> has anybody experience in > 1. cascading 74f579 (8 bit bidirectional counter or are there more bits > up/down counters which work up to 10 MHz?) > 2. interfacing it (5v vcc) with msp430 via latch >
Are you trying to use the outputs of the counter to drive something else, with the msp430 providing the clock and direction, or are you getting the clock and direction externally, with the msp430 reading reading the counter output? Cascading two counters should be just a matter of connecting the highest output bit of one counter into the clock of the second one, at least as long as you are only counting in one direction. Changing directions might cause complications. Converting from 5V to 3.3V is easy enough, if you don't mind wasting a bit of power. Connect a resistor in series, with a diode to the 3.3V line. In fact, with a high enough resistor (say, 47k) you can just rely on the 3.3V part's internal ESD protection diodes. Connecting a 3.3V output to a 5V logic chip is normally pretty easy too - just connect it straight in. In most cases, it should work fine.
