PIC17C44T-33E/PT - 33MHz 8-bit OTP MCU 16KB | Microchip TQFP-44
MPN: PIC17C44T-33E/PT ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.95 | $7.95 |
| 10 | $7.25 | $72.50 |
| 100 | $6.45 | $645.00 |
| 500 | $5.8 | $2,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.2 | $5,200.00 |
PIC17C44T-33E/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is an integrated circuit that combines a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, and peripheral I/O on a single die. Within the MCU taxonomy the PIC17C44 belongs to the 8-bit RISC family, sits above PIC16C mid-range parts in performance, and below PIC18 and 16-bit dsPIC architectures in both MIPS and on-chip resources. The PIC17C-series instruction set has 58 single-word instructions, is upwards-compatible with the PIC16C5X/PIC12CXXX/PIC16CXX baselines, and adds a hardware multiply and an 8-level deep stack suited to real-time control code.
Key features include a 33 MHz external oscillator input, 33 bidirectional I/O lines, multiple timer/counter peripherals, a USART, and an OTP program memory array. The 8.25 MIPS core, 16-bit-wide instruction word, and 121 ns instruction cycle enable fast deterministic control loops for motor, power-conversion, and instrumentation firmware. The 'E' grade supports the -40 °C to +125 °C extended industrial temperature range, suitable for harsh-environment or under-hood deployments.
Typical applications span industrial automation, motor control front-ends, embedded instrumentation, and legacy communications equipment where PIC16-series MIPS is insufficient. The wide temperature grade also fits automotive under-hood subsystems, process-control I/O, and white-goods control boards. Microchip's official product page recommends the PIC18F442 as the recommended modern replacement, offering flash memory, more peripherals, and broader tool support.
Design considerations include OTP programming (parts cannot be reprogrammed in-circuit - firmware must be fully validated before burn), an external clock source requirement, and the legacy OTP silicon process. Engineers migrating designs should plan a path to PIC18F or PIC24/dsPIC modern flash parts. This page consolidates distributor pricing, verified specifications, drop-in alternatives, and design guidance not always found in the original datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC17C44T-33E/PT — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PIC17C44T-33E/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Type, Program Memory Size, Core Architecture, Instruction Cycle Time, Maximum Clock Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC17C44T-33/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44T-33I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44-33E/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C44-16I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44T-33E/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB (8K x 16 words) |
| RAM Size | 454 bytes |
| Instruction Set | 58 single-word instructions |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 33 MHz |
| Performance | 8.25 MIPS (121 ns instruction cycle) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 33 |
| Oscillator Type | External |
| Package / Case | 44-TQFP (PT) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended 'E' grade) |
| Series | PIC® 17C |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (TR) |
| Recommended Modern Replacement | PIC18F442 |
PIC17C44T-33E/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3 — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 |
| Pin 5 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/SS — PORTA bit 5 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 7 | RA6/CCP2 — PORTA bit 6 / Capture Compare PWM 2 |
| Pin 8 | RA7/CCP1 — PORTA bit 7 / Capture Compare PWM 1 |
| Pin 9 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 10 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 11 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 12 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 13 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 15 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 |
| Pin 16 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 |
| Pin 17 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 19 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 20 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 21 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 |
| Pin 22 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 23 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 24 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 25 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 27 | RD0/PSP0 — PORTD bit 0 / Parallel Slave Port bit 0 |
| Pin 28 | RD1/PSP1 — PORTD bit 1 / Parallel Slave Port bit 1 |
| Pin 29 | RD2/PSP2 — PORTD bit 2 / Parallel Slave Port bit 2 |
| Pin 30 | RD3/PSP3 — PORTD bit 3 / Parallel Slave Port bit 3 |
| Pin 31 | RD4/PSP4 — PORTD bit 4 / Parallel Slave Port bit 4 |
| Pin 32 | RD5/PSP5 — PORTD bit 5 / Parallel Slave Port bit 5 |
| Pin 33 | RD6/PSP6 — PORTD bit 6 / Parallel Slave Port bit 6 |
| Pin 34 | RD7/PSP7 — PORTD bit 7 / Parallel Slave Port bit 7 |
| Pin 35 | RE0/RD — PORTE bit 0 / Parallel Slave Port read strobe |
| Pin 36 | RE1/WR — PORTE bit 1 / Parallel Slave Port write strobe |
| Pin 37 | RE2/CS — PORTE bit 2 / Parallel Slave Port chip select |
| Pin 38 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 39 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 40 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / External clock input |
| Pin 41 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / Clock output |
| Pin 42 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset / Programming voltage input |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC17C44T-33E/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Embedded Instrumentation, Automotive Body Electronics (Legacy), Process Control I/O Modules, White Goods and Appliance Control, Legacy Communications Equipment.
Industrial Motor Control
The PIC17C44T-33E/PT's 8.25 MIPS core, hardware multiply, and 33 I/O pins made it a workhorse MCU for stepper and DC motor control in industrial equipment of the late 1990s. At 33 MHz the 121 ns instruction cycle enables deterministic PID loops running above 10 kHz, and the 58-instruction RISC set keeps the C-code footprint compact for the 16 KB OTP. The Extended -40 °C to +125 °C temperature grade supports factory-floor enclosures and outdoor cabinets. The TQFP-44 package fits standard industrial control board outlines; CCP modules provide PWM generation for H-bridge drivers. Modern motor designs should migrate to dsPIC33EP devices with on-chip ADC and high-resolution PWM.
Recommended
Embedded Instrumentation
The PIC17C44T-33E/PT served in handheld and bench-top instruments needing 8-bit performance above the PIC16 mid-range ceiling. The 33 MHz clock executes instrument firmware loops (sensor sampling, display refresh, keypad scan) with margin, while 454 bytes RAM holds transient processing buffers and 16 KB OTP stores the instrument's fixed firmware image. The 33 I/O pins drive segment LCDs, 7-segment LEDs, keypads, and serial interfaces without external I/O expanders. The Extended temperature grade lets the same part serve indoor lab and outdoor field-instrument designs. For modern instruments, the PIC18F family offers flash reprogramming for field firmware updates the OTP PIC17C44 cannot support.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Legacy)
The Extended -40 °C to +125 °C temperature grade and 33 MHz performance qualified the PIC17C44T-33E/PT for automotive body-electronics modules in the late 1990s, including HVAC panel controllers, instrument-cluster drivers, and seat-control units. The 33 I/O pins interface to switches, LEDs, and LIN/CAN transceivers, while the 16 KB OTP holds the fixed automotive firmware. Note: this part predates AEC-Q100 automotive qualification requirements, so it is NOT recommended for new automotive programs - use PIC18F or dsPIC33EP automotive-grade parts instead. Modern replacements include dsPIC33EP64GP504-E/MV and PIC18F family with full AEC-Q100 documentation.
Recommended
Process Control I/O Modules
Factory process-control I/O modules used the PIC17C44T-33E/PT as a local controller reading sensors and driving relays/SSR outputs. The 33 MHz core runs Modbus RTU or proprietary serial protocols at full 115200 baud with CPU margin for filtering and scaling, while the 16 KB OTP stores the I/O mapping table and control logic. The Extended temperature grade handles cabinet interiors near motors and heaters. The 33 I/O pins interface directly to opto-isolated inputs and relay-driver outputs without external mux chips. For greenfield process-control designs, the PIC18F442 is the recommended modern replacement with flash memory, on-chip ADC, and active production status.
Recommended
White Goods and Appliance Control
Major home appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, ovens) deployed PIC17C44T-33E/PT in control boards for user-interface handling, motor sequencing, and sensor monitoring. The 8.25 MIPS executes multi-step wash-cycle state machines comfortably, and 454 bytes RAM holds timer variables and EEPROM emulation tables for user settings. The Extended temperature range tolerates the oven-cabinet or motor-housing thermal environment. The TQFP-44 footprint supports compact appliance board layouts. New appliance designs should consider PIC18F or PIC16F1xx flash parts for firmware update capability the OTP PIC17C44 cannot provide.
Recommended
Legacy Communications Equipment
Late-1990s telecom and serial-communications equipment used PIC17C44T-33E/PT as a front-end protocol controller, managing RS-232/RS-485 transceivers, packet buffering, and host-side command parsing. The hardware USART plus 33 MHz MIPS handled 115200 baud full-duplex streams with margin for command processing. The 16 KB OTP stored protocol stacks while 454 bytes RAM held packet buffers. The 33 I/O lines drove status LEDs, DIP switches, and watchdog timers. For modern communications designs requiring encryption, TCP/IP offload, or higher baud rates, migrate to PIC18F or PIC32 with built-in Ethernet/CAN peripherals that the legacy PIC17C44 cannot support.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC17C44T-33E/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC17C44T-33/PT | PIC17C44T-33I/PT | PIC17C44-33E/PT | PIC17C44-16I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-TQFP (PT) | 44-TQFP (PT) - same | 44-TQFP (PT) - same | 44-TQFP (PT) - same | 44-TQFP (PT) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC | PIC 8-bit RISC | PIC 8-bit RISC | PIC 8-bit RISC | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 33 MHz | 33 MHz | 33 MHz | 33 MHz | 16 MHz (-52%) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM Size | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 454 bytes |
| Number of I/O | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended) | 0 °C to +70 °C (Commercial) | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended) | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (TR) | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tube |
Key Differentiators
- Recommended by Microchip as legacy replacement path to PIC18F442 flash MCU (vs PIC17C44T-33I/PT)
- Extended -40 °C to +125 °C temperature range for harsh environments (vs PIC17C44T-33/PT)
- 16 KB OTP program memory - largest in PIC17C4x family (vs PIC17C43T-25E/PT)
Design Notes
The PIC17C44 uses OTP (One-Time Programmable) EPROM, which CANNOT be erased or reprogrammed in-circuit. Per Microchip application note TB002, every firmware revision on the production line requires a fresh, virgin part, and any bug found after programming bricks the device. Validate firmware on a windowed ceramic PIC17C44 JW prototype before committing OTP parts to production. For development cycles requiring repeated reprogramming, use the PIC18F442 flash-based recommended replacement instead.
The 44-pin TQFP package has 0.80 mm pitch pins requiring precise PCB layout per IPC-2221 and IPC-7351 land pattern standards. Keep traces short on OSC1/OSC2 clock lines (pins 40/41) to avoid noise coupling, place the external oscillator within 5 mm of these pins, and add a ground guard ring around the crystal traces. The MCLR/VPP pin (pin 42) needs a 10 kΩ pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF decoupling cap to VSS for stable reset behavior; do not leave MCLR floating.
PIC17C44T-33E/PT requires stable VDD decoupling per the PIC17C44 datasheet Section 11. Place one 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of every VDD/VSS pair (pins 18/17 and 39/38) and one bulk 10 µF tantalum or aluminum cap at the board's power-entry point. The MCU draws approximately 15-25 mA at 33 MHz active mode; budget the regulator accordingly. Brown-out detection is not integrated, so add an external voltage supervisor for fail-safe reset in industrial environments.
PIC17C44 does not include an on-chip ADC. Per Microchip PIC17C44 datasheet Section 1.0, applications requiring analog-to-digital conversion must use an external ADC (e.g., MCP3002 SPI 10-bit or MCP3204 12-bit). For designs where ADC integration is desired, migrate to PIC18F442 (10-bit on-chip ADC) or dsPIC33EP (12-bit ADC with DSP) - these are recommended modern replacements that eliminate the external converter and reduce BOM cost.
Compliance Information
PIC17C44T-33E/PT predates widespread RoHS transition; current Microchip compliance declarations are not published for this obsolete OTP part. Request a compliance certificate from the distributor (Heisener, Octopart, Jotrin) for RoHS-critical applications. The part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - it predates automotive qualification requirements. For new automotive designs, use AEC-Q100-qualified dsPIC33EP or PIC18F automotive parts.