Where do you get your ICs from?

[Dingo]

I was wondering where ppl get special purpose ICs from.

Continually I need a special purpose chip, for example the DS1307 (Dallas, Real Time clock). It just so happens MicroZed has this particular IC but if he didn't where would anyone suggest I try to find a certain IC in Australia?

[Bones]

The two places that usually have everything you want is RS Components ans Farnell Electronics if you want certain IC. There cataloge is two inches thick. They arent the cheapest but have what you want if your prototyping and only need a couple. Other wise you can buy some chips in bulk. There was a place in Brisbane I use to get the motorola chips from I think it was called Voltech.
bones

[upctoys]

Ha

The question.

Yeah Farnell and RS are okay. But you'll pay a premium for stock on shelf.

If your willing to get tube quantities of parts you can get stuff a LOT cheaper. Eg have a look at the cost of AT90S2313 from Farnell (about $33 each coff). I bought 108 of them (with someone else) for $3.53 + GST and it took a week to get them.

WES componets (catalogue Company Sydney good prices (TV and video mainly) but difficult to deal with)
AZtronics (Catalogue and sourcing company Adelaide, Can't speak highly enough for their efforts, cost effective)
Digikey (Online, Delivery expensive, Parts Cheap, wide Range)
Ebay (States mainly, pot luck but bargains to be had)
Distributors (need to meet a minumum order but if they have it in stock tend to be willing to break it down to smaller qty's but tube would be minimum)
Rockby (Melbourne, good prices for parts and cheap prompt delivery)

Maxim actually now own Dallas but they still make the Dallas parts. Maxims rep in OZ is Arrow. Again you'd need to meet MOQ's to get a look in. Maxim are pretty good with (or used to be) small qty orders from the States directly.

There are heap of source's, just trying to motivate a recalcetrant sales rep into activity can be half the battle. Impossible for ones and twos but some of the above companies are co-operative.

[Dingo]

Since that original post I've found www.futurlec.com.au to be a really good source.

The postage is pretty slow but very cheap (From Thailand)

The othre thing is if they don't have what you want there goto their American site www.futurlec.com and double check it isn't there.

I've also had great success emailing them and asking to stock certain things (STA013, CS4334, AAA NiMH batteries). They weren't on their site, I emailed them if they would be and within a short time they were!

P.S. Futurlec is also the cheapest place on Earth I've found.