HP announced a new configuration for its Blackbird gaming machine today called the Alpha configuration. The Alpha version will use an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 quad core processor.

One of the most unique features of the HP Blackbird is the proprietary drivers that allow the mainboard to run both CrossFire and NVIDIA SLI with the same mainboard.

This configuration is available today for $5499 with the following specifications:

• ASUS Maximus Formula with Intel® X38 Express chipset
• Intel Core2 Extreme QX9650 Quad- Core 3.0GHz processor
• 1,100-watt Power Supply
• Dual ATI RADEON X2900™ XT 1 gigabyte (GB), with 1 GB of GDDR4 SDRAM
• Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
• 2 GB (2 x 1 GB) 1,066 MHz CORSAIR PC2-8500 DDR2 SDRAM SLI Ready
• 160 GB 10,000 rpm SATA and 500 GB 7,200 rpm SATA(2)
• Two drives: 16x Combo and 16x DVD r/w
• Creative Audio Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional
• Ageia PhysX™ 100 Series PCI-E GFX Accelerator Card
• Factory Sealed Liquid-cooled CPU
• 15-in-1 card reader
• Voodoo keyboard and Mouse by Razor

Via HP