PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP - 32-bit MCU 256KB Flash 40MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.5 | $6.50 |
| 10 | $5.85 | $58.50 |
| 100 | $5.2 | $520.00 |
| 500 | $4.65 | $2,325.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.1 | $4,100.00 |
PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP Overview
What is a PIC32MX230 microcontroller? The PIC32MX230 is the entry-level member of Microchip's PIC32MX1XX/2XX 32-bit MCU family. It is built on the MIPS M4K core with a 5-stage pipeline, Harvard architecture, single-cycle 32x32 hardware multiplier, and a hardware divide unit. The family sits in the broader hierarchy: 32-bit microcontroller -> embedded MCU -> microprocessor -> integrated circuit. Within the PIC32MX family, the PIC32MX230 is positioned below PIC32MX250/270 variants and above the PIC32MX110/120/130/150/170 series, offering USB + CTMU as the headline features.
Key features include 256 KB self-programmable Flash with ECC support, 16 KB SRAM, 10-bit 1 Msps ADC, a CTMU for mTouch capacitive touch sensing, integrated Full-Speed USB 2.0 device/host/OTG, PMP for external graphics memory or parallel bus, JTAG and 2-wire ICSP debugging, and on-chip temperature measurement. The PPS feature allows flexible peripheral-to-pin mapping, dramatically simplifying PCB routing and enabling drop-in peripheral reuse across the family.
Architecturally, the PIC32MX230 uses a 32-bit MIPS M4K core with single-cycle multiplication, instruction-cache prefetch, and a 2-wire instruction/data bus. The 0.5 mA/MHz typical run current (15 mA at 30 MHz) and 4 deep sleep modes make it suitable for both line-powered and battery-powered designs.
Typical applications include USB peripherals (Human Interface Devices, CDC virtual COM ports, mass storage), capacitive touch user interfaces for appliances and consumer products, industrial control with on-chip ADC, low-cost graphical HMI using PMP to drive character LCDs or small TFTs, sensor hub MCUs with on-chip temperature measurement, and audio playback with I2S interfacing to external DACs.
When designing with this part, verify your VDD supply falls within the 2.0-3.6V range - this is not a 5V tolerant part. Ensure the Vbus/USB voltage rail current limit is correctly sized if using the integrated USB peripheral. The CTMU requires dedicated firmware configuration to operate as an mTouch slider or button matrix.
This page synthesizes Microchip datasheet specifications, DigiKey/Mouser distributor pricing, same-package PIC32MX2xx alternatives, and practical design notes for USB and CTMU applications, providing information gain that goes beyond the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC32MX230F256B-V/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-V/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, ADC, Mounting Type, Maximum CPU Speed.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC32MX230F256B-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX230F064B-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX270F256B-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX170F256B-V/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX230F256B-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.69 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit RISC |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature Range (V suffix) | -40C to +105C |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 13 channels, 1 Msps |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device/Host/OTG |
| UART Modules | Up to 4 |
| SPI / I2S Modules | 2 |
| I2C Modules | 2 |
| CTMU | Yes (for mTouch capacitive touch) |
| PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) | Yes |
| Parallel Master Port (PMP) | Yes |
| JTAG / ICSP Debug | JTAG + 2-wire ICSP |
| On-chip Temperature Sensor | Yes |
| Typical Run Current | 0.5 mA/MHz |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (0.3 inch, through-hole) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input, active-low |
| Pin 2 | PGED1/AN0/RPB0 — Data I/O programming/debug, ADC analog input, port B bit 0 |
| Pin 3 | PGEC1/AN1/RPB1 — Clock programming/debug, ADC analog input, port B bit 1 |
| Pin 4 | PGED2/AN2/RPB2 — Data I/O programming/debug, ADC analog input, port B bit 2 |
| Pin 5 | PGEC2/AN3/RPB3 — Clock programming/debug, ADC analog input, port B bit 3 |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0-3.6V) |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | OSCI/CLKI/RC13 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 9 | OSCO/CLKO/RC14 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 10 | VBUS — USB bus voltage detection (when USB enabled) |
| Pin 11 | D-/RG3 — USB D-minus data line (when USB enabled) |
| Pin 12 | D+/RG2 — USB D-plus data line (when USB enabled) |
| Pin 13 | RB4/AN4 — Port B bit 4, ADC analog input |
| Pin 14 | RB5/AN5 — Port B bit 5, ADC analog input |
| Pin 15 | RB6/AN6 — Port B bit 6, ADC analog input |
| Pin 16 | RB7/AN7 — Port B bit 7, ADC analog input |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0-3.6V) - second supply pin |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference - second ground pin |
| Pin 19 | RA0/AN8 — Port A bit 0, ADC analog input |
| Pin 20 | RA1/AN9 — Port A bit 1, ADC analog input |
| Pin 21 | RA2/AN10 — Port A bit 2, ADC analog input |
| Pin 22 | RA3/AN11 — Port A bit 3, ADC analog input |
| Pin 23 | RA4/AN12 — Port A bit 4, ADC analog input |
| Pin 24 | AVSS — Analog ground reference |
| Pin 25 | AVDD — Analog positive supply (2.0-3.6V) |
| Pin 26 | RA8 — Port A bit 8 (digital I/O only) |
| Pin 27 | RA9 — Port A bit 9 (digital I/O only) |
| Pin 28 | RB8 — Port B bit 8 (digital I/O only) |
Typical Applications
PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP is suitable for 7 applications: USB HID Peripheral (Mouse/Keyboard/Gamepad), Capacitive Touch User Interface (mTouch), Industrial Control / Sensor Hub MCU, Audio Playback via I2S DAC, USB Virtual COM Port / CDC Device, Low-Cost Graphical HMI with PMP, Sensor Data Logger with USB Mass Storage.
USB HID Peripheral (Mouse/Keyboard/Gamepad)
The PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP is ideal for USB Human Interface Device applications because it integrates a USB 2.0 Full-Speed device/host/OTG controller on-chip, eliminating the need for an external USB PHY or FTDI bridge. The 256 KB Flash easily fits Microchip's free USB stack (~30 KB) plus HID class driver and application logic (~30 KB), leaving ~190 KB free for custom firmware. At 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS, the device handles 1000 Hz polling rates with no CPU bottlenecks. Place the device on a small 2-layer PCB with a USBLC6-2SC6 ESD array on the D+/D- lines and a 47 uF bulk capacitor on VBUS. The integrated USB pull-up resistor eliminates the need for an external 1.5K pull-up on D+. Compared to using an external FTDI bridge + 8-bit MCU, this single-chip solution cuts BOM cost by ~$1 and reduces PCB area.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface (mTouch)
The PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP is purpose-built for mTouch capacitive touch buttons and sliders thanks to the integrated CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) which provides 1 ns resolution time measurement. The CTMU works with up to 13 ADC channels to scan a button matrix or linear slider with hardware-assisted charge-time measurement, dramatically simplifying touch firmware. Typical designs use 10-30 touch electrodes routed directly to ADC-capable pins, each guarded by ground traces to prevent false triggers. The 50 MHz CPU handles scans of 16 buttons at 100 Hz in well under 1 ms, leaving the CPU free for LCD driving and communications. The peripheral pin select (PPS) feature allows touch electrodes to be remapped without PCB changes during design iteration.
Recommended
Industrial Control / Sensor Hub MCU
The PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP fits industrial control applications that need USB connectivity, multiple serial buses, and on-chip ADC for sensor signal acquisition. Its 13-channel 10-bit ADC at 1 Msps handles multiple analog sensors (temperature, pressure, flow) with hardware averaging. The two I2C buses support sensor stacking (one for sensors, one for EEPROM/expansion), while the four UARTs handle RS-485/Modbus comms with external transceivers. The VDD voltage range (2.0-3.6V) and extended industrial temperature range (-40C to +105C) make it suitable for industrial environments. Add a TJA1050 or SN65HVD75 for CAN/RS-485 if needed. The 16 KB SRAM accommodates modest protocol stacks and data buffers; the CTMU can measure analog temperature from RTDs with an external resistor reference.
Recommended
Audio Playback via I2S DAC
The PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP's two I2S/ SPI modules enable direct interface to external stereo DACs such as the Texas Instruments PCM5102A or Cirrus Logic CS4344 for low-cost audio playback. The 256 KB Flash can store ~30 seconds of 32 kHz 16-bit mono PCM samples uncompressed, or longer with ADPCM compression. The 50 MHz MIPS M4K core sustains stereo 48 kHz 16-bit streaming from external SPI Flash via DMA. Use one I2S module for audio data output and the second SPI/I2S for SD card or SPI Flash file I/O. Place a TLV320DAC3100 or PCM5102A on the I2S bus with I2C control for volume/mute. The internal PMP peripheral can simultaneously drive a small character LCD for the user interface. This architecture produces a low-BOM audio playback module under $4 in volume.
Recommended
USB Virtual COM Port / CDC Device
The PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP integrates a USB 2.0 Full-Speed controller that, paired with the Microchip CDC firmware library, presents a virtual COM port to the host PC at 12 Mbps. This eliminates the FTDI FT232R or CP2102N bridge chip in designs needing USB-serial connectivity - saving $1-3 per unit BOM and reducing PCB area. Firmware configures the USB peripheral as a CDC ACM class device; the host sees a standard COM port with no driver installation on Windows 10+/macOS/Linux. Use this for industrial data loggers, debug serial output from prototypes, or low-volume test fixtures. The 256 KB Flash holds the full USB stack plus CDC class driver (~20 KB) plus application code. The -40C to +105C temperature range (V suffix) makes it suitable for field-deployed industrial USB loggers. Add an ESD array on D+/D- lines and a 4.7 uF capacitor on VBUS per USB spec.
Recommended
Low-Cost Graphical HMI with PMP
The PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP integrates a Parallel Master Port (PMP) which can drive external parallel-character LCDs or small TFT modules without an external LCD controller. The PMP provides up to 8 data lines, 4 address lines, read/write controls, and supports both DMA and address-latched transfer modes. With 256 KB Flash for a frame buffer and full custom UI code, the PIC32MX230 is sufficient for HMIs requiring character or small dot-matrix displays. For larger TFTs requiring >1 MB frame buffer, an external SRAM or SPI TFT with controller is recommended. The Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) allows PMP data and control signals to be remapped to nearly any I/O pin, simplifying PCB layout when the display connector conflicts with other functions. Pair with a 3.3V LCD module like the NHD-C12864LZ-FSW-FBW-3V3 for 128x64 graphical displays with only one extra chip.
Recommended
Sensor Data Logger with USB Mass Storage
The PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP combines 256 KB Flash, USB 2.0 Full-Speed, an integrated 10-bit ADC, and two I2C/SPI ports into a low-cost single-chip sensor data logger that writes measurements to a USB flash drive. The Microchip USB MSD library presents the SPI-connected flash or SD card as a removable drive when plugged into a host PC. The 16 KB SRAM accommodates a small sector buffer for writes; the 50 MHz core handles FAT32 file system updates with room for additional application logic. Use the ADC for direct sensor inputs (voltage, current, temperature via on-chip sensor), I2C for external digital sensors (accelerometer, humidity), and SPI for SD card or serial Flash storage. The CTMU provides precise timing for event-stamping data points. The result is a self-contained data logger that requires only an external SPI flash and USB connector, with no host driver software needed.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC32MX230F256B-I/SP | PIC32MX230F256B-50I/SP | PIC32MX230F064B-I/SP | PIC32MX270F256B-I/SP | PIC32MX170F256B-V/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB - same | 256 KB - same | 64 KB - 75% less | 256 KB - same | 256 KB - same |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 16 KB - same | 16 KB - same | 16 KB - same | 64 KB - +300% | 16 KB - same |
| Max CPU Speed | 40 MHz / 50 MHz (graded) | 50 MHz | 50 MHz speed-graded | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz |
| USB 2.0 Full-Speed | Yes (Device/Host/OTG) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - USB absent |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C (V suffix) | -40C to +85C (I suffix) | -40C to +85C (I suffix) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +105C (V suffix) |
| 10-bit ADC Channels | Up to 13 | Up to 13 - same | Up to 13 - same | Up to 13 - same | Up to 13 - same | Up to 13 - same |
| CTMU (mTouch Capacitive Touch) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- On-chip USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller (vs PIC32MX170F256B-V/SP)
- Extended industrial temperature range (-40C to +105C) (vs PIC32MX230F256B-I/SP)
- CTMU for mTouch capacitive touch sensing (vs PIC32MX230F064B-I/SP)
- Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) flexibility (vs PIC32MX130F064B-V/SP)
Design Notes
The PIC32MX230F256B-V/SP operates from VDD 2.0-3.6V and is NOT 5V tolerant on any I/O pin. For designs with a 5V system rail, add a 3.3V LDO such as the MCP1700-3302E for the VDD rail, and a level translator such as the TXS0108E on signal lines crossing the voltage domain. Place 100 nF decoupling capacitors on each VDD/VSS pin pair as close as physically possible to the IC. Bulk capacitors of 4.7 uF to 10 uF on VDD and AVDD reduce ripple-induced noise on the ADC reference.
When using the integrated USB peripheral, ensure VBUS is connected to the USB VBUS pin even in self-powered designs, as the USB specification requires the device to detect VBUS voltage. Apply proper ESD protection (USBLC6-2SC6) on D+ and D- lines. The CTMU requires firmware configuration and calibration for accurate time measurement - do not skip the calibration step or touch readings will be inaccurate. PPS peripheral mapping must be configured in software; default pin assignments differ across PIC32MX1XX/2XX variants.
At maximum 50 MHz CPU speed, the device draws approximately 25 mA from VDD, dissipating ~0.083 W at 3.3V - thermal performance is not a concern in normal operation. The 28-SPDIP package provides adequate thermal dissipation for industrial temperature operation. Estimated: continuous max load at 105C ambient draws the same current and remains well below the maximum junction temperature rating of 150C, with a derating margin of approximately 45C.
For the 28-SPDIP package, route signals to the through-hole pads on a 2.54 mm (0.1 inch) grid. Place the external 8 MHz or 12 MHz crystal within 10 mm of the OSCI/OSCO pins with short, symmetric traces to minimize stray capacitance; add 1 MOhm parallel feedback resistor across OSCI-OSCO for stable oscillation. Add a 10 kOhm pull-up resistor to MCLR and a 100 nF capacitor to ground for proper reset operation. For designs with USB, route D+ and D- traces as a 90 ohm differential pair matching the USB spec.
The 10-bit ADC achieves optimal accuracy with an input bandwidth below the ADC's Nyquist rate (~500 kHz at 1 Msps). Add an external RC anti-aliasing filter (1 kOhm + 1 nF typical) on each analog input. Use the dedicated AVDD/AVSS pins for the analog supply, with a ferrite bead or 10 Ohm resistor isolating AVDD from the digital VDD rail. Route analog traces away from digital switching signals and clock traces; place a ground guard ring around sensitive analog signal traces.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a general-purpose industrial MCU, not automotive-grade. Halogen-free per Microchip material declarations.
