Here’s a technical write-up comparing the (often seen as the EZP2023 Programmer or EZP2023+ ) and the CH341A (a popular, low-cost USB programmer). Write-Up: EZP2023 vs CH341A – Two Approaches to Flash Programming 1. Introduction Both the EZP2023 and the CH341A are USB-based external programmers primarily used for reading, writing, and erasing SPI flash memory chips (BIOS/EEPROM chips). While the CH341A has dominated the hobbyist market for years due to its low cost and widespread availability, the EZP2023 positions itself as a more reliable, faster, and beginner-friendly alternative.
: The EZP2023 is significantly safer for sensitive modern chips (e.g., Macronix, Winbond 1.8V). 6. Cost & Availability | | CH341A | EZP2023 (clone) | EZP2023+ (official) | |---------------|---------------------------|----------------|---------------------| | Price | $5–10 USD | $25–35 | $60–80 | | Extras | Often includes SOIC8 clip | Clip, cables | Clip, ZIF, adapters | | Counterfeits | Rare (simple chip) | Common | Few (logo mismatch) |
| Action | CH341A (3.3V, 3 MHz) | EZP2023 (24 MHz) | Speedup | |--------------|----------------------|------------------|---------| | Read (8 MB) | ~28 seconds | ~3 seconds | 9x | | Erase (chip) | 12 seconds | 12 seconds | same | | Write (8 MB) | 35 seconds | 4 seconds | 8.7x | | Verify | 28 seconds | 3 seconds | 9x | : Erase time is limited by the flash chip itself, not the programmer. Verdict : EZP2023 is dramatically faster for reading/writing large SPI flashes. 5. Reliability & Safety | Risk | CH341A | EZP2023 | |-------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | Overvoltage (3.3V rail) | Common – may exceed 3.6V | Regulated, clean output | | 1.8V chip damage | Very likely without level shifter | Safe – built-in regulator | | Short circuit protection | None | Yes (current limiting) | | Clip flashing (SOIC8 clip) | Unstable if wires >10 cm | Stable up to 30 cm | | USB power droop | Frequent (needs external 5V mod) | Minimal (better decoupling) |
The CH341A wins on support (flashrom works reasonably well). The EZP2023 wins on ease of use and automatic configuration . 4. Performance Benchmarks (Real-world) Chip: Winbond W25Q64JV (64 Mbit / 8 MB) Test: Read entire chip, verify, erase, write.
