Microchip to release low-end PIC32 line to compete with cheap ARM MCUs
I was checking out V2 of Microchip’s C32 compiler, a much needed update to the MIPS GCC 4.5 compiler. When I looked at the release notes, they the compiler supported a bunch of part numbers I had never seen before. Here is the device support table:
| Part Number | Part Number | Part Number | Part Number |
|---|---|---|---|
|
PIC32MX110F016B PIC32MX110F016C PIC32MX110F016D PIC32MX120F032B PIC32MX120F032C PIC32MX120F032D PIC32MX210F016B PIC32MX210F016C PIC32MX210F016D PIC32MX220F032B PIC32MX220F032C PIC32MX220F032D |
PIC32MX320F032H PIC32MX320F064H PIC32MX320F128H PIC32MX320F128L PIC32MX340F128H PIC32MX340F128L PIC32MX340F256H PIC32MX340F512H PIC32MX360F256L PIC32MX360F512L PIC32MX420F032H PIC32MX440F128H PIC32MX440F128L PIC32MX440F256H PIC32MX440F512H PIC32MX460F256L PIC32MX460F512L |
PIC32MX534F064H PIC32MX534F064L PIC32MX564F064H PIC32MX564F064L PIC32MX564F128H PIC32MX564F128L PIC32MX575F256H PIC32MX575F256L PIC32MX575F512H PIC32MX575F512L PIC32MX664F064H PIC32MX664F064L PIC32MX664F128H PIC32MX664F128L PIC32MX675F256H PIC32MX675F256L PIC32MX675F512H PIC32MX675F512L PIC32MX695F512H PIC32MX695F512L |
PIC32MX764F128H PIC32MX764F128L PIC32MX775F256H PIC32MX775F256L PIC32MX775F512H PIC32MX775F512L PIC32MX795F512H PIC32MX795F512L |
The part’s on the left in green are the new ones. I did a search for the first part number (PIC32MX110F016B). It was already in the Newark database although not in stock. Newark has it listed at $1.98 with the following specs:
PIC32, 16KB Flash, 4KB RAM, 40 MHz, CTMU, 4 DMA 28 QFN 6x6mm TUBE
This makes sense. PIC32 used to to rank well on the list of low-cost 32-bit MCUs. These days the slew of new value-line ARM Cortex M0 and Cortex M3 MCUs make it look rather expensive. If the Newark price of $1.98 at QTY 183 is correct, it makes the PIC32 somewhat competitive price-wise. I am glad, I would love to see an ultra low-cost 32-bit alternative to ARM. For comparison, here are some of the cheaper ARM chips. The prices listed are also from Newark at QTY 250:
| STM32F100C4T6B | STM32 Series 32-bit 16 kB Flash 4 kB RAM ARM Based Microcontroller – LQFP-48 | $1.60 |
| LPC1111FHN33/101,5 | LPC1111 Series 32 Bit 8K flash 2K RAM Arm Cortex Microcontroller – HVQFN-33 | $1.10 |
| LPC1313FHN33,551 | LPC1311 Series 32 Bit 32K Flash 8K RAM ARM Cortex-M3 Microcontroller – HVQFN-33 | $1.72 |
| LM3S300-IQN25-C2 | MCU 32-Bit Stellaris ARM Cortex M3 RISC 16KB Flash 4K RAM 3.3V 48-Pin LQFP | $3.43 |
So if that data is correct, the PIC32 would be ahead of TI but still a bit higher than the cheapest parts from ST and NXP. Of course, I don’t know the whole story without the datasheet. I am sure the PIC32 will have it’s own unique advantages.