Chapter 222 Minicomputer Plan

On June 17, China successfully exploded a hydrogen bomb.

It was on this day that Catherine's family finally returned to the United States from Hong Kong... Of course, according to the doctor, Bruce would have to recover from his injuries for a while if he did not want to leave any sequelae.

But returning to the United States does not mean that I can take some time off.

——IBM is preparing to enter Japan.

So, as soon as Catherine returned to California, she held a meeting.

In terms of grand strategy, Catherine's Ark company needs to first popularize 16-bit machines, and then take the lead in developing 32-bit models. This is the most beneficial thing for itself.

In terms of tactics, Catherine will use means to turn IBM's 16-bit machine into a ridiculous thing.

"IBM is preparing to enter the Japanese market. Everyone, do you have any good ideas?"

Catherine asked first.

"IBM has sufficient funds, and it is impossible for the other party to compromise." Olson first said: "I analyzed IBM's policies over the years, and the only way to make them surrender is to defeat them."

Catherine nodded.

Sanders proposed:

"Perhaps... we can license the production of CPUs or Microsoft II computers to Japan?"

Indeed, the easiest way to make IBM suffer is to license the CPU to Japanese manufacturers.

But Catherine is no fool.

In terms of industrial development, the Japanese are all wild dogs and hungry wolves.

Catherine shook her head.

"If IBM is a wolf, then Japanese manufacturers are a group of locusts. Although wolves are ferocious, locusts are even more terrifying."

Catherine suddenly thought that someone once said this——

"When we look at financial statements, we think about next quarter, but the Japanese think about the next century."

The collapse of the American television industry is a clear proof of this.

The Detroit Motor City in the United States is declining day by day, which is also a case in point.

Anyway, this is the only thing that is not allowed.

Sanders shrugged.

"By the way... call Roberts over, we are going to develop a new project."

As Catherine spoke, she took out the plan she had prepared.

"In addition to having a 2D display effect for our next-generation equipment, we also need the system to have a 3D display effect."

Catherine said this.

"3d?"

Everyone else was stunned for a moment.

"That's right, it's 3D."

It doesn't have to be pure 3D. It's also completely feasible to use a 2D operation method similar to a 3D perspective - that's what "Duke Nukem" did back then.

"Of course, this will not be achieved overnight. For now, we still focus on 2D programs and games."

Catherine said.

By this time, Roberts had already arrived in the conference room.

"Roberts, please tell everyone about your GPU plan."

Catherine said.

The Eight Rebels, led by Roberts, are currently studying GPUs.

"The so-called gpu is a graphics processor. This is a processing device that uses floating point operations, which is different from a CPU. When designing a graphics processor, the technology is not the difficulty. The difficulty is how to build a system suitable for such use of floating point operations.

Structure."

"Yes." Catherine added, "This graphics core is very good at processing images. If it is integrated into the CPU, we can make our images even better."

"Is it just for the 3D effect? ​​But the GPU should be more useful?"

Sanders seems to be very interested in GPUs.

"Of course, the GPU is a graphics computing engine, but we can use it in calculations. We can completely use our technology to allow the GPU to assist the CPU in computing."

Historically, GPUs developed later have higher craftsmanship than CPUs. Now, GPUs have been developed ahead of schedule, so at least for a period of time, CPUs will lag behind the development of GPUs. At this time, you can completely develop it yourself.

GPU

——In fact, if it weren’t for the fact that Flipper’s programmable backend patent was registered by Nintendo, ATI had to use another method to implement programmable sampling, and the development of GPUs and graphics cards would be faster.

"However, the two technologies are completely different. Can we really achieve it..." Roberts was a little strange, but it seemed that he suddenly thought of something, "No, we can add some instructions to the GPU, and then in our program

, setting up some programs that allow GPU-assisted operations. Not only that, the performance of a machine with GPU-assisted operations is even better than using dual CPUs... But in this case, wouldn't our program be very big? "

The other party is worthy of being the founder of Intel in history, and he immediately saw the future of GPUs.

"Yes, but in the next generation, our programs will fully use optical drive devices. In this way, our programs can reach a maximum storage capacity of 700MB. In this case, will our space still be insufficient?"

Catherine stood up and continued: "I call this technology CUDA, which is compute-unified-device-architecture. We must open this technology to third-party manufacturers."

"Open to third parties? Is it necessary?"

Sanders asked.

"Yes, in this way, we can increase the third party's dependence on us. Only our computers can have sufficient performance, which IBM cannot do at this time. We can authorize the production of CPUs, but within a period of time,

We will not open up GPU technology...Of course, when we have achieved sufficient technical advantages, we will also open up the GPU market."

Catherine said this.

After forming its own technical advantages, it became invincible, and when it opened up the hardware market, it attracted the fastest third parties.

——Of course, sometimes it makes life difficult for certain manufacturers.

Now that Fairchild has lost its Eight Rebellions, the company is still profitable, but the building has become crumbling.

"The only problem now is...funding." Roberts said.

"That's not a problem," Catherine said.

"But how do we recover the cost?" Olson asked: "This is a new thing, we don't know what the risks are, if it fails..."

"Yes." Sanders also had some concerns, although he seemed to be very interested in this thing, "The price of our Microsoft II computer is not very high, but if we sell it too high in the next generation of computers,

If so, it would be very detrimental to us.”

"We can segment the average user from the average user."

Catherine said.

"Business users will need more stable and faster computing equipment. GPUs will first take the high-end route, and then gradually expand to the low-end market."

"This device will not be used on 16-bit computers first, but on minicomputers. Olson, Roberts, the next step depends on your cooperation."

Minicomputers are Olson's reserved project, so there isn't much of a problem in this regard.

"Our main goal this time should be to focus on those universities and professors. I think they will definitely hope to have such a 'cute' machine."

IBM developed portable computers in the 1970s, and its main target was this group of people, and it was successful.

By doing this, Catherine began to dig holes in IBM's future.

Catherine laughed without thinking.

This is a good move, really.

"We can first start cooperation with Stanford University."

After all, I have cooperated with Stanford University many times, and the atmosphere between the two parties is very good.

And compared to this society, the atmosphere in the university is still very pure.

"This may be good, and in terms of small computers, our selling price can also be increased, which will be more conducive to our return on capital." Olson said.

There are some differences between minicomputers and microcomputers. Small profits but quick turnover will not work - after all, this is not a product that everyone needs.

"We named this small computer using GPU the T series...how about the T800?"

Catherine thinks the Terminator looks good.

"Uh... maybe we should start from the beginning? For example, t1?"

"Maybe." Catherine shrugged.

After the meeting ended, Catherine returned to her office, opened her long-lost computer, and then entered the chat room. As soon as she entered, she saw someone howling.

Gregory the Immortal: Oh my God, I finally finished drawing the map of the world...

Aikul: Congratulations, but it's a pity that I can't see it.
To be continued...