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Click below to sign up for HP Voodoo. >> http://hpvoodoo.p0.com/subscribe.jsp ----------------------------------------------------------------- To view the HTML version of this message, please click here: @HTML_PREVIEW_LINK&msgVersion=web ==================================== THE NEXT BENCH NEWS ==================================== Official Newsletter of the HP VoodooDNA and VoodooPC Communities www.hp.com/voodoodna http://www.hp.com/voodoodna www.voodoopc.com http://www.voodoopc.com/ February 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------- In This Issue -------------------------------------------------------------- FIREBIRD BEHIND THE SCENES INTERVIEW WITH PAUL CAMPBELL FOUNDER, HP GAMING "We wanted to take the performance PC and create a smaller, quieter version without sacrificing any performance" We created Firebird, which is what you see in front of you and basically this PC is everything that a high performance PC should be, but uses less than 25% of the power of your average high performance PC. It's pretty incredible, and as you can tell by sitting next to it, you can't hear a thing. It's very, very quiet, and the reason for that is the combination of the components that we chose to use and the liquid cooling system that's inside it. HP FIREBIRD >> http://www.thenextbench.com/t5/Downloads/Interview-Interview-with-Paul-Campbell/ba-p/26995 -------------------------------------------------------------- So when you're saying this is a performance system, are you telling me that it will measure up to performance from systems like Blackbird? -------------------------------------------------------------- It will actually measure up to any high performance desktop PC with a same graphic cards in it. Instead of taking a smaller version of Blackbird and trying to crowbar a bunch of desktop components into it, we decided to create something new from scratch. Everything inside is custom; we even created a new standard of motherboard that uses a combination of ultra-low voltage components and regular desktop components. Also, when you're looking at it from the outside, you'll see first of all it's very expandable via all the port in the back. You'll see things like lots of data ports like USB, eSATA and Firewire. You will see that it has both HDMI and DVI video interfaces, able to drive two outputs/two monitors at once. And the idea was to make sure that there is as much expandability as your average desktop. -------------------------------------------------------------- That's an interesting departure from the Blackbird, where you didn't use any proprietary technology and it was all about the longevity of the system and encouraging gamers to upgrade or modify it as they needed to. Are you saying that your approach with Blackbird was wrong or is this for a different group of people? -------------------------------------------------------------- This is for a much wider audience than Blackbird. The bottom-line is that we're off the curve in the performance industry with this product. The days of buying a PC with a 2 kilowatt power supply and a maxed out CPU and sucking the power of the wall are gone. We created a product that is a combination of incredible innovation and thought leadership. We were able to combine high performance with more efficient power consumption and expandability and fit it all into a smaller package. You can carry it under one arm. And it's silent. I think you'll see that people are surprised by the actual performance it puts out. -------------------------------------------------------------- Are you saying that gamers are becoming more concerned about the environment? -------------------------------------------------------------- It's about efficiency. Having a PC that draws kilowatts to the wall and has great CPUs, which mostly sits idle all the time it's silly. You are basically drawing way too much power to run average applications. And the beauty of this machine is it uses something called Hybrid SLI which allows the power to scale from extremely low to the highest level. It's actually amazing the maximum output is 250W. -------------------------------------------------------------- I hear what you're saying, but I'm having a really difficult time comprehending how this small form performs on par with a Blackbird. -------------------------------------------------------------- Let's start by looking inside the machine. You'll notice the very simple, yet sophisticated water cooling system inside the case. And you'll notice the desktop CPU with the Intel quad core processor is cooled by liquid as well as air. You'll also notice that we put small form factor MXM GPUs inside, instead of desktop GPUs. These deliver just as much performance as their desktop counterparts. In fact these are so efficient, they not only draw less power, but they out perform their desktop counterparts because of the fact that they run cooler, they are running in a much more efficient, closer to the motherboard scenario. You don't have to worry about cooling video memory, you don't have to worry about thermal overload; you don't have to worry about any of that stuff. People look at this machine and probably think it only has one graphic chip or GPU. It actually has two; I should say it actually has three. There's an integrated graphic chip for the hybrid card and then there are two discrete chips. Hybrid technology allows us to have an integrated GPU that is active all the time. The minute you go into demanding applications, you'll draw from the discrete GPUs. So not only do you get the performance of SLI, but you also get the benefits of new visual computing technology. On certain applications, it uses the GPU to accelerate programs like PhotoShop or Adobe, Premier. FULL INTERVIEW >> http://www.thenextbench.com/t5/Downloads/Interview-Interview-with-Paul-Campbell/ba-p/26995 -------------------------------------------------------------- REVEALED: ASTRO GAMING HEADSET FOR BLACKBIRD -------------------------------------------------------------- Trick-out your rig with this awesome gaming headset ASTRO Gaming recently collaborated with HP's Blackbird team to create the first "VESA mount" accessory for HP's Blackbird PC. The ASTRO Headset Hanger is designed to bolt directly onto the Blackbird, using the unique VESA mount feature on the right side of the PC. To purchase: * Go to: www.astrogaming.com * Choose the ASTRO + HP Bundle (A40 Audio System & Headset Hanger) * Use coupon code 348HPBB to get the Headset Hanger for FREE! If you just want the Hanger, ASTRO Gaming is offering the product for a special price of $19.95. -------------------------------------------------------------- CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW 2009 FIREBIRD SOARS @ CES -------------------------------------------------------------- A Hit at CES HP formally introduced Firebird to fans and press at this years Consumer Electronics show. There was a big buzz around it's serious power and innovative design, but all were amazed at it's near-silent operation. Here's some other highlights: * Recognized as one of the top computers/best products of CES 2009 * One of three finalists in the "Best of CES" Computer & Hardware category Firebird struts it stuff in the NVIDIA BOOTH Show attendees got to put firebird through it's paces in the NVIDIA booth. NVIDIA displayed Firebird demoing this seasons latest applications featuring NVIDIA(R) CUDA(TM) and NVIDIA(R) PhysX(TM) technologies. -------------------------------------------------------------- SMALL SIZE, NO COMPROMISE HP FIREBIRD GAMING PCs NOW STARTING AT $1,799 -------------------------------------------------------------- HP FIREBIRD with VoodooDNA BUILT FOR SPEED, STEALTH AND STYLE FEATURES INCLUDE: * Intel CoreTM2 Quad Processor * 4GB PC2-6400/DDR2 800 MHz Memory * Dual NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) 9800S with 515 MB GDDDR3 in SLI Configuration * 2x 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drives up to 640GB * Streamlined Chassis (W: 7.5", D:17.8", H:18.9") * Much More BUY HP FIREBIRD NOW >> http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/store_access.do?template_type=storefronts&landing=voodoo&category=firebird&jumpid=em_r329_hpg_0011&aoid=44120 -------------------------------------------------------------- VoodooDNA http://www.hp.com/voodoodna VoodooPC http://www.voodoopc.com/ The Next Bench http://www.thenextbench.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------- Forward To A Friend >> http://hpvoodoo.p0.com/ftaf-index.jsp Please note that the content of this email is intended for U.S. and Canadian residents only. 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