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Difference between SPI and I2C


Moderators: Ajay Bhargav, Arun Kumar V, pdi33, Shailesh NAYAK, ۞ TPS ۞, shyam, sashijoseph, ExperimenterUK, DavesGarage, majoka

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RUSHI D.

Tue Apr 28 2009, 12:13AM

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hi frnz...!

can u pls list down d differences between SPI and I2C protocols...

regards
rushi d.

shyam

Tue Apr 28 2009, 01:50AM

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I2C =>less no. of pins only one line for data transfer
SPI=>two lines required for data transfer
I2C is slower than SPI.

RUSHI D.

Tue Apr 28 2009, 03:14AM

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thanx shyam...

but i want detailed differences like if we r compairing their speeds den mention d max speeds they can achieve

any more difference...

regards
rushi d.

Ajaz

Tue Apr 28 2009, 03:32AM

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There are a lot of difference from the protocol point of view. But Hardware wise it same as mentioned by shyam.

1. In I2C lot of s/w manipulation has to be done. where as in SPI programmer need to handle only SS pin if SPI is used between multiple ics.

2. I2C can reach only till 384kbps based on CCLK. Whereas SPI can go till CCLK/4. i.e., if CCLK=12MHz, Then SPI speed is 3MHz.

3. There are atleast 30-40 situation which programmer is suppose to handle in I2C for effective and efficient communication. where as in SPI only SS is suppose to be managed and data is supposed to be placed in SPDAT.

4. In SPI since both the MOSI(Master Out Slave In) and MISO(Master In Slave Out) uses a single buffer care should be taken to transfer the data.

5. I2C can be used in a situation where shrinking of the pcb is more important than speed and SPI is vice-versa

RUSHI D. like this.

Ajay Bhargav

Tue Apr 28 2009, 03:41AM

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I2C can go upto 4Mhz SPI can go upto 70Mhz

RUSHI D. like this.

RUSHI D.

Tue Apr 28 2009, 03:42AM

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thanx ajaz 4 ur reply

but i did not get 3rd pt..

can u explain..?

Ajay Bhargav

Tue Apr 28 2009, 03:57AM

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He mens to say that, incase of I2C programmer has to take care of right sequence of data transfer on bus like address, start, stop, ack, nak etc...
where as in case of SPI just SS (slave select) is to be managed and data read/write is done from SSPDAT register.

these names may vary from controller to controller

RUSHI D.

Tue Apr 28 2009, 08:47AM

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k got it...
thanx ajay

DavesGarage

Tue Apr 28 2009, 02:10PM

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Joined: Tue Jan 20 2009, 11:14AM
Location (Home Town): Carlsbad, CA. USA
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A very valuable tool to discovering what things mean and what things do is the Google search engine.

If you type into this search engine the phrase "SPI interface", your first website shown is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_Peripheral_Interface_Bus

This is a pretty good description of the SPI interface, and some of what it can do...

Likewise, if you type in "I2C interface", you get this website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%C2%B2C

Give it a try, and see for yourself...

Hope this helps,


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