On Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 12:23:20AM +0200, arocholl@gmail.com wrote: > Just for the sake of illustrating price/performance, these are Digikey pa= rts > and price for 1 unit: >=20 > PIC16F1938 $2.46 > http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/PIC16F1938-I%2FSO/PIC16F1938-I%2= FSO > -ND/2258598=20 > 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=20 >=20 > 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 >=20 > 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). >=20 > Based on price performance by any mean (amount of RAM, MIPS, FLASH, > peripherals) I guess the PIC24 is a clear winner. Only drawback for a new= bie > is lack of internal EEPROM, working with FLASH to emulate that is not > trivial. >=20 > 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. >=20 > 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... >=20 > My 2 cents. All good points. My main concern is that of all the parts you listed, only the PIC24 part is a 3.3V part. The datasheet indicates that it has 5V tolerant inputs. However, there will be serious challenges for a novice mixing and matching mixed voltage parts. I remember fondly when all the parallel port PIC programmers stopped working because the parallel port interface was limited to 3.3V, which is valid for TTL, but failed for CMOS parts running at 5V. My KISS criteria for hobby use are as follows: DIP format 5V operation internal oscillator integrated peripherals cheap That particular 24F part doesn't meet the 5V operation requirement. There are 5V parts, but they seem to be limited to 2K RAM if I'm reading Microchips parametric charts correctly. I know at the end of the day it's a "to each his own" decision. But looking at your chart above, it still looks like 16F1938/16F1939 parts meets my criteria list and still are the best deal. BAJ >=20 > -----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 >=20 > On Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 5:29 PM, Byron Jeff > wrote: >=20 > > 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= =20 > > $2 > > 16F1938 that justifies the choice over a series of projects? >=20 > 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. >=20 > -p. > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your members= hip > options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >=20 >=20 > --=20 > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist --=20 Byron A. Jeff Department Chair: IT/CS/CNET College of Information and Mathematical Sciences Clayton State University http://cims.clayton.edu/bjeff --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .