Perfboard/PCB

[Matteran]

So, when you do you use either of these? Can you use a perfboard for the most complicated of projects? Or is there a point when you need to switch over to PCB? Is the difference just organization of the circuit?

[vanhansen]

Small parts count (NPN boost, some of the ROG projects) = perf if you can.

High parts count = PCB

You can perf or PCB anything.  It's all a matter of if you are brave enough to perf something that others have just decided to make a PCB for to save time and their sanity.  

[The Tone God]

It depends on you skill level. You could build everything in either format but there is a point where your skill level will dictate when you should move to another format.

For me if the circuit is simple, space is not a major constraint, and I'm only doing one then I'll "cowboy" a perf version. I might need to do some PTP as well to make things work.

When the circuit gets past a level of complexity that it becomes too difficult to keep track of it all then its time for PCB. If I'm going to make more then one and I want a high level of sucess then its time for PCB. If I'm so stuck for space that I'm going to have to plan out my perf then I might as well spend that time doing a PCB.

Andrew

[petemoore]

I've done 4 stage phaserz, but spent more time [I'm sure] than if I'd started with a PCB.
 Perf 'teaches about the colors'...you learn more about a circuit having to look and apply the schematic, then also if you have to debug, which is more likely with a larger cct.
 PCB is 'color by number' because you're not 'grafting the schematic, just putting the right part in the right place mostly. PCB's greatly reduce the chances of a miswire or misconnect [provided the traces are all right], and should quicken greatly the amount of time to populate 'manypart' Cct. boards.
 You Can make tight perfbuilds, but then debugging the darn thing can turn into a real pain in the neck, I like to have access to conductive points in the cct. either method...I'll make sure the DMM probe can contact component leads or something at points throughout the cct. esp. in the signal path, LFO section etc. without having to try to stay centered on a round blob of solder on a trace, bottom of board, while I 'try' to turn the board over and make contact with the red lead without losing it...hard to tell if you're making contact bottom and top...I try to make it so I can probe mostly from the top of the board.