What's the "A" all about

[stevecrunch]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone tell me what the "A" stands for after the chip's name?

example:
16F877A
16F84A

[skimask]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone tell me what the "A" stands for after the chip's name?

example:
16F877A
16F84A

Have you compared the datasheets on any one of those chips to find the difference?
16F877 vs 16F877A
16F84 vs 16F84A
etc etc

[Pic_User]

Hi stevecrunch,

This might help:
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3317

More migration sheets:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1955

HTH
-Adam-

[stevecrunch]

The reason I ask is because (1st of all i'm new to microcontrollers) magazines and websites seem to favor the "A".

I figured there was some kind of advantage or something. If it's nothing MAJOR, then I Will go into the data sheets and check it out. I still have a lot to learn about PIC.

Thank you all.

[skimask]

The reason I ask is because (1st of all i'm new to microcontrollers) magazines and websites seem to favor the "A".

I figured there was some kind of advantage or something. If it's nothing MAJOR, then I Will go into the data sheets and check it out. I still have a lot to learn about PIC.

Thank you all.

The 'A' really isn't anything major, except for different programming spec's on some chips (might not work with older programmer with older software, 16F877 is not the same as programming a 16F877A), enhanced features that really help a guy out, more features that make more things possible...
So I guess the 'A' really is something relatively major after all...
Buy the 'A's if they're available...