Chapter 306

Inside the meeting room.

"Fabricating dies by shaving slices is no problem, but we just don't have enough manpower!" After hearing Qin Miao's arrangement, Engineer frowned.

"Hmm, we don't need too many; for each die, just one engineer to oversee management is enough. Other staff can be selected from Ha Gong Da students, preferably picking those from the Ninth Department, and anyone else willing can also join……

Engineer nodded: "Hmm, this works."

This matter is now arranged!

"The second matter is that having only one processor model isn't enough; next, we also need to develop motherboard dies for this processor, mainly two of them, which I call northbridge and southbridge dies.

No need to mention 8086 computers; even if you tear open a 386, or even a 386 computer, you can see densely packed integrated blocks inside, looking very messy. Some sockets aren't even fully populated……

"Personal computers will flourish, and we also need to develop supporting dies for them. One die handles data exchange between the processor and memory; being close to the processor, I call it the northbridge die. Another die handles data transfer for floppy drives, hard drives, keyboard mouse, and various add‑on circuit board cards; I call it the southbridge die.

Almost during the Pentium computer era did northbridge and southbridge dies become popular, giving rise to many famous manufacturers, such as VIA, which even beat Intel black and blue, to the point that only by using various underhanded tactics could VIA be half‑killed.

Later, as die integration increased, it became a single‑die layout.

Now is the time for our side to unify the realm!

"Next, there are memory modules; currently the memory dies are plugged directly into motherboard sockets, a structure unsuitable for future computer development. We want to integrate the memory dies onto a strip‑shaped circuit board, then insert them into the motherboard via slots, leaving several slots free for future upgrades……

Engineer hurriedly recorded.

"Moreover, slots are also needed for the peripherals controlled by the southbridge die; ISA bus technology is already outdated, and even if we expand it to sixteen bits, the prospect is not far off. We can now do preliminary research, and later, when Dragon Core Two comes out and we upgrade to thirty‑two bits, we will have to establish a brand‑new data bus standard.

Hearing these words, Engineer suddenly understood.

We aren't just developing Dragon Core; we also need to set technical standards in the microcomputer field, so as to gain greater influence!

Even Intel would have to follow behind us, adhering to our standards! Once they propose a new standard, those hardware vendors already using ours won't easily change!

In any industry, the top tier consists of those who set the standards; we aim to be that top tier!

"Comrade Qin Miao, we've already recorded all of this, but implementing these functions will require a lot of manpower, now……

We're short‑handed! Moreover, we can't just rely on university students, as this demands a high technical level!

"Once Dragon Core One is released, a large batch of Silicon Valley Chinese elites will come over to us, and then we won't have to worry about manpower shortages.

What? Everyone present was stunned.

Currently, Ha Gong Da Microelectronics Company has already gathered domestic die elites; next, do we need to hold a press conference to also attract Silicon Valley elites?

"By then, everyone will still be tinkering with Dragon Core, and these elites can develop according to my ideas—this won't delay Dragon Core's development nor leak secrets……

Engineer gave a thumbs‑up.

"The last matter is that our Dragon Core project is so secretive; even I at Ha Gong Da don't know how the people at the Computing Institute found out.

This is a serious leak!

An engineer, face flushed, stood up: "Comrade Qin Miao, a few days ago, my family called me; I…… I accidentally showed off our results; I…… I know I was wrong, you can deduct all my salary and bonuses, even withhold my pay for the next few years if you want, just don't fire me; I…… I love working here!

"Engineer Wang, you're clueless!" Engineer's face turned stern.

"Deduct all bonuses, keep paying the salary, then…… make a self‑criticism in front of the whole company; if anyone leaks again next time, hand them over to the relevant departments. Everyone, I emphasize once more: our Dragon Core One is initially intended for military‑industrial products!

Clatter clatter…… the train wheels striking the gaps in the rails produced a sound that made people somewhat irritable.

Inside the sleeper car.

Bang!

Section Chief Zhou's hand slammed hard against the car's side wall.

"Hmph, these people are going too far! Their eyes see only money, only profit, with not a shred of human feeling!

Not giving this old leader face made him very angry!

"Section Chief Zhou, don't rush either; Dragon Core One is touted as having great performance, but nobody knows how it actually works; to say it's mature and reliable, you still have to rely on Intel, after all, they invented this microprocessor and the x86 architecture!

"Yeah, but…… importing 8086 dies would require foreign exchange; before we could submit a report for approval, but now that we have Dragon Core One, the state certainly won't agree to keep spending foreign exchange on buying foreign dies……

Even thinking with your toes, this is obvious!

With domestic goods available, who would approve spending money on imports?

"So, we need to prepare on two fronts.

"Speak!

"First, after returning, write a report to announce good news to the superiors! Hype this processor up to the heavens!

Section Chief Zhou nodded; this is basically setting them up for a fall—when performance falls short, the higher‑ups will be disappointed.

"Second, send an invitation letter to Intel Corporation.

"Is…… this not a bit inappropriate?" Section Chief Zhou hesitated a little.

"We've invented a brand‑new processor, so we must hold a review meeting; since we lack domestic experience, we should invite the world's most famous microprocessor manufacturer to give it a once‑over—isn't that the best approach? When they come, we can talk with them in detail, and maybe we can purchase 8086 dies at a low price, making our assembled computers competitive!

All along the way, Liu Zhonglie has been pondering how to respond, and now…… he's come up with a steady solution!

With these two moves, we can half‑kill Dragon Core; hum, whatever Tsinghua and Peking University, they surely also want to buy foreign dies, so Dragon Core…… will just be left out in the cold!

Section Chief Zhou's facial expression changed many times; finally, gazing out the window at the endless white snow, he took a deep breath and said: "After returning, we'll hold a meeting at the institute to discuss, form a resolution, and then report upward.

This pot is too big for him to carry alone; last time, by suppressing Ha Gong Da Microelectronics Company's application report and not approving it, he already earned the leaders' displeasure. If he pulls another stunt this time…… hum, if anything goes wrong, we'll all share the blame!