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Microcontrollers

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8, 16 and 32-bit microcontrollers to program yourself: Microchip PIC and ATmega, ATtiny, in DIP package for breadboard or in SMD version.

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26 results

26 results

12

Choosing your microcontroller

A microcontroller combines the processor, program memory (Flash), RAM and peripherals (timers, ADC, UART, I2C, SPI) in a single chip. The choice comes down to four points: family, memory size, pin count and package.

  • Family: PIC chips (PIC12F675, PIC16F84, PIC16F628A, PIC16F877A, PIC18F4550) are programmed with MPLAB and a PICkit-type programmer. AVR chips (ATmega328P, ATmega8, ATmega16, ATmega32, ATtiny85) are used with the Arduino environment or an avr-gcc toolchain and an ISP programmer.
  • Memory: 1 to 3 KB is enough for a blinker or a timer; aim for 8 to 32 KB (ATmega328P, ATmega32, PIC16F877A, PIC18F2550) as soon as there is a display, a serial link or heavy computation.
  • Pins: DIP-8 for a minimal circuit (PIC12F675, ATtiny85), DIP-18 or DIP-28 for a typical project, DIP-40 when you need to drive an LCD and several sensors.
  • Package: DIP for prototyping on a breadboard with insertion sockets, TQFP or SOIC for a final printed board.

The built-in USB of the PIC18F4550 or PIC18F2550 avoids an external converter. For a build, plan for the crystal, the capacitors and the regulator in Components.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a PIC and an ATmega?

These are two 8-bit families with similar performance, but different architectures and tools: PIC chips go through MPLAB and a Microchip programmer, ATmega chips through the Arduino IDE or avr-gcc with an ISP programmer. The choice mainly depends on the toolchain you are familiar with and the code examples you follow.

Is the ATmega328P-PU the same chip as the one on an Arduino Uno board?

It is the same chip in a DIP-28 package, which allows it to be mounted on a socket and replaced. A new chip arrives without a bootloader: you either need to flash it with an ISP programmer, or program it directly in native code.

Which microcontroller should I choose to get started?

A DIP-28 with comfortable memory such as the ATmega328P or a PIC16F628A: plenty of documentation, accessible pins on a breadboard and enough resources for a first complete project. DIP-8 chips like the PIC12F675 or ATtiny85 are then suited to compact builds.

Do I need an external crystal?

No for most of these chips, which have an internal oscillator sufficient for blinking or reading sensors. A crystal becomes useful as soon as precision matters: fast serial link, USB, time measurement.

What makes the price of a microcontroller vary?

The family and bit width, the size of the Flash and RAM, the pin count, the built-in peripherals (USB, ADC, CAN) as well as the package. A 32-bit reference in QFP is not comparable to an 8-bit one in DIP-8.