Why the 741 is still being produced?

[mabauti]

There are a lot of better Op Amps. ¿>_>?

 

[Leftyretro]

There are a lot of better Op Amps. ¿>_>?

Well if they are still in fact being made then there must be some kind of demand for them. Perhaps to resellers for people that want exact replacement for repairs or perhaps educational training aids that have never been updated, perhaps Radio Shack buys them all as people seem to still buy them there. As you said there are better choices for general purpose op-amps.

Lefty

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

As you said there are better choices for general purpose op-amps.

And no worse ones!

 

[mramos1]

Maybe Radio Shack is still selling the Forest Mims notebooks.

That's funny Nigel, although so true.

I never worked for anyone that used them, 1458s were popular dual op-amps in the 80's and I think LM358 was another. And man did the micro-controllers eliminate a lot of things.

 

[saturn1bguy]

Why is the 741 still being produced?

It's called a Legacy part.

There's a crap-load of stuff out there in the world that still requires it to keep the gear serviceable. Usually there's no time, money, or interest to adapt new or better parts.

I doubt it's much used anymore for new designs, except by some hobbyists, etc. I just checked National Semiconductor and the 741 in DIP and TO-99 are still in full production.

 

[bassnut]

Right from the 70s it was the standard for decades in industrial equipment, especially analog DC motor drives,. Industrial drives are built to last a long time and there are still vast numbers in factories that need servicing. They havent been use in new designs for a while off course, its mostly digital these days.

 

[kchriste]

What kills me is that the 741 is available in SOIC at digikey!

 

[mramos1]

What kills me is that the 741 is available in SOIC at digikey!

Then someone must be using them somewhere. China maybe or products from there?

Keep an eye on the qty Digikey has and see if it ever drops

They have at least 3000 of them in stock Good luck with that.

 

[saturn1bguy]

What kills me is that the 741 is available in SOIC!

Well now, that's just silly

(My guess is that people may have actually used it in SOIC for a short time, and since then Digikey, and perhaps other resellers, still have 'em in stock and likely can hardly sell them.)

 

[ronsimpson]

If a 741 will do the job...why not?

 

[mabauti]

Very interesting comments gentlemen. Thanks

 

[kchriste]

Because there are better and cheaper ones available. Ask any bean counter and they will want the cheaper one.

 

[Leftyretro]

What kills me is that the 741 is available in SOIC at digikey!

I wonder, is the part now avalible in lead free packaging

Lefty

 

[saturn1bguy]

Regarding old-timers like the 741, I've got plenty of:

* 741BE (TO-99), date code 7345
* NE555V (mini-DIP) date code 7351
* NE555T (TO-99) date code 7346

Can anyone beat those date codes??

 

[mramos1]

I have some LM324, LM339, and NE555 (boxes of tubes) that I am sure are early 80. But you win on date. I think I have a 1976 NS ttl data book packed away .

 

[Hero999]

I can think of three reasons.

• Well known.
• Old technology i.e. well proven to be reliable.
• Legacy applications.

 

[kchriste]

I wonder, is the part now avalible in lead free packaging
Lefty

Yes. The digikey site shows that it is lead free & RoHS compliant and the Fairchild site shows the same thing and it being in full production.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Like the 16F84 - lot's of idiots still order and use it - so why not continue making it and charge extra for it?.

 

[GonzoEngineer]

There are a lot of better Op Amps. ¿>_>?

Because folks are still buying it!

 

[RODALCO]

It is a reliable IC, and proven over the years.