PS: for those interested, here's a small introduction to registers and ALU
of the MIPS (PIC32 CPU), read after "A Quick Introduction to MIPS Assembly"=
:

http://www.cs.uiuc.edu/class/fa06/cs232/section/disc1sol.pdf

As you can see coding in assembly is actually easier on the PIC32 than on
the PIC24 or dsPIC30/33 or even more on the PIC.

I use C++ a lot too, so let's not open a debate on asm vs C/C++. I just wan=
t
to show that asm on the PIC32 is very easy, once you get bootstrapped. Then
where it's useful or not, only you and the specific project can tell it. Bu=
t
the false myth that coding for the PIC32 in asm is harder than for the othe=
r
PICs must be eradicated. :D As the opposite is actually true..


At 01.13 2011.10.24, you wrote:
>On Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 4:49 PM, Electron <electron2k4@infinito.it> wrote:
>
>> Something that requires good raw computing power. The dsPIC could suffic=
e
>> but it would draw too much current. I'm evaluating tricky ways to reduce
>> current consumption on the dsPIC xor move on / convert to the PIC32.
>> Although
>> I have had PIC32 chips and a starter kit for years, I haven't took a loo=
k
>> to
>> it yet. Both options are quite time consuming and I need to see if the
>> PIC32
>> route would take too many efforts. The chips are cheap and powerful, the=
y
>> draw very little current, learning them may be a winner for other future
>> projects in any case, so it was about a time I had an indepth look at th=
em.
>>
>>
>What's the purpose? Is it for a cost sensitive mass produced product? Or
>just a few?

Product (sold in the thousands, hopefully, but unlikely more than that).


>How about a small CPLD? These things run at speeds well over 200MHz and yo=
u
>could do your calculation in one clock cycle. They draw a lot of power
>compared to the PIC32 but you could power them down when you don't need
>them.

CPLD's would only be able to do (and well) a part of the project. I also
need a proper CPU and program.

I have much experience with FPGA's but zero with CPLD's.. as I understand
it while the former are dominated by interconnect, the latter are by logic.
Gotta play with a CPLD someday.. I just don't have the time right now.

Cheers,
Mario

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