1991 Starting from the core

"I definitely can't survive it." After sighing, Su Yuanshan shook his head and gave his judgment.

"Do you mean to give Warwick a death notice?" Li Mingliu looked at Su Yuanshan with a smile - as Su Yuanshan's most capable assistant and partner in the semiconductor field, he naturally knew that Su Yuanshan's eyes had always been on the entire domestic semiconductor industry. .

Nowadays, the domestic semiconductor industry has shifted from the previous goal of "domestic substitution" to "catching up with the leader."

But after all, this is an industry that carries the technological foundation of the current industrial revolution. Everyone knows that this is the future. You are chasing after you hard, but others are also running hard behind...

Therefore, even though China has launched four semiconductor support projects in the past ten years, and semiconductor giants like Yuanxin continue to invest in the country, there are still...some areas that have failed to meet expectations.

These four semiconductor industry projects are respectively 908 of the last century - supporting Huajing, 909 - making Wuxi a "core city", 910 - allowing the LCD panel industry and BOE to rise, 1008 - relying on China The background of the Nibang Free Trade Agreement supports the rise of upstream companies such as the semiconductor raw materials industry, Shojin, and Ji'an Chemical Industry.

But semiconductor is a big industry after all, and it is becoming more and more segmented. For example, IC design is constantly fragmented due to the emergence of various special-purpose chips and the expansion of the market.

The Yuanxin CPU department is chip design, and the flash memory department is also chip design. The same is true for GPU, DSP, and even the NPU - neural-network processing units jointly launched by Pandora Labs and Silicon Core.

Among these many IC fields, FPGA is still far behind domestically.

What's terrible is that Yuanxin's demand for FPGA chips is increasing day by day.

FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array, translated as field programmable logic gate array, is in the same vein as the past PAL, GAL, etc., but due to the improvement of chip performance, its application scenarios have greatly increased.

In the past, programmable chips such as PAL and GAL were mostly used in certain scenarios where the quantity requirements were small but special customized chips were required, such as aircraft and various large-scale program-controlled equipment - these products sometimes had entire production cycles. It doesn't require hundreds or even thousands of chips, but these chips need to be specially designed - as we all know, if you go to a wafer factory just for a few thousand chips, no matter how rich your family background is, it will be ruined.

In addition, these programmable chips can also be used for preliminary verification of some uncomplicated ASICs - that is, after designing them on EDA first, they do not rush to tape-out, but run on FPGA first. Once again, if there is no problem, take it to tape-out.

Nowadays, with the continuous advancement of manufacturing processes and technology, the performance of FPGA is also increasing day by day, so that it has become the first choice in the communication field, industry, aerospace, military industry and other fields.

For example, for a base station company like Yuanxin, if all the chips are tape-out... the cost will be too high.

At present, Yuexin's partners have always been Xilinx and Lattice.

…

"The death penalty does not count. It just illustrates a situation. It is difficult for Warwick to develop FPGA by itself. Unless the country provides targeted support again..." Su Yuanshan smiled and shook his head: "But how can the country now have so many Are you going to devote more energy to support? Poverty alleviation, infrastructure, military industry, biology, the next generation technological revolution, the large scientific research system... which one is not more important than the small field of FPGA?"

Li Ming and Liu Shen agreed: "That's right."

"But FPGA is also very closely related to us. I don't want to be choked by others in the future... So please go over there again and talk more."

"Yeah." Li Mingliu nodded, and then said: "But I think... if you take action on this matter, maybe Warwick will agree."

Su Yuanshan glanced at him: "You are lazy, don't make excuses..."

Li Mingliu coughed twice.

"Let's go and check out the building next door. I guess Lao Gao will have to call me if I don't go."

Then... As soon as Su Yuanshan finished speaking, his cell phone rang...

…

The caller was of course Gao Xiaodi.

Just as Su Yuanshan said, he was almost dozing off after waiting and didn't expect anyone, so he made a phone call.

In Gao Xiaodi's office, Su Yuanshan and Li Mingliu listened to the recent work reports of Gao Xiaodi and several people in charge. Of course, they all focused on technical progress and did not mention the market.

But if Gao Xiaodi didn't mention the market, Su Yuanshan would not let him go.

After all, the CPU department was transformed into a subsidiary a few years ago and is now considered a company with a complete team. It is only because it is fully controlled by Yuanxin that there are no changes on the surface.

"Lao Gao, let me say it first... I haven't used Intel or AMD processors for ten years. I admit that the latest Auron can meet my needs, but consumers want more than just meeting their needs."

"Hey, I know that what consumers want is cost-effectiveness... so we have always done very well in terms of cost-effectiveness." Gao Xiaodi licked his face and never mentioned the consumer market share: "But we performed very well in the server field. , the Zhulong series can already compete with Intel's Zhiqiang series."

"Um……"

Su Yuanshan said "hmm" to express his "reluctant" agreement.

After all, he originally decided to walk on two legs: consumer grade and server. The essence is to achieve domestic substitution in the server field, thereby completing de-I in the era of the Internet explosion and making money for equipment.

Now ten years later, since Chengdian Hi-Tech acquired Inspur, it has formed a one-stop domestic server industry chain from processors, to memory, to equipment integration, and Linux operating system. And because of Yuanxin's influence in the Internet field... Therefore, not to mention domestic server rooms, even abroad, Chengdian Hi-Tech has become a strong competitor of IBM, DELL, and HP server suppliers.

In this industry chain, everyone makes money, and even the most upstream Yuanxin CPU department has achieved overall profitability as a result.

But Su Yuanshan still "reluctantly" agreed... naturally because he knew that if the current server industry chain continued... it would not work.

That's so safe.

Stability will lead to loss of progress, this is inevitable.

"Consumer-grade processors are still the most important thing to pay attention to at the moment. As long as Intel continues to be destroyed, we cannot relax." Su Yuanshan looked at Gao Xiaodi and saw that this guy had turned into a pot-bellied middle-aged man at a speed visible to the naked eye. The young man... He looked down at himself again.

Fortunately, I maintain a good figure.

"Well, I never let up." Gao Xiaodi also followed Su Yuanshan's gaze and immediately guessed Su Yuanshan's thoughts like a roundworm in Su Yuanshan's stomach, and immediately shouted: "Holy shit, you are despising me. figure?"

"No!" Su Yuanshan categorically denied: "I just think you should exercise."

"You still say no?" Gao Xiaodi glanced at the treadmill in the corner of the office with a sad look on his face.

——Except for trying it out during the two days he moved in, this thing has been gathering dust the rest of the time.

Everyone laughed together.

After laughing, Li Mingliu took over the words: "I think the processor may still need to change its thinking. Introduce new thinking..."

"What do you mean?" Gao Xiaodi looked at him immediately.

"It's not interesting. What I mean is, do you want to try with another architect?" Li Mingliu shrugged, not caring about Gao Xiaodi's stunned look, and said with a smile: "Lao Gao, don't look at me with that look. Now they are no longer on the front line of architectural design.”

Su Yuanshan also looked at Li Mingliu with some surprise.

Obviously, Li Mingliu... is indeed talking about the crux of the current Yuanxin CPU department.

Gao Xiaodi, as a well-established general, is naturally okay - even though he is now pot-bellied, he looks like the kind of government cadre who has enjoyed a long time ago, but he is purely "sit" out. Problems caused by "suffering".

Gao Xiaodi's fighting spirit is not much worse than Li Mingliu's.

It is precisely because of these two people that Yuanxin's flash memory department can take the lead, and it also allows Yuanxin's CPU department to become one of the top four CPU companies despite being twenty years behind Silicon Valley.

You know, CPU is a typical winner-takes-all market, and as long as the winner doesn't make mistakes, the advantage will generally become more and more magnified.

And compared to the Intel in Su Yuanshan's memory, Intel in this life is not a toothpaste factory. Nowadays, with the manufacturing process and Deyuan advancing hand in hand, the new processors launched by Intel every year will have two remarkable points and performance improvements.

It can only be said that Intel really has a sense of crisis when facing the three pursuers behind, and is trying its best to deal with it.

Therefore, no matter how high Su Yuanshan's expectations were for the CPU, he never expressed dissatisfaction or blame to Gao Xiaodi.

But...even if there are all kinds of practical reasons, there is still one fact that cannot be concealed, that is...

In the field of architectural design, Gao Xiaodi does not have much talent.

Although Su Yuanshan has it, he can only provide a large, overall framework. The person who does the specific work and solves the specific problems is Gao Xiaodi.

Facing the eyes of the room full of people, Li Mingliu smiled again.

"Our brothers are all old acquaintances for more than ten years. Mr. Shan is here today, so let's just talk openly. I think, Lao Gao, human energy has its limits, and you have to accept it."

Gao Xiaodi smiled: "This is it."

"So, I think the server chips you have captured are good enough. There is no need to capture consumer-grade chips..."

"You are right, but who can take over from me?" Gao Xiaodi said while looking at Su Yuanshan.

The only person in Yuanxin who can do his job is Mr. Shan.

Even Gao Xiaodi knew very well that as long as Su Yuanshan was willing to join the team and come here, and still follow the same work style and attitude as in the Jiangdu Building era...

The elimination of Intel is just around the corner.

but……

This is obviously impossible.

Facing Gao Xiaodi's gaze, Su Yuanshan smiled and exhaled slowly.

Of course, he doesn't have the time or energy to concentrate on the processor department. In the future, his focus will not only be on grasping the development direction of Yuanxin, coordinating various relationships, and being the "mascot", but also More energy will be invested in scientific research.

And at this time... Su Yuanshan really couldn't find better talents - of course, it's not that he didn't have backup candidates.

One of his first disciples was in integrated circuit design.

Yue Hongyi.

Since graduation, Yue Hongyi has entered the processor department and has now become a general in the field of logic circuits, and is also involved in architecture design and discussions.

But now, Yue Hongyi is not good enough.

At this moment, Li Mingliu suddenly said.

"What about Jim Keller?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at him.

Su Yuanshan, in particular, looked even more surprised.

"You all know Jim Keller, right? He is planning to change jobs recently." Li Mingliu looked at Su Yuanshan: "If we can pull him over... I think it is feasible."

Su Yuanshan took a deep breath and looked at Li Mingliu after a moment: "Are you sure Jim wants to change jobs? Isn't he doing a good job in Xinghai?"

"Well, sure... but I'm not sure if he is interested in coming to our side, or to the country." Li Mingliu looked at Gao Xiaodi again: "Old Gao..."

Gao Xiao patted his thigh for the first time: "If it's really Jim coming, then I can't wait to do it! Xinghai relies on this old man and has almost destroyed AMD in the past few years. He sits there and looks around. If he can come... we Can we at least kill Xinghai?"

——In today's time and space, Jim Keller's fame is not as widely spread as in later generations, but in the industry, he is already famous.

After all, everyone in the industry knows who has made the greatest contribution to a processor.

Jim Keller is the kind of genius who can directly lead an advanced architecture.

Hearing Gao Xiaodi say to kill Xinghai, Su Yuanshan frowned slightly.

Li Mingliu coughed lightly when he saw this - after all, Xinghai was also Mr. Shan's cub.

Gao Xiaodi understood and laughed: "Healthy competition, the ultimate goal is Intel."

Su Yuanshan glanced at the two of them, his brows still not raised: "It's no problem to kill anyone. What I'm thinking about is how to invite him... This kind of thing... is still a bit troublesome."

As "sister" companies, the relationship between Xinghai and Yuanxin has been harmonious and harmonious from the beginning. Even before Xinghai went public, Xinghai would send financial reports to Yuanxin every financial quarter. After that, whether it is communication technology, communication equipment, or processors... Yuanxin and Xinghai are cooperating and developing together in a way where you have me and I have you.

As a result, the relevant departments in the United States have great opinions on Xinghai. If it weren't for the strong temper of Xinghai's boss Carly and the biggest political correctness of being a woman, another person might not be able to stand it long ago. .

And since Kali has a strong temper... it would be inappropriate for Yuanxin to recruit people... or even take them over after they resign...

In the past more than ten years, both parties have maintained a tacit understanding not to poach each other. Of course, job-hopping is allowed - but that is limited to ordinary employees.

Jim Keller is no ordinary employee.

Hearing Su Yuanshan's concerns, Li Mingliu and Gao Xiaodi also calmed down.

But then, Li Mingliu frowned and hummed softly: "I think, since we are short of this person... then we can't let him go to the competitor. As for Xinghai's attitude... Lao Gao , how long has it been since you and Claude have been in contact?"

Gao Xiao was startled for the first time, then coughed: "It must have been almost a year."