# 226: Camp AVR Vs. Camp Microchip

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2017-12-14
- Length: 1h 20m
- Episode: 226
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip

## Summary

Jay Carlson, a PhD student and electrical engineer, explains his methodology for comparing 21 microcontrollers under $1, covering architecture, performance, and tooling. He details the significant impact of flash prefetching on execution speed and power, and critiques the poor compiler performance of Keil C51 compared to GCC. Carlson also evaluates various debuggers and IDEs, recommending the J-Link for ARM and criticizing Microchip's MPLAB and PIC toolchain.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip#t=6) Introduction and Origin Story
- [8:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip#t=510) Microcontroller Selection and Framework
- [21:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip#t=1299) Development Tools and IDEs
- [34:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip#t=2074) Debugger Evaluation: J-Link vs. Others
- [45:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip#t=2718) Microchip PIC Architecture and Critique
- [52:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip#t=3129) Performance Testing: Flash and Compilers
- [58:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip#t=3514) Power Consumption and Low-Power Use Cases
- [1:10:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-12-14-226-camp-avr-vs-camp-microchip#t=4231) Future of Cheap Microcontrollers

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Jay Carlson (other)
- The Amazing $1 Microcontroller (other)
- AVR (chip)
- Microchip (company)
- PIC (chip)
- STM32 (chip)
- J-Link (tool)
- Segger (company)
- Silicon Labs (company)
- EFM8 (chip)
- MPLAB (tool)
- Keil (tool)
- GCC (tool)
- NXP (company)
- Atmel (company)
- Nordic (company)
- TI (company)
- Digi (company)
- Arrow (company)
- Newark (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Microcontroller Showdown: Selecting the Best One for Your Project](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2023-01-04-microcontroller-showdown-selecting-the-best-one-for-your-project) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-16-the-spark-gap-episode-1) (The Spark Gap)
- [Microcontroller or Microprocessor - Which Do You Need for Your Project?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-12-14-microcontroller-or-microprocessor-which-do-you-need-for-your-project) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17) (The Spark Gap)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-03-11-the-spark-gap-episode-28) (The Spark Gap)

## Citing this page

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