Take a look at this calculator:
It’s a Texas Instruments Ti-89 graphing calculator with a Motorola 68000 series processor, the same type used in early Apple Macintosh computers.
CASIO even released the AFX2.0 graphing calculator, equipped with an 80186 processor that could run DOS—a legitimate x86 CPU.
Today’s graphing calculators use ARM SoCs (System on Chip) with clock speeds approaching 1 GHz, and some can even run Linux, play games, and browse the internet. They’re essentially similar to modern smartphone SoCs, while basic scientific calculators mostly use microcontrollers or MCUs.
It’s a Texas Instruments Ti-89 graphing calculator with a Motorola 68000 series processor, the same type used in early Apple Macintosh computers.
CASIO even released the AFX2.0 graphing calculator, equipped with an 80186 processor that could run DOS—a legitimate x86 CPU.
Today’s graphing calculators use ARM SoCs (System on Chip) with clock speeds approaching 1 GHz, and some can even run Linux, play games, and browse the internet. They’re essentially similar to modern smartphone SoCs, while basic scientific calculators mostly use microcontrollers or MCUs.
Why don’t calculators use PC CPUs?
The reason is simple: power consumption, cost, and needs.
Take the Atom N270, a low-power PC CPU, as an example; its TDP is 2.5W. Meanwhile, the CASIO calculator’s power consumption is about 0.0006W as indicated on its back cover.
Simply put, using a PC CPU in a calculator would mean exponentially higher power consumption, plus the need for cooling.
A PC is not a highly integrated system; many of its components are separate chips, so even at idle, its power draw far exceeds that of a calculator’s microcontroller. For embedded devices like calculators, highly integrated SoCs or microcontrollers are a better choice due to their lower power consumption.
In fact, most low-end calculators even integrate the matrix keyboard scanning circuit into the main control chip, leaving only one chip on the entire PCB.
As for cost, many scientific calculators still use 8-bit microcontrollers, such as the STM8, which can cost just a few cents to a few dollars—again, a massive difference.
In terms of needs, PC CPUs are designed for multimedia, multitasking, and high performance, with processing power far exceeding that of an 8-bit machine. Scientific calculators only need to handle simple functions and calculus, without the need for video processing or neural network calculations, so even an 8-bit chip suffices, and ARM SoCs are more than capable of high-level graphical calculations.
Disclaimer:
- This channel does not make any representations or warranties regarding the availability, accuracy, timeliness, effectiveness, or completeness of any information posted. It hereby disclaims any liability or consequences arising from the use of the information.
- This channel is non-commercial and non-profit. The re-posted content does not signify endorsement of its views or responsibility for its authenticity. It does not intend to constitute any other guidance. This channel is not liable for any inaccuracies or errors in the re-posted or published information, directly or indirectly.
- Some data, materials, text, images, etc., used in this channel are sourced from the internet, and all reposts are duly credited to their sources. If you discover any work that infringes on your intellectual property rights or personal legal interests, please contact us, and we will promptly modify or remove it.
