The game controller is a small matter, but the Changhe chip is a big deal. Xinghai Driving School has Li Yuan and Mo Shaokun in charge, so Chen Zifan only needs to solve the chip production line of the Changhe project team first and start it for actual testing.
The Changhe project team is located on the far left side of the core area of the Stardust Factory. When Chen Zifan entered, a large number of people had gathered, all of whom were debugging equipment. Some relatively simple equipment had already been built.
The more complicated part is still in the dust-free workshop at the end, which contains a variety of advanced production equipment. Parts that cannot be produced can be manufactured elsewhere, and a lot of effort is gathered for the chip.
The help provided by the official was also spared no effort. As long as Chen Zifan had a request, the best service would be arranged immediately. As soon as the parts were produced, a special plane would be sent to Haicheng, waiting for them to start the machine for actual testing.
The streamlined + magically modified chip production line created by Chen Zifan through [Analysis of Copycats] and [Synthetic Creation] is a 40nm process, which seems to be much better than the 65nm process of Dimensity 200, but in fact it is not.
In the development process of chip manufacturing, even in the 22nm period, there are still many manufacturers in the world that can easily achieve it and still have the ability to make breakthroughs.
The watershed was not until 14nm. Chen Zifan remembers that it was 2015. Many manufacturers led by UMC fell, but the one that impressed him most was 2017.
Intel, which once dominated the world, fell to the 10nm process. Looking back on those days, Samsung and TSMC could only follow Intel and eat dust, unable to catch up.
When it comes to the 7nm process, almost only Samsung is left. TSMC is still competing, but Samsung's 14nm yield rate is not as good as TSMC's, its 10nm's energy efficiency is not as good as TSMC's, and its 7nm process is not as good as TSMC's...
Samsung's technology has been criticized for several times, and even Qualcomm had to abandon this partner and switch to TSMC. In the end, TSMC became the only foundry capable of mass-producing 5nm chips.
Therefore, the 40nm process of Changhe Chip Engineering is nothing at all to Chen Zifan. He will not relax his vigilance for a moment until it reaches the 3nm chip process. Why will it not continue after reaching 3nm?
Isn’t it said that in theory, a chip with a 1nm process can be achieved? The research and development costs include [synthetic creation]. Chen Zifan is not afraid at all. He only thinks about one thing:
The 3nm process chips are already very limited, so why bother sticking to silicon-based chips? We can completely change the direction and develop in multiple directions such as carbon-based chips, organic chips, optical quantum chips, etc. This is the future.
For example, the average thermal efficiency of internal combustion engines will only be 35% after 15 years of development, while the average efficiency of motors can reach 87%, and advanced motors can exceed 90%...
Of course, this is only one aspect. Efficiency does not represent everything. The abnormal craftsmanship of some high-end internal combustion engines will amaze everyone when they see it. Electric motors have just started, and there is still a long way to go in the future.
Although the 40nm chip manufacturing process is far from enough in Chen Zifan's opinion, it is already considered an advanced chip manufacturing process these days, and their production line is different from ordinary ones in that it has been streamlined and transformed.
Putting aside other things, at least in terms of basics, the Changhe chip production line can completely surpass all the equipment Chen Zifan saw at the high-precision technology exhibition.
But he has never seen the chip production lines of other manufacturers, and he cannot guarantee that the chip production lines led by Intel are not as good as his. It still depends on the final product.
Watching the technicians of the Changhe project team debugging the equipment, Chen Zifan rarely opened [Stardust Technology] in his mind and checked the employee column:
The number of employees of Stardust Technology has exceeded 20,000. In fact, there are only about 10,000 employees in Haicheng, and the rest are employees of Stardust branches in various places.
The current construction progress of the Stardust branch is very fast, and with the addition of Stardust Express... its influence is growing, but it is only limited to the influence of its products, and does not have the status of the Stardust Technology headquarters in Haicheng.
The wages and benefits of branch employees are relatively worse, but they are better than those of most companies. For the same position, Stardust Technology has never been bad.
From the [Stardust Technology] in consciousness, we can see that Stardust Technology branches are scattered on the map of China. They are still very sparse. Some cities have not yet developed and are not suitable for building branches.
Just when Chen Zifan was immersed in [Stardust Technology], an employee called him several times:
"Dr. Chen...Dr. Chen?"
"Huh? What's the matter?"
"Over there...the team leader asked me to send a message. I want to discuss with you about the Changhe 3 chip..."
"I see."
There are a total of twenty-six Stardust Technology technicians and official chip researchers. They are all core members of the Changhe chip project team. It is said that they are discussing, and I am afraid they have already prepared a specific plan.
Chen Zifan entered a temporary conference room they had gathered together, and more than twenty pairs of eyes suddenly looked over. He was speechless. Is there something that cannot be sent to send a representative? Come here if you need it?
Then he saw the white curtain in the middle of the conference room light up, which was the design draft of Changhe 3.
"We conducted research based on the existing chip production equipment drawings and designed the Changhe 3 chip solution based on the 40nm process technology. In the end, we agreed that the three-core chip is the best way..."
Chen Zifan:......
Three...three cores?
Last time he said that cutting off a core of the Dimensity 300 was just a metaphor. What is going on now?
He has seen single-core, dual-core, quad-core, eight-core, ten-core... but he has never seen a three-core chip. In his memory, AMD seems to have launched a three-core processor next year, and that was because one of the cores was blocked.
.
This is originally a slanted approach. Compared with the development model that people are more concerned about, tri-core chips may indeed achieve unexpected results in special times, but now...
Is it based on three cores?
These R&D personnel may also understand what Chen Zifan is thinking. They directly showed the concept drawings of a Longhe chip production line and Changhe 3, and confidently stated:
"The Changhe chip production line is different from any production line we have seen before. It is too special, and some of its designs completely subvert our understanding, so chip design cannot be conventional.
After our theoretical simulation, the most suitable chip for Changhe chip production line is a chip with a multiple of 3. Take Changhe 3 as an example. Its three cores have the same frequency and the same size, but it has one characteristic:
When the frequency needs to be increased, any two of the three cores can be connected to form two cores, one large and one small. When not needed, there are three cores. In special cases, the three cores will be superimposed.
Eventually, a super large core will be formed, which can increase the chip frequency of Changhe 3 to more than 5 times the daily level in a short period of time. It is very exaggerated! If it can be produced, it will be a completely new direction..."
Chen Zifan:???
For the first time, he felt a little unable to keep up with his ideas. What do you mean? Three cores can change into two cores at any time? Two cores can change into a single core at any time? Can such a sensitive switch be achieved in actual use? What should I do if the cores pretend to be dead?
"We don't have time for trial and error, we only have one chance. If the tape-out fails and Changhe 3 fails to meet the requirements, then the Stardust 3+ product line will be temporarily cut off. I hope you can understand what the cost is."
Even if it fails, Chen Zifan will not blame these R&D personnel. It is normal for the design chip to fail, but if Stardust 3+ is axed... next year's Stardust conference will lose one of the most important roles.
It can be made up for later, but there will definitely not be the shocking scene when many new products are released together.
The twenty-six R&D personnel also understood what Chen Zifan meant. Instead of shrinking, they were very firm in their opinions: "This is the result that we unanimously agree on, and we believe it will be fine!"
"Okay, let's follow your plan."
After leaving the Changhe project team, Chen Zifan felt uncertain. Now he could only choose to believe in the Changhe chip production line after [Analysis of Shanzhai] and [Synthetic Creation], as well as these domestic chip R&D personnel.
He doesn't care. If it fails, then the release time of Stardust 3+ will be delayed. But that will cause some regrets, and it will be a pity that it took so long to prepare...
But how can there be no regrets in life?
The dust has yet to be settled, and everything is still uncertain. No matter what the result is, Chen Zifan will definitely bring the most shocking press conference of this era to China at the Xinghai Stadium, as well as more "future" products!
Returning to the Stardust Technology headquarters, he received another report submitted by Zhao Wushang. In addition to various financial statements, sales data, and hot controversial events, there were also some specific situations in the Stardust community:
In the Stardust community, the two most popular columns currently are: Xinghan mini and Stardust 2 limited edition.
The discussion about Xinghan Mini is nothing more than more leaked photos and videos, when will it be launched, how is the driving experience, and can new energy vehicles work?
In terms of appearance alone, Xinghan Mini is indeed attractive. At first glance, it seems like nothing, but the more you see it, the more you like it. It has great appearance, exquisite interior, and rich configurations. So what if it is a Taiwanese car?
Can't we go and see it after we get out?
If you don’t like it, just don’t buy it.
Xinghan Mini is one of those people who is a little surprised at first glance, but also disdainful: Isn’t it just Taiwan’s old man’s music? What’s so good about it? But after looking at it for a long time, I only have one thought: go to TM! Labor and management love old man’s music!
Unless practical conditions do not allow it, few people can refuse such a big toy.
Some trams Not to mention female users. They don’t know anything about cars. They only know that the Xinghan Mini is so cute that even middle-aged aunts feel girly after seeing it. Many people who have never driven a car actually asked about their driver’s license.
But their husbands were shocked, and they were also afraid, what if their daughter-in-law learned to drive and drove her own car every day, and then something happened to her...
In fact, there are roadkillers for both men and women. Some people are not suitable for driving by nature. Even if they learn to drive, their licenses are just sitting in the dust. Some people drive hard even though they are clearly not suitable and have no safety awareness. Who can be blamed for an accident?
Fortunately, winter is about to enter, and many people are less enthusiastic about learning to drive. They are planning to wait until spring next year. Besides, the Xinghan Mini is not yet on the market.
It’s just that Chen Zifan didn’t expect that Xinghan Mini’s influence would suddenly become so great. It was clear that there was still a lot of criticism in the first two months, but now it has reversed so quickly?
Sure enough, appearance is the biggest killer.
The second one is about the limited edition of Stardust 2...
Chen Zifan is not prepared to give Stardust 2 a limited edition at all. Stardust 3 is a 3G phone and Stardust 3+ is a 4G phone. With these two models available, those who bought the limited edition Stardust 2 may have to suffer a lot next year.
of blow.
But the voice of the Stardust community is so high, he is also considering whether to really prepare a limited edition?
Since Stardust users "all" wanted it so much, he had to make sure it was true, so he arranged for the Stardust marketing department to release the news first using a breaking account:
"For next year's Stardust 3 press conference, Stardust Technology has prepared a blockbuster new product with a higher positioning!"
Higher positioning = stronger configuration = more expensive!
Anyway, it is a breaking account, 99% of which are true. Even if the remaining 1% is false, they are really hit. Most users will not say anything after learning the specific situation.
Immediately afterwards, Chen Zifan asked the Stardust Marketing Department to issue an announcement using the official account of Stardust Technology:
"Stardust 2 limited edition? Please select↓
Whether×(0/1000000)"
At present, the total number of Stardust users in China is only over 20 million, and the daily active users are less than a quarter, about 6 million. It is almost impossible to get 1 million.
Chen Zifan’s original intention was not to make a limited edition version of Stardust 2, so he deliberately asked such a difficult question. He knew that the most aggressive people online may not necessarily represent the mainstream group, so he was not worried at all.
This is impossible. There are 6 million users, and on average one out of every six wants the Stardust 2 limited edition?
What he didn't expect was that the news about Stardust Technology's official account directly aroused the rebellious mentality of netizens, who all left messages under the announcement:
"Look down on us? What's this long string of zeros for? It's quite bluffing, brothers, come on!"
"Point! Give me some!"
"What fancy stuff is Stardust Technology doing? Is it marketing hype again? Damn it! One person can only click once? That's enough!"
"Stardust 1 has sold 20 million units! Just one million is nothing! If you are a brother, just order them all!"
“Forwarded to the KouKou group!”
"..."
Seeing this movement, Chen Zifan was really shocked. After two hours, the number under the announcement changed to (13691/1000000). There were only more than 10,000 clicks, and the thunder was loud and the rain was small~
Chen Zifan finally felt relieved and became more interested. He was almost vomiting from working on engineering projects every day, so he just took this opportunity to relax:
"Haha, so what if you are rebellious? Do you really think you can get one million user points? Even if you get enough, there will be blind orders next! Aren't they all limited editions? I will release it when the number of blind orders is enough... "
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