PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT - 256KB Flash 50MHz 32-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.1 | $6.10 |
| 10 | $5.49 | $54.90 |
| 100 | $4.71 | $471.00 |
| 500 | $4.2 | $2,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.85 | $3,850.00 |
PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (SRAM), and peripherals onto one silicon die. Within the embedded taxonomy, the PIC32MX170 family sits in the PIC32MX series of MIPS-based MCUs (microcontroller -> 32-bit MCU -> MIPS M4K -> PIC32MX -> power-managed USB-capable class), combining general-purpose I/O with USB host/device and graphics-friendly PMP for HMI panels.
Key features include up to 50 MHz core clock, 1.56 DMIPS/MHz performance from the MIPS32 M4K core, six 16-bit timers/counters, five I2C/SPI/UART modules, a 10-bit 1 Msps ADC with up to 28 channels, two analog comparators, a charge time measurement unit (CTMU), a real-time clock, and a USB 2.0 full-speed OTG controller with dedicated DMA. The 44-pin TQFP offers 34 general-purpose I/O pins, and the integrated 8 MHz internal oscillator with PLL simplifies BOM cost.
Architecturally, the M4K core uses a 5-stage pipeline, separate instruction/data buses, and a configurable prefetch cache. Harvard architecture plus a non-blocking peripheral bus allow simultaneous Flash fetch and DMA transfers, supporting USB throughput near the 12 Mbps full-speed ceiling while leaving CPU headroom for application logic.
Typical applications include consumer USB peripherals (HID, CDC, mass storage), low-cost HMI with character/graphic LCD via PMP, sensor hubs with CTMU capacitive touch, industrial control front-ends with 10-bit ADC, and battery-powered IoT nodes leveraging deep sleep with real-time clock wake. The wide 2.5-3.6 V supply simplifies 3.3 V-only designs and two-cell Li-ion packs.
Design with the 50 MHz part when application throughput requires higher PWM resolution or faster ADC sampling than the 40 MHz siblings; use the lower-speed variants when EMI or power is critical. Ensure the 1 µF+ decoupling cluster, 12 MHz crystal/HS USB reference, and proper D+/D- 90-ohm routing follow the PIC32 USB Hardware Checklist for USB-IF compliance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-package drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/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 PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Timers, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC32MX170F256D-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX270F256D-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX130F256D-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX170F256DT-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX230F256D-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX270F256DT-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | MIPS32 M4K |
| Core Width | 32-bit |
| Max CPU Clock | 50 MHz |
| Performance | 1.56 DMIPS/MHz (78 DMIPS at 50 MHz) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 64 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (PT), 10x10 mm |
| GPIO | 34 (5V-tolerant) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 1 Msps, 28 channels |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device/Host/OTG |
| Timers | 5 x 16-bit, 1 x 32-bit (Input Capture/Output Compare) |
| Communication | I2C, SPI, UART, PMP (Parallel Master Port) |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| CTMU | Yes (capacitive touch support) |
| RTC | Yes (with RTCC from external 32.768 kHz crystal) |
| DMA | 4 channels (USB-dedicated + peripheral) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RPB0/RD0 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 0 |
| Pin 2 | RPB1/RD1 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | RPB2/RD2 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | RPB3/RD3 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 3 |
| Pin 5 | RPB4/RD4 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 4 |
| Pin 6 | RPB5/RD5 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 5 |
| Pin 7 | RPB6/RD6 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | RPB7/RD7 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | RPB8/RD8 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 8 |
| Pin 10 | RPB9/RD9 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 9 |
| Pin 11 | RPB10/RD10 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 10 |
| Pin 12 | RPB11/RD11 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 11 |
| Pin 13 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply 2.5V-3.6V |
| Pin 15 | RPB12/RD12 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 12 |
| Pin 16 | RPB13/RD13 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 13 |
| Pin 17 | RPB14/RD14 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 14 |
| Pin 18 | RPB15/RD15 — Remappable I/O / PMP data bit 15 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VCAP — Internal 1.8V regulator output - connect 10uF cap to VSS |
| Pin 21 | RPG6 — Remappable I/O / AN6 / VREF+ |
| Pin 22 | RPG7 — Remappable I/O / AN7 / VREF- |
| Pin 23 | RPG8 — Remappable I/O / AN8 |
| Pin 24 | RPG9 — Remappable I/O / AN9 |
| Pin 25 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 26 | VDD — Positive supply 2.5V-3.6V |
| Pin 27 | RPA0 — Remappable I/O / OSCI |
| Pin 28 | RPA1 — Remappable I/O / OSCO |
| Pin 29 | RPA2 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 30 | RPA3 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 31 | RPF0 — Remappable I/O / USBID |
| Pin 32 | RPF1 — Remappable I/O / USB VBUS detect |
| Pin 33 | RPF2 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 34 | RPB3 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 35 | RPB5 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 36 | RPF4 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 37 | RPF5 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 38 | VDD — Positive supply 2.5V-3.6V |
| Pin 39 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 40 | D+ — USB D+ data line |
| Pin 41 | D- — USB D- data line |
| Pin 42 | VBUS — USB VBUS sense input |
| Pin 43 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 44 | SOSCO/RPC14 — RTCC secondary oscillator out / remappable I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID / CDC / Mass Storage Peripherals, Low-Cost HMI with Character/Graphic LCD, Capacitive Touch Sensor Hubs (CTMU), Industrial Sensor Front-Ends, Battery-Powered IoT Edge Nodes, Consumer Audio Accessories.
USB HID / CDC / Mass Storage Peripherals
The PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT is a strong fit for USB peripherals thanks to its integrated USB 2.0 full-speed OTG controller with on-chip transceiver and dedicated DMA channel. The 50 MHz MIPS M4K core sustains 12 Mbps USB throughput while leaving headroom for the HID report generator or MSC FATFS logic. With 256 KB Flash and 64 KB SRAM, it holds a full USB stack plus application code without external memory. The 5V-tolerant GPIO simplifies button matrix sensing for HID keyboards and game controllers, and the device runs at 3.3 V directly from a USB-powered rail.
Recommended
Low-Cost HMI with Character/Graphic LCD
The PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT drives character LCDs and small graphic panels via its integrated Parallel Master Port (PMP) at up to 50 MHz, freeing the CPU to refresh animations and handle touch input. The 10-bit ADC reads potentiometers or NTC thermistors for menu feedback, while the CTMU enables capacitive touch buttons on glass panels without an external touch IC. With 34 GPIO, designers can multiplex a 4x20 character LCD plus six soft keys and a rotary encoder on the same MCU. The 3.3 V rail simplifies direct interface to modern OLED displays without level shifters.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Sensor Hubs (CTMU)
The PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT integrates a Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) that converts capacitance differences into time measurements read by the ADC, supporting robust capacitive touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors. The 1 Msps ADC paired with CTMU can scan 32+ touch electrodes at 100 Hz refresh, suitable for appliances and white goods. With 256 KB Flash and 64 KB SRAM, the MCU runs Microchip's mTouch library plus the application stack locally. The industrial -40C to +85C rating ensures reliable operation in unheated enclosures.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Front-Ends
The PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT suits industrial sensor conditioning with its 10-bit 1 Msps ADC capable of multiplexing 28 single-ended inputs or 13 differential pairs. The 50 MHz core runs PID loops and MODBUS RTU masters simultaneously via the five UART modules. The on-chip CTMU supports resistance temperature detector (RTD) and thermistor measurement circuits without an external analog front-end. Hardware DMA offloads ADC-to-memory transfers, leaving the CPU for control logic in PLC remote I/O and process instrumentation applications.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Edge Nodes
The PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT enables battery-powered IoT designs through its multiple low-power modes including Sleep, Idle, and deep Sleep with RTCC wake. Quiescent current drops below 50 µA in deep Sleep with the 32.768 kHz RTCC running, allowing years of standby from a CR2032 cell. The 50 MHz burst capability wakes in microseconds to service sensors via UART or SPI, transmit data over USB-OTG, then return to sleep. Integrated peripherals like the ADC and comparators stay available in Sleep for ultra-low-power threshold detection.
Recommended
Consumer Audio Accessories
The PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT supports USB audio class 1.0 headphone adapters, USB speakers, and USB-MIDI devices thanks to its USB 2.0 full-speed OTG with isochronous endpoint support and dedicated DMA. The 256 KB Flash stores USB descriptors and audio class driver tables, while 64 KB SRAM holds USB packet buffers plus small audio queues. The 50 MHz core handles 16-bit 48 kHz stereo USB streaming without CPU saturation. Five UART/I2C/SPI instances drive external DACs, audio codecs, and Bluetooth modules in wireless audio docks.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC32MX170F256D-50I/PT | PIC32MX270F256D-50I/PT | PIC32MX130F256D-50I/PT | PIC32MX170F256DT-I/PT | PIC32MX230F256D-50I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same | 44-TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same |
| Core | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit |
| Max CPU Clock | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 40 MHz (-20%) | 50 MHz |
| Flash | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| USB | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG |
| CAN | No | No | Yes (added) | No | No | No |
| Operating Temp Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Tape-and-Reel factory packaging on 44-TQFP (vs PIC32MX170F256D-50I/PT)
- Feature-up drop-in path to CAN bus (vs PIC32MX130F256D-50I/PT)
- 50 MHz core for ADC + USB throughput (vs PIC32MX170F256DT-I/PT)
Design Notes
Place the 10 µF ceramic VCAP decoupling capacitor (datasheet-recommended X7R 10V 0805) within 2 mm of the VCAP pin (pin 20) with a wide ground via to the VSS plane. Add 0.1 µF X7R bypass capacitors within 1 mm of every VDD pin (14, 26, 38) and pair each with a via to the ground plane. Use a continuous ground pour under the device and avoid routing signal traces beneath the QFP footprint. USB D+/D- traces must be 90-ohm differential with 4 mil-7 mil width and matched length within 150 mil.
The MCLR reset pin (pin 43) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD plus a 100 nF cap to ground for proper in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) - omitting this causes ICD 4 / PICkit 5 programming failures. The -50I suffix requires VDD >= 2.5 V for 50 MHz operation; running at 3.0 V with a low-voltage LDO may force the MCU into 40 MHz mode. Configure the Configuration Words (DEVCFG0/1/2/3) to disable JTAG and enable appropriate oscillator mode before locking the device.
Estimated: at 50 MHz with USB active and ADC sampling, the PIC32MX170F256DT-50I/PT core draws approximately 25 mA from a 3.3 V rail. Sleep current drops to under 50 µA with RTCC running on a 32.768 kHz crystal and full RAM retention. For USB-OTG host mode, the VBUS pin must drive an external 5 V boost converter capable of 500 mA peak for attached devices. Decouple the VBUS sense input with a 10 µF bulk + 0.1 µF local cap to handle inrush when downstream devices enumerate.
Route the 48 MHz USB clock source from either the 8 MHz internal oscillator + PLL or an external 12 MHz crystal on OSCI/OSCO with load capacitors per the crystal datasheet (typically 18-22 pF). Keep crystal traces short (<5 mm) and guard with a ground ring. For PMP-driven LCDs, route the upper 8-bit data nibble with matched lengths to avoid skew on parallel transfers above 25 MHz; use series damping resistors (22-33 ohm) if the panel exceeds 50 mm trace distance.
Compliance Information
Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade (I suffix). RoHS/REACH compliant per Microchip product page; not AEC-Q100 qualified - use automotive-grade PIC32 variants if required. MSL Level 3 per JEDEC J-STD-020 floor-life guidelines.