After looking at the characteristics of the Intel80286 third-generation Fangyuan computer, Andy? Grove and Gordon. Moore's face was uncontrollably happy.

Intel has added a lot of advanced features to the Intel 80286, but if this microprocessor is to be really used, it must have the support of the manufacturer.

Compared with the 20-bit address bus of Intel8086, the Intel80286 is extended to a 24-bit address bus, that is, the maximum memory space that can be supported is 16MB.

However, on the IBM-PC platform, it is almost impossible to access 1MB or more of memory space at present, and this is not without the reason why Big Blue does not want products like personal computers to threaten its high-end products in terms of performance.

There is no such restriction on the Fangyuan computer platform, and the entire Fangyuan computer product line from low-end to high-end is striving for the top in all aspects, and it will not deliberately draw a prison here in the personal computer at all.

This is also why Intel is more interested in the round computer than IBM, and it certainly hopes that the Intel80286, which has many advanced features such as protection mode, can enter the high-end market and open up new areas.

See Andy? Grove and Gordon. Moore was fascinated, Tang Huan smiled slightly, sat down in front of the Intel80286 prototype in person, turned off the spreadsheet CGrid, but retained the running state of the word processing WordEasy, and then put the first CD record in Deng Lijun's "Faint Love" album into the drive, and started the music player.

With Deng Lijun's soft singing, it sounded. Tang Huan started using WordEasy to write documents.

Andy seeing this scene for the first time? Grove and Gordon. Moore's eyes were straight at the time.

"Are you sure, our Intel80286. Is it really in this host? "Gordon. Moore asked Andy in a low voice? Grove a word.

Don't wait for Andy? Grove replied, and Tang Huan, who had excellent ears, interjected: "Of course, I was about to open the main chassis and talk to you about the technical details. ”

With the click of the enter key, the printer's characteristic running sound sounded, but during this time, the music player paused several times, but the entire computer system did not crash.

"See, no. The performance of the Intel 80286 still needs to be further improved. Tang Huan spread his hands.

"Definitely, definitely." Andy? Grove's head kept ticking like a chicken pecking at broken rice.

The engineers turned off the Intel80286 and opened its main chassis. Suddenly, a wave of heat rushed in.

"Look, the Intel 80286, and the floating-point coprocessor Intel80287, are here." Tang Huan jokingly raised his hand to gesture.

Andy? Grove and Gordon. Moore smiled knowingly. While looking at the motherboard. I saw my own microprocessor as I wished.

"In the past six months, the defects of Intel 80286 have been almost eliminated, and it is time to show their skills in the field of microcomputers."

Tang Huan's affirmation, let Andy? Grove and Gordon. Moore couldn't help but perk up.

"According to the experience summarized by my engineers, the Intel80286 that the third generation of Fangyuan computers need to be equipped with should not run at a frequency of less than 10MHz. Now this 12.5MHz Intel80286 is also showing its performance in multitasking, as you just saw. I can only say that it is a passing grade. So, I wanted to have a clear indicator for further performance improvements. It's best to reach 20MHz as soon as possible. ”

Hearing this request, Andy, who was still agreeing just now? Grove, a look of embarrassment flashed across his face.

In fact, the Intel 80286 currently produced by the Intel factory is mainly 6MHz and 8MHz versions, after all, this microprocessor integrates about 130,000 transistors, and the operating frequency is not something that can be increased if you want to.

In order to curry favor with Tang Huan, the 12.5MHz version, the highest-end model with limited production, was sent over.

According to Tang Huan's meaning, the version of Intel80286 below 12.5MHz will be reduced to a big road and will not be favored by the three generations of Fangyuan computers.

If that's the case, it's hard to calculate the economic benefits.

"In addition, the coprocessor Intel80287 should really play an auxiliary role in floating-point arithmetic, and its operating frequency should not be lower than 12.5MHz." Tang Huan's addition, so Andy? Grove subconsciously grinned.

"Actually, I have two major dissatisfaction with the Intel80286 - it is not a 32-bit CPU; Once the processor enters protected mode, it will no longer be able to support the real mode of the Intel 8086. The latter, in particular, brings a problem that cannot be ignored for the backward compatibility of software systems. ”

Speaking of this, Tang Huan sighed, "But these problems are obviously impossible to be solved in the Intel80286 generation of products, so they can only be made up for through the manufacturing process." You know, Motorola's MC68000 already has a 20MHz version. ”

Perhaps that last sentence did the trick, and Gordon. Andy Moore glanced at him? Grove clearly agreed, "Okay, Intel will supply according to Don's requirements." ”

"It's easy to do it if everyone has a consensus." Tang Huan stretched out a finger, "According to the standard just mentioned, 100,000 Intel80286 at 12.5MHz, and Intel80287 with 12.5MHz coprocessor, no less than 50,000." ”

Hearing such pleasing numbers, Andy? Grove and Gordon. Moore immediately smiled, Intel, which has suffered setbacks in the main business of memory, needs large orders too much to boost morale.

As for whether Tang Huan has the ability to digest so many CPUs, Andy? Grove had no doubts at all. Before Tang Huan, he asked for Intel8086. As a result, these microprocessors are quickly depleted by PCs, printers, and other products.

If IBM hadn't acquired 20% of Intel's shares and made trouble with the supply of Intel8086, Intel would definitely have cooperated more happily with Tang Huan.

Until now. There is no doubt that Tang Huan's ability to digest CPU and memory has become more powerful.

As the pace of listing approaches, Fangyuan Computer is also increasingly officially disclosing its own data.

Although September has not yet arrived, according to the orders that have been scheduled, in the upcoming fiscal year, Fangyuan's personal computer sales exceeded 600,000 units. The IBM-PC was stomped.

While Commodore and other budget PC makers have the advantage of hitting new sales highs, don't forget that these are products that cost under $500. How can it be compared with Fangyuan personal computers, which focus on high-end markets such as enterprise applications.

Even though the microprocessors of Fangyuan personal computers have branches such as Motorola series, Intel series, MOSTechnology series, Zilog series, etc., and there is a second source of supply to share the soup, Intel still reaps considerable benefits from Fangyuan computers.

Tang Huan threw this big cake regardless of his previous suspicions, so that Andy? Grove thought about it.

The Great Blue has been fully licensed by Intel80286. With its strong technology and manufacturing capabilities. Intel doesn't seem to be of any use anymore, so why don't you just kick IBM away and hug the thighs of Fangyuan Computer.

You know, Fangyuan Computer is now among the ranks of Fortune 500 companies.

Intel, which has been established for more than ten years, although it has reached this standard as early as the end of the 1970s, still honestly ranks behind Fangyuan computers.

Andy? Grove was turning this thought in his heart, when he heard Tang Huan change his words and said, "I have an additional request, which is the content of today's visit. Especially this order, within at least three months. Intel cannot voluntarily disclose to IBM. ”

"Yes, even if the other party comes to inquire, we will pretend not to know." Andy? Grove glanced at Gordon, who had come with him. Moore, with a meaningful smile on her face, happily agreed.

……

People who have ideas for IBM are not limited to Silicon Valley in the western United States, in an office in Houston, Texas, several people are discussing enthusiastically, and the sign hanging on the door reads Compaq Computer Corporation.

In February, three senior managers at Texas Instruments: RodCanion. Kenyon, Jim Harris – Jimmy. Harris and Bill Murto – Billy. Merton, who was increasingly disconfident in the management of Texas Instruments, resigned and invested $1,000 each to co-create the small company called Compaq.

The small team's direction for the company was to enter the burgeoning PC industry and build a powerful PC at an affordable price, an idea that was probably influenced by Texas Instruments' PC production and Commodore's rivalry in the low-end market.

"After a period of careful investigation, we decided to choose IBM-PC, which is almost completely free of charge for technical standards, as a breakthrough." Rod. Kenyon asked Benjamin Rosen, the biggest investor sitting across from him, Benjamin Rosen. Rosen explained.

Although not in Silicon Valley, Benjamin. Rosen is still a venture capitalist with a keen sense of smell, having made a small profit by investing in spreadsheet VisiCalc, which is a first success in the IT field.

Benjamin. Rosen was born in New Orlan, Louisiana, in 1933, to a father who was a dentist and a mother who was a secretary.

In 1954, Benjamin. Rosen received his bachelor's degree from the California Institute of Technology, followed by his master's degree from Stanford University in 1955.

By 1961, Benjamin. Rosen earned an MBA from Columbia Business School and worked on Wall Street, working in stock analysis in the electronics industry.

In 1965, Benjamin. Rosen jumped to investment banking giant Morgan Stanley, where he worked for 15 years.

It can be said that Benjamin. Rosen was one of the first to recognize the enormous value of the personal computer as a business tool, so much so that he himself once held an Apple II from Apple and tried to explain the importance of the new machine to investors.

Morgan Stanley, one of the issuers of Apple's IPO, is a senior technical analyst and vice president. Rosen, naturally, was able to take this opportunity to witness the overnight riches in Silicon Valley, so he resolutely ended his career at Morgan Stanley so that he could focus on venture capital.

In 1980, Benjamin. In Dallas, Texas, Rosen and L.J. Sevin co-founded the venture capital firm SevinRosenFunds. It was from this institution that Kenyon's small team attracted investment for the newly born Compaq Computer Company.

For Rhodes. Kenyon's Plan to Build a Personal Computer, by Benjamin. Intrigued, Rosen directly identified a $1.5 million investment intent and established the power structure of Compaq Computer, Benjamin Brown. Rosen is the chairman of the board of directors. Kenyon serves as CEO and President, and Jimmy Brown. Harris was in charge of the engineering, and Billy. Merton is in charge of marketing.

What kind of personal computer is made, Rhodes. Kenyon and the others really put a lot of thought into it, and finally fell in love with IBM-PC.

Benjamin. Rosen has been studying the IT industry for so long and has long been an expert, and immediately understood that Rohdes. Kenyon meant, "You mean, Compaq manufactures IBM-PC compatible machines?" ”

"Yes." Rod. Kenyon nodded, "At the beginning of this year, in order to strive for more application solution providers based on the IBM-PC platform, expand the market share of IBM-PC, and compete with Fangyuan Computer and Apple Computer, in addition to BIOS, all the technical standards of IBM-PC were announced. We use this set of free, proven technologies to build PCs that allow us to enter this ever-changing market faster. ”

"Since IBM keeps the BIOS for itself, the technical status of this thing should be important, right?" Thoughtful Benjamin. Rosen asked.

"It's really important that this BIOS is a bridge between hardware and software." Rod. Kenyon smiled, "However, we can reverse engineer the full functionality of this BIOS in a different way that is entirely our own." In this way, not only can the legal risks of IBM's intellectual property be avoided, but also 100% compatible with IBM-PC. (To be continued......)