Specs for M5 Pro MacBook Pro

My IRC friend @ngoldbaum got a new MacBook Pro and I was reading about about the specs over here: Apple introduces MacBook Pro with all‑new M5 Pro and M5 Max, delivering breakthrough pro performance and next-level on-device AI.

One feature which jumped out at me was the insanely fast memory bandwidth. This “unified” memory is on the CPU die and shared between CPU and GPU, which, apparently, can eliminate duplication. The M5 Pro supports up to 307 GB/s and the M5 Max supports up to 614 GB/s.

Electronic components to avoid in a product

In this latest video from John Teel, electronic components to avoid in a real product:

  1. USB Micro-B Connections → use USB-C instead
  2. Through-Hole Components → use SMD instead
  3. Barrel Jack Power Connections → use USB-C instead
    • Note: 5.5 × 2.1 mm (5.5×2.1mm) is the common DC barrel jack size, 5.5 × 2.5 mm (5.5×2.5mm) is less common
  4. Unshielded DC-DC Converter Inductors → use shielded inductors instead
  5. Cheap No-Name Electrolytic Capacitors → buy from reputable brand instead, or, better, switch to ceramic or polymer aluminium capacitors
    • If you want no surprises, stick to: Nichicon, Rubycon, Panasonic, Nippon Chemi-Con (aka United Chemi-Con), Elna
    • For professional/industrial designs, also consider: KEMET, Vishay, TDK
  6. Bare Pin Headers as Production Connectors → use connectors rated for your application instead
  7. Mechanical Relays → use solid state instead, for DC consider MOSFET
  8. Single-Source or End-of-Life Components → use widely available components instead
  9. Counterfeit of Clone ICs → buy from authorized distributors instead:
  10. Hobby-Grade Sensors → look for higher grade instead with I2C or SPI digital interfaces

Cardputer-Adv: Compact Programmable Platform for Embedded Prototyping & IoT Development

I was reading the latest version of Make: Magazine, Make: Magazine, Volume 96, and I discovered this cool hardware based on the ESP32-S3: M5Stack Cardputer Adv Version. They are out of stock at the moment but I will have to check back later because I think I would love to have one of these!

John Teel explains microcontrollers to avoid

The microcontrollers to avoid and what to consider instead:

  1. ESP8266ESP32-C3
  2. PIC16ARM Cortex-M0+, STM32C0, TI’s MSPM0
  3. Ultra-Cheap No-Name MCUs → something with better doco and support, such as STM32C0 or TI’s MSPM0
  4. STM8STM32C0
  5. MSP430 → TI’s MSPM0
  6. ATmega328P → newer MCUs in AVR family
  7. Overpriced High-End MCUs → consider microprocessor instead

Help with Thevenin equivalent circuit

I was doing some prep work for the upcoming LAoE video and learning about Thevenin equivalent circuits, something I need to understand better than I do, particularly how to calculate Vth and Rth. I built the circuit on my bench, but then got readings I didn’t understand, so I asked about it over on the EEVblog Forum: Help with Thevenin equivalent circuit. In the end it turned out that my initial readings were wrong for some unknown reason, but when I repeated them they came out right the second time…

Interlude #19: Making Power Cables for FNIRSI SG-002 Current Source | In The Lab With Jay Jay

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This post is part of my video blog and you can find more information about this video.

Silly Job Title: Note Taker. I am the Note Taker!

In this video we make some power cables for use with my FNIRSI SG-002 Signal Generator. I use these as a current source in my experiments. The power cables I required are DC barrel female sockets into banana jacks.

I am getting ready to build some circuits to test Thevenin equivalent circuits which I am learning more about over here: Thevenin & Norton practice problems.

We use the METCAL PS-900 Soldering Station for soldering.

We use the AiXun H314 Hot Air Gun to shrink the heat shrink.

We use the EEVblog BM2257 Digital Multimeter to test the cables.

We use the Multicomp Pro MP701033 Resistor Decade Box to explain how I plan to use these new cables.

We use the Plato Model 170 Wire Cutter to cut the cables.

We use the Kaisi S-160 45x30cm Repair Mat as my workspace.

Thanks very much for watching! And please remember to hit like and subscribe! :)

p.s. today I added Thevenin, METCAL, AiXun, and Multicomp to my spell check.


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Yum Cha 5 in 1 Air Quality MeterThis is an image of the product.

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