Chapter 41 Non-Commercial EDA Software
Ten cores?
Chen Xing was stunned for a moment. The first thing he thought of was not the performance, but how to solve the problem of chip heat dissipation.
Looking at the development process of mobile phone processors in the past generations, from single-core and single-thread to today's four-core and eight-core processors, the performance has improved, but the temperature has also increased.
For example, the Snapdragon 810 processor released not long ago. If Chen Xing remembers correctly, it was known as the "Fire" dragon chip in its previous life, and its operating power consumption was close to 20W!
What is the concept?
The Snapdragon 8gen2, which will be launched in 2022, only consumes 12W of power, while the Snapdragon 810 has a full 20W. The most direct feeling of a mobile phone equipped with it is that it is hot!
Now Bai Yan actually wants to build a ten-core chip. How much power will it consume?
Gao Zhengqian became interested and tried to analyze: "The performance of the ten-core chip microarchitecture has been improved, but the increase in the number of cores means that the power consumption also increases, and the heat also increases. Long The cooling system of the Xing X1 mobile phone may not be able to suppress the temperature of the processor. Have you already thought of a solution? "
"The cooling is not under my control. The president must have a solution."< br>
Bai Yan spread his hands and looked at Chen Xingdao with a smile.
He is only responsible for the chip architecture design. Whether it can control the temperature and whether it will burn the motherboard has to be solved by Chen Xing.
The corners of Gao Zhengqian's eyes couldn't help but twitch, and he shook his head and said: "Ten cores have the risk of overheating, and eight cores technology is more mature."
After thinking for a while, Chen Xing did not dwell on how many cores there were. , but focused on nanotechnology and said: "The micro-architecture will be put first. At present, Gaotong Company has mass-produced 20-nanometer chips. If conditions permit, I think we will have to keep up with the progress and even surpass them."
"That's easy, we make 14nm process chips, but before that, well, the problem of EDA software must be solved first."
Gao Zhengqian responded calmly.
Bai Yan: “Add a 10-core microarchitecture!”
“It can’t control the temperature!”
“It can be controlled. The president must have it. If I can suppress it, I still have a 12-core chip microarchitecture.”
“What should I do if I can’t suppress it?”
"The president will find a way!"
While the two were still arguing about micro-architecture, Chen Xing was sizing up Gao Zhengqian. He found that he still underestimated red-quality talents.
The sentence "That's easy, we make 14nm process chips" made Chen Xing a little confused as to where his limit was.
Maybe 7 nanometers.
Maybe 3 nanometers.
Or 1 nanometer...
When he came to his senses, Chen Xing looked at the two people who were still arguing about the number of cores and made a suggestion: "Design eight cores first. I will design another ten cores and I will find a way to solve the heat dissipation issue.”
It’s not that he doesn’t have heat dissipation talents, it’s just that they are all blue quality and he has not set up a dedicated mobile phone cooling system laboratory.
As for the cooling of mobile phones, he himself has some ideas.
You can refer to the previous White Shark mobile phone and install an air-cooler directly into the mobile phone. However, in that case, battery power consumption will be a problem, and the internal layout of the mobile phone will also need to be redesigned.
Chen Xing didn't think much about it. He planned to visit Huatian EDA Company first and ask if there was a more advanced internal beta version of EDA software before making any plans.
When the EDA software problem is solved, let alone 10 cores, he is allowed to establish projects for 20 cores. Whether the temperature can be controlled and whether the motherboard will be burned are not things that need to be thought about now.
Quickly solving EDA software problems is the top priority.
......
In the next two days, he simply packed his luggage, explained the company's affairs, and flew directly to the headquarters of Huatian EDA Company in the Imperial Capital.
The boss of Huatian EDA had already anticipated Chen Xing’s visit.
Paper cannot cover up the fire, especially since it is an EDA software company.
However, no one in the industry expected that the three giants of EDA software would once again take action, but they would only target a small company that was not listed on the market. This was no less than killing a chicken with a bull's knives or using anti-aircraft cannons to kill mosquitoes, leaving no room at all. sanctions.
Ten years ago, the three giants of EDA software sanctioned Longguo EDA Software Company and adopted a free strategy.
Many domestic EDA companies have declared bankruptcy before making a profit. Although Huatian EDA is not bankrupt, it has plummeted and fallen out of the world's advanced ranks.
And now, ten years later, they are back again.
The sanctions this time are not EDA software companies, but mobile phone technology companies. This also makes many people angry. Domestic companies will be sanctioned if they have scientific research results. This is really a common trick of the West.
"Mr. Chen, I have long admired you!"
The boss of Huatian EDA is called Liu Wei. He is forty-four years old this year. He has a Hong Kong-style side bangs hairstyle in the 1980s. He has a loyal appearance and a good figure. It has become slightly out of shape with age.
“Although this is the first time we have met, I have heard of Mr. Liu’s reputation more than ten years ago.” Chen Xing praised him with a smile while shaking hands with him. "More than ten years ago is too long to be mentioned at all, but Mr. Chen is a rising star in the current technology circle. The Kaitian baseband chip and Star Flash fast charging are really easy to use. You see, my mobile phone is It's Longxing I have treasured tea leaves for more than ten years."
Liu Wei greeted him warmly, took out a piece of old tea leaves from the drawer, and started to make tea.
Faced with such warm hospitality, Chen Xing did not rush to talk. Instead, he tasted the tea first. After the two got acquainted briefly, they chatted for another half an hour before gradually getting down to business.
“Mr. Liu must have heard that Gaotong Company has joined forces with the three EDA software giants Synopsys, Cadence and Mentor to impose sanctions and blockade on our company. I came to visit your company this time just to ask Mr. Liu if he has any A more advanced version of EDA software.”
Seeing Chen Xing getting straight to the point, Liu Wei stopped beating around the bush and said bluntly: "Then let me speak openly. We do have a more advanced and accurate Huatian EDA3.0 version."
" Compared with those three companies, how is the performance and simulation verification? "
Chen Xing said brightly.
If domestic EDA software is comparable to the software of the three EDA giants, then this sanction will be defeated easily.
The chip team can also work day and night to concentrate on developing processor chips.
"Alas!"
Liu Wei couldn't help but sigh, his eyes dimmed a bit, he shook his head and said: "We are still separated from them by a natural chasm, I can only guarantee 85%. Verification accuracy. ”
Don’t look at 85%, even if there is only a 1% difference, the foundry may have to pay tens of millions in the trial production process.
“But!”
Suddenly, he changed the subject.
If other companies were to ask, or if Longxing Technology Company had not been sanctioned, Liu Wei would not tell this industry secret, but what Longxing Technology is experiencing now is very similar to the situation when they were sanctioned ten years ago. .
We also achieved leading results, we were also sanctioned by patent troll companies, we were also desperate.
If they had not been sanctioned, there would not be three but four EDA software companies in the world. Huatian EDA is definitely among them, and it is first-class.
Having been exposed to rain himself, Liu Wei can sympathize with Chen Xing, and he is also willing to guide the direction of Longxing Technology.
Chen Xing regained hope and seemed to have seen a turning point: "But what?"
"I will only tell you this, but please don't spread it."
"I promise!"
Chen Xing looked serious and made a promise.
Liu Wei was also willing to believe in Chen Xing’s character and lowered his voice and said:
“Although the commercial domestic EDA software on the market is not as good as those three companies, we in Longguo still have non-commercial EDA. Software, you should have heard of Zhongke Loongson. They have dedicated EDA software in-house, and the accuracy is estimated to be over 95%. Maybe you can use your connections to see if you can borrow it. ”
"Zhongke Longxin..."
Chen Xing muttered to himself.
From what Liu Wei meant, he wanted him to go to the Academy of Dragon Science!
But where does he know any academician of the Long Academy of Sciences, and he also borrowed the internal EDA software? This is too difficult, right?
Seeing Chen Xing fall silent, Liu Wei seemed to have guessed something, and pointed out the direction again: "The boss of Kunpeng Company may be able to help you."
The boss of Kunpeng Company, isn't that Ren Guo No?
But it is true that with Ren Guofei's personal connections and having been rooted in the Dragon Kingdom for decades, it is not surprising that he knows several academicians of the Academy of Dragon Science.
Chen Xing silently wrote down the key information and thanked him repeatedly: "Thank you, Mr. Liu, for informing me. This news is so crucial."
"You're welcome, ally."
Liu Wei smiled.
When he was jointly sanctioned by the three EDA software giants, the company plummeted, and he had long hated them.
If Longxing Technology can survive the desperate situation this time, it can be regarded as a slap in the face of the CEOs of the three EDA software companies for him.
Because he himself has been caught in the rain and experienced the despair of being punished, he also wanted to hold an umbrella for his younger generations.
Thanks to Banduo Rose and Yanjiu Yanluo for their monthly votes, and thanks to the big guys who follow the reading, there will still be three updates today, in the afternoon and evening.
(End of this chapter)