74HC164 vs 74HC595: Arduino Shift Register Comparison & Tutorial

Video Description

In this video, I revisit shift registers after unexpectedly discovering a breakout board using the lesser-known 74HC164 chip instead of the common 74HC595. I compare the two chips, explaining their pinouts, functional differences, and how the 164 lacks a latch and storage register, causing its outputs to update instantly. Through diagrams, simulations, and breadboard demos, I show how data is shifted into the 164 and how it behaves when driving a seven-segment display. I also build a simple manual testing rig with push buttons to demonstrate how each bit affects the output in real time. Then I connect the 164 to an Arduino, walk through the code, and show how it can be daisy-chained with a 595 for more complex displays. Finally, I share my thoughts on which chip is better and why I might choose the 164 in future projects. Link to the code: https://www.hackster.io/mdraber/how-to-use-74hc164-shift-register-with-arduino-d6451c If you'd like to support my work and help me make more videos, you can do so here: • Channel Membership – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YUPxLXSRu_4_zCO27kRww/join • Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/MariosIdeas • PayPal – https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=7PD67JWZ9S3EJ&source=url • Ko-fi – https://ko-fi.com/mariosideas