fastest CPU in DIP format?

[Yef]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an over-the-counter microprocessor
to run Linux on. However I want to be able to construct
the circuitry myself, so I will need a CPU that is
in a package that mere mortals can work with. My assumption
is that that would be a dual-inline package since that's
what I've used in the past. But when I look at the Jameco
and JDR catalogs I see just slow 8-bit CPUs. Can anyone
point me to something more interesting, such as an
system on a DIP chip type of thing?

Thanks.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an over-the-counter microprocessor
to run Linux on. However I want to be able to construct
the circuitry myself, so I will need a CPU that is
in a package that mere mortals can work with. My assumption
is that that would be a dual-inline package since that's
what I've used in the past. But when I look at the Jameco
and JDR catalogs I see just slow 8-bit CPUs. Can anyone
point me to something more interesting, such as an
system on a DIP chip type of thing?

Thanks.

Maybe you should buy a board.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Tim Wescott]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an over-the-counter microprocessor
to run Linux on. However I want to be able to construct
the circuitry myself, so I will need a CPU that is
in a package that mere mortals can work with. My assumption
is that that would be a dual-inline package since that's
what I've used in the past. But when I look at the Jameco
and JDR catalogs I see just slow 8-bit CPUs. Can anyone
point me to something more interesting, such as an
system on a DIP chip type of thing?

Mere mortals can solder gull-wing chips onto boards, even when they're
at fairly fine pitch. There's enough short-run PC board houses out
there that you have no excuse not to lay out a board and use that.

But I agree with Sperho -- find an eval board (there's a gazillion ARM
eval boards out there) that has the features you want and use that.
Eval boards usually have headers full of undedicated contacts that you
can use for your own circuitry. A very nice way to make a prototype, or
even a one-off product is to get an evaluation board and plug it into
your interface circuitry & use the stack as if it were a finished product.

 

[Guy Macon]

I'm looking for an over-the-counter microprocessor
to run Linux on. However I want to be able to construct
the circuitry myself, so I will need a CPU that is
in a package that mere mortals can work with. My assumption
is that that would be a dual-inline package since that's
what I've used in the past. But when I look at the Jameco
and JDR catalogs I see just slow 8-bit CPUs. Can anyone
point me to something more interesting, such as an
system on a DIP chip type of thing?

Use a surface mount to through-hole adapter. You can buy one premade
See http://www.accutekmicro.com/press_details.cfm?Press_ID=18 or
http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/overview.jsp?nodeId=016246TQmY0589
but if you design your own you can have the board house install the
micro and some surface mount bypass caps, and maybe a xtal or a
buffer chip.

 

[Chris Carlen]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an over-the-counter microprocessor
to run Linux on. However I want to be able to construct
the circuitry myself, so I will need a CPU that is
in a package that mere mortals can work with. My assumption
is that that would be a dual-inline package since that's
what I've used in the past. But when I look at the Jameco
and JDR catalogs I see just slow 8-bit CPUs. Can anyone
point me to something more interesting, such as an
system on a DIP chip type of thing?

Thanks.

If you want to run Linux, then you don't want to develop a board. Buy a
ready made single board computer (SBC). If you really want to develop
a microprocessor board, then that's different.

CPUs capable of running Linux will almost certainly all be QFPs or
worse. Actually QFPs are not so bad, and you can indeed solder them by
hand. Oddly enough, even with a rather blunt tip iron suitable for
typical "medium duty" soldering (like a 1/16" wide chisel tip).

So don't be put off by packages! I used to dread SMT, but now it's nothing.


Good day!



--
_______________________________________________________________________
Christopher R. Carlen
Principal Laser/Optical Technologist
Sandia National Laboratories CA USA
[email protected] -- NOTE: Remove "BOGUS" from email address to reply.

 

[Yef]

CPUs capable of running Linux will almost certainly all be QFPs or
worse. Actually QFPs are not so bad, and you can indeed solder them by
hand. Oddly enough, even with a rather blunt tip iron suitable for
typical "medium duty" soldering (like a 1/16" wide chisel tip).
So don't be put off by packages! I used to dread SMT, but now it's

nothing.

Actually I should have added something but I forgot:

I need this thing to be very rugged. The device will get
banged up quite a bit and I'm a little concerned that
these new 4-layer or whatever PC boards can't take shocks.

That's the other reason why I was hoping for a DIP package
since their pins are thick.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[Ken Smith]

CPUs capable of running Linux will almost certainly all be QFPs or
worse. Actually QFPs are not so bad, and you can indeed solder them by
hand. Oddly enough, even with a rather blunt tip iron suitable for
typical "medium duty" soldering (like a 1/16" wide chisel tip).

Just for that, I should port Linux to an 8051. :>

You can also get the solder paste and heat gun type soldering stations for
prices mere mortals can handle if you look for used stuff.

A dental pick made out of materal that solder hates like 316 stainless is
a handy tool to have. You use it to break the surface tension on solder
bridges.

 

[Chris Carlen]

Chris Carlen wrote:



nothing.

Actually I should have added something but I forgot:

I need this thing to be very rugged. The device will get
banged up quite a bit and I'm a little concerned that
these new 4-layer or whatever PC boards can't take shocks.

That's the other reason why I was hoping for a DIP package
since their pins are thick.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Start a thread on DIP vs. SMT shock/vibration robustness.



--
_______________________________________________________________________
Christopher R. Carlen
Principal Laser/Optical Technologist
Sandia National Laboratories CA USA
[email protected] -- NOTE: Remove "BOGUS" from email address to reply.

 

[Guy Macon]

I need this thing to be very rugged. The device will get
banged up quite a bit and I'm a little concerned that
these new 4-layer or whatever PC boards can't take shocks.

That's the other reason why I was hoping for a DIP package
since their pins are thick.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I hope that you won't take this the wrong way, but my thoughts
are that you need to learn a lot more about designing rugged
electronics. Your belief that 4 layer boards and SMT parts
can't take shock/vibration is unfounded.

 

[Ken Smith]

I need this thing to be very rugged. The device will get
banged up quite a bit and I'm a little concerned that
these new 4-layer or whatever PC boards can't take shocks.

That's the other reason why I was hoping for a DIP package
since their pins are thick.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Ease of damage from bumping about:

Worst:
Lead acid batteries (the second ones you buy)
Cheap (sheet metal pin) sockets
Mechanical switches that are hard mounted to the case
Relays
Cheap connectors
More expensive connectors
Large value ceramic capacitors
Improperly installed radial leaded parts.
Trim pots of any kind.
Good quality PLCC sockets
Machined pin sockets.
SMT ICs of nearly any type
:Best

 

[Boris Mohar]

nothing.

Actually I should have added something but I forgot:

I need this thing to be very rugged. The device will get
banged up quite a bit and I'm a little concerned that
these new 4-layer or whatever PC boards can't take shocks.

That's the other reason why I was hoping for a DIP package
since their pins are thick.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

Pins are thick because the package is large. Four layer boards are not new.
Are planning to shoot this out of the cannon? How many gees does it have to
endure?

 

[Pooh Bear]

If you want to run Linux, then you don't want to develop a board. Buy a
ready made single board computer (SBC). If you really want to develop
a microprocessor board, then that's different.

CPUs capable of running Linux will almost certainly all be QFPs or
worse. Actually QFPs are not so bad, and you can indeed solder them by
hand. Oddly enough, even with a rather blunt tip iron suitable for
typical "medium duty" soldering (like a 1/16" wide chisel tip).

So don't be put off by packages! I used to dread SMT, but now it's nothing.

Been re-working some SMD today actually. Fiddly but do-able with even just a
Weller TCP iron plus fine tip.

Socket manufacturers like 3M, Augat etc do provide some sockets that take PLCC
parts typically but convert them to through hole leadouts. I have my doubts that
there'll be one with enough pins for a modern PC type CPU though.


Graham

 

[Pooh Bear]

nothing.

Actually I should have added something but I forgot:

I need this thing to be very rugged. The device will get
banged up quite a bit and I'm a little concerned that
these new 4-layer or whatever PC boards can't take shocks.

That's the other reason why I was hoping for a DIP package
since their pins are thick.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

SMD packages weigh less so are less bothered about 'rough handling'.

Check out PC104 format boards for an embedded application. They're meant
for industrial use.


Graham

 

[Rich Grise]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an over-the-counter microprocessor
to run Linux on. However I want to be able to construct
the circuitry myself, so I will need a CPU that is
in a package that mere mortals can work with. My assumption
is that that would be a dual-inline package since that's
what I've used in the past. But when I look at the Jameco
and JDR catalogs I see just slow 8-bit CPUs. Can anyone
point me to something more interesting, such as an
system on a DIP chip type of thing?

80186.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Pooh Bear]

80186.

Cheers!
Rich

I was waiting for someone to say that !

Wasn't the 80286 in DIP too ? Bah - I've only got Volume II of Intel
Microprocessors 1991 manual ! I need Volume I to tell.

Graham

 

[Pooh Bear]

I hope that you won't take this the wrong way, but my thoughts
are that you need to learn a lot more about designing rugged
electronics. Your belief that 4 layer boards and SMT parts
can't take shock/vibration is unfounded.

Maybe he's a mech eng ? They like big stuff !

Seriously, ( to the OP ) the low mass of SMD devices makes them highly
resistant to shock effects.

One area where you might need to be concerned is in critical ( typically
precision DC amplifer ) applications where any board stress can affect
SMD resistor values. In this respect leaded parts are bettter since the
lead acts as a strain relief.

Graham

 

[Pooh Bear]

Ease of damage from bumping about:

Worst:
Lead acid batteries (the second ones you buy)
Cheap (sheet metal pin) sockets
Mechanical switches that are hard mounted to the case
Relays
Cheap connectors
More expensive connectors
Large value ceramic capacitors
Improperly installed radial leaded parts.
Trim pots of any kind.
Good quality PLCC sockets
Machined pin sockets.

Sorry, got to say you're wrong about machined sockets.

I know of various cases where either (a) vibration or (b) thermal
cycling has caused DIL components to 'walk out' of machined sockets !
I'd love to see this tested on a vibration table and watch it in real
time..

'Cheap' sockets are often better. They have effectively a no-return
action. Augat make some wickedly good ones that grip the leads like
velcro.

SMT ICs of nearly any type
:Best

Regds, Graham

 

[hamilton]

Why do there YoYos think they can get something for nothing.

You might be able to get a 68010 in a 48 pin dip package working.

But why ?????

If you just do a little homework you will find even the military is
using surface mount packages. And the get shot at !!

Its time to come into the 21st century.

 

[Rich Grise]

I was waiting for someone to say that !

Wasn't the 80286 in DIP too ? Bah - I've only got Volume II of Intel
Microprocessors 1991 manual ! I need Volume I to tell.

I might have spoken out of turn. The one time I did work with a '186,
it was in that square ceramic package with no leads at all - just
plated fingers on the top of the ceramic (around the lid) like an
edge connector. It went into the socket upside-down, as I remember.
But the socket still was on .1 centers, I believe. This was a very
long time ago, and I was kind of surprised to see the '186 come up
on intel's site today.
....
Turns out it comes in 64-pin PGA, 64-pin PLCC, and a couple of 100-pin
packages, whatever they are.

ftp://download.intel.com/design/intarch/ordercodes.pdf?iid=eianav2+proc_ordcode&

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Pooh Bear]

I might have spoken out of turn. The one time I did work with a '186,
it was in that square ceramic package with no leads at all - just
plated fingers on the top of the ceramic (around the lid) like an
edge connector. It went into the socket upside-down, as I remember.
But the socket still was on .1 centers, I believe. This was a very
long time ago, and I was kind of surprised to see the '186 come up
on intel's site today.
...
Turns out it comes in 64-pin PGA, 64-pin PLCC, and a couple of 100-pin
packages, whatever they are.

ftp://download.intel.com/design/intarch/ordercodes.pdf?iid=eianav2+proc_ordcode&

Cheers!
Rich

Hah !

I *did* have Volume I of the 1991 micrporocessors manual after all ! It was somewhat
slimmer than Vol II and I didn't spot it at first.

80286s were either PLCC or PGA ( 68 pin ).

80186s are presumably in the Microcontrollers Manual since I don't have any data on
them.

Looks like the OP would have to use a 8086 - or an NEC V20/30 - lol if he wants DIL.
And presuming they still exist ! Which strikes me as unlikely.


Graham