Running MMBASIC on RP2040

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Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 8884	Posted: 07:02am 03 May 2026       A standard Pico uses the RP2040. The Pico 2 uses the RP2350. You can only run the RP2040 versions of MMBasic on the RP2040-Zero. I would still say that's reasonably exotic for such a cheap little module though. :) As Lizby points out, there is also a RP2350-Zero which looks almost identical. That will obviously run the RP2350 versions of MMBasic, but not the HDMI versions. Both of these modules, along with most cheap clones, use linear regulators - not the switchers that are on the Pico modules. This makes them even less attractive for battery powered systems unless you use an external switcher to power them at 3V3. Note that the Zero boards don't have the facility to disable the on-board linear regulator. I have powered them at 3V3 though by leaving the 5V pin disconnected. Also, they don't have a diode from VUSB to the 5V pin so the USB input supply can't be isolated from your circuit. That can make things awkward sometimes.