At this moment, Huang Jenxun has only one question in his heart-

Why Nvidia, and not AMD, Trident and S3?

However, Lao Huang was very amuseful and did not ask this question.

Other partners have come to the door, how do you care how he knows about NVIDIA, and what should you do if you introduce your competitors or industry brothers to this big boss of Neon after asking this question?

Huang was just silently assessing in his heart whether the functions requested by Qing Zhiyuan could be realized.

Hard.

This was Huang's first judgment, and then it was—

If it can be made, it will be very promising.

"Jiansen, if you want to develop this chip, my suggestion is to be independent, so that it has a certain amount of high-frequency computing power." Qing Zhiyuan said.

A raster display system is inseparable from the graphics processor, which is an important element of the graphics system structure and the link between the computer and the display terminal.

It should be said that where there is a display system, there is a graphics processor, commonly known as a graphics card.

But early graphics cards only contained simple memory and frame buffers, which actually only served as a storage and transfer of graphics, and everything had to be controlled by the CPU.

This is sufficient for text and some simple graphics, but when it comes to dealing with complex scenes, especially some realistic 3D scenes, such a system alone cannot do the task.

"It not only stores graphics, but also does most of the graphics functions, which greatly reduces the burden on the CPU and improves the display power and display speed." "Graphics Processing Unit. ”

Independent GPU.

Here, Qingzhiyuan uses the English name of a standard GPU, rather than the current mainstream Graphic Adapter (the latter is called a graphics adapter)

The term GPU was invented by Huang himself.

There is no real discrete graphics card yet, because Nvidia has not yet thought about developing in this direction, and the world's first GPU, independent of the CPU, is developed by Nvidia to calculate and process image functions separately.

So Huang is also known as the father of GPUs, and before he created GPUs, the graphics cards on the market today are actually GPUs that rely on CPUs for computing.

……

Qing Zhiyuan's words immediately activated Huang's brain, and his whole person felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

That's right!

Why rely on the CPU to make a graphics adapter, why not take it out separately and make a chip that has its own high-frequency computing power, but focuses more on processing graphics alone?

If the CPU is equivalent to the brain in the computer, then the GPU that Qing Zhiyuan said just now is equivalent to connecting a second brain into this body.

The two brains share different tasks to achieve professional and efficient computing and processing.

That's so wise, this practice!

Huang Jenxun's eyes when he looked at Qing Zhiyuan were not only frightened, but also a little more admiration.

But at the same time, he also thought that this was probably his instinct as a gamer, and it was precisely because the neon game developer in front of him had a full understanding of the game that he would come up with a more reasonable solution based on the problems he encountered.

Although this plan is a bit [fanciful]

But aren't game producers good at dreaming?

"Great, it's a really great idea, to do a separate graphics core, free up the CPU, and at the same time be able to store and process images more efficiently, going through its own proprietary channels.

I wonder if this thing will become a very important organ in the PC in the future. ”

Huang sighed.

Qing Zhiyuan couldn't help laughing.

Lao Huang is also really prescient, because after the discrete graphics card developed by Nvidia came out, this thing has become a very important core unit in the computer after the CPU.

Even in the world of the future, the graphics card will be more important than the CPU.

……

In 1995, Lao Huang founded Nvidia for two years, and they have been carefully researching, and in March this year, they launched their first graphics card – NV1.

This graphics card actually follows the traditional integrated graphics card idea, allowing the graphics processor to be mounted on the motherboard, and the CPU is used for computing and processing.

Comparatively speaking, NVIDIA's NV1 graphics card does not have any advantages.

So far, sales have been very bleak.

However, according to the normal historical trajectory.

NV1 is not unappreciated, at least Sega has taken a fancy to them, and they have provided Nvidia with a lot of money.

It can be said that Sega fed Nvidia at that time, and they didn't know what kind of terrible demon they had helped, and this demon would rule the entire world with a set of unparalleled sword skills in the future.

Other companies are not soft rice, this year s3 Virge and voodoo (voodoo graphics card) were launched, no matter how you look at NV1, it can't be ranked.

Voodoo graphics cards have a very important place in the history of graphics cards, at least they represent the pinnacle of the 2D graphics card era and usher in a new era of 3D.

Voodoo is in the form of a daughter card, which is used in conjunction with the 2D display of the main card, and the specialized 3D chip can provide better 3D performance at the same development cost.

It is precisely because of the success of Voodoo that users have been brought into the "world of 3D", making it a glorious example of 3D acceleration equipment in the PC field, laying a solid foundation for the vigorous development of 3D acceleration cards in the future, thus ushering in a 3Dfx dynasty.

It can only be said that Huang Jenxun survived, and after that, he still had a little bit of luck to fight his way out.

……

Now, the emergence of Qing Zhiyuan has clockwork Nvidia, with the aim of making their historical process go faster.

More critically, Qingzhiyuan is ready to replace the historical role of Sega for Nvidia.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in addition to the demand we just mentioned, we have another very important wish to come to the United States this time."

Several of NVIDIA's partners raised their heads and looked at Qing Zhiyuan eagerly.

The corners of the latter's mouth rose slightly, and he said with a smile, "It actually takes a lot of money to develop chips, and we are worried that Nvidia may not have enough economic capacity to support the development of this 3D graphics card in the future."

So we want to directly inject $100 million into Nvidia to buy 30% of your equity, and this money should help you successfully develop the product. ”

Walt?!

Nvidia's three founders, Jensen Huang, Prim and Malachevsky, were in a heartbeat at the same time.

There was utter shock on his face.

What happened today will definitely be a crucial day in their future memories.

Regardless of whether Qingzhiyuan's capital injection is successful or not, everyone understands that the arrival of Qingzhiyuan today will affect the direction of NVIDIA in the future.

At least everyone understood Qing Zhiyuan's needs just now.

3D discrete GPU, Huang was inspired by Qing Zhiyuan and was already thinking about how to do it.

But as Qing Zhiyuan said, now Nvidia needs money very much.

The company was only $30,000 when it was founded, and it hasn't made much money until now, so if the NV1 doesn't sell well, it's hard to say if the next NV2 will be available.

Qing Zhiyuan was willing to find them at this time, and invested a huge amount of money of 100 million US dollars, which was tantamount to sending charcoal in the snow.

But......

They haven't even thought about financing until now.

What's more, I always feel that something is not right.

Lao Huang and Yahoo's Lao Yang reacted similarly.

The first reaction was,, a lot of money!

The second reaction was, this person gave so much when they met for the first time, I'm afraid it's not something boring, right?

When I calm down a little and think about it, although I gave a lot of money, it was a bit painful to take away 30% of the equity all of a sudden.

Whether it's worth it or not, that's the question.

……

Qing Zhiyuan also learned this trick from Sun Zhengyi's senior.

If you like it, you have to start with a lot of money.

And now invest 100 million, the future NVIDIA is a behemoth with a market value of trillions, so there is nothing to be reluctant to.

Graphics card research and development is inherently expensive.

"That...... Mr. Qing, in this way, I think the advice you gave is quite attractive and constructive, especially the idea of GPU, which really inspires us.

And now Nvidia really needs money, but if we want to take away 30% of the equity with such a large amount all of a sudden, we will definitely not be able to give an answer immediately, so we have to give us some time to discuss.

However, I would like to say that regardless of the outcome of the final discussion, we are very willing to be a partner of pokeni, and we are very interested and interested in developing GPU products.

So, could you please give us some time? ”

"Yes."

Qing Zhiyuan was a reasonable person, he just smiled, "Then how long do you think it will take?" ”

"Hmm...... Well, it's hard to say," Lao Huang and the other two people glanced at each other, exchanged glances, and gritted their teeth in response, "Mr. Qing, you can go back to Neon first, we will discuss the results as soon as possible, and we will definitely communicate with you as soon as possible." ”

Qing Zhiyuan didn't care, and smiled lightly,

"No problem. You can think about it slowly. ”

Then the conversation changed.

"However, we also have our own dilemmas, and game development may not be able to afford to wait too long."

"If you don't accept it and think about it for too long, then let's go for 3dfx Interactive, we heard before we came that they are working on a 3D graphics card, maybe it is more suitable for us than you."

Ah......h

Huang felt like he had been stabbed, and his heart ached.

The young president in front of him, who was about the same age as himself, was also terrifying, and Huang felt that he was not facing a human, but a cunning wolf.

How could he have the cheekiness to say such a threatening word?

……

Yes, that's right.

This trick was also learned from Son.

Although there is a threat in it, Qing Zhiyuan thinks from the bottom of his heart that investing in 3DFX is also a good choice.

After all, 3dfx is the company that developed voodoo graphics cards, and it can be regarded as the first in the history of 3D graphics cards.

Sometimes history is made.

As long as there is enough capital, coupled with Qingzhiyuan's control of the direction, 3DFX will not necessarily be able to stand on the top of the future graphics card king.

……

Huang was so anxious that he gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I understand."

Please give us a week and we will definitely reply to Pokeni within a week. ”

……

————————————————————————————

There is no update tonight

Thank you

See you tomorrow

(End of chapter)