PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP - 32-bit 50MHz 256KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.5 | $6.50 |
| 10 | $5.85 | $58.50 |
| 100 | $5.2 | $520.00 |
| 500 | $4.55 | $2,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $4 | $4,000.00 |
PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP Overview
A 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, data memory, and a rich set of peripherals on one silicon die. The PIC32MX family combines a MIPS32 RISC architecture with Microchip's peripheral ecosystem, targeting general-purpose embedded applications where 8-bit MCUs run out of headroom but full application processors are over-spec. PIC32MX230F256B variants sit at the low-power, USB-capable node of the family with up to 256 KB Flash and 64 KB SRAM across the wider PIC32MX230/250/270/280 series.
Key features of the PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP include two I2S/SPI modules for codec and serial communications, Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) remappable I/O, Parallel Master Port (PMP) for graphics interfaces, mTouch capacitive touch support, and high-resolution 1 ns time measurement. An on-chip temperature sensor, RTCC, CTMU, and 10-bit ADC round out the analog/mixed-signal integration. The MIPS32 M4K core provides 5-stage pipeline execution with single-cycle multiplication, while 0.5 mA/MHz typical run current keeps active power low for USB-enabled designs.
The architecture pairs the 32-bit MIPS core with a 7-bit peripheral bus and dedicated DMA, allowing deterministic I/O servicing alongside CPU-bound DSP-style code. The 256 KB Flash supports live update partitioning and the 16 KB SRAM enables stack-heavy RTOS or TCP/IP stacks (Microchip's Harmony TCP/IP lite) without external memory. USB 2.0 full-speed OTG is integrated on the die, removing external PHY cost for HID, CDC, or vendor-class peripherals.
Typical applications include USB peripherals (HID keyboards, CDC serial bridges, vendor-class instrumentation), capacitive-touch user interfaces for appliances and HVAC controls, low-cost graphics with PMP-driven LCDs, sensor hubs with mTouch, and industrial control nodes requiring RTCC plus analog. The wide 2.3V-3.6V supply range and 50 MHz headroom suit battery-backed or 3.3V-regulated designs.
Designers should note that migrating code between PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP and pin-compatible SPDIP variants on the same die (other speed grades or temperature windows) usually requires only configuration changes. The 28-pin SPDIP exposes 19 general-purpose I/O via PPS, so plan pin-out early.
This page synthesizes Microchip datasheet specifications, distributor pricing across 9 sources, and a curated list of pin-compatible 28-SPDIP alternatives drawn from the same PIC32MX230 family - information not consolidated on any single manufacturer or distributor page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP — 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 PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, Mounting Type, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC32MX230F256B-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX230F256BT-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX230F128B-50I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX270F256B-50I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX230F064B-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit RISC |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 50 MHz |
| DMIPS Performance | 83 DMIPS |
| Program Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| SRAM | 16 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
| Active Current (Typical) | 0.5 mA/MHz |
| I/O Pins | 19 |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG |
| Serial Interfaces | 2x I2S/SPI, I2C, UART/USART, PMP, LIN, IrDA |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Parallel Master Port (PMP) | Yes |
| mTouch Capacitive Touch | Supported |
| Real-Time Clock (RTCC) | Yes |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (SP) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, I grade) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input, active-low |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply (2.3V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1 — Crystal oscillator input or external clock |
| Pin 10 | OSC2 — Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 / PPS-remappable I/O / AN3 |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 / PPS-remappable I/O / AN4 |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 / PPS-remappable I/O / AN5 |
| Pin 17 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 / PPS-remappable I/O / AN6 |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 / PPS-remappable I/O / AN7 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDDCORE — Internal regulator output for core supply |
| Pin 21 | RB8 — PORTB bit 8 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 22 | D- — USB D- line |
| Pin 23 | D+ — USB D+ line |
| Pin 24 | RB9 — PORTB bit 9 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 25 | RB10 — PORTB bit 10 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 26 | RB11 — PORTB bit 11 / PPS-remappable I/O |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply (2.3V to 3.6V) |
Typical Applications
PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Peripheral Devices, mTouch Capacitive Touch User Interface, Low-Cost Graphics Display with PMP, Industrial Sensor Hub with RTCC, Audio Codec Interface via I2S, Connected Appliance Control Board.
USB HID Peripheral Devices
The PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP is purpose-built for USB Human Interface Devices thanks to its integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller with on-die transceiver. The 256 KB Flash and 16 KB SRAM comfortably host Microchip's MLA/Harmony HID stacks plus vendor-class descriptors, while 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS of MIPS M4K throughput handles polling at the 1 kHz HID spec minimum without CPU strain. Engineers typically connect D+ to pin 23 and D− to pin 22 with the standard 1.5 kΩ pull-up on D+, then route VBUS to a comparator input. Trade-off: the MCU needs a 3.3 V regulated rail; if your design is bus-powered, add a small LDO between VBUS and VDD.
Recommended
mTouch Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP integrates Microchip's CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) and mTouch firmware libraries for capacitive touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors - eliminating external touch ICs. With 19 PPS-remappable I/O, designers can map touch channels to almost any pin and use the 1 ns timer resolution for robust noise rejection in appliance, HVAC, or industrial-control panels. Typical CTMU scan times under 1 ms per channel leave plenty of MIPS headroom for the main application loop. Trade-off: water/EMI immunity depends on PCB guard layout and proper CTMU calibration; plan sensor copper pours carefully and add driven shield traces for proximity.
Recommended
Low-Cost Graphics Display with PMP
The PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP's Parallel Master Port (PMP) interfaces directly to character or graphical LCDs in 8-bit or 16-bit modes, enabling cost-optimized HMI panels without an external display controller. With 256 KB Flash it can store multiple font tables, bitmaps, and menu structures on-chip, and the 50 MHz core refreshes small QVGA panels smoothly using simple DMA-style PMP transfers. The 19 I/O pins also allow a small keypad matrix or rotary encoder for input. Trade-off: PMP bus speed caps refresh at modest frame rates - this approach suits static or slowly-changing UI, not full-motion video.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub with RTCC
The PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP combines an on-chip 10-bit ADC, integrated temperature sensor, and Real-Time Clock Calendar (RTCC) with backup power pin to deliver a self-contained sensor hub for industrial monitoring nodes. With 19 PPS-mappable I/O, the MCU can fan out to multiple I2C/SPI sensor stacks - temperature, humidity, pressure, or acceleration - and the 256 KB Flash accommodates drivers for dozens of sensor types alongside data logging buffers. Trade-off: the 10-bit ADC suffices for 0.5%-1% accuracy sensor readouts; designs needing 12+ bits should add an external ADC companion like the MCP3421.
Recommended
Audio Codec Interface via I2S
The PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP exposes two I2S modules, making it a fit for audio codec interface applications like digital audio playback heads, intercom panels, or simple voice prompt modules. The DMA-capable I2S peripherals offload sample streams from the CPU, while the 50 MHz MIPS M4K core is sufficient to run a software MP3 or ADPCM decoder. Combined with on-chip USB, the same MCU can stream audio from a host PC and render through a PCM/I2S codec. Trade-off: for >44.1 kHz stereo streams or multi-band DSP, consider PIC32MX270/275 with more RAM and faster I2S clock options.
Recommended
Connected Appliance Control Board
The PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP's blend of USB OTG, PMP graphics, mTouch support, and on-chip RTCC suits modern connected appliances - washing machine HMI panels, smart thermostats, coffee machine controllers - that combine touch input, LCD output, scheduling, and host connectivity. The 50 MHz core runs a small RTOS or state machine, while 256 KB Flash accommodates vendor protocols (Modbus, custom cloud APIs) over UART or USB CDC. Trade-off: no native Wi-Fi/BLE - designs needing wireless connectivity should pair with an ATWINC1500 or RN4871 module via the MCU's UART/SPI ports.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC32MX230F256B-I/SP | PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SS | PIC32MX230F128B-50I/SP | PIC32MX270F256B-50I/SP | PIC32MX230F064B-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SPDIP (SP) | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same | 28-SSOP (SS) - SMD | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same | 28-SPDIP (SP) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | MIPS32 M4K | MIPS32 M4K | MIPS32 M4K | MIPS32 M4K | MIPS32 M4K | MIPS32 M4K |
| Max Clock Speed | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB (-50%) | 256 KB | 64 KB (-75%) |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 64 KB (+300%) | 16 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 |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
Key Differentiators
- Highest-density Flash in 28-SPDIP PIC32MX230 family (vs PIC32MX230F128B-50I/SP)
- 32-bit MIPS core with full PIC32MX270 peripheral compatibility (vs PIC32MX230F064B-I/SP)
- Integrated USB 2.0 FS OTG with on-die transceiver (vs PIC32MX130F064B-I/SP)
- 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS in through-hole 28-SPDIP (vs PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SS)
Design Notes
PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP operates from 2.3 V to 3.6 V with 0.5 mA/MHz active typical current, peaking near 25 mA at 50 MHz full activity. Place a 10 µF bulk capacitor plus 100 nF decoupling on each VDD/VDDCORE pin pair (pins 7/20 and 28/20). Use a low-noise LDO such as MCP1700 for USB applications - switching regulators introduce ripple that can couple into the analog ADC channels and degrade touch sensing. Estimated: P_ACTIVE ≈ 50 MHz × 0.5 mA/MHz = 25 mA at 3.3 V ≈ 82.5 mW.
The 28-SPDIP is through-hole, but the underlying PIC32MX230 die runs at 50 MHz - keep crystal traces to OSC1/OSC2 short (under 5 mm) and guard with a ground ring to avoid EMI coupling into ADC inputs. For mTouch designs, use a hardware guard channel implemented with the CTMU and surround touch sensors with a driven shield trace connected to a PWM output. Keep USB D+/D- traces matched-length within 2 mm and route over a continuous ground plane.
Three common pitfalls on PIC32MX230 designs: (1) omitting the 1.5 kΩ pull-up on D+ for USB device enumeration - this prevents the host from detecting the device; (2) failing to configure Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) lock registers in firmware before assigning I/O - this leaves peripherals floating; (3) underestimating Flash endurance for USB bootloader use cases - the 256 KB Flash is rated for typical erase/write cycles per the datasheet, so plan for bootloader partition size in advance rather than discovering it after firmware overflow.
The 28-SPDIP package dissipates active power across all 28 pins and the leads, so junction-to-ambient thermal resistance is higher than SMD equivalents. Estimated: at 25 mA active current, internal power is roughly 82 mW; this yields only a few degrees Celsius temperature rise at typical industrial ambient. No heatsink is required for the 28-SPDIP variant. However, in enclosed enclosures without airflow, derate clock speed or switch to the 28-QFN (ML) package for better thermal coupling.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade; not AEC-Q100 automotive qualified - refer to PIC32MX variants with -V or -E extensions for automotive-grade temp ranges.
