Verdicts
| Candidate | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| WCH CH340C | Change values | Same SOP-16 and pins 1–6, 9–16. Remove the crystal and two 33 pF caps. Pin 7 NC. Pin 8 = OUT#. −20 to 70 °C. TX error under 1.8%. |
| WCH CH340E | New layout | MSOP-10. No DTR#, DSR#, RI# or DCD#. V3 on pin 10. |
| Silicon Labs CP2102 | New layout | QFN-28. VDD 3.0–3.6 V (internal regulator can run from VBUS). VID:PID 10C4:EA60. |
| FTDI FT232RL | New layout | SSOP-28. VID:PID 0403:6001. A 3.3 V-only supply needs an external oscillator and an EEPROM change. |
CH340G vs CH340C
| Item | CH340G | CH340C | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOP-16 | SOP-16 | Same |
| Pins 1–6, 9–16 | GND, TXD, RXD, V3, UD+, UD−, CTS#, DSR#, RI#, DCD#, DTR#, RTS#, R232, VCC | Same | Same |
| Pin 7 | XI | NC, leave open | Remove the crystal |
| Pin 8 | XO | OUT# (active low) | Remove the crystal and the load caps |
| Clock | 12 MHz crystal + two 33 pF | Internal, ±1.2% (−5 to 55 °C) / ±1.8% (−25 to 75 °C) | — |
| TX baud error | under 0.3% | under 1.8% | Recheck high-baud links |
| Ambient temperature | −40 to 85 °C | −20 to 70 °C | Not for wide temperature |
| VCC 5 V / ICC | 4.0–5.3 V; 7 / 20 mA | Same | Same |
| VCC 3.3 V (V3 = VCC) | 2.9–3.6 V | 3.1–3.6 V | Higher minimum |
CH340G vs CH340E
| Item | CH340G | CH340E | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOP-16 | MSOP-10 | Not compatible |
| Pins | SOP-16 map above | 1 UD+, 2 UD−, 3 GND, 4 RTS#, 5 CTS#, 6 TNOW, 7 VCC, 8 TXD, 9 RXD, 10 V3 | — |
| Missing signals | — | DTR#, DSR#, RI#, DCD# | Auto-reset moves to RTS# |
| Temperature / TX error | −40 to 85 °C / under 0.3% | −20 to 70 °C / under 1.8% | — |
| VCC 3.3 V | 2.9–3.6 V | 3.1–3.6 V | — |
CH340G vs CP2102
| Item | CH340G | CP2102 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOP-16 | QFN-28 | Not compatible |
| Supply | VCC 4.0–5.3 V, or 3.3 V with V3 = VCC | VDD 3.0–3.6 V; internal regulator from VBUS (regulator input 4.0–5.25 V) | Different power design |
| Clock | 12 MHz crystal | Internal | — |
| Max baud | 2 Mbps | 921600 bps | — |
| Temperature | −40 to 85 °C | −40 to 85 °C | Same |
| Supply current | 7 / 20 mA at 5 V | 20 mA typ / 26 mA max (IREGIN) | — |
| Default USB IDs | CH340B EEPROM default is 1A86:7523 (G is not stated) | 10C4:EA60 | Different driver |
| Production outlook | — | Product page: expected in production through at least March 2029. The Rev 1.8 front page recommends CP2102N for newer designs. | For reference only, not a PCN |
CH340G vs FT232RL
| Item | CH340G | FT232RL | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOP-16 | SSOP-28 | Not compatible |
| Supply | 4.0–5.3 V, or 3.3 V with V3 = VCC | VCC 4.0–5.25 V with the internal oscillator; 3.3–5.25 V with an external oscillator | 3.3 V-only needs an external oscillator |
| I/O voltage | follows VCC | VCCIO 1.8–5.25 V | FT232R is more flexible |
| Max baud | 2 Mbps | 3 Mbaud | — |
| Temperature | −40 to 85 °C | −40 to 85 °C | Same |
| Default USB IDs | G is not stated | 0403:6001 | Different driver |
| θJA | — | 55.82 °C/W | — |
Baud-error screen
If the far-end MCU already has 1.5% error, the worst-case mismatch is 1.5 + 1.8 = 3.3% with CH340C versus 1.5 + 0.3 = 1.8% with CH340G. Against a receive tolerance of about 2% (WCH §5.4), CH340C fails the screen and CH340G passes. CP2102 and FT232RL use different clock schemes. Check the far-end tolerance in each datasheet. The method is on the CH340 selector.
Pitfalls
- CH340C is not a full replacement. The temperature rating and baud error differ, and pin 8 is now an output (OUT#), so the crystal parts must go.
- CH340C’s second DTR# mode works, according to WCH, only on lots whose number starts with 4 and ends above B40: a 4.7 kΩ pull-down on pin 8 makes it a second open-drain DTR# (§5.3). Check the lot code. This page has not tested that on hardware.
- CH340E has no DTR#.
- Running FT232R from 3.3 V only without an external oscillator is outside the datasheet. You need an external crystal or oscillator and an EEPROM change: tick Use External Oscillator in FT_Prog (AN_100 §3.1).
- Do not wire 5 V to CP2102 VDD. VDD tops out at 3.6 V. Use the internal regulator from VBUS.
- CP2102 and FT232R have different VID:PIDs and drivers. Update production test when the chip changes.
Part numbers
CH340G, CH340C and CH340E (WCH). CP2102-GM (Silicon Labs; reel suffixes are not listed in the datasheet). FT232RL (FTDI). Information only.
Disclaimer
Comparisons use the manufacturer datasheets above, as read on 26 Oct 2026. Production outlook statements come from the maker’s website and are not a guarantee. Driver behaviour depends on the OS. Validate the replacement on your own hardware.
Updated: 2026-10-26 · Jasper
Verify against the datasheet before use.