PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL - 32-bit MCU, 256KB Flash, 120MHz, VTLA-124
MPN: PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.42 | $8.42 |
| 10 | $7.65 | $76.50 |
| 100 | $6.83 | $683.00 |
| 500 | $6.12 | $3,060.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.48 | $5,480.00 |
PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL Overview
An MCU (Microcontroller Unit) is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU core, program memory (Flash), working memory (SRAM), and a rich set of on-chip peripherals such as timers, communication controllers, and analog blocks. The PIC32MX family targets cost-sensitive 32-bit applications including USB audio, human-machine interface (HMI) with graphics or touch, and industrial control. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC32MX is a 32-bit microcontroller family, sit below MCU-implementation units, microcontrollers, and finally ICs.
Key features of the PIC32MX450F256L include a USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller, two I2S/SPI modules for audio codec interfacing, Parallel Master Port (PMP) for graphics displays, Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for flexible pin assignment, a 16-channel 10-bit ADC, two analog comparators, five 16-bit timers, five PWM channels, six DMA channels, and a Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch sensing. These peripherals enable the device to serve as a single-chip solution for USB audio and HMI designs without external bridge ICs.
The architecture leverages the MIPS32 M4K core with MIPS16e code compression for up to 40 percent smaller code size. Multiple low-power modes (Idle and Sleep) and a fail-safe clock monitor improve energy efficiency and reliability. Pin compatibility with most PIC24/dsPIC DSC devices simplifies migration for designs moving from 16-bit to 32-bit performance.
Typical applications include USB audio peripherals (headsets, speakers, mixers), HMI with resistive touch and graphics displays, industrial sensor hubs, embedded control with USB connectivity, and low-cost graphical instrumentation. The wide peripheral integration eliminates many external components and reduces BOM cost.
When designing with this part, observe that the 124-pin VTLA package requires careful thermal management via the exposed pad and a 4-layer PCB stack-up is recommended for high-speed USB signal integrity. Decouple VDD/VUSB with 100 nF and 4.7 uF capacitors placed as close as possible to the pins, and follow USB-IF layout guidelines for the D+/D- differential pair.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and application notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, providing a single reference for engineers evaluating the PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL — 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 PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, USB, Operating Temperature, Analog Comparators.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC32MX450F256LT-120/TL
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX450F256L-120V/TL
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX450F256L-120I/TL
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | MIPS32 M4K |
| Core Architecture | 32-bit RISC |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 120 MHz |
| DMIPS | 150 |
| Program Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| SRAM | 64 KB |
| Boot Flash | 12 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +105C |
| Package | 124-pin VTLA (9x9 mm) with Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 10-bit, 16-channel |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | 5 x 16-bit |
| PWM Channels | 5 |
| DMA Channels | 6 |
| Communication Interfaces | I2C, IrDA, LINbus, PMP, SPI, UART/USART, USB OTG |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG |
| I2S/SPI Modules | 2 |
| Code Compression | MIPS16e (up to 40% smaller code size) |
| Touch Sensing | CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Parallel Master Port (PMP) | Yes |
| Power Management Modes | Idle, Sleep |
| Fail-Safe Clock Monitor | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Tube Packaging Quantity | Per TL suffix (tube) |
PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL 124-pin vtla (9x9 mm) with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL (124-pin vtla (9x9 mm) with exposed pad package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL is suitable for 6 applications: USB Audio Headsets and Speakers, HMI with Graphics and Touch, Industrial Sensor Hub with USB, Embedded Control with USB Connectivity, Low-Cost Graphical Instrumentation, IoT Edge Device with USB Tethering.
USB Audio Headsets and Speakers
The PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL is ideal for USB audio peripherals thanks to its integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller and dual I2S interfaces, which together support USB audio class 1.0 streaming at 48 kHz/96 kHz sample rates. The 120 MHz MIPS32 M4K core provides ample processing headroom for audio sample-rate conversion and basic DSP effects, while 256 KB Flash accommodates USB audio class descriptors and audio processing algorithms. The CTMU peripheral enables capacitive touch buttons for volume/playback control. The 64 KB SRAM buffers USB isochronous packets without dropouts. Designers use this part as a single-chip solution, eliminating external USB-to-I2S bridge ICs and reducing BOM cost.
Recommended
HMI with Graphics and Touch
For human-machine interface (HMI) designs with TFT LCD displays and touch input, the PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL provides Parallel Master Port (PMP) for direct interfacing to graphical LCDs up to 16-bit parallel bus width, and the Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch sensing. The Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) feature reassigns peripheral pins to any GPIO, simplifying PCB layout when routing between PMP data lines and touch sensor traces. The 120 MHz core drives pixel-drawing at full-screen refresh rates for typical QVGA/WQVGA panels. Internal DMA channels offload memory-to-display transfers, freeing the CPU for touch processing and UI logic.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub with USB
Industrial sensor hubs leverage the PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL's 16-channel 10-bit ADC to aggregate multiple analog sensors (temperature, pressure, flow), its UART/USART for RS-485 industrial networks, and USB OTG for direct PC-based configuration and data logging. The 120 MHz MIPS core computes digital filtering and unit conversion in real time, while the 256 KB Flash stores calibration coefficients and look-up tables. The -40C to +105C operating range suits factory-floor deployment. Fail-safe clock monitor ensures reliable system behavior in electrically noisy environments, and the multiple low-power modes extend battery life in portable sensor instruments.
Recommended
Embedded Control with USB Connectivity
The PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL serves as a USB-connected embedded controller for printers, label makers, point-of-sale terminals, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). The USB OTG enables both device and host modes, allowing the MCU to act as a USB host for flash drives in data acquisition or as a device connecting to a host PC. Five 16-bit timers and five PWM channels drive motors, solenoids, or LED arrays directly without external logic. UART, SPI, and I2C peripherals interface to sensors, actuators, and external memory. Hardware PMP can also interface to FPGA expansion cards for specialized I/O.
Recommended
Low-Cost Graphical Instrumentation
Budget digital oscilloscopes, data loggers, and bench multimeters use the PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL to drive small TFT graphical displays and capture data from sensors or front-end circuits. The PMP port streams display data from internal SRAM to graphical LCDs, while the ADC captures measurements. USB OTG enables PC connectivity for data export or remote control. The MIPS16e mode compresses code by up to 40 percent, allowing rich UI feature sets within the 256 KB Flash budget. CTMU can be repurposed for precise time-of-flight measurements in ultrasonic or capacitive sensors used in instrumentation front-ends.
Recommended
IoT Edge Device with USB Tethering
IoT edge nodes that require occasional USB tethering for firmware updates, configuration, or bulk data offload benefit from the PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL's USB OTG capability. While the device lacks integrated wireless, designers can attach Wi-Fi or Bluetooth modules via SPI/UART to add connectivity. The 120 MHz core handles TLS handshake offload and protocol parsing. Low-power Sleep and Idle modes conserve battery life between tethering events. The CTMU peripheral reads capacitive touch buttons without dedicated hardware. 256 KB Flash stores firmware images and configuration data, while 64 KB SRAM buffers network packets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC32MX450F256L-120/TL — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC32MX450F256LT-120/TL | PIC32MX450F256L-120V/TL | PIC32MX450F256L-120I/TL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 124-VTLA (9x9) | 124-VTLA (9x9) - same | 124-VTLA (9x9) - same | 124-VTLA (9x9) - same |
| Maximum Clock | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 100 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| USB OTG | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +85C |
| Packaging Format | Tube (TL) | Tape & Reel (T) | Tube (TL) | Tube (TL) |
Key Differentiators
- Tube packaging (TL suffix) for low-volume prototyping (vs PIC32MX450F256LT-120/TL)
- Full 120 MHz clock speed grade (vs PIC32MX450F256L-120I/TL)
- Standard temperature grade characterization (vs PIC32MX450F256L-120V/TL)
- 124-pin VTLA with full peripheral access (vs PIC32MX450F256L-120/PF)
Design Notes
Decouple each VDD/VSS pair with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the respective pins. Add a bulk 4.7 uF capacitor near the VDD pins. The USB transceiver requires a separate 3.3 V regulated VUSB supply; tie VUSB to the main 3.3 V rail through a ferrite bead or filter. According to the Microchip PIC32MX3XX/4XX datasheet, supply noise above 50 mVpp on VDD can degrade ADC accuracy by 1-2 LSB.
The 124-pin VTLA package's exposed thermal pad MUST be soldered to a ground copper pour on the PCB to meet thermal specifications. According to the Microchip family datasheet, theta_JA for the VTLA-124 package with a 4-layer PCB and adequate copper is approximately 22 C/W. Estimated: at full 120 MHz operation with all peripherals active, power dissipation is approximately 240 mW, yielding a junction temperature rise of ~5C above ambient at 25C, well within the 105C maximum.
Route the USB D+ and D- differential pair with 90 ohm differential impedance, matching length within 150 mils, and keep the pair away from noisy signals. The VTLA-124 land pattern requires 4-layer PCB stack-up for USB-IF compliance. The exposed pad should use thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 1 mm pitch, 9-12 vias) for heat dissipation. Place the 32.768 kHz secondary crystal traces short and guarded by ground to minimize load capacitance variation.
Do not leave the VUSB pin floating when USB is not used; tie it to VDD through a 10 kΩ resistor or a ferrite bead to prevent ESD damage. Configuration bits must be programmed correctly to enable the JTAG debugger; leaving the JTAG pins disabled prevents in-circuit programming. The Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) registers must be unlocked and relocked per the datasheet procedure; incorrect PPS configuration locks peripherals to default pins and prevents remapping.
When using the Parallel Master Port (PMP) to drive graphical LCDs at high pixel clock rates, add 22-33 ohm series damping resistors on the data lines to reduce ringing. The CTMU touch sensing lines should be guarded by grounded traces on both sides to prevent crosstalk from adjacent PMP signals. For USB Full-Speed operation at 12 Mbps, keep the D+/D- pair impedance-matched to 90 ohms differential per USB 2.0 specification.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (automotive grade). Operating range -40C to +105C suits industrial but not automotive applications.
