Disadvantages of Buying Fake FTDI Chips
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I was planning to buy this FT2232HL FTDI board from Aliexpress for basic FIFO applications. It is obviously fake; being cheaper than the entire chip itself and having no "FTDI" marking on top of it.
I was wondering, what should I expect from this product in terms of performance and endurance? Will this device function properly or simply missing a key feature that is not noticeable at first look, such as the 4K buffer or some important protection? No need to mention infamous "FTDIgate", I suppose.
I'm basically an electronics hobbyist, so simple words really appreciated, although not necessary. Thanks...
ftdi
asked Nov 25 at 3:36
ZaferA
262
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I was planning to buy this FT2232HL FTDI board from Aliexpress for basic FIFO applications. It is obviously fake; being cheaper than the entire chip itself and having no "FTDI" marking on top of it.
I was wondering, what should I expect from this product in terms of performance and endurance? Will this device function properly or simply missing a key feature that is not noticeable at first look, such as the 4K buffer or some important protection? No need to mention infamous "FTDIgate", I suppose.
I'm basically an electronics hobbyist, so simple words really appreciated, although not necessary. Thanks...
ftdi
asked Nov 25 at 3:36
ZaferA
262
I have some devices here that were built with FTDI "behave similar" IC -- the CH340G/CH341G. You might be referring to those. If so, they are not exact duplicates. They solve similar problems, but I think they require slightly different drivers under Windows, for example. So far as the devices I have here? They work just fine. I've had no problems. But I haven't made extensive use of them, either. Mostly, I've just lost any fear in using them, I suppose.
– jonk
Nov 25 at 3:41
not everyone pays digikey's retail price.
– Jasen
Nov 25 at 4:49
3
FTDI could brick them with a driver update
– alex.forencich
Nov 25 at 6:43
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I was planning to buy this FT2232HL FTDI board from Aliexpress for basic FIFO applications. It is obviously fake; being cheaper than the entire chip itself and having no "FTDI" marking on top of it.
I was wondering, what should I expect from this product in terms of performance and endurance? Will this device function properly or simply missing a key feature that is not noticeable at first look, such as the 4K buffer or some important protection? No need to mention infamous "FTDIgate", I suppose.
I'm basically an electronics hobbyist, so simple words really appreciated, although not necessary. Thanks...
ftdi
asked Nov 25 at 3:36
ZaferA
262
I was planning to buy this FT2232HL FTDI board from Aliexpress for basic FIFO applications. It is obviously fake; being cheaper than the entire chip itself and having no "FTDI" marking on top of it.
I was wondering, what should I expect from this product in terms of performance and endurance? Will this device function properly or simply missing a key feature that is not noticeable at first look, such as the 4K buffer or some important protection? No need to mention infamous "FTDIgate", I suppose.
I'm basically an electronics hobbyist, so simple words really appreciated, although not necessary. Thanks...
ftdi
ftdi
asked Nov 25 at 3:36
ZaferA
262
asked Nov 25 at 3:36
ZaferA
262
asked Nov 25 at 3:36
ZaferA
262
asked Nov 25 at 3:36
ZaferA
262
asked Nov 25 at 3:36
ZaferA
262
262
I have some devices here that were built with FTDI "behave similar" IC -- the CH340G/CH341G. You might be referring to those. If so, they are not exact duplicates. They solve similar problems, but I think they require slightly different drivers under Windows, for example. So far as the devices I have here? They work just fine. I've had no problems. But I haven't made extensive use of them, either. Mostly, I've just lost any fear in using them, I suppose.
– jonk
Nov 25 at 3:41
not everyone pays digikey's retail price.
– Jasen
Nov 25 at 4:49
3
FTDI could brick them with a driver update
– alex.forencich
Nov 25 at 6:43
add a comment |
I have some devices here that were built with FTDI "behave similar" IC -- the CH340G/CH341G. You might be referring to those. If so, they are not exact duplicates. They solve similar problems, but I think they require slightly different drivers under Windows, for example. So far as the devices I have here? They work just fine. I've had no problems. But I haven't made extensive use of them, either. Mostly, I've just lost any fear in using them, I suppose.
– jonk
Nov 25 at 3:41
not everyone pays digikey's retail price.
– Jasen
Nov 25 at 4:49
3
FTDI could brick them with a driver update
– alex.forencich
Nov 25 at 6:43
I have some devices here that were built with FTDI "behave similar" IC -- the CH340G/CH341G. You might be referring to those. If so, they are not exact duplicates. They solve similar problems, but I think they require slightly different drivers under Windows, for example. So far as the devices I have here? They work just fine. I've had no problems. But I haven't made extensive use of them, either. Mostly, I've just lost any fear in using them, I suppose.
– jonk
Nov 25 at 3:41
I have some devices here that were built with FTDI "behave similar" IC -- the CH340G/CH341G. You might be referring to those. If so, they are not exact duplicates. They solve similar problems, but I think they require slightly different drivers under Windows, for example. So far as the devices I have here? They work just fine. I've had no problems. But I haven't made extensive use of them, either. Mostly, I've just lost any fear in using them, I suppose.
– jonk
Nov 25 at 3:41
not everyone pays digikey's retail price.
– Jasen
Nov 25 at 4:49
not everyone pays digikey's retail price.
– Jasen
Nov 25 at 4:49
3
3
FTDI could brick them with a driver update
– alex.forencich
Nov 25 at 6:43
FTDI could brick them with a driver update
– alex.forencich
Nov 25 at 6:43
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
I would recommend you to buy something else.
FTDI is known for their practices, they're updating their drivers so they brick/damage non-genuine chips. It's not worth to buy FTDI chips from china (sometimes are affected even chips from reputable sources).
I would recommend another chip from another vendor. Like CH340 etc.
answered Nov 25 at 7:17
Chupacabras
3,80821134
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Dave Tweed♦
Nov 26 at 12:46
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
Those might actually be real. Parts are often available in China for far less than elsewhere. The seller has probably concealed the FTDI logo in their photos for trademark reasons; I've seen other Chinese vendors do the same thing with other parts.
I've never seen a fake FT2232HL in the wild -- the counterfeits I've seen have all been of the vastly more common FT232RL -- and the rest of the markings on this chip all have the exact same format and placement as those on a real part. It would be highly unusual for a counterfeiter to perfectly reproduce all of the markings on a part except for the logo.
answered Nov 25 at 3:55
duskwuff
16.4k32549
3
On the other hand, using a real FTDI for the photo and then fakes for mass production is also possible... one really shouldn't conclude anything from the product image.
– Ben Voigt
Nov 25 at 14:57
@BenVoigt Right. But, as I mentioned, I'm not currently aware of any functional counterfeits of the FT2232H.
– duskwuff
Nov 25 at 19:18
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Disadvantage, if it doesn't work as described in the datasheet, you have no guarantee of support, possibly no refund, and wasted time. Really bad fakes may damage something. That's basically it for a one off project part. The problems really come in at scale, for commercial products or products that can result in safety hazards. Recall costs, litigation, factory rework, bad p.r. etc.
answered Nov 25 at 4:32
Passerby
55.8k448144
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
I would recommend you to buy something else.
FTDI is known for their practices, they're updating their drivers so they brick/damage non-genuine chips. It's not worth to buy FTDI chips from china (sometimes are affected even chips from reputable sources).
I would recommend another chip from another vendor. Like CH340 etc.
answered Nov 25 at 7:17
Chupacabras
3,80821134
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Dave Tweed♦
Nov 26 at 12:46
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
I would recommend you to buy something else.
FTDI is known for their practices, they're updating their drivers so they brick/damage non-genuine chips. It's not worth to buy FTDI chips from china (sometimes are affected even chips from reputable sources).
I would recommend another chip from another vendor. Like CH340 etc.
answered Nov 25 at 7:17
Chupacabras
3,80821134
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Dave Tweed♦
Nov 26 at 12:46
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
up vote
9
down vote
I would recommend you to buy something else.
FTDI is known for their practices, they're updating their drivers so they brick/damage non-genuine chips. It's not worth to buy FTDI chips from china (sometimes are affected even chips from reputable sources).
I would recommend another chip from another vendor. Like CH340 etc.
answered Nov 25 at 7:17
Chupacabras
3,80821134
I would recommend you to buy something else.
FTDI is known for their practices, they're updating their drivers so they brick/damage non-genuine chips. It's not worth to buy FTDI chips from china (sometimes are affected even chips from reputable sources).
I would recommend another chip from another vendor. Like CH340 etc.
answered Nov 25 at 7:17
Chupacabras
3,80821134
answered Nov 25 at 7:17
Chupacabras
3,80821134
answered Nov 25 at 7:17
Chupacabras
3,80821134
answered Nov 25 at 7:17
Chupacabras
3,80821134
3,80821134
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Dave Tweed♦
Nov 26 at 12:46
add a comment |
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Dave Tweed♦
Nov 26 at 12:46
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Dave Tweed♦
Nov 26 at 12:46
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– Dave Tweed♦
Nov 26 at 12:46
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
Those might actually be real. Parts are often available in China for far less than elsewhere. The seller has probably concealed the FTDI logo in their photos for trademark reasons; I've seen other Chinese vendors do the same thing with other parts.
I've never seen a fake FT2232HL in the wild -- the counterfeits I've seen have all been of the vastly more common FT232RL -- and the rest of the markings on this chip all have the exact same format and placement as those on a real part. It would be highly unusual for a counterfeiter to perfectly reproduce all of the markings on a part except for the logo.
answered Nov 25 at 3:55
duskwuff
16.4k32549
3
On the other hand, using a real FTDI for the photo and then fakes for mass production is also possible... one really shouldn't conclude anything from the product image.
– Ben Voigt
Nov 25 at 14:57
@BenVoigt Right. But, as I mentioned, I'm not currently aware of any functional counterfeits of the FT2232H.
– duskwuff
Nov 25 at 19:18
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
Those might actually be real. Parts are often available in China for far less than elsewhere. The seller has probably concealed the FTDI logo in their photos for trademark reasons; I've seen other Chinese vendors do the same thing with other parts.
I've never seen a fake FT2232HL in the wild -- the counterfeits I've seen have all been of the vastly more common FT232RL -- and the rest of the markings on this chip all have the exact same format and placement as those on a real part. It would be highly unusual for a counterfeiter to perfectly reproduce all of the markings on a part except for the logo.
answered Nov 25 at 3:55
duskwuff
16.4k32549
3
On the other hand, using a real FTDI for the photo and then fakes for mass production is also possible... one really shouldn't conclude anything from the product image.
– Ben Voigt
Nov 25 at 14:57
@BenVoigt Right. But, as I mentioned, I'm not currently aware of any functional counterfeits of the FT2232H.
– duskwuff
Nov 25 at 19:18
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
up vote
7
down vote
Those might actually be real. Parts are often available in China for far less than elsewhere. The seller has probably concealed the FTDI logo in their photos for trademark reasons; I've seen other Chinese vendors do the same thing with other parts.
I've never seen a fake FT2232HL in the wild -- the counterfeits I've seen have all been of the vastly more common FT232RL -- and the rest of the markings on this chip all have the exact same format and placement as those on a real part. It would be highly unusual for a counterfeiter to perfectly reproduce all of the markings on a part except for the logo.
answered Nov 25 at 3:55
duskwuff
16.4k32549
Those might actually be real. Parts are often available in China for far less than elsewhere. The seller has probably concealed the FTDI logo in their photos for trademark reasons; I've seen other Chinese vendors do the same thing with other parts.
I've never seen a fake FT2232HL in the wild -- the counterfeits I've seen have all been of the vastly more common FT232RL -- and the rest of the markings on this chip all have the exact same format and placement as those on a real part. It would be highly unusual for a counterfeiter to perfectly reproduce all of the markings on a part except for the logo.
answered Nov 25 at 3:55
duskwuff
16.4k32549
answered Nov 25 at 3:55
duskwuff
16.4k32549
answered Nov 25 at 3:55
duskwuff
16.4k32549
answered Nov 25 at 3:55
duskwuff
16.4k32549
16.4k32549
3
On the other hand, using a real FTDI for the photo and then fakes for mass production is also possible... one really shouldn't conclude anything from the product image.
– Ben Voigt
Nov 25 at 14:57
@BenVoigt Right. But, as I mentioned, I'm not currently aware of any functional counterfeits of the FT2232H.
– duskwuff
Nov 25 at 19:18
add a comment |
3
On the other hand, using a real FTDI for the photo and then fakes for mass production is also possible... one really shouldn't conclude anything from the product image.
– Ben Voigt
Nov 25 at 14:57
@BenVoigt Right. But, as I mentioned, I'm not currently aware of any functional counterfeits of the FT2232H.
– duskwuff
Nov 25 at 19:18
3
3
On the other hand, using a real FTDI for the photo and then fakes for mass production is also possible... one really shouldn't conclude anything from the product image.
– Ben Voigt
Nov 25 at 14:57
On the other hand, using a real FTDI for the photo and then fakes for mass production is also possible... one really shouldn't conclude anything from the product image.
– Ben Voigt
Nov 25 at 14:57
@BenVoigt Right. But, as I mentioned, I'm not currently aware of any functional counterfeits of the FT2232H.
– duskwuff
Nov 25 at 19:18
@BenVoigt Right. But, as I mentioned, I'm not currently aware of any functional counterfeits of the FT2232H.
– duskwuff
Nov 25 at 19:18
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Disadvantage, if it doesn't work as described in the datasheet, you have no guarantee of support, possibly no refund, and wasted time. Really bad fakes may damage something. That's basically it for a one off project part. The problems really come in at scale, for commercial products or products that can result in safety hazards. Recall costs, litigation, factory rework, bad p.r. etc.
answered Nov 25 at 4:32
Passerby
55.8k448144
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Disadvantage, if it doesn't work as described in the datasheet, you have no guarantee of support, possibly no refund, and wasted time. Really bad fakes may damage something. That's basically it for a one off project part. The problems really come in at scale, for commercial products or products that can result in safety hazards. Recall costs, litigation, factory rework, bad p.r. etc.
answered Nov 25 at 4:32
Passerby
55.8k448144
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Disadvantage, if it doesn't work as described in the datasheet, you have no guarantee of support, possibly no refund, and wasted time. Really bad fakes may damage something. That's basically it for a one off project part. The problems really come in at scale, for commercial products or products that can result in safety hazards. Recall costs, litigation, factory rework, bad p.r. etc.
answered Nov 25 at 4:32
Passerby
55.8k448144
Disadvantage, if it doesn't work as described in the datasheet, you have no guarantee of support, possibly no refund, and wasted time. Really bad fakes may damage something. That's basically it for a one off project part. The problems really come in at scale, for commercial products or products that can result in safety hazards. Recall costs, litigation, factory rework, bad p.r. etc.
answered Nov 25 at 4:32
Passerby
55.8k448144
edited Nov 25 at 5:17
answered Nov 25 at 4:32
Passerby
55.8k448144
answered Nov 25 at 4:32
Passerby
55.8k448144
answered Nov 25 at 4:32
Passerby
55.8k448144
55.8k448144
add a comment |
add a comment |
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I have some devices here that were built with FTDI "behave similar" IC -- the CH340G/CH341G. You might be referring to those. If so, they are not exact duplicates. They solve similar problems, but I think they require slightly different drivers under Windows, for example. So far as the devices I have here? They work just fine. I've had no problems. But I haven't made extensive use of them, either. Mostly, I've just lost any fear in using them, I suppose.
– jonk
Nov 25 at 3:41
not everyone pays digikey's retail price.
– Jasen
Nov 25 at 4:49
3
FTDI could brick them with a driver update
– alex.forencich
Nov 25 at 6:43