# Differences between analog-to-digital conversion on Arduinos

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/differences-between-analog-to-digital-conversion-on-arduinos/27053>\
**Category:** Arduino\
**Created:** [July 5, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/differences-between-analog-to-digital-conversion-on-arduinos/27053 "2013-07-05T10:22:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ilyakh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4af34b/32.png) [@ilyakh](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/ilyakh)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/differences-between-analog-to-digital-conversion-on-arduinos/27053/1 "2013-07-05T10:22:42Z")

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I’m not able to identify the differences from the standard product pages, though I have heard that Mega 2560 should be more sensitive.

The models of interest are Arduino Uno R3 and Arduino Mega 2560?

What are the limitations of precision in least significant bit?

To be used with analog accelerometers.

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**Author:** ![magnethead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@magnethead](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/magnethead)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/differences-between-analog-to-digital-conversion-on-arduinos/27053/2 "2013-07-08T05:05:02Z")

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I would think it to all be the same, seeing as they’re all using a 0-1023 range (10 bit ADC).

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**Author:** ![Valen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9dc877/32.png) [@Valen](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Valen)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/differences-between-analog-to-digital-conversion-on-arduinos/27053/3 "2013-07-08T16:52:37Z")

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Some AVR chips have an internal amplifier. I suggest you lookup the datasheets of the microprocessor used on the different Arduino models. That should have the answer. Precision is how much it is actually deviating from the real thing. With ADC it is usually measured in how many LSBs the slope, the curve or offset is off. Resolution is in how many small steps (fine grained) you can measure it (most significant bit count). It does not say anything about how close to true your measurement is. Don’t fool yourself in thinking the last one is all important. In the end precision depends on the voltage reference as well.

Consider this:

[http://www.atmel.com/ja/jp/Images/doc8032.pdf](http://www.atmel.com/ja/jp/Images/doc8032.pdf)

[http://www.atmel.com/images/doc2559.pdf](http://www.atmel.com/images/doc2559.pdf)

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**Author:** ![Mee\_n\_Mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Mee\_n\_Mac](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Mee_n_Mac)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/differences-between-analog-to-digital-conversion-on-arduinos/27053/4 "2013-07-08T18:03:05Z")

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An article that might be of interest …

[http://www.djerickson.com/arduino/](http://www.djerickson.com/arduino/)