198: Chapter 198 Purchasing a Server

The code on the screen was scrolling continuously.

Zhao Yang stared intently at the scrolling code on the screen.

The underlying code architecture of this artificial intelligence was automatically modifying its own algorithmic topology!

In other words, it was capable of self-iteration!

"Truly impressive."

Zhao Yang fell silent for a moment, letting out a sigh of admiration.

The underlying code of this artificial intelligence was completely different from the mainstream developmental path on Earth over the next decade or so.

It was closer to a unique form of true self-iteration.

Even with Zhao Yang's current IQ of 179 and LV5 Informatics level, it was difficult to fully grasp the core driving principles of this underlying evolutionary capability.

Furthermore, based on its current performance, this thing was clearly a late-bloomer. In the early stages, it required massive amounts of data to fill its blank logic nodes and long periods of computational training to activate its cognitive system.

Zhao Yang glanced at the computer tower under his desk.

Although this computer was equipped with the top-tier i7-975 processor and dual GTX 295 graphics cards, making it a peak performance monster in the 2009 consumer market...

...it was still insufficient for this level of artificial intelligence evolution.

The actual deep learning computing power of this computer, which cost over 40,000 RMB to assemble, was far inferior to even a standard mid-range RTX 3060 graphics card from over a decade later.

Using this level of consumer-grade computer to run an artificial intelligence framework capable of autonomous evolution...

...was not only extremely inefficient, but once the artificial intelligence expanded to a certain size, local memory and hard drive bandwidth would instantly become physical bottlenecks.

It was time to get a real, high-performance enterprise-grade server.

Zhao Yang was thoughtful. He needed to build a small computing center to provide sufficient physical hardware support for this artificial intelligence.

He picked up the phone on his desk.

In 2009, ordinary people had no channels to purchase large enterprise-grade servers, especially those equipped with high-density computing cards and massive enterprise-grade solid-state arrays.

These devices were usually only available for directed procurement by large internet companies or national-level supercomputing centers, involving complex import customs clearance and technology embargo clauses.

Zhao Yang had no connections overseas.

After pondering for a moment, he found a number in his phone's contact list.

Gu Jinghuan. Gu Qing's uncle, chairman of Global Securities Company, and a business tycoon.

Although he was in finance, it was well known that those in finance typically possessed vast overseas equipment procurement channels and multinational trade connections; this was quite normal.

Zhao Yang dialed Gu Jinghuan's number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Zhao Yang?"

Gu Jinghuan's tone was even more polite than before. He was fully aware of the academic news and public opinion across the internet from the past few days.

Zhao Yang was already his client, and his investment capability was strong enough to be worth courting, but now! He was well aware that this young man's significance was undergoing a qualitative change at a terrifying speed.

"Boss Gu, it's me."

Zhao Yang said directly.

"I would like to purchase a large enterprise-grade server through your overseas procurement channels."

Gu Jinghuan on the other end of the line paused slightly. He worked in finance, and the other party asking him to buy a server was quite a leap. But he was an extremely shrewd businessman.

"No problem. What level of configuration do you need? Do you have any requirements for the brand?" Gu Jinghuan agreed immediately.

"The brand doesn't matter; IBM, HP, or Dell enterprise-grade products will do. I need dual or quad Xeon series physical CPUs, and at least 256GB of ECC error-correcting memory."

"Most importantly, the server must have enough PCIe expansion slots reserved inside; I need to mount multiple Tesla architecture high-performance computing cards. In terms of storage, the SAS hard drive array capacity must not be less than 20TB."

Zhao Yang's speaking pace was steady as he clearly listed the hardware specifications he needed.

Gu Jinghuan listened on the other end. Although he didn't understand the specific computer technology, judging by these dense parameters and configuration requirements, this was definitely not a small amount.

"Most data center servers of this level need to be customized by the manufacturer; there is no ready stock in the country."

Gu Jinghuan made an estimate.

"I can help you place the order through our company's office in the United States, using the technical equipment import channel. What is your approximate budget?"

"Around three million RMB." Zhao Yang stated his price range directly. With his current short-term capital pool and various bonuses, there was no pressure for him to take out three million to purchase fixed assets.

"Good. I will immediately arrange for our procurement manager in the US to contact the manufacturer. I will have my secretary email you the specific configuration list this afternoon. After you confirm it, you can wire a thirty percent deposit to our company's corporate account."

Gu Jinghuan was very efficient.

"How long will it take to be delivered to Yanjing?" Zhao Yang asked the final question.

"Between the manufacturer's order queue and the customs approval process, it will take at least a month to arrive at the earliest. I will try my best to urge them to expedite it."

"Sorry for the trouble, Boss Gu. Please email the specific configuration list to me."

He hung up the phone.

With the server matter settled, Zhao Yang turned his attention back to the computer screen in front of him.

He still had to wait a month for the server to arrive. During this month, the artificial intelligence could only continue to learn using crawlers on this computer.

Zhao Yang moved the mouse and clicked on the QQ interface that had been flashing in the bottom right corner.

According to the AI system logs he had just checked in the background, this primary artificial intelligence spent the vast majority of its daily runtime calling and reading the local chat cache records of the QQ software.

Zhao Yang opened the QQ group chat panel.

In the list, a long string of various messy group chats was lined up. These were the ones he had asked Li Tianqi to add him to a few days ago in order to provide a corpus for the artificial intelligence.

At this moment, all the icons for these group chats displayed a red "99+" unread message notification.

Zhao Yang casually clicked on one of the chat windows named "Yanlin University Student Exchange Group."

The messages on the screen scrolled upward rapidly.

"The braised pork in the cafeteria today is pure fat again; the auntie's hand was shaking like she has Parkinson's!"

"Seeking key review materials for the Physics midterm exam; I'm going to fail and have to retake the course, ahhhh!"

"Anyone going to an internet cafe to pull an all-nighter tonight? We need a healer for the World of Warcraft raid!"

"Dude, your style is way too 'non-mainstream'; this avatar is blinding my titanium alloy dog eyes."

"To the guy above, do you even know what Mars script is? This is called fashion, you country bumpkin."

Zhao Yang watched these chat logs, which were filled with various early 2009 internet slang, with a smile.