16-bit PIC24 in a through-hole DIP — who reaches for this
The Microchip PIC24FJ128GA202-I/SP is a 16-bit MCU from the PIC® XLP™ 24F family, built around a PIC core running at 32 MHz.
Memory and peripheral budget — what fits, what doesn't
128 KB of Flash (organized as 43K x 24-bit words) and 8 KB of SRAM define the firmware ceiling. A typical FreeRTOS or MPLAB Harmony project with USB stack and a moderate application layer leaves about 40-60 KB of Flash free — enough for a PID loop, Modbus RTU slave, or data-logging routine. The 8 KB RAM is tight for large frame buffers or heavy DMA; plan around it. The DMA controller offloads data transfers from the core, which matters when servicing the ADC or a UART at 32 MHz without dropping samples.
28-pin DIP — the prototype-friendly choice
The 28-SPDIP package (0.300-inch row spacing) is the key differentiator versus surface-mount MCUs in the same family. It plugs directly into a solderless breadboard, a ZIF socket for programming, or a machine-pin socket on a production PCB. Through-hole mounting also simplifies hand-assembly and rework — no hot-air station needed.
It is RoHS3 compliant.