> And in the AVR, you can execute:
>
> sbi     PORTA,0
> cbi     PORTA,0
>
> Without having to insert no-ops like on the pic. This gives a 125nS pulse
> on an 8 Mhz AVR.


> It's most annoying having to add no-ops into what should be a fast clocked
> serial conversation just because the output pin hardware is too slow..

Well, in most cases I have other stuff to interleave, such as LSR etc. Indeed
I do so even on the AVR, because nowhere in the databook I find that behaviour
guaranteed by Atmel. To me it seems that a uC which sets the Pin at the _end_ of
the cycle, but clears it at the _start_ would also match to the databook. But
you are right, the silicon does it nice.


Another observation I made lately is the ability to output high frequencies on
output capture pins. My current project has a smart card reader. With proper
init of the OC feature, I can output XTAL/2 on the smart card clock pin, with
no cpu load or external hardware.  And I can return to synchronous dumb cards
by using the pin as usual.  In previous circuits (with other MCUs) I needed an
external oscillator circuit with tristate buffer, and an extra port pin to
control it.

The AVR is really clean & nice.