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Microprocessors in the traditional sense no longer exist. All modern microprocessors are actually SoCs (yes, even Intel ones at least to a partial extent). And
by marcan_42 5y ago
Microprocessors in the traditional sense no longer exist. All modern microprocessors are actually SoCs (yes, even Intel ones at least to a partial extent). And all microcontrollers are SoCs by strict definition, but we don't usually call them that.
So really the more practical terminology difference should be SoC vs. microcontroller.
- phlipski 5y agoAgreed. To add to that - I think what Jay was trying to highlight is the difference between chips that can generally run Linux (which generally requires an MMU) and those that run an RTOS. Is this an exact line of demarcation with no blurry edges? No. But it seems to work for me. Maybe a better way to think of this is - does the system have external DRAM (if so run linux) or not - if so run RTOS. Our of curiosity - does anyone still sell a (by strict definition) a true "micro-processor"?
- marcan_42 5y agoThe most recently sold micro-processors used in a mass market product that come to mind are the CPUs of the Wii/PS3/Xbox 360 era consoles (in particular the PPC750CL in the Wii is a pure CPU). The Wii U then glued three of those together into a three-core die, so if you're willing to consider just the CPU die and not the entire MCM, that one was also a pure CPU. Digi-Key still shows the 750CL in stock, but it's obviously an obsolete product at this point.