Choosing between microcontrollers & dev boards often comes down to a practical fork: do you want a clearly identified PICkit 2 kit for a focused project, or a similarly named package presented as a more guided learning setup? Both point toward PIC development, so the useful distinction is how much weight to give kit identity, device scope, and instruction.
Quick verdict
The Microchip Technology DV164120 PIC16F690 PIC Microcontroller Starter Kit is the straightforward pick for a focused PIC project and a clearly identified kit. The Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit Programmer + Demo Board PIC16F690 makes more sense for someone who wants an explicitly learning-oriented description. The deciding tradeoff is a concise package definition versus a fuller tutorial-and-project framing.
At a glance
| Comparison | Microchip Technology DV164120 PICkit 2 | Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 69.00 | USD 80.00 |
| Kit name | PICkit 2 Starter Kit | Pickit 2 |
| Condition | New | New |
Where each kit wins
Microchip Technology DV164120 wins when price is the first filter: the absolute difference between the listed amounts is $11. Its MPN, DV164120, also appears directly in the product name, giving shoppers a precise reference when organizing a PIC project or matching documentation. This is a concrete advantage for buyers who already know the kit reference they need.
Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit wins for an education-first brief. Its description explicitly mentions tutorials and example projects, making it the clearer fit for a learner who wants a setup framed around guided practice. That emphasis is useful when the purpose of the purchase is learning PIC development, not simply choosing a precisely identified hardware package.
Product notes
Microchip Technology DV164120 PICkit 2 Starter Kit
The Microchip Technology DV164120 PICkit 2 Starter Kit is a good match for a project that needs a precisely named kit and a defined device range. Its description identifies a programmer plus a prototyping board supporting 8-, 14-, and 20-pin flash devices, while the PIC/DSPIC core and DV164120 reference provide a clear technical anchor. That specificity is the main reason to choose it. The limitation is that its emphasis stays close to PIC16F690 and those pin-count categories; shoppers seeking a tutorial-led introduction may find the rival's educational framing more directly aligned. The new, factory-sealed condition is also stated, but the kit's strongest differentiator is its focused scope rather than a broad lesson plan.
Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit Programmer + Demo Board
Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit Programmer + Demo Board PIC16F690 suits a learner who wants programming hardware described alongside concrete ways to use it. The package includes the PICkit 2 programmer and a low-pin-count demo board, with USB-powered operation and in-circuit programming and debugging capabilities clearly identified. That combination is the reason to choose it for an embedded-systems learning path. The limitation is the low-pin-count emphasis: it is less directly aligned with a project organized around the 8-, 14-, and 20-pin flash-device range named for DV164120. The title also frames the kit around a programmer and demo board, so shoppers seeking a tightly specified DV164120 reference may prefer the Microchip Technology DV164120 PICkit 2 Starter Kit.
Final choice by use case
- Choose Microchip Technology DV164120 PICkit 2 Starter Kit for projects where the stated 8-, 14-, and 20-pin flash-device support is the deciding detail.
- Choose Microchip PICkit 2 Starter Kit Programmer + Demo Board PIC16F690 when USB-powered programming and the low-pin-count demo board are central to the learning setup.
For a focused PIC project, the DV164120 package is the more direct match. For a learner who prioritizes a hands-on setup with clearly described programming hardware, the PICkit 2 Starter Kit has the more relevant emphasis.
