PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT - 50MHz 256KB Flash 32-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.2 | $9.20 |
| 10 | $8.45 | $84.50 |
| 100 | $7.55 | $755.00 |
| 500 | $6.85 | $3,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.2 | $6,200.00 |
| 3,000 | $5.75 | $17,250.00 |
PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT Overview
A 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a microprocessor core with on-chip Flash program memory, SRAM data memory, and integrated peripherals such as timers, ADC, communication controllers, and I/O. Within the system hierarchy, an MCU sits at the top of the embedded control stack: MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The PIC32MX family uses the MIPS32 M4K Harvard architecture, which separates instruction and data paths and provides single-cycle multiply, hardware divide, and a deterministic interrupt response tailored to real-time embedded control.
Key differentiating features include a USB 2.0-compliant Full-Speed On-The-Go (OTG) controller, four SPI/I2S modules for codec and serial communication, a Parallel Master Port (PMP) with dual buffers for graphics interfaces, two I2C modules, and a 10-bit 1 Msps ADC with up to 28 channels. The PPS function allows digital peripheral pin assignments to be remapped in software, decoupling peripheral selection from physical pinout and simplifying PCB layout.
Architecturally, the PIC32MX250 family is built on a 5-stage pipeline MIPS32 M4K core and integrates a dedicated DMA controller, a crypto engine, and a CTMU for capacitive touch sensing. The 256 KB Flash is arranged as 256K x 8, supporting self-programming under firmware control and IEC 60730 Class B support via the Flash Error Correction Code (ECC) and supporting libraries.
Typical applications include USB peripherals and embedded hosts (HID, CDC, mass storage), audio playback with I2S DACs, low-cost graphical HMI with PMP-driven LCDs, capacitive-touch user interfaces, and industrial control nodes. The combination of USB OTG, large SRAM, and PPS makes the PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT a flexible general-purpose 32-bit platform for both consumer and industrial designs.
Design tip: place 0.1 µF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to every VDD/VSS pin pair and add a bulk 10 µF tantalum or ceramic capacitor near the IC. For USB designs, the 90 Ω differential D+/D- trace impedance must be controlled and the VBUS line should include ESD protection rated at IEC 61000-4-2 Level 4.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes beyond what the manufacturer datasheet provides, giving engineers a single reference for sourcing and design-in.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC32MX250F256L-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 PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Architecture, USB, SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC32MX250F256HT-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PF
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX250F256H-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX230F256D-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC32MX170F512L-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX274F256D-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 32 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 100-pin TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 81 |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 1 Msps |
| SPI / I2S Modules | 4 (SPI/I2S configurable) |
| I2C Modules | 2 |
| Parallel Master Port (PMP) | Yes, with dual buffers |
| DMA Channels | 4 (with FIFOs) |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RG15 — General purpose I/O / SDA2 (PPS) |
| Pin 2 | VDD — Positive supply (2.3 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 3 | RP10/RD0 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 4 | RP11/RD1 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 5 | RP4/PMD4/RD2 — Remappable peripheral I/O / PMP data |
| Pin 6 | RP5/PMD5/RD3 — Remappable peripheral I/O / PMP data |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RP6/PMD6/RD4 — Remappable peripheral I/O / PMP data |
| Pin 10 | RP7/PMD7/RD5 — Remappable peripheral I/O / PMP data |
| Pin 11 | RP8/PMD8/RD6 — Remappable peripheral I/O / PMP data |
| Pin 12 | RP9/PMD9/RD7 — Remappable peripheral I/O / PMP data |
| Pin 13 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 14 | PGEC2 — ICSP clock / debugging |
| Pin 15 | PGED2 — ICSP data / debugging |
| Pin 16 | RG6 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 17 | RG7 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 18 | RG8 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 19 | RG9 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 21 | RG0 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 22 | RG1 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 23 | VUSB — USB internal 3.3 V regulator output (decouple 1uF) |
| Pin 24 | D+ — USB D+ data line |
| Pin 25 | D- — USB D- data line |
| Pin 26 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 27 | PGEC3 — ICSP clock / debugging (alternate) |
| Pin 28 | PGED3 — ICSP data / debugging (alternate) |
| Pin 29 | RF0 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 30 | RF1 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 31 | RF2 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 32 | RF3 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 33 | RF4 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 34 | RF5 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 35 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 36 | RF6 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 37 | RF7 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 38 | RF8 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 39 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 40 | OSC1/CLKI/RC13 — Crystal oscillator input or external clock input |
| Pin 41 | OSC2/CLKO/RC14 — Crystal oscillator output or clock output |
| Pin 42 | SOSCI/RPC13/RC13 — Secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 43 | SOSCO/RPC14/RC14 — Secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 44 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 45 | RA0 — General purpose I/O / analog input AN0 |
| Pin 46 | RA1 — General purpose I/O / analog input AN1 |
| Pin 47 | RA2 — General purpose I/O / analog input AN2 |
| Pin 48 | RA3 — General purpose I/O / analog input AN3 |
| Pin 49 | RA4 — General purpose I/O / analog input AN4 |
| Pin 50 | RA5 — General purpose I/O / analog input AN5 |
| Pin 51 | RA6 — General purpose I/O / analog input AN6 |
| Pin 52 | RA7 — General purpose I/O / analog input AN7 |
| Pin 53 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 54 | RB0 — General purpose I/O / AN8 / PGED1 |
| Pin 55 | RB1 — General purpose I/O / AN9 / PGEC1 |
| Pin 56 | RB2 — General purpose I/O / AN10 / CVREF+ |
| Pin 57 | RB3 — General purpose I/O / AN11 / CVREF- |
| Pin 58 | RB4 — General purpose I/O / AN12 |
| Pin 59 | RB5 — General purpose I/O / AN13 |
| Pin 60 | RB6 — General purpose I/O / AN14 |
| Pin 61 | RB7 — General purpose I/O / AN15 |
| Pin 62 | RB8 — General purpose I/O / AN16 |
| Pin 63 | RB9 — General purpose I/O / AN17 |
| Pin 64 | RB10 — General purpose I/O / AN18 |
| Pin 65 | RB11 — General purpose I/O / AN19 |
| Pin 66 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 67 | RB12 — General purpose I/O / AN20 |
| Pin 68 | RB13 — General purpose I/O / AN21 |
| Pin 69 | RB14 — General purpose I/O / AN22 |
| Pin 70 | RB15 — General purpose I/O / AN23 |
| Pin 71 | RC1 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 72 | RC2 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 73 | RC3 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 74 | RC4 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 75 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 76 | RD8/RTCC/PMRD — Remappable / RTCC output / PMP read strobe |
| Pin 77 | RD9/PMWR — Remappable / PMP write strobe |
| Pin 78 | RD10/PMCS1 — Remappable / PMP chip select 1 |
| Pin 79 | RD11/PMCS2 — Remappable / PMP chip select 2 |
| Pin 80 | RD12 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 81 | RD13 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 82 | RD14 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 83 | RD15 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 84 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 85 | RE0 — General purpose I/O / PMD0 |
| Pin 86 | RE1 — General purpose I/O / PMD1 |
| Pin 87 | RE2 — General purpose I/O / PMD2 |
| Pin 88 | RE3 — General purpose I/O / PMD3 |
| Pin 89 | RE4 — General purpose I/O / PMD4 (alt) |
| Pin 90 | RE5 — General purpose I/O / PMD5 (alt) |
| Pin 91 | RE6 — General purpose I/O / PMD6 (alt) |
| Pin 92 | RE7 — General purpose I/O / PMD7 (alt) |
| Pin 93 | RG2 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 94 | RG3 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 95 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input |
| Pin 96 | RG12 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 97 | RG13 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 98 | RG14 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 99 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 100 | RG15 — General purpose I/O (alt location) |
Typical Applications
PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: USB Audio Class (UAC) DAC Peripheral, Graphical HMI with Parallel LCD, Industrial Sensor Hub with USB Diagnostics, Capacitive Touch Control Panel, Portable Data Logger with USB Mass Storage, Embedded Web Server (Lightweight HTTP).
USB Audio Class (UAC) DAC Peripheral
The PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT is well matched to USB audio class peripherals because it combines an on-chip USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller, four I2S-capable SPI modules for connecting external DACs, and 32 KB SRAM for sample buffering at 48 kHz/16-bit stereo. The PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT can sustain 50 MHz core operation while servicing the USB interrupt, leaving cycles for audio rendering. The on-chip DMA controller moves samples between the USB endpoint FIFO and the I2S transmit buffer without CPU intervention. Recommended companion: AKM AK4452 I2S DAC and TI TPS2051B USB power switch.
Recommended
Graphical HMI with Parallel LCD
The Parallel Master Port (PMP) on the PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT supports 8-bit and 16-bit data widths with dual read/write buffers, enabling the PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT to drive small QVGA (320x240) TFT LCDs without an external controller. With 256 KB Flash, full-frame graphical firmware libraries fit on-chip, and the 81 I/O pins provide ample signal lines for touch, backlight, and SD card interfaces. The 50 MHz core refreshes the display from internal SRAM without DMA bottlenecks.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub with USB Diagnostics
For industrial sensor aggregation, the PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT provides two I2C buses, four SPI ports, and a 10-bit 1 Msps ADC with up to 28 input channels. Engineers use the USB OTG controller as a service port for diagnostics and firmware update, while the 32 KB SRAM buffers sensor frames before uploading to a host. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature range covers most factory-floor enclosures without derating.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Control Panel
The PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT integrates the Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU), which combined with the on-chip 10-bit ADC and PPS-mappable I/O enables up to 16 capacitive touch buttons or a 4x4 matrix. Designers use the PPS function to route CTMU channels to any spare I/O pin, simplifying PCB layout for irregular-shaped touch pads. The 256 KB Flash accommodates Microchip's mTouch library plus a custom UI state machine.
Recommended
Portable Data Logger with USB Mass Storage
Battery-powered data loggers benefit from the PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT because it runs from a single Li-Ion cell (2.3 V to 3.6 V), integrates USB Full-Speed for direct connection to a host PC, and provides 256 KB Flash plus 32 KB SRAM for circular log buffers. The PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT implements USB Mass Storage Class using the on-chip Flash or an external SPI Flash as the backing store. Power-down current with the on-chip RTCC is microampere-class, extending battery life during idle logging intervals.
Recommended
Embedded Web Server (Lightweight HTTP)
Although the PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT lacks Ethernet, it can implement a lightweight HTTP service over USB RNDIS or an external SPI-based Wi-Fi module such as the MRF24WG0MA. The PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT runs Microchip's TCP/IP stack (MLA) in 256 KB Flash, and the 81 I/O pins provide a generous connection count to controlled devices. For secure deployments, the on-chip crypto engine accelerates AES-128/256 blocks used by TLS handshake acceleration.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC32MX250F256HT-I/PT | PIC32MX250F256L-50I/PF | PIC32MX250F256H-50I/PT | PIC32MX230F256D-50I/PT | PIC32MX170F512L-50I/PT | PIC32MX274F256D-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 100-pin TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm | 100-pin TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm - same | 100-pin TFBGA (PF) - same die, different package | 100-pin TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm - same | 100-pin TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm - same | 100-pin TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm - same | 100-pin TQFP (PT) 12x12 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 | MIPS32 M4K 32-bit |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 40 MHz / 52 DMIPS | 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS | 72 MHz / 117 DMIPS |
| Flash | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB |
| USB OTG | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) | No | Yes (Full-Speed) | No | Yes (Full-Speed) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +105C (AEC-Q100 Grade 2) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Approx. Unit Price (qty-1) | $9.20 (as of 2026-10-02) | Higher (extended temp) | Similar | Slightly lower (no USB) | Lower (less SRAM) | Higher (more Flash) | Slightly higher (newer family) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller with on-chip transceiver (vs PIC32MX170F512L-50I/PT)
- 50 MHz / 83 DMIPS core speed for the same Flash/SRAM capacity (vs PIC32MX230F256D-50I/PT)
- Full Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) remapping on all digital peripherals (vs PIC32MX250F256H-50I/PT)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor on every VDD/VSS pin pair as close to the package as physically possible (within 2 mm). Add a single 10 uF bulk ceramic or tantalum capacitor near the IC to handle transient load steps from the USB transceiver and ADC. The VUSB pin (pin 23) requires a 1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor to ground per the Microchip PIC32MX2XX family datasheet, and this capacitor must be present even when USB is unused because the internal 3.3 V LDO remains active.
For USB designs, the D+ and D- traces must be routed as a 90 ohm differential pair with controlled impedance, using a continuous reference ground plane beneath. Length matching should hold within 150 mil between D+ and D- per the USB 2.0 specification. Place a common-mode choke or ferrite bead in series with VBUS if the design is susceptible to conducted EMI, and add ESD protection diodes (USBLC6-2SC6 or equivalent) rated at IEC 61000-4-2 Level 4 directly at the USB connector.
Use the Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) feature to remap digital peripherals (UART, SPI, I2C, timers) to any available I/O pin, but group high-speed SPI signals (SCK, MOSI, MISO) on adjacent pins to minimize loop area. Estimated: keep SCK trace length below 50 mm and route it on the top layer with a continuous ground plane on layer 2 to avoid EMI. Place the 8 MHz or 12 MHz crystal within 5 mm of the OSC1/OSC2 pins and guard the traces with a ground pour on both sides.
Do not skip the MCLR pull-up resistor; the MCLR pin (pin 95) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for reliable reset behavior, especially in noisy environments. Do not leave any VDD pin floating; the PIC32MX250F256L has multiple VDD pins (2, 7, 44, 75, 99) and all must be connected. Programming the device via ICSP requires both PGECx/PGEDx pairs to be accessible - if a pair is used exclusively for peripherals, keep the alternate pair (PGEC3/PGED3 on pins 27/28) free for in-circuit debugging.
When driving large parallel LCDs through the PMP, add 22 ohm series damping resistors on the PMD[15:0], PMRD, PMWR, and PMCS lines if the bus length exceeds 50 mm. The PMP can sustain up to 50 MHz operation but the actual throughput depends on the load capacitance of the LCD connector and cable. Estimated: total bus capacitance should be held below 50 pF to maintain 25 MHz PMP operation without bus errors.
Compliance Information
Standard -50I part is industrial-grade (-40C to +85C). For AEC-Q100 qualified parts, choose the -HT variant. RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product declarations.