The SX is a microcontroller, and, while the BASIC Stamp is, some use the SX at their core, running the PBASIC language interpreter.· The SX runs by itself, but requires an SX-Blitz or SX-Key to program it.· The BASIC Stamp has a core controller (interpreter), regulator, EEPROM, Serial Interface circuitry, etc. all on a module.· The BASIC Stamp can only accept PBASIC programming, while the SX can be programmed in Assembly, C or even BASIC (SX/B) and runs many times faster than a BASIC Stamp.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ Chris Savage Parallax Tech Support csavage@parallax.com
Difficult question, there are so many differences.
An SX chip is a "microcontroller" chip. A "microcontroller" has some EEPROM, some RAM, and a microprocessor all on the same chip. What it doesn't have is an on-chip oscillator or an on-chip voltage regulator.
Now, a Stamp is a 'module', which includes a microcontroller (the BS2 uses a PIC16C57, the BS2sx uses an SX) as well as an on-module oscillator (so your circuit doesn't have to provide a clock), an on-module voltage regulator (so your circuit can give it 5.5 to 16 volts on Vin, and it will still work).
The SX is programmed in "SX Assembly", or "SX/Basic" -- which is a true compiled language, which compiles to the 'native' assembly language of the SX processor. The BS2 is programmed in "PBasic" -- which compiles into 'tokens', which are downloaded to the EEPROM of the BS2, and when 'run' cause 'run-time library' code burned into the PIC16C57 to be executed.
The benefit of the BS2 approach is low-cost and extreme simplicity and reliability. For $50, you get a device which you can program, easily apply (just plug it in and add a 9-volt battery), and easily program. The main drawback is speed -- a BS2 cycles at about 2000 instructions per second.
The benefit of the SX approach is performance -- an SX48 can execute code at 50 MILLION instructions per second. But it's much harder to apply -- you need a circuit board, with a clock circuit, with a voltage regulator. And you program it in Assembly or SX/Basic, which is slightly harder to learn. And it takes a $100 development system to program it.
TG
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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support
csavage@parallax.com
An SX chip is a "microcontroller" chip. A "microcontroller" has some EEPROM, some RAM, and a microprocessor all on the same chip. What it doesn't have is an on-chip oscillator or an on-chip voltage regulator.
Now, a Stamp is a 'module', which includes a microcontroller (the BS2 uses a PIC16C57, the BS2sx uses an SX) as well as an on-module oscillator (so your circuit doesn't have to provide a clock), an on-module voltage regulator (so your circuit can give it 5.5 to 16 volts on Vin, and it will still work).
The SX is programmed in "SX Assembly", or "SX/Basic" -- which is a true compiled language, which compiles to the 'native' assembly language of the SX processor. The BS2 is programmed in "PBasic" -- which compiles into 'tokens', which are downloaded to the EEPROM of the BS2, and when 'run' cause 'run-time library' code burned into the PIC16C57 to be executed.
The benefit of the BS2 approach is low-cost and extreme simplicity and reliability. For $50, you get a device which you can program, easily apply (just plug it in and add a 9-volt battery), and easily program. The main drawback is speed -- a BS2 cycles at about 2000 instructions per second.
The benefit of the SX approach is performance -- an SX48 can execute code at 50 MILLION instructions per second. But it's much harder to apply -- you need a circuit board, with a clock circuit, with a voltage regulator. And you program it in Assembly or SX/Basic, which is slightly harder to learn. And it takes a $100 development system to program it.