This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Microprocessors category on DigiKey.com
Microprocessor products are integrated circuits used for information and data processing. They are differentiated from similar products that are considered microcontrollers primarily by the manufacturer’s choice of term, though by tradition microprocessors do not integrate working memory within the device, are less likely to integrate mixed-signal peripherals, and are likely to be used under more complex software paradigms involving the use of an operating system to manage the concomitant execution of multiple tasks.
SelectionCharacteristics
Core Processor: Identifies the microprocessor or processor technology that serves as the primary computational engine for a board or device.
Number of Cores/Bus Width: Indicate the number of processing cores the device has and the number of bits that can be transferred in one cycle.
Speed: Indicate the clock frequency of the device. This directly influences the overall rate computations can be done in the device.
Co-Processors/DSP: Identifies an auxiliary/special-purpose computational engine integrated within the device.
RAM Controllers: Indicates the type(s) of standard memory with which a device is equipped to interact.
Graphics Acceleration: Indicates if the device has built-in dedicated 3D graphics processing hardware that can be used to offload such tasks.
Display & Interface Controllers: Enumerates features that facilitate human interaction, such as display or keypad interfaces.
Ethernet: Indicates whether or not a device includes provisions for Ethernet communications, and supported link speeds for those that do.
SATA: Indicates the presence of SATA-compliant interface peripheral(s) on the chip, and the quantity and nominal transfer performance thereof.
USB: Indicates the number and standard of Universal Serial Bus interfaces for which a device has provisions.
Voltage - I/O: Characterizes the supply voltage range over which a device’s external interface functions are specified to operate. Exceeding this range may damage the device or other components.
Operating Temperature: Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components.
Security Features: Enumerates device features useful for designing IP protection or implementing secure communication protocols.
Mounting Type: Indicates how the device is attached.
Package / Case: Indicates the type of protective case used on an electronic component to allow easy handling, installation, and protection. This selection was determined to be the closest industry standard applicable to the supplier device packaging. Typically it is best to check the actual dimensions from the datasheet rather than depend on this terminology when designing your circuit.
Supplier Device Package: This is what the manufacturer calls the package of this device. They are manufacturer specific. It is typically best to use the actual dimensions from the datasheets rather than to go by this terminology when designing your circuit.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | Z84C0006PEG |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 269-3892-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Zilog |
| DESCRIPTION | Z80 Microprocessor IC Z80 1 Core, 8-Bit 6MHz 40-PDIP |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | AT91SAM9G25-CU |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | AT91SAM9G25-CU-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Microchip Technology |
| DESCRIPTION | ARM926EJ-S Microprocessor IC SAM9G 1 Core, 32-Bit 400MHz 217-LFBGA (15x15) |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | SM502GX08LF02-AC |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 1984-1018-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Silicon Motion, Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | SM502 Microprocessor IC - 1 Core 240MHz 297-BGA (19x19) |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
MediaLinks
Articles
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Designers Face Choices MCUs Microprocessors
Product Training Modules
Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex A8 Microprocessors - TI
SAMA5D3 Series - Microchip
Blogs
Why and How to Build a 6502 Microprocessor-Based Breadboard Computer
TechForum
How PMIC/ Supervisors works on microprocessor systems