PIC16F877 & PIC16F877A ???

[Kryptonite]

Greetings,

When u go out to buy PIC16F87X, u may find PIC16F877 & PIC16F877A. What's the difference between them ? & which one should i pick?

i guess PIC16F877A is Revision A of PIC16F877, but what has been added or updated??

i appreciate ur co-operation

 

[namqn]

PIC16F877A is a newer version of PIC16F877, which is obsolete now.

The difference may be the new Comparator and Comparator Voltage Reference modules in PIC16F877A.

Cheers,

 

[siongboon]

Ya, there is no need to choose. Use PIC16F877a.
It is backward compatiable to PIC16F877 (old version).

 

[joeboy1995]

The A version is a new die FAB techology, the features of both version are as the same (except analog comparator) but the A version has a good quality features such as 1,000,000 erase/write cycle data EEPROM ,data retention more than be 40 years with out the bias, ect.

Regarde

 

[goslock]

Hello it verifies this, I hope that it serves to you.


PS. page 211 of the datasheet PIC16F877l

 

[joeboy1995]

Where is a "A" letter, I don't see it in page 211. but you can see on Appendix a: "Revision History"(PIC16F87XA DATA SHEET) It say "version A Original version. The device presented are enhanced version of the PIC16F87X microcontroller discussed in the "PIC16F87X datasheet"".

Regards
Joeboy1995

 

[nusliqiang]

Yeah, 16F877 is the new product to subsititue 16F877A. It is cost effective and more reliable.

We change to 16F877A after using long time of 16F877.

 

[M!k]

Read Microchip's PIC16F87X to PIC16F87XA migration note:
https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/39591a.pdf

 

[Gladis]

Hi,
U can directly buy 16F877A, Because it is an enhanced version of 16F877. The difference u can find in the url posted in previous post. 16F877A can be used anywhere instead of 16F877 and viseversa is not possible in all cases.
Thanks

 

[Kryptonite]

Hi Guys,

I really wanna thank u for your help & answers above.

I have one more question though, i already have a home-made programmer for PIC16F877, will it work with (program) the PIC16F877A perfectly???

Thx in advance...

 

[manu]

If your software supports 16f877A, there's no reason you can't program it

 

[jonw0224]

It is important that your software support the 16F877A because the algorithm for programming it is different from the 16F877 algorithm. The 16F877A should work with the same programmer hardware as the 16F877.

-jonathan

 

[pvinbox@yahoo.com]

HI

both microcontrollers are same except that 16f877a has internal comparator which is not available in 16f877. then the programming algorithm also different. But you can use the hex file generated for the 16f877 in 16f877a also.

 

[Kryptonite]

Well, in case i wasn't clear, my question was about the hardware (Loader Physical electronic circuit)...

So u r saying that PIC16F877A can be loaded by HEX file using the same circuit as PIC16F877..... right?

 

[namqn]

Well, in case i wasn't clear, my question was about the hardware (Loader Physical electronic circuit)...

So u r saying that PIC16F877A can be loaded by HEX file using the same circuit as PIC16F877..... right?

Yes, that is right. If your hardware can program PIC16F877, then it should be able to program your PIC16F877A. Still, you need software support for PIC16F877A as well.

Cheers,

 

[Joshoo]

PIC16F877A has a bigger memory than the orginal PIC16F877. It is an improved version.

If U think that U don't need so many ports, U can alternatively using a low pin count PIC16F876A. Its is almost the same as PIC16F877A, but with less ports. Port A, B & C.

 

[qmriso]

opsss...dont forget that the firmware of the PIC16F877A is not the same with the PIC16F877..the truth is the PIC16F877A is the facelift of the old one...there are some features updates but the memory and the pin assign is just a same...

 

[Joshoo]

If I am not wrong, the new 16f877A can be use as 16f877. Its just some new improvements in their functions.

Actually, I have just started working into 16f877A

Correct me, if I wrong.

 

[joeboy1995]

My friend is working on Microchip assembly manufacturing, He knowed the inside information, I asked him yesterday and he told me the A version is a new die fab technology the feature are as the same as original version but it has an enhanced quality (described on my previous message) and the die side and die thickness are less than the old one, So it can be packed on MLF package type which the old one cannot!!!. This changed has impacted only the die fab and assembly process not for a user. FYI.

Have a nice day

Added after 6 minutes:

I forgot a one thing, you can use PIC16F877A-04 that the maximum frequency per spec described is 4MHz but you can use it at 20MHz frequency smoothly while the original version cannot.