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LM324-N: LM324N vs LM324N/NOPB

Part Number: LM324-N
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: LM324, , LM393-N, LM339-N, LM393, LM339

What are the differences between the Texas Instruments parts LM324N and LM324N/NOPB.  They have different datasheets but are very similar.  I thought it was RoHS but they both look to be RoHS compliant.

  • Adam,

    There is LM324 designed by Texas Instruments and LM324-N which was originally designed by National Semiconductor and now is made by Texas Instruments. Both are electrically equivalent, but not exactly the same.

    ROHS, lead finish, and other useful information is on their quality / package product pages.

    http://www.ti.com/product/LM324/pinout-quality

    http://www.ti.com/product/LM324-N/pinout-quality

  • Hello Adam,

    This gets a little confusing at first.... Don't confuse "N" with "-N"

    The LM324N was originally released by National Semiconductor in the early 70's.

    The "N" suffix is Nationals designation for the Plastic DIP package. Back then, we did not know any better and plated all the package leads with Pb lead solder plating.

    Many companies, including TI, second-sourced the LM324 at the time. To make second sourcing easier, TI also called their version the LM324N (even though technically it should be the LM324P, as "P" is TI's PDIP designator).

    In the late 80', Pb plated parts were deemed evil and RoHS compliant parts were created. National added the /NOPB suffix for the versions with the lead-free plating. Later the "leaded" National LM324N was obsoleted, replaced by the RoHS compliant LM324N/NOPB.

    TI did a similar thing, adding the "G3" and "G4" suffix devices until the original devices were converted over to RoHS.

    After TI acquired National, the National "Generic Part Numbers" were given a "-N" to signify the ex-National versions. Hence, the two different datasheets - one for the original National, LM324-N, and one for the TI version, LM324.

    Since National had obsoleted the LM324N, replaced by the LM324N/NOPB, there was no part number conflict with the TI version of the LM324N.

    TI converted their version of the LM324N over to RoHS in 2002. So now it is also RoHS.

    So BOTH the LM324N/NOPB and any LM324N (datecode after 2002) are RoHS.

    The package and RoHS status of each version are available in the "Quality&Packaging" tab of the product folder.

    http://www.ti.com/product/LM324/pinout-quality

    http://www.ti.com/product/LM324-N/pinout-quality

    So there you have it... Both are functionally similar, as similar as two different designs from two different companies can be, and both are RoHS.

    This also happened to the LM339, LM339-N. LM393, LM393-N and LM290x comparators, too.