I'm required to develop a project on a MSP430F5438 MCU, where I will be using the MCU for the bulk of processing and then saving the data on a memory card. Now I haven't used a MSP430 device before so I have a couple of questions here regarding how to go about the development.

1) There is a nice little debugger/programmer (MSP-FET430UIF) available on TI website which I shall be using. Additionally there is a 100-pin ZIF socket board too (costing $75), so should I use it as the preliminary development board or develop my own PCB? I'm not willing to make a PCB, instead can I just solder wires to this socket board?

2) Also, if I am able to use the 100-pin socket board, how is the MCU powered? Do I need to provide a separate power, or can it use the USB power supply (if connected using the debugger)?

[Note: I tried posting earlier, but I think I wasn't a member at that time so the post didn't appear. Apologies if the post appears again]
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______________________________
Stellaris® MCU Family: New Parts, New Package, New Price.


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--- In m...@yahoogroups.com, anasimtiaz@... wrote:
>
> I'm required to develop a project on a MSP430F5438 MCU, where I will be using the MCU for the bulk of processing and then saving the data on a memory card. Now I haven't used a MSP430 device before so I have a couple of questions here regarding how to go about the development.
>
> 1) There is a nice little debugger/programmer (MSP-FET430UIF) available on TI website which I shall be using. Additionally there is a 100-pin ZIF socket board too (costing $75), so should I use it as the preliminary development board or develop my own PCB? I'm not willing to make a PCB, instead can I just solder wires to this socket board?
>
Yes. The debugger/programmer (MSP-FET430UIF) + the 100-pin ZIF socket board (MSP-TS430PZ5x100) is called MSP-FET430U5x100. This combination is $149, cheaper than the separate price of $99+$75.

Yes You can solder wires or headers to the MSP-TS430PZ5x100.

> 2) Also, if I am able to use the 100-pin socket board, how is the MCU powered? Do I need to provide a separate power, or can it use the USB power supply (if connected using the debugger)?
>
You can use USB power. You also have the option of providing power with a 3-pin connector on MSP-TS430PZ5x100.

Note that you also need assembler/compiler/linker/debugger software on the PC. The most popular two are from IAR and TI (called CCE). Both have free versions with some limits. Recent posts here seems to indicate that once you use CCE, your MSP-FET430UIF cannot use IAR anymore. And once you use IAR, your MSP-FET430UIF cannot use CCE. I do not use c and use the free version of IAR. There is no limit for using assembly.

> [Note: I tried posting earlier, but I think I wasn't a member at that time so the post didn't appear. Apologies if the post appears again]
>

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Thanks alot. Seems like the readymade board is the perfect solution to avoid making a PCB, isnt it? Any ideas why the price is a little on the higher side (although I don't mind it now)?

One more thing, as I see on the TI website, there is no crystal on that board. Am I right to assume that it is just a board that provides access to all microcontroller pins in a convenient manner, and anything else needs to be soldered in?

If I use the USB power, will it be 5 Volts always or is there any option to use 3V?

Thanks in advance
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(You need to be a member of msp430 -- send a blank email to msp430-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

the microcontrollers do not run at 5v... the usb power is regulated down de=
pending on the board..
=A0
the target boards come with xtals to be added by the user

the experimenters board needs to be programmed by a fet.. the usb port is f=
or communication.. the experimenters board has a 32khz xtal on board..
=A0

--- On Thu, 6/4/09, a...@gmail.com wrote:
From: a...@gmail.com
Subject: [msp430] Re: Beginning Development on MSP430F5438, Quick Question
To: m...@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 4:10 PM

Thanks alot. Seems like the readymade board is the perfect solution to avoi=
d making a PCB, isnt it? Any ideas why the price is a little on the higher =
side (although I don't mind it now)?

One more thing, as I see on the TI website, there is no crystal on that boa=
rd. Am I right to assume that it is just a board that provides access to al=
l microcontroller pins in a convenient manner, and anything else needs to b=
e soldered in?

If I use the USB power, will it be 5 Volts always or is there any option to=
use 3V?

Thanks in advance

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------



(You need to be a member of msp430 -- send a blank email to msp430-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

but im talking about
MSP-TS430PZ5x100,
100 pin target board. does that come with the crystal too? because it doesnt
look like that :S

and i guess the debugger should have something to bring the voltage level
down

thanks for the reply

On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 9:53 PM, Joe Radomski wrote:

> the microcontrollers do not run at 5v... the usb power is regulated down
> depending on the board..
>
> the target boards come with xtals to be added by the user
>
> the experimenters board needs to be programmed by a fet.. the usb port is
> for communication.. the experimenters board has a 32khz xtal on board..
> --- On Thu, 6/4/09, a...@gmail.com <
> a...@gmail.com > wrote:
>
> From: a...@gmail.com
> >
> Subject: [msp430] Re: Beginning Development on MSP430F5438, Quick Question
> To: m...@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 4:10 PM
> Thanks alot. Seems like the readymade board is the perfect solution to
> avoid making a PCB, isnt it? Any ideas why the price is a little on the
> higher side (although I don't mind it now)?
>
> One more thing, as I see on the TI website, there is no crystal on that
> board. Am I right to assume that it is just a board that provides access to
> all microcontroller pins in a convenient manner, and anything else needs to
> be soldered in?
>
> If I use the USB power, will it be 5 Volts always or is there any option to
> use 3V?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------



(You need to be a member of msp430 -- send a blank email to msp430-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )

I bought the fet with the 5x100 target board and it came with a 32.768 khz =
xtal that could added in by the user..
=A0
--- On Thu, 6/4/09, Anas Imtiaz wrote:
From: Anas Imtiaz
Subject: Re: [msp430] Re: Beginning Development on MSP430F5438, Quick Quest=
ion
To: m...@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 4:55 PM

but im talking about
MSP-TS430PZ5x100 0pz5x100. html>,
100 pin target board. does that come with the crystal too? because it doesn=
t
look like that :S

and i guess the debugger should have something to bring the voltage level
down

thanks for the reply

On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 9:53 PM, Joe Radomski wrote=
:

> the microcontrollers do not run at 5v... the usb power is regulated down
> depending on the board..
>
> the target boards come with xtals to be added by the user
>
> the experimenters board needs to be programmed by a fet.. the usb port is
> for communication. . the experimenters board has a 32khz xtal on board..
> --- On Thu, 6/4/09, anasimtiaz@gmail. com <
> anasimtiaz@gmail. com > wrote:
>
> From: anasimtiaz@gmail. com com
> >
> Subject: [msp430] Re: Beginning Development on MSP430F5438, Quick Questio=
n
> To: msp430@yahoogroups. com
> Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 4:10 PM
> Thanks alot. Seems like the readymade board is the perfect solution to
> avoid making a PCB, isnt it? Any ideas why the price is a little on the
> higher side (although I don't mind it now)?
>
> One more thing, as I see on the TI website, there is no crystal on that
> board. Am I right to assume that it is just a board that provides access =
to
> all microcontroller pins in a convenient manner, and anything else needs =
to
> be soldered in?
>
> If I use the USB power, will it be 5 Volts always or is there any option =
to
> use 3V?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>=20
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------



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