20-inch Pavilion HDX to be HP's first gaming notebook

HP is about to release its first-ever gaming notebook, according to a series of images and specs that have slipped out online. The Pavilion HDX should be the first fruits of the Voodoo PC buyout and is likely to include both high-performance parts for gaming as well as avid movie watchers. Similar to the XPS M2010, the HDX will more closely resemble a portable desktop with a 20-inch display and a handle to carry the 12-pound system. The lower half of the casing is large enough that a full-featured Windows Media Center remote docks to the left of a full-size keyboard, complete with touch-sensitive media keys at the top.

Specs for the system weren't revealed, but the system will be "for gamers," according to the source. It should use Intel's Santa Rosa-based Core 2 Duo processors, which are expected to top at 2.4GHz but may be offered with factory-unlocked Core 2 Extreme models at 2.6GHz or higher. A high-end dedicated video chipset is certain and may involve NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce Go 8000-series GPU. Media options will be equally strong and are likely to include an HD DVD option with HDMI output as well as a webcam.

No release date was pegged for the HDX in the leak, which claims only that the system will be available in the coming months. The relatively finished state of the product images, however, suggests a closer release which may occur as soon as this week's official release by Intel of the Santa Rosa notebook platform. [via ac2816 and NotebookItalia]