I have downloaded the EDN directory for microcontrollers 2003 , but when asked the Arrow for 100 K quote - their prices were much higher that stated in EDN directory . The cheapes AVR was about 1.6$ against 0.60 stated in EDN in 10 K quantities quote got from Arrow .
Why it is the case ?
Does someone have info about cheap mcu distributors ?
'me' mentione about EM Microelectronics mcu's . Do you have some information about their prices (4 bit low cost mcu) ?
when you want a quote for 100k pieces you don't call over the phone,and get the price ..For 100k you have to negotiate ..you ask for the Field support engineer .For 100 K pieces he will come down and visit you .Then when he sees that you application is a valid one .Then he will put a request for price to the manufaturer .. Then a week later you will have the real price .. That's how is done .
Actually you can announce your target price,they will try to match it
let me give you two examples ..
i had get a quote for 100k pieces for a $12 accelerometer .. well the price came down as low as $3.50
Also from cygnal a $6.99 CPU in 100k pieces was $2
As far as i know the cheapest CPU in thoses volumes is TI with an OTP 430
for around $0.50
Probably the only thing you have to do is to make them believe that your order is real, not an estimation. For the cheapest 4 bit MCU you may consider about the Taiwan company, I cann't remember another application with 4bit MCU except the simple toy. They may have it, even without packaging.
There is no hesitation that the cheapest uP is HOLTEK - for 3K words memory it become twice cheaper then Microchip. It has C compiler (payfree), IDE enviornment, ICE debugging tool.
You mention cheapest mcu. I don't know if you ever think of chip-on-board kind of design (with black epoxy encapsulation). This should be even cheaper than package part
I have downloaded the EDN directory for microcontrollers 2003 , but when asked the Arrow for 100 K quote - their prices were much higher that stated in EDN directory . The cheapes AVR was about 1.6$ against 0.60 stated in EDN in 10 K quantities quote got from Arrow .
Why it is the case ?
I belive the EDN 10 K prices are the prices directly from the manufacturer and not from a distributor.
When making big orders it is normally cheaper to order directly from the manufacturer than from a distributor like Arrow.
artem said:
Does someone have info about cheap mcu distributors ?