Rebirth of the Tech Madman

After viewing the feature display of the intel80286 third-generation Fangyuan computer, Andy Grove and Gordon Moore couldn't help showing happy smiles on their faces.

It is true that Intel has added many advanced features to the intel80286, but if this microprocessor is to be used in practice, it must be supported by the manufacturer.

Compared with the 20-bit address bus of intel8086, the l80286 is expanded to a 24-bit address bus, that is, the maximum memory space that can be supported is 16mb.

But on the platform, it is almost impossible to access the memory space of 1mb and above at present. There is no reason why Big Blue does not want products such as personal computers to threaten its own high-end products in terms of performance.

However, the Fangyuan computer platform does not have this limitation. The entire Fangyuan computer product line from low-end to high-end strives to be superior in all aspects, and it will not deliberately draw a prison on personal computers.

This is why Intel is more interested in Fangyuan Computer than IBM. It certainly hopes that the intel80286 with many advanced features such as protection mode can enter the high-end market and open up new fields.

Seeing Andy Grove and Gordon Moore fascinated by watching, Tang Huan smiled slightly, sat in front of the intel80286 prototype, turned off the electronic form, but kept the running state of the word processing, and then wrote Deng Lijun's A Touch of Love album I put my first CD in the drive and started the music player.

With Deng Lijun's soft singing, Tang Huan began to write the manuscript.

Andy Grove and Gordon Moore, who saw this scene for the first time, straightened their eyes.

Are you sure. Is our intel80286 really in this host? Gordon Moore asked Andy Grove in a low voice.

Before Andy Grove could answer, Tang Huan, who had excellent hearing, interjected: Of course, I'm about to open the main box and talk to you about the technical details.

With the click of the Enter key, the unique running sound of the printer sounded. However, during this period, the music player paused several times, but the entire computer system did not crash.

Seeing that the performance without l80286 still needs to be further improved. Tang Huan spread his hands.

Sure, sure. Andy Grove's head clicked like a chicken pecking at broken rice.

The engineers turned off the intel80286 and opened its main chassis.

Suddenly, a wave of heat rushed towards him.

I see that there is no l80286, but there is also the floating-point coprocessor intel80287, which is here. Tang Huan jokingly raised his hand to indicate the same.

Andy Grove and Gordon Moore smiled knowingly while looking at the motherboard. I got my wish and saw my own microprocessor.

Over the past six months or so, the defects of l80286 have been almost eliminated, and it's time to show our talents in the field of microcomputers.

Tang Huan's affirmation lifted Andy Grove and Gordon Moore.

According to the experience summed up by my engineers, the intel80286 that the three generations of Fangyuan computers need to be equipped with should not be lower than 10mhz. Now this 125mhz intel80286 is good at multitasking. You have also seen it just now. You can only It’s still a pass. So, I hope to have a clear indicator for further performance improvement. It’s best to reach 20mhz as soon as possible.”

Hearing this request, Andy Grove, who just kept agreeing, had a look of embarrassment flashing across his face.

In fact, the intel80286 currently produced by the Intel factory is mainly 6mhz and 8mhz versions. After all, this microprocessor integrates about 130,000 transistors. The operating frequency cannot be increased if you want to increase it.

In order to please Tang Huan, the 125mhz version of the highest-end model with limited production was sent over.

According to Tang Huan's meaning. The version of intel80286 below 125mhz will become a commodity. Not favored by the three generations of Fangyuan computers.

According to this case, the economic benefits are difficult to calculate.

In addition, if the coprocessor intel80287 really plays an auxiliary role in floating-point calculations, its operating frequency must not be lower than 125mhz. Tang Huan's addition made Andy Grove grin subconsciously.

Actually, I have two major dissatisfaction with the intel80286. It is not a 32-bit CPU; once the processor enters the protected mode, it cannot support the real mode of the intel8086. Especially the latter, it brings backward compatibility to the software system. A problem that cannot be ignored.

Speaking of this, Tang Huan sighed, But these problems obviously cannot be solved in the Intel 80286 generation, so it can only be made up through the manufacturing process. You know, Motorola already has a 20mhz version.

Perhaps the last sentence played a role, and Andy Grove, who looked at each other with Gordon Moore, agreed clearly, Okay, Intel will supply according to Don's request.

It's easy if everyone has a consensus. Tang Huan stretched out a finger, According to the standard just mentioned, there are 100,000 125MHz intel80286, and no less than 50,000 125MHz coprocessor intel80287.

Hearing such pleasant numbers, Andy Grove and Gordon Moore immediately smiled. Intel, which has suffered setbacks in its main business of memory, needs a large order to boost morale.

As for whether Tang Huan has the ability to digest so many CPUs, Andy Grove has no doubts at all. Tang Huan wanted Intel 8086 tens of thousands of times before, but these microprocessors were quickly exhausted by products such as personal computers and printers.

If it weren't for ibm to acquire 20% of Intel's shares and make trouble in the supply of intel8086. Intel will definitely have a more pleasant cooperation with Tang Huan.

There is no doubt that Tang Huan's ability to digest CPU and memory is now stronger.

With the approach of going public, Fangyuan Computer has increasingly officially disclosed its own data.

Although September has not arrived yet, according to the orders that have been placed. In the fiscal year that is about to pass, the sales volume of Fangyuan personal computers has exceeded 600,000 units, and it will be firmly under its feet.

Even though Commodore and other low-cost PC manufacturers have an advantage in hitting new highs in sales, don’t forget that their products priced below $500 can’t compare with Fangyuan PCs that focus on high-end markets such as enterprise applications.

Even the microprocessors of the Fangyuan personal computer have branches such as the Motorola series and the Intel series. There is also a second source of supply to share the profits, but Intel still reaped considerable benefits from Fangyuan Computer.

The big cake that Tang Huan threw out regardless of previous suspicions moved Andy Grove's mind.

Big Blue has already obtained full authorization of intel80286. With its powerful technology and manufacturing capabilities, Intel seems to be useless. Or just kick IBM away and hug Fangyuan Computer's thigh.

You know, Fangyuan Computer is now among the ranks of Fortune 500 companies in full swing.

Intel, which has been established for more than ten years, has reached this standard as early as the end of the 1970s, but it still has to be honestly ranked behind Fangyuan Computer.

Andy Grove was thinking about this, when Tang Huan changed the subject and said: I have an additional request, which is the content of today's visit, especially this order. For at least three months, Intel cannot take the initiative to ibm disclosure.

Okay, even if the other party comes to ask. We pretend not to know. Andy Grove glanced at Gordon Moore who came with him, and with a meaningful smile on his face, he readily agreed.

...

People who have ideas about IBM are not limited to Silicon Valley in the western United States. In an office in Houston, Texas, several people are discussing enthusiastically. The sign hanging on the door is Compaq Computer Corporation.

In February, three senior managers at Texas Instruments: Rod Kenny, Jimmy Harris and Billy Merton. Because of the growing lack of confidence in the management of Texas Instruments, he resigned. Each invested $1,000 to jointly create this small company called Compaq.

The business direction this small team set for the company was to enter the rising personal computer industry and manufacture a personal computer. It is estimated that it was also influenced by Texas Instruments' personal computer production and Commodore's struggle in the low-end market.

After careful investigation during this period, we decided to choose a technical standard that is almost completely free as a breakthrough. Rod Kenyon explained to Benjamin Rosen, the largest investor sitting across from him.

Although not in Silicon Valley, Benjamin Rosen is still a venture capitalist with a keen sense of smell. Before that, he invested in spreadsheets and made a small profit, which is regarded as his first victory in the IT field.

Benjamin Rosen was born in New Orland, Louisiana, in 1933 to a dentist father and a secretary mother, in a good family.

Benjamin Rosen received a bachelor's degree from Caltech in 1954, followed by a master's degree from Stanford University in 1955.

By 1961, Benjamin Rosen had obtained an MBA from Columbia University Business School and entered Wall Street to work on stock analysis for the electronics industry.

In 1965, Benjamin Rosen jumped ship to the investment banking giant Morgan Stanley, where he worked for 15 years.

It can be said that Benjamin Rosen belonged to the group of people who first realized the great value of personal computers as a business tool, so much so that he himself once held an Apple Apple 2 and tried to explain the importance of this new machine to investors. sex.

Morgan Stanley, as one of Apple's stock issuers, and Benjamin Rosen, a senior technical analyst and vice president, can naturally take this opportunity to witness Silicon Valley's overnight success, so he resolutely ended Morgan Stanley's career is better focused on venture capital.

In 1980, Benjamin Rosen and Dallas, Texas, co-founded the venture capital company Funds Sylvan Rosen Fund. Rod Kenyon, a small team, came from this institution to provide for the newly born Kang Cypress Computer Company has attracted investment.

Benjamin Rosen was very interested in Rod Kenyon's plan to manufacture personal computers, and directly confirmed the investment intention of 1.5 million US dollars, and established the power structure of Compaq Computer Corporation. Nean was CEO and president, Jimmy Harris was in charge of engineering, and Billy Merton was in charge of marketing.

What kind of personal computer to make, Rod Kenyon and others really spent a lot of time thinking, and finally fell in love with it.

Benjamin Rosen has been studying the IT industry for so long, and he has long been an expert. He immediately understood what Rod Kenyon meant, You mean Compaq's compatible machines.

Yes. Rod Kenyon nodded, At the beginning of this year, in order to win more platform-based application solution providers, expand market share, and compete with Fangyuan Computer and Apple Computer, IBM announced the All technical standards. We build PCs with this free set of proven technologies, allowing us to enter this ever-changing market faster.

Since ibm has reserved it for itself, the technical status of this thing should be very important, right? the thoughtful Benjamin Rosen asked.

It is indeed very important, this is a bridge between hardware and software. Rod Kenyon smiled, However, we can use reverse engineering methods and another set of methods that are completely our own to realize this. All the functions. In this way, not only can avoid the legal risk of IBM intellectual property rights, but also 100% compatible. To be continued

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