Buffer with 3-state outputs — legacy DIP for retrofit and bench work
The 74F244PC is a 74F-series octal buffer with non-inverting logic and 3-state outputs, packaged in a 20-pin DIP with 0.300" body width (20-PDIP). It contains two independent elements, each handling four bits, for a total of eight buffered channels.
Output drive — the 64 mA sink is the headline number
The high-level output current is rated at 3 mA, while the low-level sink can handle 64 mA. That sink capability is what stands out in the 74F family — it lets this buffer drive multiple TTL loads, LED indicators, or relay coils through a resistor directly, without an external transistor stage. The 3 mA source is more modest; if you need to drive a bus with significant pull-up current, budget a buffer stage or use a higher-drive part.
Lifecycle and compliance — active, but RoHS non-compliant
The non-compliant status typically means the leads are tin-lead plated, which is still preferred in some high-reliability soldering processes (e.g., military or aerospace hand-solder rework) where tin whisker risk is a concern.
Where the 74F244PC sits versus its peers
Compared to the SN74LS645-1N (a single-element 8-bit transceiver in 20-DIP), the 74F244PC is a pure buffer — no direction control, no bidirectional bus handling. The 74F244PC's 64 mA sink is roughly 4× the LS645's 15 mA output, so it drives heavier loads without an external buffer. For a drop-in DIP replacement with the same pinout, the 74F244PC's direct functional equivalent is another 74F244 in a DIP package; the 74ACT16833DL is a bulk-listed part but different logic and pinout.