Reborn Tech Maniac

Chapter 924
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No matter how dazzling the trailer of the movie "Titanic" appeared at this year's Zheru Spring Developers Conference, it was just to better demonstrate the technical achievements. Focus on the IT topic itself.

In fact, streaming media and online sales, two high-value applications, reflect the many achievements of the Internet up to now.

For example, the "Titanic" trailer played in the form of streaming media shows that the Internet bandwidth has reached a level capable of transmitting videos; Fangyuan, Zheru Software, and EA officially launched the Internet online sales system, which shows that the background includes A complete set of systems, including the database, has the ability to cope with the simultaneous bursting requests for thousands of connections in the Internet state.

On the other hand, the client computer, where the user directly experiences the user experience, can process the streaming media data transmitted from the network in real time, and finally play it on the display; Introductory materials for multimedia products, including animation, streaming media, etc., must have sufficiently strong performance.

If the previous generations of Fangyuan personal computers focused on how to improve the processing speed of hardware chips and enrich the functions of the software platform, then the sixth generation of Fangyuan personal computers introduced at the Zheru Spring Developers Conference will be Committed to solving the "bandwidth" bottleneck of the entire system.

It's as if, before urban construction, we only paid attention to the high-rise buildings on the ground, but as a result, severe waterlogging occurred when it rained, and we had to turn to increase the handling capacity of the underground pipelines.

With the popularization of many intensive data processing represented by multimedia applications, in addition to fast enough computing speed, the subsystems of personal computers must also increase the throughput of data transmission—and the first part that bears the brunt is the memory.

When it comes to memory, the term that is first linked to, or even equivalent to, is basically Dynamic_Random_Access_Memory-Dynamic Random Access Memory or DRAM.

The reason for this is mainly because the Static_Random_Access_Memory corresponding to the dynamic random access memory—the static random access memory is SRAM.The structure is relatively complicated, resulting in high cost, and it is mainly used in occasions such as CPU internal cache.

The structure of DRAM is so simple that each bit of data can be processed with only one capacitor and one transistor, which is far lower than the six transistors usually required for one bit of SRAM, so it has a very high density and is more suitable for computer needs. In case of large capacity memory.

The main difference between the two lies in this "one movement and one stillness" - due to the phenomenon of leakage in the capacitor in reality, the potential difference of the memory unit of the DRAM with too simple structure is insufficient, resulting in the disappearance of information , so capacitors need to be periodically charged for dynamic refresh operations, while static random access memory with a relatively complex structure does not have this problem-as long as the power is not turned on, the information is constantly stored in the memory unit.

As for the shortcomings such as slower access speed and higher power consumption caused by this difference to dynamic random access memory, it is not a problem for memory - the advantages of higher capacity and lower cost per unit volume are enough. One handsome man covers all the ugly ones.

There are different types of dynamic random access memory used in personal computers, and it is a gradual development process.

after all.Products such as personal computers with increasingly obvious consumer electronics attributes are different from workstations and servers. As long as the technology is good, they can be used regardless of cost-there is a trade-off between performance and cost.

For a long time, the memory used by personal computers belongs to "asynchronous" dynamic random access memory.

The general meaning of this "asynchronous" is that the DRAM, which acts as a memory, operates asynchronously with the CPU's external bus frequency.

In order to improve the data throughput capacity of memory, asynchronous DRAM has been optimizing and progressing, from the earliest Page_Mode_DRAM - page mode memory or PM_RAM, to Fast_Page_Mode_RAM - fast page with a maximum data throughput of 176MB per second The mode memory is FPM_RAM, and the maximum data throughput is increased to Extended_Data_Output_RAM of 264MB per second—the extended data output memory is EDO_RAM.

At this stage, EDO_RAM has become the mainstream memory specification for personal computers.The further improvement on this basis is Burst_Extended_Data_Output_RAM - the explosive extended data output memory is BEDO_RAM.

However, the industry generally believes that asynchronous DRAM has reached this point, and there is not much room for improving data throughput, so it turns to find a solution on "synchronous" DRAM.

As the name suggests, the general meaning of this "synchronization" is that the dynamic random access memory acts as a memory and operates in synchronization with the external bus frequency of the CPU.

Famous R&D results include: Synchronous_Dynamic_Random_Access_Memory - Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Rambus' exclusive patented Direct_Rambus_DRAM (DRDRAM).

In fact, no matter the synchronous DRAM or the asynchronous DRAM, there is a delay between the CPU external bus and the CPU during operation.

The problem with SDRAM at this stage is that because of the additional logic units in the structure, its speed is inferior to that of BEDO_RAM, which belongs to asynchronous dynamic random access memory.

DRDRAM does not have such a problem, and there are good application examples-just last year, Nintendo released a new generation of home TV game console N64.In addition to being equipped with a 64-bit RISC microprocessor like the fourth-generation Xiaobawang game console, it also uses DRDRAM, with a data throughput of 562.5 MB/s.

However, the technical solution of DRDRAM itself is not so perfect. It has the disadvantages of complex manufacturing, high delay, and high heat generation that have been criticized. N64 has to use a passive cooling system for the RDRAM module to cool it.

More importantly, Tang Huan does not want to see the way Rambus operates DRDRAM.

Obviously, Zheru is also developing various memory technologies, but for DRAM, the main starting point is to avoid being stuck with patents, and the manufacturing is handed over to authorized manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and Micron.

After all, the position of DRAM in the semiconductor industry is not so high, and it is also in line with the goal of sharing interests and making the ecosystem bigger and stronger by handing it over to followers who specialize in capital-intensive industrial operations.

But Rambus is very cunning about licensing, as if it expects this thing to make a fortune - if it really becomes big and becomes the mainstream specification of memory used in personal computers, then Tang Huan's control of the personal computer industry behind the scenes was threatened.

Therefore, when introducing the sixth-generation Fangyuan personal computer, Tang Huan made it clear that SDRAM specifications will be adopted and supported.

You know, a word from the richest man may be related to the direction of an industry and the rise and fall of a company.

Therefore, industry reporters with a keen sense of smell specifically asked questions about memory in media interaction occasions.

For example, what is the prospect of SDRAM? Will DRDRAM find its way into PCs?

Tang Huan further explained that from the progress of Samsung Electronics, the delay problem of SDRAM has been better resolved.In this way, SDRAM is the perfect specification for personal computer memory.Furthermore, Zheru has developed the SGRAM specification for the video memory of the graphics card on the basis of SDRAM.These large-scale applications are enough to illustrate the bright future of SDRAM.

As for DRDRAM, Tang Huan's answer was rather vague, and he only mentioned that maybe high-end products such as workstations and servers in the future will introduce DRDRAM, which currently has an advantage in data throughput.

Originally, Mr. Richest Man's statement was definitely mature and prudent, but he couldn't help the followers who didn't get a satisfactory answer, which caused a psychological gap.

As a result, relying on the model of Nintendo N64, the stock of Rambus, which had just successfully IPO on NASDAQ not long ago, changed from a thriving prosperity that investors were placing high hopes on to an uncertainty that caused doubts in their hearts. down.

Tang Huan not only created the tragedy of Rambus with a casual sentence, but also caused internal strife in the "NOISE" alliance through an unintentional action.

It turned out that when the richest man introduced the sixth-generation Fangyuan personal computer, he inadvertently started a program. Although the time for "showing his face" was very short, it was still enough for many people to see the "Zheru Software Java Virtual Machine" on the projection screen. typeface.

Now the industry and media are in a state of panic - what does this mean?
As we all know, Sun Microsystems definitely belongs to the backbone of the "NOISE" alliance, and the relationship with Zheru Software can be imagined, but why did Zheru Software suddenly create a virtual machine for the opponent's Java?What about its own C#?
Tang Huan was anxious to be questioned, so he just laughed and said, "Well... I don't know the specific job content - maybe I made a mistake, or it was a joke made by a certain programmer..."

Of course, this kind of answer is not satisfactory to everyone. In the end, Sun Microsystems gave a clear explanation-very simple, Zheru Software Company has obtained the authorization of Java.

As soon as the news came out, some good people noticed that Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale went to the headquarters of Sun Microsystems with a gloomy face, but was sent by the other CEO Scott McCrenny. When he came out, his face was full of anger.

Without the need for gossipers to get to the bottom of it, Netscape immediately announced that it would cancel its plan to develop a new generation of browsers using the Java language.

Now everyone understands - there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.Faced with the dominant market share of Zheru Software, Sun Microsystems chose to defect from the "NOISE" alliance in order to promote Java, and instead cooperated with an opponent that had been in trouble.

However, strictly speaking, the "NOISE" alliance is just a word of mouth. The parties have not signed any "offensive and defensive alliance". It's useless, who told you that you don't have enough bargaining chips to exchange benefits.

The exciting drama in the IT circle can be said to be one after another.

As soon as Zheru's Spring Developers Conference ended, there was a news that DEC, the former overlord of minicomputers, ended its 40-year glorious history and was acquired by HP.The transaction involved an amount of up to 90 billion US dollars, which made DEC's shareholders very satisfied.

However, it is said that the $90 billion was not paid by HP alone. Fangyuan, Zheru, and Zheru software also came out.

Obviously, this is another "loot sharing" action by the big players, and the more eye-catching results include - HP got the 64-bit RISC microprocessor Alpha; Fangyuan inherited a contract with Raytheon, which was worth nothing Big, a multi-million dollar service for the E-2 airborne early warning aircraft.

……

Ignoring all kinds of discussions caused by this, Mr. Richest Man, who temporarily put an end to the affairs of the IT circle, began to really care about the movie "Titanic" in which he invested a lot of money.

To be honest, the movies that Tang Huan, who can manage a lot of things, personally intervened are "Titanic" and "The Matrix" in which he published novels.

Twentieth Century Fox reported a marketing fee of 4000 million US dollars, and the richest man waved his hand-the publicity should be further strengthened, and I will give you another 2000 million US dollars to send "Titanic" to the Cannes Film Festival in France first. lap.

In fact, although the preparations were sufficient, the project of "Titanic" was too big, and the whole production process was full of twists and turns. In addition, the director James Cameron, who felt the pressure, was very strict in his work, and was even asked by someone in Tang The hallucinogenic drug was used in revenge, and dozens of people in the crew were brought down.

All kinds of negative news have made critics regard "Titanic" as the next "Water World".

You know, the production cost of "Waterworld" alone reached 1 million U.S. dollars. As a result, after it was released in the summer of 7500, the box office revenue in North America was only 1995 million U.S. dollars. Fortunately, the overseas box office performance was much better, with revenue of The total box office in North America was twice that of US$8800 million, which allowed the film to avoid becoming the most profitable movie in history.

Now, although the big ship "Titanic" set sail as scheduled, and the effect of the trailer is also good, but the beginning performance of "Water World" was also very good, and the result is not a cliff-like cold reception!
The outside world instinctively questioned——Will "Titanic" make the history of the richest man good at investing a record of discredit?

(End of this chapter)