Confused between Texas Instruments calculators? You are not alone; it happens a lot to many people. Especially because you can’t really trust the names of the products, really. Texas Instruments TI 84 and Texas Instruments TI 85, which one is the older model? Texas Instruments TI 84, you say? Wrong. Because of that, no need to make a hasty decision. So, before we begin our in-depth discussion, get yourself a warm cup of coffee and be comfortable in your seat (or not). Here, we will compare Texas Instruments TI 84 against Texas Instruments TI 85 in order to find out which one has the better value.
Texas Instruments TI 85 was first released in 1992, while Texas Instruments TI 84 Plus (or simply called as Texas Instruments TI 84) was first introduced in 2004. As the newer variant, we will certainly expect Texas Instruments TI 84 to be more powerful than Texas Instruments TI 85, and this expectation is true, at least on several key factors. Rest assured, Texas Instruments TI 84 has a much better performance than Texas Instruments TI 85. Texas Instruments TI 84 has a faster processor and a larger memory than Texas Instruments TI 85. The 85 is powered by Zilog Z80 6 MHz and 28 KB RAM, which are pale compared to the 84’s Zilog Z80 15 Mhz and 48 KB RAM. There is also a variant of Texas Instruments TI 84 available with 128 KB RAM, in case that you need to perform extensive programming. To emphasize TI 84’s power in programming, it comes with built-in Assembly as an addition to the usual TI-BASIC. Texas Instruments TI 85 actually supports Assembly too, but not fully.
With Texas Instruments TI 84, you are given a 1 MB flash ROM that you can utilize to update the device with the newest software. Texas Instruments TI 84 is given more connectivity options than Texas Instruments TI 85, as it comes with a mini USB port as an addition to the standard I/O port. The only advantage that Texas Instruments TI 85 has is the bigger display screen, but most people will consider this as less important compared to the improvements in Texas Instruments TI 84.
TI 85 Vs TI 84
| Name | TI 85 | TI 84 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Features | - Up to 99 graphing functions defined, saved, graphed, and simultaneously analyzed - Easy-to-read 8-line by 21-character display - Link capabilities for data transfer through I/O port - Powered by 4 standard AAA batteries with a lithium battery backup - Guidebook, unit-to-unit link cable, case, 1-year warranty | - Graphing calculator handles calculus, engineering, trigonometric, and financial functions - USB on-the-go technology for file sharing with other calculators and connecting to PCs - 12 apps preloaded - Displays graphs and tables on split screen |
| Price | ||
| Rating | 2.8 out of 5.0 stars | 4.6 out of 5.0 stars |
| Best deal | Save Money Please click here | Save 46% Please click here |
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Conclusion
You should get yourself Texas Instruments TI 84 instead of Texas Instruments TI 85. It will serve you better and live up for longer usage, as you can simply update the firmware to the latest version.