Chapter 398 Rubbing the Computer with Hands
With the help provided by Weier, the vacuum diode, which was the most basic computing unit of the world's first generation of computers, was immediately replaced in this world.
And this thing is really more powerful than the diodes in the original world, because even in the 21st century in the original world, it is difficult to make vacuum diodes the size of wheat grains with human processing technology.
As for those miniaturized diodes, they are already transistors, not vacuum tubes.
This is also the reason why the first generation of computers was so huge. After all, there are eighteen thousand vacuum tubes the size of light bulbs. If you want to install them together, it is basically impossible to install them without a space as large as hundreds of square meters. possible.
Moreover, although the first-generation computer was designed with 18,000 vacuum tubes, it never reached its maximum design operating speed because those vacuum tubes were always damaged and a large amount of heat was generated during the operation.
So this original computer, the first in human history, not only failed to operate at full power, but also had to release waste heat at regular intervals to shut down for cooling and replace damaged vacuum tubes.
But with Weier’s magic puppet technology, these are no longer problems.
The wheat-grain-sized magic doll operating unit uses a completely different technology than the vacuum diode, but it can achieve the same function, that is, to identify positive and negative signals.
This also constitutes the most basic principle of computer operation in the original world, that is, identifying 0 and 1 and realizing the most basic binary operation.
With this, Perficott was able to build a real computer by referring to the computer design principles of the original world.
And one advantage of the Magic Doll Operation Unit is that Perficott does not need to change this thing into an electrical system, and can still use steam to power it.
After all, the core structure of this thing is based on magic and alchemy. What it sends can be mechanical signals or magical signals, but not electrical signals.
At Purficott's insistence, Weier designed two signal transmission modes for the golem computing unit, namely mechanical signals generated by steam power, and the other is more advanced and more convenient. magic signal.
According to Wei'er's idea, just use magic signals directly, but Purficott still chose mechanical signals. Although the calculation speed will be much slower and the structure will be more complex, relatively speaking, mechanical signals are far faster than Magic is more reliable.
Just like in the original world, with the increasing degree of electrification, more traditional mechanical structures are considered to be safer and more reliable methods.
So in some critical things, especially military industry and some key fields, a set of the most primitive mechanical system will inevitably be retained in addition to the electronic system.
The most important thing is to be able to use machinery to solve the problem if something goes wrong.
Weir actually listened to Purficott’s rhetoric. After carefully listening to Purficott’s suggestions and explanations, she did modify the magic according to Purficott’s requirements. Design of even operation unit.
And she also designed a magic puppet computing unit that can perform more complex multi-digit operations. Of course, the size has also been upgraded from a wheat grain to the size of a quail egg.
However, this is not a problem for Purficott and Weier. Such a large computing unit is equivalent to a wheat grain-level computing unit that is more than twice the same volume.
So Purficott did not stop Weier from continuing to work hard in this area. Instead, she encouraged her to work more on improving the performance of the computing unit and compressing the volume. However, she also explained to Weier the current situation. A golem computing unit the size of a grain of wheat is enough. As for Purficott himself, when Wei Er reluctantly began to repeatedly rub the magic puppet computing units, he began to use these computing units to build the most primitive circuit board, so that it could receive and transmit signals, and achieve the most basic Arithmetic function.
And this is the most basic component of a computer.
With the full cooperation of Purficott and Weier, the two finally completed a computer composed of two thousand micro-demon computing units before the second snow fell in the north. computer.
The computing speed it can achieve is one thousand operations per second.
This is a very astonishing number. You must know that the first computer built by humans in the original world used more than 18,000 vacuum tubes, and its operation speed could only reach 5,000 times per second.
And this computing speed is not enough.
Not to mention that Weier's magic puppet computing unit is not as fragile and has various problems such as heating as vacuum tubes. It can completely make the computer very small.
At least it is very small compared to the world's first electronic computer, which is as big as a box.
"It's amazing. I never thought that golems could be used like this! I have to say that you are indeed the leading alchemist in the empire. Your skills and knowledge may not be the strongest, but your imagination can allow you to transform yourself into something new." Use what you have learned to achieve more than 120% of your abilities, which is enough for you to create miracles!" Weier looked at the computer that she and Purficott had worked together to create, and she sincerely admired Purficott's imagination. force.
At this time, she also truly understood why Perficott emphasized in his public fantasy alchemy theory that imagination is the primary productive force of alchemy.
Indeed, having no technology but no imagination is fatal to an alchemist and is also a manifestation of his incompetence.
After all, no matter how powerful alchemy is, it is still essentially just a tool. What humans have to do is how to use it and apply it to a wider field.
If there is no imagination to give wings to technology, then no matter how good the technology is, it will still not be able to fly.
At this point, she had already felt deeply.
Golem technology is a very mature and traditional technology. It is so traditional that alchemists are no longer willing to continue to use such silly and crude things.
But in the hands of Perficott, this ancient skill has taken on a new glory.
It doesn’t matter if the devil is stupid. Anyway, you only need to identify the positive and negative signals before transmitting them. Such a simple requirement is enough even if the devil is stupider than an ant.
And just such a simple thing was made by Purficott into the super computing device in front of him that can perform a thousand operations per second. This has completely surpassed the operations that normal humans can achieve. Speed Limit.
"The fly in the ointment is that it's still a bit big and can't fit into my alchemy doll. Otherwise, I can upgrade my alchemy doll." Purficott acted a bit Versailles, but she didn't care about this issue. I didn’t say much, but I just asked Weier: “Based on the results of our research, can you make a computer with a speed of 10,000 operations per second?”
(End of this chapter)