The Vista-based Firebird will come with quad-core Intel Core 2 processors of up to 2.83 Ghz (note they don't tell you what the base line comes with), 4GB of DDS2-800 memory and dual Nvidia Geforce 9800S video cards with 1 GB of memory. The computer uses notebook PC components, meaning its maximum energy usage is a mere 350 watts. An external power supply means that it's also much quieter.

The computer also includes twin hard drive bays, 6 USB ports, an eSATA connector and dual-link DVI and HDMI display connectors.

"The high-performance PC space seems to have gone out of control when power supplies exceed 1.6 or 2 kilowatts, drawing more than the wall can handle, and people have 3-4 video cards and spend $5,000 to 6,000 on a machine just to play a videogame," said Rahul Sood, Chief Technology Officer for HP's Global Gaming Business.

I'll certainly be interested to see what that $1800 get you in the way of minimum specs.

HP Set to Unveil Power-Sipping PCs for Gamers [PC World]

Leaked specs for the diminutive HP Firebird 803, also a Voodoo-esque gaming rig, could be just the thing to attract hardcore gamers, though that video card leaves a bit to be desired.

NVIDIA nForce 760i SLI chipset
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz processor
4GB of RAM
Dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S cards
Two 320GB SATA drives
Blu-ray
5-in-1 card reader
6 USB, 1 FireWire, 2 eSATA, 1 S/PDIF and 1 DVI dual-link
Bluetooth
802.11n WiFi

The desktop will come with a wireless keyboard and mouse as well as an external power supply. Sounds like it's got potential, but the price could be the deal breaker for me.

HP Firebird 803 tower with VoodooDNA leaked! [Engadget]

Most Grade I or Grade II strains begin to feel better within a few days. In most cases, symptoms are either totally gone, or very much improved, within 8 to 10 weeks. Symptoms of a Grade III strain may last until the torn muscle is repaired surgically.

Young leaves Titans loss to Bucs with strained quadriceps [Yahoo! Sports - Thanks Brandon]

I finally got around to re-ordering the missing CPU for my soon to be built computer. A few months back I ordered a bunch of pieces and parts to build a new PC. I went with NewEgg for everything but the CPU. And wouldn't you know it, WiredZone decided to screw me on my CPU order. I had ordered an AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Dual Core S-AM2 from them because it was listed for so little, but after waiting for a month they emailed me to say that the order had been canceled. When I contacted them they claimed that the chip has been canceled by AMD.

Hello Brian,The AMD shipment never came to us. AMD is not providing us with ETAs. We have several backorders for this processor and your order will be one of the first to ship when this arrives. Unfortunately we depend on AMD to ship the products and they haven''t been able to keep up with the demand.We value your business and look forward to answer any questions you may have.

That's right, AMD had decided to stop making their top of the line CPU for their brand new socket a month after launching it.

I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I suspect the truth is that AMD is having trouble meeting demand and everyone is price gouging because of it.

WiredZone, I suspect, wanted to take part in the fun.

So I went back to NewEgg, head in hands and shamefully ordered the 4600+ CPU instead.

I expect it to him my house later this week.

I've put everything else together, so in theory this should be a pretty quick operation.

Speaking of computers: A funny thing happened last month.

You may recall my post about Microsoft's decision to hand out free computers to review publications as part of their launch of Vista.

At the time I said I understand the reasoning, that it's a lot like giving out consoles to reviewers, but that it still left me feeling uncomfortable.

Well, the day I received the parts for my new computer (sans the CPU) I also received a big-ass box from Microsoft.

I opened it up to discover a top of the line Voodoo computer inside.

Turns out that I was among the 25 or so reviewers they sent the computer out to.

After a longish conversation with a Msoft rep and Chris Donahue, director of Windows graphics and gaming, I went to my editor at the Rocky to discuss whether I should return the PC.

The final decision was that I should keep it as a loaner, meaning it remains the property of Microsoft and not mine partly because it was loaded with an advanced copy of Vista and there were no rules about my reviewing or writing about the operating system early. Msoft also said I would be getting software updates for the computer as time went on. So I went ahead and ordered the new CPU for my personal computer and hooked up the Voodoo computer to my big screen downstairs. My desktop will be my personal computer and home to an immense stash of illegal music and video files.

Hahahaha, just kidding Microsoft, you know I love you.

I will be keeping my personal computer and its contents separate from the loaner sent me by Microsoft.

Later this week I'll be posting up a feature about my lengthy interview with Donahue about their push for Vista and the issues that I think could be caused by loaning the main PC reviewers in the country identical computers.

Thanks to Tarik for sending in this video of proto-Prey. He seems astonished that Prey has been around for almost 10 years... the rest of us already knew it. But what's fascinating about the live demonstration of Prey by 3D Realms' Paul Schuytema is just how damn good it looks. There's no Dyson sphere, the weapons are completely different, but the game just looks stunning on a P266 with a Voodoo 2 card. Moreover, it demonstrates the exact same dynamic portal-dropping technology that Narbacular Drop and soon Portal have been showcasing.

What's somewhat depressing about this video is it really just shows that what could have been a revolutionary 1998 or 1999 title missed its time and eventually became a fun but ultimately disposable 2006 shooter. And we just wouldn't be very surprised if that's a sentence we can't reuse when Duke Nukem Forever rolls out. Florian Eckhardt