Paul Haas wrote:

> You'll have better luck if you start with a PIC16F84-10.  The -10
> means 10
> Mhz.  The -4 in the subject indicates 4 Mhz, so you were trying to run
> at
> 3 times the rated speed.  Running a -10 at 12Mhz is only 1.2 times out
> of
> spec.  (The 16F84 is an improved version of the 16C84, it was
> previously
> known as the 16C84A.  The 16C84 is discontinued.)

I used a -10 first, it worked fine, they broke by other reasons though,
and I only had two of them, so that's why I tried the -4 version. I'll
use the -10 chip when I get more of them, but it would be nice if it
worked with the -4 chip, scince they're twice as cheap as the -10 chips,
(when I buy them anyway).  The project i'm working on is a PONG game
using only a PIC16F84, 5 Resistors and a Chrystal, so I need the speed
to get better x-resolution on the screen.

> If I remember correctly, the oscillator in the chip is one of the
> first
> things to fail at high speeds.  So, use an external oscillator.  It
> still
> might not work.  The temperature range and voltage range are also
> limited
> when you are out of spec.  I think you want keep the temperature low
> and
> the supply voltage high (ie. if the part is normally rated at 4 to 6
> volts, it is more likely to work at 6 volts than at 4 volts.)  You'll
> have
> to do some experiments to verify my memory.  Anything I told you,
> might
> be backwards.

ok, intersting, Thanx