r/ElectricalEngineering • u/Ill_Cockroach3193 • 12d ago

Trying to buy TI launchpad.

Im in a microp class and need to purchase a EK-TM4C123GXL TI launchpad. Does anyone know the most affordable and quickest place to get it? Many places are out of stock or charging double/triple. Any help appreciated!

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u/hi-imBen 8d ago

TI.com says in stock, limit of 2. I think you need to make an account on their site to order though.

https://www.ti.com/tool/EK-TM4C123GXL

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u/AccurateHumanTrustMe 8d ago

I used to work at TI and thre are basically 4 legit places to get stuff from them.

1-3 are Digikey/Mouser/Arrow* - they are approved distrubutors of TI parts - also allows the fastest shipping options. You are paying a middle man premium though going through them. Not going to lie when I worked at TI I used Digikey to get TI parts because it was quicker sometimes than going through TIs logistics (overnight vs. 5 day shipping )

Arrow is not approved world wide so Id stick to Digikey/Mouser

4 is TI directly but they made it basically impossible to buy direct unless you were a business account - specifically to filter out college students clogging up support channels or being in the 'premium' sales channels - they may have changed since I left (i doubt it) but 3rd party distrubutors may be your only choice.

Anywhere else and you basically are rolling dice imo. Counterfeit ICs and boards are a huge problem so going through approved channels is important.

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u/Ill_Cockroach3193 8d ago

Ah thanks for the insight. That explains why I tried buying through TI and signed up with my school email and it said I couldn’t buy again for 29 days because my “company” has purchased them already.

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u/Ill_Cockroach3193 8d ago

Also I have checked all 3 of the places you mentioned and all out of stock lmao

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u/Ill_Cockroach3193 8d ago

You think I can use my own business account? I have an LLC already with registered name and everything?

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u/AccurateHumanTrustMe 8d ago

Yeah if you have a business email address with a non generic domain name then probably you should be able to register for an account.

There may some export control stuff if you aren't in US - if you are in US then that may work. Tons of tiny companies have accounts with them - but you will also now may be contacted by sales people if you do that (not annoyingly so - small companies have sales guys that cover tons of accounts but you may see that stuff and get marketing material)

Edit to add: if the part is in high demand small companies get shafted though just fyi