Rebirth of Hong Kong Island, leading the technology war

Chapter 108 Brother Hu, it’s up to you

I really missed Cao Cao, and Cao Cao called me.

Hu Jiangshan pressed the answer button, and sure enough, Wang Chengdong's Mandarin with a heavy accent came from the other end.

"Hey, Brother Hu, are you busy? Is it convenient to talk?"

"No hurry, no hurry, Mr. Wang, you decide."

Wang Chengdong said, "Didn't I send you an improved version of Kirin 990 last time? How is your research going?"

Hu Jiangshan smiled and replied, "Boss Wang, we have already finished our research."

Wang Chengdong asked: "Can the tape-out be done?"

“Yes, it is ready for tape-out now.”

Wang Chengdong immediately asked: "Brother Hu, when can it be done?"

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and said, "We'll schedule it as soon as possible. It should be done in a week at least."

"...a week?"

"Boss Wang, do you think it's too slow? How about I..."

"No, no, no, just one week. Just tape out the improved version in one week!"

Hu Jiangshan smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go and arrange it right away."

Wang Chengdong asked: "Tell me the cost of the tape-out later, and I'll have the finance department record it and transfer it to you together with the next batch of payment."

"Boss Wang, don't count this."

"…Don't count it?"

"Yes, I'll give you the tape for free this time."

Wang Chengdong was stunned for a moment.

This reminded Wang Chengdong that Hu Jiangshan did not ask for money for the first version of Kirin 990 tape-out.

Wang Chengdong was somewhat touched.

Hu Jiangshan obviously knew Huayao's current situation. Funds were needed to connect all aspects, which was huge.

Although domestic flagship mobile phones are selling in large quantities, the overseas market has not stopped its decline for various reasons. In addition, a large amount of research and development funds have been approved recently, which puts a lot of pressure on us.

In fact, the cost of chip tape-out is very high, especially for advanced chips, which is extremely expensive.

It is 2018, and the price quoted for Shimadzu's -nanometer chip has reached million US dollars, and it will rise several times in the next few years.

Wang Chengdong smiled and said, "Brother Hu, this is very kind. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness. We will record this money first and make up for it when we have spare money."

Hu Jiangshan didn't care. After all, the tape-out on his side had almost no cost.

Hu Jiangshan asked: "By the way, Mr. Wang, I just saw a piece of news that Huayao is going to release a new flagship?"

Wang Chengdong laughed: "Did you see it? The news is correct, and the new flagship will be faster than you think, but there is a prerequisite."

Hu Jiangshan also laughed.

There is no doubt that the prerequisite is that Hu Jiangshan successfully mass-produces the improved version of the Kirin 990 chip.

Wang Chengdong said, "Brother Hu, it's up to you. When can we mass-produce the chips, we can release the flagship phone."

Hu Jiangshan responded.

In fact, Huayao still has another solution, which is to continue to use the current version of Kirin 990. Now the prototype has been tested and performed well.

But if the latest version of Kirin 990 can be used, it will be even more shocking.

Hu Jiangshan and Zhang Rui have also studied the improved version of Kirin 990, which has a significant performance improvement, conservatively estimated to be %.

Moreover, the chip structure has been improved and the power consumption will be lower.

Strictly speaking, this chip cannot be called Kirin 990 at all, it should be given another name. Hu Jiangshan's mass production is certainly no problem, and it is definitely smoother than Huayao's people imagined.

There’s no way, the technology is here.

The upgraded semiconductor production line has improved more than just production capacity.

Hu Jiangshan chatted with Wang Chengdong for a while and then hung up the phone.

It’s time to rest early. Hu Jiangshan feels that he will be busy in the next few days.

A few days later, in Guangzhou-Shenzhen City, Huayao Bantian Base.

As we all know, HiSilicon Semiconductor is a very important department of Huayao.

Almost all of Huayao’s own chips are designed here.

Moreover, Haixi Semiconductor has developed rapidly in the past two years, and its chip design level is now extremely high. It has now become a very powerful chip design unit in the world.

However, due to the recent strict semiconductor bill introduced by Eagle Ray, the Haixi semiconductor division has indeed been greatly impacted.

For example, some time ago, people were in panic and rumors were spreading. Many employees felt that the Haixi Semiconductor Department would soon become a burden to Huayao, and then they would face layoffs or even the entire Haixi Semiconductor Department would be eliminated.

However, due to Huayao's recent large-scale sales of its flagship mobile phones, the employees of Haixi Semiconductor have temporarily calmed down.

But even so, many employees are still hesitant and confused, because they have no idea whether Huayao can produce this chip again.

No matter how good the chip design is, if the physical chip cannot be produced and the chip ultimately cannot be mass-produced, all everyone’s work will be in vain.

In a conference room, two employees were discussing something in low voices.

These two people are external relations employees of Haixi Semiconductor.

You should know that Haixi Semiconductor is an independently operated department in Huayao, which means it has a complete management system.

The so-called external liaison department is the one that connects with other companies to discuss business and cooperation.

For example, channels, transportation, and chip foundry.

Zhao Jianwei said, "Brother Nan, I feel something is wrong. Is the 4S store sincere? Is it useful for us to talk to them?"

Jiang Nan waved his hand: "It's good enough that they can come. What sincerity can they have?"

Zhao Jianwei sighed, speechless for a moment, feeling very conflicted.

The most troubled people within Huayao right now are the employees of the Haixi Semiconductor Department.

Their task is to design chips, but now after the release of the Semiconductor Act, it is no longer possible for TSMC to manufacture chips for them.

Later, there were rumors that the testing department did get some new Kirin chip samples. At that time, many versions were circulated, such as the one made by Huaxin International and the one made by the Academy of Sciences overnight...

But in the end these were proven to be rumors.

Anyway, there are not many people who know the inside story, and they all keep their mouths shut.

There's nothing we can do about it. Everyone has signed a confidentiality agreement. If the information really leaks out, I'll be in trouble.

Anyway, the specific situation is kept confidential, and most employees don’t know what’s going on and think that the situation is still in a stalemate.

Now everyone is very anxious and trying to find a way out.

For example, the external relations department is going to talk to San Sang.

Although I know that Sansang is unlikely to manufacture chips for Huayao, but in the current situation, if we can talk, we have to talk more.

Today I have made an appointment with Sansang Semiconductor's business representative in China to come over and have a chat to see if there is any way to reach some kind of cooperation.

Jiang Nan opened the bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and said, "Although Sansang can't possibly manufacture chips for us, but we can always do the tape-out, right?"

"Tape, oh, it really is..."

Zhao Jianwei nodded: "As for the tape-out, I think it shouldn't be a big problem."

(End of this chapter)