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The cheapest flash microcontroller you can buy is actually an Arm Cortex-M0+

jaycarlson.net

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Re: The cheapest flash microcontroller you can buy is actually an Arm Cortex-M0+

#21

Post by TheLoafOfBread »

kken wrote: post #11
mlindner wrote: post #8

I'm not sure why people try and go for the cheapest microcontroller. These things all have unit prices in the single digit dollars or less in actual production costs. Finding a cheap microcontroller is entirely about finding a cheap reseller of whatever you're trying to get rather than finding a cheap part specifically. Only when you get to truly large volumes such that you can get volume discounts does unit price re…

I think the main appeal is to work with small devices that have well defined resources. Just consider the popularity of the ATtiny85. However, low end 32bit devices are also available from reputed suppliers. In fact, STM just announced the STM32C* series which is also aimed at replacing 8 bit controllers. The cost benefit may only be true for low numbers and when sourcing from distributors. I am fairly certain that t…

Can I buy STM32 in some decent numbers, or are they still made out of unobtanium?

Re: The cheapest flash microcontroller you can buy is actually an Arm Cortex-M0+

#22

Post by leoedin »

mlindner wrote: post #8

I'm not sure why people try and go for the cheapest microcontroller. These things all have unit prices in the single digit dollars or less in actual production costs. Finding a cheap microcontroller is entirely about finding a cheap reseller of whatever you're trying to get rather than finding a cheap part specifically. Only when you get to truly large volumes such that you can get volume discounts does unit price re…

Even if you're not a hobbyist, development costs will dwarf BOM costs until volumes are in the 10s of thousands - saving even a dollar per item isn't worth it if you add a few months of development time due to obscure tooling or silicon bugs.

Re: The cheapest flash microcontroller you can buy is actually an Arm Cortex-M0+

#24

Post by RealityVoid »

leoedin wrote: post #22
mlindner wrote: post #8

I'm not sure why people try and go for the cheapest microcontroller. These things all have unit prices in the single digit dollars or less in actual production costs. Finding a cheap microcontroller is entirely about finding a cheap reseller of whatever you're trying to get rather than finding a cheap part specifically. Only when you get to truly large volumes such that you can get volume discounts does unit price re…

Even if you're not a hobbyist, development costs will dwarf BOM costs until volumes are in the 10s of thousands - saving even a dollar per item isn't worth it if you add a few months of development time due to obscure tooling or silicon bugs.

It makes sense if you have volumes in the millions.

Re: The cheapest flash microcontroller you can buy is actually an Arm Cortex-M0+

#27

Post by mlindner »

LoveMortuus wrote: post #18
mlindner wrote: post #8

I'm not sure why people try and go for the cheapest microcontroller. These things all have unit prices in the single digit dollars or less in actual production costs. Finding a cheap microcontroller is entirely about finding a cheap reseller of whatever you're trying to get rather than finding a cheap part specifically. Only when you get to truly large volumes such that you can get volume discounts does unit price re…

As a person who's financial weak, I always go with the cheapest option that I can find, especially if this is my entrance ticket into the specific space. Yes, the cheapest option will probably have more issues then the more expensive one. But that's actually good, because if I can't deal with them, I probably would give up with a more expensive one. And this also allows me to experience what really matters to me and…

Sure but does your financial situation change if you pay 10¢ for your microprocessor versus paying $5 for your microprocessor?

Re: The cheapest flash microcontroller you can buy is actually an Arm Cortex-M0+

#28

Post by TickleSteve »

mlindner wrote: post #8

I'm not sure why people try and go for the cheapest microcontroller. These things all have unit prices in the single digit dollars or less in actual production costs. Finding a cheap microcontroller is entirely about finding a cheap reseller of whatever you're trying to get rather than finding a cheap part specifically. Only when you get to truly large volumes such that you can get volume discounts does unit price re…

embedded systems can often be made in their millions.

At those numbers, costs matter. This is why design choices in embedded systems are often unusual.

Re: The cheapest flash microcontroller you can buy is actually an Arm Cortex-M0+

#29

Post by Havoc »

synergy20 wrote: post #6

do sourcing chips from china have some risks these days?

For hobbyist I'd say risk here is near zero - comparatively at least. These are going to get wiped and don't have an obvious persistent attack vector and likely deployed behind a NAT. There are a bunch of much softer targets in the average home that don't (IoTs, routers, software etc).

Unless using commercially or you're someone special I don't think it's worth worrying

Re: The cheapest flash microcontroller you can buy is actually an Arm Cortex-M0+

#30

Post by imtringued »

LoveMortuus wrote: post #18
mlindner wrote: post #8

I'm not sure why people try and go for the cheapest microcontroller. These things all have unit prices in the single digit dollars or less in actual production costs. Finding a cheap microcontroller is entirely about finding a cheap reseller of whatever you're trying to get rather than finding a cheap part specifically. Only when you get to truly large volumes such that you can get volume discounts does unit price re…

As a person who's financial weak, I always go with the cheapest option that I can find, especially if this is my entrance ticket into the specific space. Yes, the cheapest option will probably have more issues then the more expensive one. But that's actually good, because if I can't deal with them, I probably would give up with a more expensive one. And this also allows me to experience what really matters to me and…

I entertained the idea of using WLCSP in a PCB just because I like pain. If I can do WLCSP then I can do anything.
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