On Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 12:46:54AM +0200, Jan-Erik Soderholm wrote: > arocholl@gmail.com wrote 2011-10-19 00:23: >=20 > > Just for the sake of illustrating price/performance, these are Digikey = parts > > and price for 1 unit: > > > > PIC16F1938 $2.46 > > http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/PIC16F1938-I%2FSO/PIC16F1938-I= %2FSO > > -ND/2258598 > > PIC24FJ64GA002 $3.6 > > http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/PIC24FJ64GA002-I%2FSS/PIC24FJ6= 4GA00 > > 2-I%2FSS-ND/1635680 > > PIC18F2620 $7.42 > > http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/PIC18F2620-I%2FSO/PIC18F2620-I= %2FSO > > -ND/613227 > > > > Venerable obsolete parts just for reference, not really comparable to p= arts > > above: > > PIC16F84 $5 > > http://search.digikey.com/us/en/cat/integrated-circuits-ics/embedded-mi= croco > > ntrollers/2556109?k=3DPIC16F84 > > PIC16F877 $6.72 > > http://search.digikey.com/us/en/cat/integrated-circuits-ics/embedded-mi= croco > > ntrollers/2556109?k=3DPIC16F877 > > > > These are three comparable devices in the sense they are general purpos= e, > > reasonable RAM& FLASH, all them available in DIP package easy to use f= or > > 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. >=20 > 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. But it kind of cuts both ways. On problem with all the material on the net is that it's targeted towards the obsolete parts. Read a lot of posts on PICs out there and one would think the 16F84 is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Microchip has been really good about moving the goalposts in terms of useful affordable parts. However, the net hasn't been good about keeping pace. The nice thing is that much of the old code will still work on the enchanced set of 16F parts. But it gets so much better when using the new features. >=20 > 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. There are a limited set. Also the parts seem to have 5V tolerant inputs. That's one of the items on my list. BAJ >=20 >=20 >=20 >=20 > working with FLASH to emulate that is not > > trivial. > > > > I don't think a $1/piece difference goes anywhere for "learning quantit= ies". > > However, once you have your tool chain setup, your templates working, a= nd 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 = and > > 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 = lot > > 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 Behal= f 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 > > 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 expensiv= e, > > and often *less* expensive than comparable PIC16/18 parts. > > If you are just getting started and need to invest substantial time lea= rning > > a new architecture, there is a *lot* to be said with just starting out = with > > PIC24 if you want to go with the MicroChip brand. > > > > -p. > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ& list archive View/change your membe= rship > > options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > > > --=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 .