PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO - 50MHz 256KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.95 | $5.95 |
| 10 | $5.36 | $53.60 |
| 100 | $4.76 | $476.00 |
| 500 | $4.29 | $2,145.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.81 | $3,810.00 |
PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO Overview
A 32-bit PIC microcontroller is a microcontroller unit (MCU) based on the MIPS32 M4K Harvard architecture, offering substantially higher throughput, larger address space, and richer peripherals than 8-bit/16-bit predecessors. PIC32MX parts occupy the lower-mid tier of the PIC32 family (PIC32MX1xx/2xx), positioned between cost-optimized PIC32MM and high-performance PIC32MZ; the broader class belongs to 'microcontroller -> MCU -> embedded controller -> semiconductor'. With MIPS instruction set, Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), and mTouch capacitive touch support, the PIC32MX170F256B enables compact, low-power designs for HMI and audio/graphics interfaces.
Key features include 256 KB Flash program memory, 64 KB SRAM, 50 MHz core with 83 DMIPS, USB 2.0 full-speed OTG, two I2S/SPI modules, Parallel Master Port (PMP) for graphics interfaces, Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), mTouch capacitive touch sensing, 1 ns high-resolution timer, and 10-bit ADC with on-chip temperature measurement. The 28-pin SOIC wide-body (7.50 mm) package simplifies hand-soldering and breadboarding while still delivering industrial temperature operation.
Architecturally, the part integrates the MIPS32 M4K core with a 5-stage pipeline, hardware multiply/divide, single-cycle MAC, and prefetch cache, enabling deterministic real-time performance. The 0.5 mA/MHz typical active current keeps power budgets low for portable designs, while the wide 2.3-3.6 V supply range simplifies battery-powered applications. The integrated USB OTG, PMP, and I2S peripherals allow direct connection of audio codecs, parallel memory, and USB connectors.
Use the PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO for industrial control, USB peripherals, audio/graphics displays, capacitive touch interfaces, and low-power connected sensors. For an extended -40C to +105C operating range use the PIC32MX170F256BT-50V/SO variant. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative cross-references, and practical design notes not collated on the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO — 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 PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, USB, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX170F256BT-50V/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX154F128BT-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX130F256B-50I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX150F128BT-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.53 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit RISC |
| Core Count | Single-Core |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 50 MHz (83 DMIPS) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| SRAM | 64 KB |
| Number of I/O Pins | 21 |
| Package | 28-SOIC (Wide Body, 7.50 mm) |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, 'I' grade) |
| Packaging | Tape and Reel ('T' suffix) |
| Active Current (Typical) | 0.5 mA/MHz |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — General-purpose I/O pin with analog input and PPS |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — General-purpose I/O pin with analog input and PPS |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — General-purpose I/O pin with analog input and PPS |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — General-purpose I/O pin with analog input and PPS |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — General-purpose I/O pin with analog input and PPS |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RB0 — General-purpose I/O with PPS and programming clock |
| Pin 9 | RB1 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 10 | RB2 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 11 | RB3 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 12 | RB5 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 13 | RB6 — General-purpose I/O with PPS and ICD clock |
| Pin 14 | RB7 — General-purpose I/O with PPS and ICD data |
| Pin 15 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 16 | RC0 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 17 | RC1 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 18 | RC2 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 19 | RC3 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 20 | RC4 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 21 | RC5 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 22 | RC6 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 23 | RC7 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 24 | RC8 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 25 | RC9 — General-purpose I/O with PPS |
| Pin 26 | VBUS — USB VBUS sense input |
| Pin 27 | D+ — USB D+ data line |
| Pin 28 | D- — USB D- data line |
Typical Applications
PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Peripherals, Capacitive Touch HMI Panels, Audio Decoder Boards, Industrial Sensor Hubs, Graphics Display Controllers, Battery-Powered IoT Edge Nodes.
USB HID Peripherals
The PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO suits USB HID peripherals because the on-chip USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller and 83 DMIPS throughput at 50 MHz execute USB stacks with ample CPU headroom for application code. Placed on a 28-SOIC breakout board with a USB type-B connector and ESD protection array, it can deliver HID keyboards, mice, custom joysticks, and barcode scanners. The 256 KB Flash holds USB stacks plus application firmware, while 64 KB SRAM accommodates HID report buffers and protocol state machines. The 0.5 mA/MHz typical active current keeps total device power around 25 mA active, well below USB bus-powered budgets.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch HMI Panels
The PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO integrates Microchip's mTouch capacitive touch sensing peripheral, enabling robust button, slider, and wheel interfaces without external touch ICs. With 21 general-purpose I/O pins and Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), the developer can route touch channels to any pin, simplifying PCB layout for irregular panel shapes. The 10-bit ADC plus 1 ns high-resolution timer supports proximity sensing and gesture recognition. The 28-SOIC wide-body package simplifies hand-soldering prototype panels, while industrial temperature grade suits appliance front panels.
Recommended
Audio Decoder Boards
The PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO suits low-cost audio decoder boards because the two I2S/SPI modules interface to external audio DACs and the Parallel Master Port (PMP) drives TFT displays for visual feedback. The 50 MHz core decodes MP3, AAC, or WAV streams in software with libraries from Microchip's Harmony framework, while 256 KB Flash holds codec tables. Operating voltage 2.3-3.6 V allows single-cell Li-ion battery power for portable speakers. The 28-SOIC wide-body simplifies through-hole-style module fabrication for hobbyist audio projects.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs
The PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO works as an industrial sensor hub because its industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C), 21 GPIO, and 10-bit ADC aggregate signals from multiple analog and digital sensors. The 50 MHz MIPS32 M4K core runs Modbus, CAN, or proprietary sensor protocols concurrently, while 64 KB SRAM buffers sensor data before forwarding via UART/SPI. The wide 2.3-3.6 V supply allows 24 V industrial bus power with simple LDO regulation. The 28-SOIC wide-body package survives vibration-prone factory floors.
Recommended
Graphics Display Controllers
The PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO drives small TFT and OLED displays directly via the Parallel Master Port (PMP) at up to 50 MHz, supporting QVGA (320x240) panels with 8-bit parallel interface. Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) reassigns peripheral pins to avoid pin conflicts with PMP signals. The 256 KB Flash stores graphics libraries, fonts, and bitmaps, while 64 KB SRAM buffers display frames for partial-update schemes. Operating voltage 2.3-3.6 V simplifies integration to common 3.3 V display modules.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Edge Nodes
The PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO suits battery-powered IoT edge nodes because the 0.5 mA/MHz typical active current and deep-sleep modes extend battery life beyond one year on two AA cells. The 83 DMIPS at 50 MHz executes sensor fusion and on-device analytics before transmitting results via UART or USB, while 256 KB Flash holds Wi-Fi/BLE firmware modules. The 2.3-3.6 V wide supply range tolerates fresh-to-depleted Li-ion or NiMH cells. The 28-SOIC wide-body supports hand-prototyped sensor enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SO | PIC32MX170F256BT-50V/SO | PIC32MX154F128BT-I/SO | PIC32MX130F256B-50I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC (Wide Body) | 28-SOIC (Wide Body) - same | 28-SOIC (Wide Body) - same | 28-SOIC (Wide Body) - same | 28-SOIC (Wide Body) - same |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +105C (V) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| USB Support | Yes (USB 2.0 FS OTG) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz |
| I/O Count | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade at standard part number (vs PIC32MX170F256BT-50V/SO)
- USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG on-chip (vs PIC32MX130F256B-50I/SO)
- 256 KB Flash with full SRAM (vs PIC32MX154F128BT-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC32MX170F256BT-50I/SO requires a stable 2.3-3.6 V supply with at least 10 uF bulk decoupling near VDD plus a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD pin pair. For USB applications add a 4.7 uF capacitor on the VBUS pin. Estimated: at 50 MHz active operation, total current consumption reaches approximately 25 mA (50 MHz * 0.5 mA/MHz), so the regulator must supply at least 50 mA for transient headroom during peripheral activation.
Place a 12 MHz or 8 MHz external crystal on the SOSCO/SOSCI pins with load capacitors sized per the crystal CL specification (typically 15-22 pF for fundamental mode). Route the crystal traces short and symmetric, keeping ground pour at least 3 mm away from the crystal to minimize load capacitance drift. For USB precision, the 48 MHz USB clock must derive from the PLL; use the 8 MHz crystal with PLL configuration per Microchip datasheet DS60001168L section 32.
Route USB D+ and D+ lines as a 90-ohm differential pair with continuous ground reference and series 33 ohm source termination at the connector. Keep the differential pair length-matched within 2 mm and isolated from switching signals. The VBUS sense resistor must connect within 100 mm of the connector per USB 2.0 specification.
Do not omit the 4.7 uF VBUS capacitor - USB enumeration fails without it. Ensure PGEC1/PGED1 (RB6/RB7) are accessible for in-circuit debugging even if unused in the application. The PPS feature must be unlocked via CFGCON bit before assigning peripheral functions to non-default pins; the unlock sequence is documented in PIC32MX1XX/2XX reference Manual section 13.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose automotive-grade PIC32 variants (e.g., dsPIC33) for automotive applications.
