Source for cheap MCUs - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 04:10:37 am
content: Is there a good source for cheap no brand MCUs?I'm specifically looking for 8-16 pin devices in SOIC or TSSOP packages. Core architecture or memories do not matter that much, I need them for replacement of simple logic, so anything with 1K of Flash/ROM and 256 bytes of RAM will work. No special requirements for peripherals, GPIOs are bare minimum, even slow and low-res ADC would be a huge plus.I'm looking for a price in the 10-30 cent range in quantity of 1000.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 05:04:26 am
content: It's not SOIC or TTSOP but you can handle QFN20 if you can handle the others.EFM8BB10F2G-A-QFN20$0.33 on Digikey :http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/silicon-labs/EFM8BB10F2G-A-QFN20/336-3162-5-ND/5115719$0.28 on Farnell (£0.224) :http://uk.farnell.com/silicon-labs/efm8bb10f2g-a-qfn20/mcu-8bit-8051-25mhz-qfn-20/dp/2468077The minimums of 1KB program size and 256 bytes of memory kind of restrict you.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 05:09:32 am
content: Quote from: mariush on October 20, 2016, 05:04:26 amIt is not about handling. The one I need right now must fit on the board with 1/4" width. With TSSOP-8, it is not a problem at all (the chip is located along the long edge of the board).Quote from: mariush on October 20, 2016, 05:04:26 amI will have a look at anything, even smaller, those numbers are just for general direction. Although how much smaller can you bet and still stay useful.

author: andyturk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 05:12:45 am
content: http://www.cypress.com/part/cy8c4013sxi-400t

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 05:22:03 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on October 20, 2016, 05:09:32 amI see. Have a look at Holtek :http://www.holtek.com.tw/producthomeI don't know any distributors for them, but they have loads of microcontrollers and I see them in loads of cheap products.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 05:39:19 am
content: Quote from: mariush on October 20, 2016, 05:22:03 amThis is a really impressive selection of parts. But it looks like there is no way to buy them in moderately small quantity or even to find out a price.I really like this approach - a lot of parts clearly designed for a specific application or type of devices.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 05:54:12 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on October 20, 2016, 05:39:19 amAs far as I can tell, it tells you the price, if you click through and say you want to buy the parts.The cheapest I can find so far is $0.40 each.There does not seem to be a minimum quantity, except you have to pay postage, making too low a quantity uneconomical.This gets you close to seeing the prices: (It shows the prices once you have chosen parts)http://www.holmate.com/aspx/user01/ItemList.aspx

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 05:58:34 am
content: Quote from: MK14 on October 20, 2016, 05:54:12 amHow do you even get to buying?From the main page: General Purpose MCU -> A/D Flash MCU -> HT66F13 -> all sorts of documents and related info, but no buy button.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 06:00:07 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on October 20, 2016, 05:58:34 amProducts.Link above in first post.Repeated here:(http://www.holmate.com/aspx/user01/ItemList.aspx)Since it has set cookies for me, I now see:Quote

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 06:04:24 am
content: Quote from: MK14 on October 20, 2016, 06:00:07 amYep, I see it now.That thing does not appear to give any discounts for quantity and their single quantity prices are not even remotely competitive with Microchip and Atmel parts from DigiKey.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 06:06:44 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on October 20, 2016, 06:04:24 amI think I read, they start giving discounts, for quantities above 1K. You have to email them to get quotes.Most semiconductor companies (MCUs), seem to keep secret their bulk prices, for quantities above about 5K units.So I'm NOT surprised you have to email them for >1K.

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 06:33:05 am
content: If you do not mind using a TSSOP20 device, you can find STM32F030F4P6 that costs less than 30 cents on Taobao.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 06:41:18 am
content: The ST 8 bits can be $0.283 from ST themselves, but that would be x10,000 (at higher prices, distributors do lower quantities)"STM8S003F3P6 TSSOP 20 Tube -40 85 Active 0.283 10000"The 8K flash, 1K Ram, make them very competitive against Microchip/Atmel, I believe. But the case maybe too big for you.And x10,000 is too many.Newark (there may be cheaper distributors) gives:x1000 - x2499 = $0.398x2500+ = $0.372

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 10:55:52 am
content: Try looking at STC. They have some very cheap 8051s.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 11:15:27 am
content: If it's logic replacement, also look at the Silego GreenPak devices.Also don't forget the cost of programming. Microchip may not quite be in the price range you've quoted but they will program them for a few pennies extra , which might make up the difference.

author: Kalvin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 11:19:31 am
content: Embedded microcontrollers from Digikey sorted by price:http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en/integrated-circuits-ics/embedded-microcontrollers/2556109?FV=fff40027%2Cfff800cd&mnonly=0&newproducts=0&ColumnSort=1000011&page=1&stock=0&pbfree=0&rohs=0&k=microcontroller&quantity=&ptm=0&fid=0&pageSize=25

author: Kalvin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 11:37:00 am
content: You may also want to take a look at this:http://www.stcmicro.com/stcmcu.htmlIf you are a bit adventurous you can get these very cheaply from Aliexpress. I remember seeing prices around $0.10/ea or even less in small quantities.

author: krho
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2016, 05:03:40 am
content: Another vote for STM8S003F3, the STM8S003F3U6TR (QFN) is usually cheaper than SOIC, and small footprint 3x3mm is really small, sou with adapter boards you could fit it almost anywhere.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2016, 12:11:45 pm
content: STM8S903K3T6Chttp://www.mouser.com/ds/2/389/stm8s903k3-956363.pdf0.94 USD in mouser0.27 USd in Chinahttps://world.taobao.com/item/537421416018.htm?fromSite=main&ali_refid=a3_430620_1006:1123595568:N:stm8s:c589479daa03e63eb09b9adef2a7b6a8&ali_trackid=1_c589479daa03e63eb09b9adef2a7b6a8&spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.9YnjNq

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2016, 12:12:50 pm
content: Development boardhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-STM32F103C8T6-ARM-STM32-Minimum-System-Development-Board-Module-Arduino-/201414966215?hash=item2ee5447bc7:g:X-oAAOSw6BtVVACk