Shopper gave it an 8.5 out of 10
- Wired Magazine named it "Best of Test"
- Maximum PC rated it 7 out of 10
- CPU Magazine scored it 4 out of 5