how to pick the right pic? a totally newbie question

[dojaja]

hi everyone in this forum; i'm a totally newbie and a fast search gave me as a result a lot of "flavours" of the 18f4685 pic.

microchip site offers these types of pics:

type \ pins \ package type \ temperature \ packing

PIC18F4685-E/ML 44 QFN -40C to +125C TUBE 

PIC18F4685-E/P 40 PDIP -40C to +125C TUBE 

PIC18F4685-E/PT 44 TQFP -40C to +125C TRAY

PIC18F4685-I/ML 44 QFN -40C to +85C TUBE 

PIC18F4685-I/P 40 PDIP -40C to +85C TUBE 

PIC18F4685-I/PREL 40 PDIP -40C to +85C TUBE 

PIC18F4685-I/PT 44 TQFP -40C to +85C TRAY 

PIC18F4685-I/PXXX 40 PDIP -40C to +85C TUBE 

PIC18F4685-ME/PL 128 LQFP 10C to 50C TRAY 

PIC18F4685T-I/ML 44 QFN -40C to +85C T/R 

PIC18F4685T-I/PT 44 TQFP -40C to +85C T/R 

PIC18LF4685-I/ML 44 QFN -40C to +85C TUBE 

PIC18LF4685-I/P 40 PDIP -40C to +85C TUBE 

PIC18LF4685-I/PT 44 TQFP -40C to +85C TRAY 

PIC18LF4685T-I/ML 44 QFN -40C to +85C T/R 

??? assuming i need a 40 pin microcontroller (hope this is right), these results can be filtered as follows:

PIC18F4685-E/P      40 PDIP -40C to +125C TUBE

PIC18F4685-I/P      40 PDIP  -40C to +85C  TUBE 

PIC18F4685-I/PREL  40 PDIP -40C to +85C TUBE 

PIC18F4685-I/PXXX 40 PDIP -40C to +85C TUBE

PIC18LF4685-I/P    40 PDIP -40C to +85C TUBE

can you help me with acronyms or just suggest me the right one?

thanks all and have a nice day!

[cavey]

PIC18F4685-I/P      40 PDIP  -40C to +85C  TUBE 

L is i think the low voltage version, you don't really need that, so that leaves this one

[nILS]

Easiest way to find that out would be to check the datasheet at microchip.com (http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/39761b.pdf). You'll find what you're looking for on page 481 (second to last).

Since you figured out it's acronyms - why not look them up? http://www.acronymfinder.com

That for instance gives you "Plastic Dual-In-line Package" for PDIP.

Then google image search that. Which gives you sth. like this: http://www.lingsen.com.tw/images/pack/PDIP.gif

Which is exactly what you want.

So that only leaves you with 4 options:

PIC18F4685-E/P	    40	PDIP	-40C to +125C	TUBE  	8.10	7.91	7.72	7.10 *	6.75 *
PIC18F4685-I/P	    40	PDIP	-40C to +85C	TUBE 	7.38	7.20	7.02	6.46 *	6.15 *
PIC18F4685-I/PREL	40	PDIP	-40C to +85C	TUBE 	**		**		**		**		**
PIC18F4685-I/PXXX	40	PDIP    -40C to +85C	TUBE  	**		**		**		**		**[/code]


What that means is:
[code]
PIC18F4685-I/P 40 PDIP -40C to +85C TUBE
^           ^ ^ ^       ^            ^
|           | | |       |            |
|           | | |       |            '-- how they're packed (in a tube, on a tray...)
|           | | |       '-- temperature rating
|           | | '-- number of pins
|           | '-- package
|           '-- temperature rating
'-- Model 

You don't need the -40 - 125°C one, so just go with the PIC18F4685-I/P :D

...or just order them from SmashTV ;-)

edit: hmmm, beaten again. But my answer is longer so it doesn't count ;)