Differences of ATmega2560 boards

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi, I checked ebay in relation to an ATmega2560 board but saw multiple versions. Any guidance and hints?

Thanks

2

Can you provide some example links that show a difference.

3

My screw shield will fit many of them: Mega, Due, MegaADK, Ethermega, and ships worldwide ...
http://www.crossroadsfencing.com/BobuinoRev17/

1025×487 108 KB

4

I mean, the main difference seems to be the USB/serial interface chip. Anyway, I don't know what else can change.

I saw 3 different types of this chip. Also, some announcements say "2012 board". I do not know what it implies.

Examples of boards:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ATmega2560-16AU-CH340G-MEGA-2560-R3-Board-Free-USB-Cable-For-Arduino-/121362982312?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c41cc25a8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MEGA2560-Control-Development-Board-ATMEGA8U2-For-Arduino-Compatible-USB-Cable-/251427905210?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8a455eba

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SainSmart-Mega2560-R3-ATmega2560-16AU-ATMEGA16U2-USB-Cabe-For-2013-Arduino-/351092814934?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51bec33456

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-MEGA2560-R3-Control-Development-Board-ATMEGA16U2-USB-Cable-For-Arduino-New-/281317916226?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item417fdabe42

5

Well I don't own a mega2560 board, only a couple of older mega1280 boards that use the FTDI USB serial converter chip, so take my opinion with caution. I think all those boards except the top link will work with the mega2560 USB drivers that are included with the current IDE distribution. The top link I would stay away from as it uses a USB chip I've never heard of and shows a driver link needed which may or may not work on your specific PC. But as I said best to let others post opinions.

Googling around I found the site that has a driver for windows that seems to be up to date (signed win8, etc) but I don't see anything for Apple or Linux machines. I would still stay away from it.