EEVblog #63 - Microchip PIC vs Atmel AVR

Let the microcontroller fanboy wars begin!
Dave's rather random rant on which is better, Microchip PIC or Atmel AVR.
(warning, Dave hates Fanboys)

BTW, check out this way to program AVR chips with the PICkit2:
http://pickit2avrisp.wordpress.com/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• pic
• atmel
• microchip
• avr
• microcontroller
• programming
• pickit
• ice
• debug
• micro
• isp
• icsp

[makodono]

wow.. I watched this because I wanted to start with microcontrollers (I've never used them) but this vblog was weird.

What I understood from your blog is this:

-Keep your options open.

-ATMEL is a smaller company than Microchip.

-AVR is probably better, but I prefer PIC because I am a PIC fanboy and I hate AVR fanboys.

yeah.. that's about it, this was the most useless vblog you created.. as for me, I'll check both in addition to few others to keep my options open.

[EEVblog]

@makodono Many of my recent projects use AVR. I use whatever device is the best option.

[Darrengb]

Perhaps just shutup and tell us the difference

Do you even know

[EEVblog]

@Darrengb Yes, I know the differences. They are way too many and detailed to list in any blog. And the differences can be anywhere from huge deal-breakers, to of no importance at all depending upon your particular application.

[mohaawwkk]

dude, I really love the way you talk. :) keep up the good work

[EEVblog]

@mohaawwkk That's unusual, usually I get hate mail! Thanks.

[littellzack]

Haha I love all these people who don't know what Dave is all about. you are all dickheads! haha.  but really smashing on atmel is usually pretty common. Microchip gives you more options in chips and at cheaper costs. PIC chips have all kinds of amazing interfaces built right into the chips for cheap.

[pariahzero]

I've apparently not been paying attention to the hobbyist market. I've never cared about who makes a μcontroller any more than I'd care about who makes a resistor.

I'm frankly surprised there's a fanboy war between μcontrollers; there's such a huge range of capabilities from any one manufacturer; seeing fanboys focus on the virtues of a particular model vs. anything else is usually an apples to oranges comparison at best.

That much emotional investment for a part that costs <$5 is insane.

[VeXorian1337]

Awesome review and you're totally right! Real engineers don't stick to one micro manufacturer but try out different stuff!

I used to stick to PIC's in the beginning, but that's because they were the most available at the local electronics store, but later I found out about Cypress' PSoC, NXP's LPC and they quite beat in features both PICs and AVRs, even though they are not so widely known.

It would be a good idea to make a vlog about various microcontroller types and list some pros and cons.

[LurkePus]

@EEVblog I started of with PIC micros cause the were the frist one i cam across , Since i'm on a low budget i got a prebuildt JDM programmer WITH ICSP header, i also got 10 pic 12F683 chips to play around with. Since i'm a LINUX guy i had to run mplab trough wine and i used picprog to program the chip .. I later got to know about mplabX witch is a linux based version and i wil give it a try .. i might look into the AVR later but i will use PIC's to get a hang of the mcu basics..

[murmurrer]

this is better than standup comedy! oh btw i hate avr fanboys

[dankendell]

Very funny! I feel your pain when it comes to fanbois, they're just so bloody tiresome aren't they? I rather guessed that would be your stance on it and I quite agree! Anyone who thinks their one idea can conqueror all is just plain delusional. I try to reassure myself with the thought that thankfully the argument of PIC/AVR is a fairly harmless one, and the more we can get the single-minded zealots arguing over insignificant stuff, then hopefully they'll stay away from the important stuff! :D

[SuperDisbelief]

Anyone of you Arduino-only freaks (Or PIC-only freaks for that matter) out there who feels offended by those who think you are a "dickhead"? Simply respond to them like "Maybe I am to you, but you addresing me like you did will never make me changing my mind or image about myself."

[Riskteven]

@Darrengb It depends of what you are going to use it for and if you want a product that has a longevity (spare parts, upgradable etc, you do not want to discontinue a product just because a micro controller factory went out of business)

[Riskteven]

What micro controller would you use if you had to convert 96 "analog" switches and 16 push-pull potentiometers to 112 different MIDI NRPN signals? (a MIDI NRPN is a value sent on the MIDI number reserved for sending such values.)