Tough PIC

[Darrel Taylor]

I wish !!
No, it was just built on an melabs PicProto3 board.

[DocDingwall]

In general, these chips can really take a beating. It's a real kindness for newbs like me.

Before I switched to ICSP, and was removing the chips from the board to re-program, I occassionally got them in backwards. It's really funny how your nose gets tuned to the "hot" smell. I never wrecked a chip but I sure warmed their behinds! Sadly micro mmc cards are not so tough, you just hear a little pop and it's game over--no magic smoke or anything.

Cheers,
Doc.

[Demon]

Yup, they really can take abuse. You may not notice anything wrong after a screw-up, but are you using all features? It's quite possible that 'something' broke.

But yeah, I've also done my share of 'Official Microchip Volunteer Stress Tester'.

Robert

[Art]

What would be the first problem with overclocking?
I don't think it would be heat.
Maybe reading it's own program memory to execute the program it's running?

Have run 16Fs at 25MHz many times here.

[Demon]

The biggest danger when overclocking a PC cpu is overheating. I don't see why it would be any different with a PIC.

Maybe we should liquid cool a PIC and see how fast it can run?

Robert

[Art]

You could cool one with a peltier device, but I doubt you could run it fast enough to get it hot.
PC CPUs don't have to read internal memory.
Pics are more than a CPU, but certainly Do go screwy when the outside environment heats up...

I have a 16F84A running in a vehicle that goes haywire in the heat every time (digital speedometer),
but resumes as normal when the vehicle cools down without needing any reset.
The 16F877A does not seem as fragile though (so far).

I'm still guessing it's the internal interface between it's core and internal memory that would fail.
Not that my theory could be tested. It's not like the CPU can be isolated to do anything without
using it's program memory.

[Demon]

CPUs do read internal cache, that may be technically equivalent to ram.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't the A series for automotive applications?
EDIT: Nevermind, I think it's low voltage programming.

Robert

[Demon]

What would be the first problem with overclocking?
I don't think it would be heat.
...

Art, was rereading this thread and realized I should have been more specific:

No problem with heat if you play with clock speeds only, the problem is when you increase voltage to keep the chip running. That's when you run into "opinions" from guys called Fourrier, Joule, Ohm, Watt and company.

Watts = volts x amps

All that extra energy has to go somewhere.

[Art]

If you ever have some hobby time to waste, set a 12C509 to toggle an LED every second,
use it's internal clock, and connect a high value potentiometer between the pic and a 12 Volt supply.
Yeah, HEAT, but result was no less than impressive