What is the difference between microcontroller and microprocessor ICs? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kingoft
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 06:41:28 am
content: I'm not en expert in an embedded system. I have been working with microcontroller (ATMEL microcontrollersmostly) and haven't took microprocessor ever. however, I very often get queries regarding the difference between these two.We all know that microprocessor is the most important part in computer system where as the microcontroller is an important component in an embedded system. So, what is thedifference between microprocessor and microcontroller?Unline the microprocessor a Microcontroller posses all the pheripherals such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM etcThe microcontroller consumes a very less power in comparision to the microprocessor since it contains a power saving system, like idle mode or power saving modesince the Microcontrollers are so compact hence it makes them more usefull and efficient system for small applications and products while microprocessors are bulky so they are preferred to use for larger applications.Do tell some things new about these two which many few people know about.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 02:30:26 pm
content: Microcontrollers include peripheral devices like serial ports, I2C, SPI and so on that may not be included in a more general purpose microprocessor. In fact, microprocessors may not include any peripheral devices at all. Those devices are in separate chips hung on a bus.The distinction gets a bit blurry when a conventional microprocessor, like the Z80, is upgraded with peripherals and moves into the microcontroller category.Considering that our microprocessors have more capability than mainframes of the '80s, when do we drop the 'micro' part?

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 02:41:18 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on February 15, 2018, 02:30:26 pmAs soon as we get nanoprocessors... I mean, yeah, they have far more computer power - heck a single smartphone SoC probably has more compute power than the sum total of all computers that existed in the 60's. But they're still small in size, and getting smaller. Micro in size, not power.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 03:24:10 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on February 15, 2018, 02:30:26 pmA lot of modern CPUs do have those features built in. For example, Intel CPUs that have the memory controller built in also have the I2C controller used to check the memory configuration on boot.Where I define the line is whether or not external RAM is required for most useful applications.

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 08:51:25 am
content: The OP is spam...

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 09:51:14 am
content: I don't see any evidence of that from his previous posts.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 12:53:16 pm
content: Personally, I don't really think it's an important distinction, and as others have said the line is blurred. Naming something a microcontroller doesn't relay any more information than calling it a microprocessor. For example, WHICH peripherals does it have? GPIO? Analog IO? CAN? Serial? How many? SPI? I2C? What's the point of using a special name if it doesn't actually relay any information?

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2018, 11:41:14 am
content: Quote from: Gyro on February 16, 2018, 09:51:14 amHis posts are either "me too" type one liners, or contain links to his blog site. That blog site has copy and paste articles from other sites.It's typical link spamming behaviour.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2018, 12:08:24 pm
content: Quote80186 is/was the microcontroller version of the 8086. Didn't have any memory onboard. Did have some peripheral stuff.