Rebirth of the Tech Madman

Chapter 1007 The big ship set sail as scheduled

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The appearance of the trailer of the movie “Titanic” at this philosophical spring developer conference is no longer dazzling, it is only to better display the technical achievements, Tang Huan will not follow to join in the excitement for the time being, but first Put the focus on the it topic itself.

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

For example, the trailer of “Titanic” played in the form of streaming media shows that the Internet bandwidth has reached a level that can transmit video; Fangyuan, Zheru Software, and ea have officially launched Internet online sales systems, indicating that the background includes A set of systems, including the database, has the ability to cope with the explosive simultaneous requests for services under the Internet status of thousands of connections.

On the other hand, the client computer that users directly experience the experience can process the streaming media data transmitted from the network in real time, and finally play it on the display; it can finely display the information pushed by the Internet online sales system, including text, static pictures, Multimedia product introduction materials such as animation, streaming media, etc., must have sufficiently strong performance.

If it is said that 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 this Spring Developer Conference of Philosophers, then Committed to solving the “bandwidth” bottleneck of the entire system.

It is as if the city was built before only taking care of the high-rise buildings on the ground. As a result, serious waterlogging occurred when it rained, and the throughput of underground pipelines had to be increased.

With the popularity of many intensive data processing represented by multimedia applications, in addition to fast enough computing speed, the various subsystems of personal computers must also improve the throughput of data transmission-and the first part is the memory.

When it comes to memory, the first term that is related or even equivalent is basically dynamic_random_-dynamic random access memory, or dram.

The reason for this is mainly because static_random_ corresponding to dynamic random access memory-static random access memory is sram. The structure is relatively complicated, leading to high cost, and is mainly used in occasions such as the internal high-speed buffer of the cpu.

The structure of dynamic random access memory 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 static random access memory, so it has a very high density and is more suitable for computer needs. Large-capacity memory occasions.

The main difference between the two lies in this “moving and static”-due to the fact that the capacitor will leak in reality, the potential difference of the memory cell of the dynamic random access memory with too simple structure is insufficient, and the information disappears. Therefore, the capacitor needs to perform a dynamic refresh operation of periodic charging, while the relatively complex structure of the static random access memory does not have this problem-as long as the power is continuously powered, the information is constantly stored in the memory cell.

As for the disadvantages such as slower access speed and higher power consumption caused by this difference to the dynamic random access memory, it does not matter to the memory-the advantages of higher capacity and lower cost per unit volume are sufficient. A handsome hides a hundred ugly.

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

after all. Products with increasingly obvious consumer electronics attributes such as personal computers 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.

The memory used by personal computers for a long period of time belongs to “asynchronous” dynamic random access memory.

The general meaning of this “asynchronous” is that the dynamic random access memory used as memory is not synchronized with the external bus frequency of the cpu.

In order to improve the data throughput capacity of the memory, asynchronous dynamic random access memory has naturally been optimized and progressed, from the earliest page_mode_dram-page mode memory, namely pm_ram, to the maximum data throughput of fast_page_mode_ram-fast page, which can reach 176mb per second. The mode memory is fpm_ram, and the maximum data throughput is increased to 264mb extended_data_output_ram per second-the extended data output memory is edo_ram.

At this stage, edo_ram has become the mainstream memory specification for personal computers. A further improvement on this basis is burst_extended_data_output_ram-explosively expanded data output memory, namely bedo_ram.

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

As the name implies, the general meaning of this “synchronization” is that it acts as a dynamic random access memory as a memory, and the operation is synchronized with the external bus frequency of the cpu.

The well-known research and development achievements include: synchronous_dynamic_random_-synchronous dynamic random access memory is sdram, rambus company’s exclusive patented direct_rambus_dram is drdram.

In fact, regardless of the synchronous dynamic random access memory or the asynchronous dynamic random access memory, there is a delay between the external bus and the cpu during operation.

The problem with sdram at this stage is that because of the additional logic unit in the structure, the speed is inferior to bedo_ram, which is an asynchronous dynamic random access memory.

Drdram does not have such a problem, and has a good application example-just last year, Nintendo released a new generation of home video 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 562.5mb/s.

However, the technical solution of drdram itself is not so perfect. It has the disadvantages of complicated manufacturing, high delay, and large 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 wait to see how rambus operates drdram.

Obviously, Zheru is also developing various memory technologies, but for dynamic random access memory, 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 dynamic random access memory in the semiconductor industry is not so high. It is also in line with the goal of sharing interests and making the ecosystem bigger and stronger if it is given to followers who specialize in capital-intensive industrial operations.

But the rambus company is very tricky with the authorization card, and it seems to be counting on the posture of this thing to make a fortune-if it is really big and becomes the mainstream specification of the memory used by personal computers, then Tang Huan has mastery of the personal computer industry behind the scene Is 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, the words of 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 ask questions about memory in media interaction occasions.

For example, what is the future of sdram? Will drdram enter the personal computer?

Tang Huan further explained-judging from the progress of Samsung Electronics, the delay problem of sdram has been better solved. 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 prospects of sdram.

As for drdram, Tang Huan’s answer is rather vague, only mentioning-perhaps future high-end products such as workstations and servers will introduce drdram, which currently has more data throughput.

Originally, the statement of the richest man was definitely an old-fashioned and cherished attitude, but he could not hold back his followers and did not get satisfactory answers, resulting in a psychological gap.

As a result, relying on the model of Nintendo n64, Rambus, which had just succeeded in ipo on Nasdaq not long ago, turned its stocks from the thriving, which was being high hopes by investors, to the uncertainty of doubt. Down.

Tang Huan not only used a casual sentence to create the tragedy of the rambus company, but also caused infighting in the “noise” alliance through an unintentional action.

It turned out that when the richest man introduced the sixth-generation Fangyuan personal computer, he accidentally started a program. Although the “face” time is very short, it is still enough for many people to see the “Zheru Software Java Virtual Machine” from the projection. Typeface.

Now the industry and the media can blow up-what does this mean?

As we all know, Sun Microsystems absolutely belongs to the backbone of the “noise” alliance, and the relationship with Zheru Software can be imagined, but how did Zheru Software suddenly create a virtual machine for the other party’s java? What about its own c#?

Tang Huan was asked anxiously, but he just laughed and said, “Well…I don’t know the specific work content either-maybe it was a mistake, or it was a joke of a certain programmer…”

This kind of answer is certainly not satisfactory to everyone. In the end, Sun Microsystems gave a clear explanation-very simple, Zheru Software Company obtained the authorization of java.

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

Without the gossip to go to the bottom of the question, Netscape immediately announced-canceling the use of java language to develop a new generation of browser plans.

Now everyone understands-there are no eternal enemies, only eternal benefits. Facing the dominant market share of Zheru Software, Sun Microsystems chose to rebel against the “noise” alliance in order to promote Java and instead cooperate with rivals that were once incomparable.

However, strictly speaking, the “noise” alliance is just a word of mouth. The parties have not signed any “offensive and defensive alliance”. Sun Microsystems has the right to make any decision for its own benefit, and Netscape is furious. It’s useless, who leaves you without a bargaining chip that can be used to exchange benefits.

The wonderful scenes in the it circle can be described as rushing one after another.

The Spring Developer Conference of Zheru just ended, and there was a news that the former minicomputer overlord dec had ended its 40-year glorious history and was acquired by HP. This transaction involves an amount of up to 9 billion US dollars, which makes dec shareholders very satisfied.

However, it is said that this 9 billion US dollars was not paid by HP alone, and Fangyuan, Zheru, and Zheru software have also been released.

Obviously, this is another “spoil-sharing” action by the big players, and the more compelling results include-HP has obtained the 64-bit risc microprocessor alpha; Fangyuan has inherited a contract with Raytheon, which is not worthwhile Big is a multi-million dollar service for the e-2 airborne early warning aircraft.

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Ignoring all kinds of discussions caused by this , the richest man who temporarily finished processing the affairs of the it circle, began to really care about the movie “Titanic” that invested a lot of money.

To be honest, the movies that Tang Huan, who is able to deal with every day, can personally deal with, that is, “Titanic”, and his novel “The Matrix” and so on.

Twentieth Century Fox reported 40 million U.S. dollars in marketing expenses, and the richest man waved his hand-the promotion must be further strengthened, and then I will give you 20 million U.S. dollars to send “Titanic” to the Cannes Film Festival in France. In a circle.

In fact, although the preparations are well prepared, the project of “Titanic” is too big, and the whole production process has twists and turns. Coupled with the deeply pressured director James Cameron, the work is very strict, and even he was caught in the soup. The hallucinogenic drugs retaliated and brought down dozens of people from the crew.

The so many negative news has caused the critics to regard “Titanic” as the next “Water World”.

You know, the production cost of “Water World” alone reached 175 million U.S. dollars. As a result, after the 1995 summer show, the North American box office revenue was only 88 million U.S. dollars. Fortunately, the overseas box office performance was much better, with revenue of Double the total box office in North America-176 million U.S. dollars, which allowed the film to escape “becoming the most money-losing movie in history”.

Now, although the big ship of “Titanic” has set sail as scheduled, and the effect of the trailer is good, the opening performance of “Water World” is also very good at the beginning, and the result is not a cliff-like cold reception!

The outside world instinctively asks-will “Titanic” make the history of the richest man good at investment, a record of discredited reputation?