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From what I understand (very little), the only difference between a cpu and a microcontroller is that a microcontroller has additional hardware. Does this mean that I could use an old cpu from a computer as a microcontroller if I made some additions?
From what I understand (very little), the only difference between a cpu and a microcontroller is that a microcontroller has additional hardware.
Does this mean that I could use an old cpu from a computer as a microcontroller if I made some additions? I plan on using it to make a robot like the $50 one featured on this site.I know that it would be cheap and easy to just buy a microcontroller but I thought it would be neat if I were able to make use of some old junk.
Thanks for the reply! I did some more research and it's all way over my head. It looks like I will just be buying one for now. I was thinking I would just skip the arduino and do it as described in the tutorial as you said.
Just out of curiosity, is it at least possible to use a cpu as a microcontroller, albeit difficult?
What exactly is meant by peripheral circuits?
Also, how would a microprocessor tell say a servo motor to move?
Does the microprocessor in a CPU come with some kind of firmware pre-installed or does it pull that information from ROM stored elsewhere?
I was under the impression that BIOS would detect the CPU, and then tell it what to do. In order to get the microprocessor to work as a microcontroller would one need to overwrite BIOS?
Do commercial microcontrollers come with their own kind of BIOS?
Also I'm assuming the CPU draws a lot more power than commercial microcontrollers and would need a bigger power source, could the CPU be throttled so that it was only using the power necessary to do the given tasks?
I hope you guys don't mind if I pick your brains... I have so many questions.
PS I have an old RCX microcontroller from the original lego mindstorms kit, could that be re-purposed for general robotics use?