arocholl@gmail.com wrote 2011-10-19 00:23:

> Just for the sake of illustrating price/performance, these are Digikey pa=
rts
> and price for 1 unit:
>
> PIC16F1938 		$2.46
> http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/PIC16F1938-I%2FSO/PIC16F1938-I%2=
FSO
> -ND/2258598
> PIC24FJ64GA002 	$3.6
> http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/PIC24FJ64GA002-I%2FSS/PIC24FJ64G=
A00
> 2-I%2FSS-ND/1635680
> PIC18F2620 		$7.42
> http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/PIC18F2620-I%2FSO/PIC18F2620-I%2=
FSO
> -ND/613227
>
> Venerable obsolete parts just for reference, not really comparable to par=
ts
> above:
> PIC16F84		$5
> http://search.digikey.com/us/en/cat/integrated-circuits-ics/embedded-micr=
oco
> ntrollers/2556109?k=3DPIC16F84
> PIC16F877		$6.72
> http://search.digikey.com/us/en/cat/integrated-circuits-ics/embedded-micr=
oco
> ntrollers/2556109?k=3DPIC16F877
>
> These are three comparable devices in the sense they are general purpose,
> reasonable RAM&  FLASH, all them available in DIP package easy to use for
> novices (prices above may not be for DIP though).
>
> Based on price performance by any mean (amount of RAM, MIPS, FLASH,
> peripherals) I guess the PIC24 is a clear winner.

The PIC16's are clear winners due to the large amount of stuff (code
examples, projects, tutorials, whatever) "out there" on the net. That
by far outweights any artificial price/performance figures which are
mostly irrelevant for a beginner anyway.

There are no 5V PIC24's (right?) which might be limiting factor for
a hobbyist with a junk-box with older 5V stuff like LCD's and so on.




  working with FLASH to emulate that is not
> trivial.
>
> I don't think a $1/piece difference goes anywhere for "learning quantitie=
s".
> However, once you have your tool chain setup, your templates working, and=
 a
> few examples done, the PIC24 may be much better served for a
> SMS/PIR/Wireless project thank a PIC16F. Just move to a PIC24F256GA006 an=
d
> reuse 100% code there for huge RAM and FLASH. That is not an option in
> PIC16F nor 18F.
>
> If you upgrade to professional usage and mass production there will be lo=
t
> of options to choose the right PIC for the task, which is an art on
> itself...
>
> My 2 cents.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf =
Of
> Peter Johansson
> Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 11:01 PM
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: Re: [PIC] How to start with PIC programming
>
> On Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 5:29 PM, Byron Jeff<byronjeff@mail.clayton.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> I know that price is only a part of the equation for hobbyist and
> students.
>> But still what exactly does a $5 PIC18F2620 offer that is lacking in a
>> $2
>> 16F1938 that justifies the choice over a series of projects?
>
> Speaking of which, I have noticed that PIC24 parts are no more expensive,
> and often *less* expensive than comparable PIC16/18 parts.
> If you are just getting started and need to invest substantial time learn=
ing
> a new architecture, there is a *lot* to be said with just starting out wi=
th
> PIC24 if you want to go with the MicroChip brand.
>
> -p.
> --
> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ&  list archive View/change your members=
hip
> options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
>
>
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