Rebirth of the Tech Madman

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After listening to the project's chief engineer, Fred Pollack, for nearly half an hour, Tang Huan took a look at an opening, and asked in a very gracious manner: The design, needless to say, is really excellent, but I need an intuitive understanding For example, since its market competition target is Motorola's 68000 series, how much better is the operating efficiency compared with Intel's own intel80286

It's 32-bit, l80286 is 16-bit, and the instruction architecture of the two is completely different, and it hasn't really been completed yet, so it shouldn't be comparable. The proposal was somewhat resisted.

Compared with the design inspiration of the microprocessor triggered by an order for a calculator, the intel4004, intel8008, intel8080, intel8086, and intel80286 product lines obtained by chance belonged to a well-planned project, which fully exposed Intel's concern for The ambition of the high-end processor market.

A major feature of Intel is that it supports object-oriented programming at the level of hardware and microcode. It can be regarded as a high-level programming language-based computer architecture. The high-level programming language implemented by Intel is ada.

This programming language originated from a plan of the United States.

After entering the 1970s, the number of programming languages ​​used in the computer system projects belonging to the US Department of Defense has increased day by day, and has developed to this year. That is, in 1983, there were as many as 450 kinds.

Many of these programming languages ​​are very old. Or rely too much on hardware, especially without a unified code quality security standard.

The U.S. Department of Defense is very concerned about this. So in 1975, the Advanced Language Working Group was established. Its mission is to find or create a programming language suitable for the needs of the Ministry of Defense in order to reduce the number of existing programming languages. The final work result of this group is the ada language.

The reason why the name ada is used is to commemorate the daughter of the famous British poet Byron, Ada Lovelace. Research, was later recognized as the first computer programmer.

no doubt. With the participation of the military and the government, the commercial value of this market is naturally very considerable. Not to mention that Intel has high hopes for this project, even Tang Huan, a latecomer, has also actively participated in it. Items related to the ada language.

The ada language is extended from , and other programming languages, and its main application areas are embedded and real-time system design.

therefore,

The important features of ada language are embedded style, modular design, compilation check, parallel processing, exception handling and generic programming.

Especially the compilation check of ada language, for operating systems such as avionics, aerospace vehicles, weapons, etc. It has an important meaning of executing code security assurance, which is exactly what the US Department of Defense needs.

Such technologies may be too abstract. But a slight mistake often means a major loss.

For example, in the original time and space in early June 1996, the first launch of the European Space Agency's Ariane 5 carrier rocket deviated from the scheduled flight path in just 37 seconds, disintegrated and exploded, ending in failure.

You know, the communication satellite on the rocket alone is worth 500 million US dollars.

The final accident investigation concluded that the computer controlling the inertial navigation system. An invalid data was sent to the computer controlling the engine nozzles. It is caused by an overflow when a 64-bit floating point number is converted into a 16-bit signed integer, but the ada language did not check this execution code security problem during the compilation process.

At present, the project is in the research and development of the ada language compiler, and has encountered big troubles, which leads to low efficiency of code operation.

It is completely predictable that if you really compete with the intel80286 for speed, it is not surprising that the horse stumbles, it is nothing more than a question of how far behind,

The R\u0026D team headed by Fred Pollack has complicated and delicate feelings about this.

It is obviously more advanced than intel80286, but its running speed is slower than that of the latter.

Andy Grove advocated cooperating with Tang Huan on the project. In addition to looking at the bright future of Fangyuan Computer's terminal products in terms of microprocessor demand, he also wanted to use Zheru's strong strength in the field of programming language compilers.

At this stage, Zheru's macro compilation, c6800 and 68000 series, and s6502 series have developed into very popular commercial compiler products, not only adopted by various computer companies, but also used by many universities for teaching.

In addition, Zheru also has successful compiler implementations for application-specific programming languages ​​such as , , and ada.

Before, Andy Grove got support from Tang Huan for the mainstream programming language compiler for intel 80286. He wanted to extend this cooperation experience to ada. Some are not convinced.

Tang Huan didn't care what Fred Pollack and his group thought. He waved his hand with a smile, and quickly built a test platform with the engineers who came.

The same ada evaluation program runs on the same operating frequency of 8z and intel80286 respectively.

After the results came out, the faces of everyone present were very exciting.

Tang Huan gasped. Xin said, It's no wonder that advanced technology often does not mean that the running speed of commercial success is only a quarter of that of intel 80286. Intel really gave me a vivid lesson for free.

Fred Pollack bit the bullet and explained: This result is mainly caused by the ada language compiler. I believe that after Zheru's optimization, it will definitely not be the current performance. The other design implementation is very complicated and must The hardware advantage can only be reflected at a high operating frequency, and the current 8z is too low.

The problem with the ada language compiler. I can understand, after all, it is a brand new cpu, and it really needs a process of continuous improvement.

Tang Huan nodded, But since you know that the operating frequency is very important, why only the 8z version is because the manufacturing process is too complicated?

Seeing that Fred Pollack was speechless, Tang Huan yelled, I remembered, the current intel80286 only has a 125z version at most. It seems that the fundamental business purpose of the memory business has limited the microprocessor department. development of.

Company management matters. We R\u0026D personnel don't know much about it. Fred Pollack quickly found himself a step down.

Seeing that the successful attack on the R\u0026D team is enough to guarantee his own right to speak in the next cooperation process, Tang Huan no longer embarrasses the other party. He waved his hands and said, In any case, we can try to cooperate. But there is one thing, it must be limited to one year. If the real commercial value cannot be demonstrated by then, Zheru may choose to withdraw.

At this point, Tang Huan realized that Andy Grove was not there.

Where's Grove? Tang Huan asked in surprise.

He went to an impromptu meeting. Grove's assistant replied: When he left, he saw that you were discussing very seriously, so he didn't disturb you. I'm very sorry.

It's okay. Tang Huan nodded slightly. I'll go find him.

This time I came to Intel headquarters, in addition to taking advantage of the opportunity to discuss project cooperation with the other party. Tang Huan also planned to contact Andy Grove alone.

For the major issue of transforming the main business from memory to processor, among the three giants of Intel. Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore are very conservative for various reasons, and only Andy Grove is very active.

It is a pity that Andy Grove's position in Intel is just a strict corporate management executive who sings bad faces. Once such a major decision is involved, his right to speak is very limited.

But Tang Huan still hopes to open a gap from Andy Grove, because he has taken a fancy to Intel's semiconductor factory.

If Intel decides to transform, these redundant memory production lines will inevitably need to be dealt with; even if Intel is hesitant about the transformation, in the current Japan-US semiconductor war, it may be a good idea to relocate the factory for the sake of cost reduction.

The destination suggestion that Tang Huan wants to give is Mainland China.

Optimistic about the balancing role of China, a major country in the East, in the Cold War situation, the United States frequently extended an olive branch, and China, which started reform and opening up, also responded positively, and the relationship between the two countries heated up sharply.

Deng's visit to the United States in January 1979 started a series of high-level and important exchanges between the two countries. On March 1 of the same year, the two countries officially established embassies in Beijing and Washington. US Vice President Walter Mondale paid a return visit to Chief Deng in August.

With the deepening of high-level and working-level contacts between the two sides, the two countries began to conduct dialogues on a wider range of issues, including global and regional strategies, politics, military, disarmament, the United Nations and other multilateral organization affairs, and signed a number of bilateral treaties , especially exchange activities and trade exchanges in the fields of science, technology and culture.

These include the scientific and technological cooperation treaty, as well as some treaties in the maritime field and civil aviation connection signed in September 1980.

In May 1982, US Vice President Bush Sr. visited China again.

On August 17, 1982, China and the United States signed the third joint communiqué, the August 17 Communiqué.

As 1984 approached, Chinese Premier's visit to the United States and US President Ronald Reagan's visit to China, two high-level events, were ready to go.

In short, the current situation of Sino-US relations is very good, and cooperation in the high-tech field can be further borrowed.

Tang Huan has wooed Motorola to build a semiconductor factory in China, and Intel is his next lobbying target.

However, Tang Huan would not have imagined that the topics being discussed in the Intel conference room at this time were not friendly to him.

In addition to the Intel Big Three, the participants included major shareholders of Intel and Apple, Arthur Rock, who is known as the father of venture capital, and Don Estridge.

I know that Fangyuan Computer Company has signed an order for Intel 80286 with Intel, but IB intends to buy all Intel 80286 at a high price and is responsible for the compensation for breach of contract. Don Estridge, who was authorized by the headquarters, said richly.

Seeing that Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore did not express their opinions immediately, but instead turned their attention to themselves, the straightforward Andy Grove said directly: This will affect Intel's reputation in the industry. The last time ib tried to squeeze out Intel 8088 orders The full production capacity of intel8086, but in fact, apart from making Tang Huan dissatisfied with us, it has not affected the manufacturing process of Fangyuan personal computers at all, and they have enough alternatives.”

This time the situation is different. Don Estridge smiled confidently, Intel80286 has undergone many error corrections since it was released last year. Therefore, even if the second supplier's license has been issued Yes, but currently only Intel has the ability to supply batches. I believe that the time difference will be as small as half a year, which is just right for Fangyuan PCs, which were launched later than the third generation, to reverse the disadvantage and attack Fangyuan PCs in the mid-to-high end. advantage of the market.

Robert Noyce spoke at this time, ib has agreed to support our memory business.

Gordon Moore went on to say: Fangyuan Computer Company only needs the high-end version of 125z intel 80286. Although the remaining low-end products are purchased by Fangyuan PC compatible machine manufacturers, they can't compare to the convenience of buying ib disks.

Arthur Locke finally added, IB owns 20% of Intel's shares, and I agree with this transaction. So, no matter what, the decision will be passed. But I have to analyze it for everyone, only use Intel's CPU, But the microprocessors of Fangyuan personal computer also include 68000 series and s6502 series, as well as the z80 series used by Tangdi computer. From this perspective, it is self-evident how to choose and choose to maximize the benefits.”

Since you have all discussed it, why did you call me here? Andy Grove muttered to himself, and glanced at everyone present speechlessly.

The information revealed in their eyes made Andy Grove suddenly realize, This is to make me a villain, come forward to negotiate with Tang Huan, and bear the wrath of the richest man in the world.

Don't use such a foolish boy. Andy Grove almost complained, but he held back immediately, and sighed inwardly, Isn't that what my duty is?

If this is the final opinion, I submit to the decision of the board of directors. Andy Grove said in a muffled voice, I hope that the struggle between the two giants of ib Fangyuan Computer Company, the old and the new, will not affect the ordinary Intel as much as possible. suppliers.” To be continued.

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