# Introducing Feather RP2040 SCORPIO

## Overview

![Eight NeoPixel strips being controlled by one SCORPIO board](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/117/238/medium800/adafruit_products_scorpio-banner.jpg?1672076976)

If there is one thing Adafruit is known for, its mega-blinky-fun-rainbow-LEDs. [We just love sticking NeoPixels anywhere and everywhere](https://www.adafruit.com/category/168). When we saw the new “PIO” feature of [the RP2040 from Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/category/875), we knew it would be perfect for driving huge numbers of NeoPixels. So we created the **Adafruit Feather RP2040 SCORPIO ** specifically for NeoPixel (WS2812-compatible) control, but also good for various other PIO-based projects that want to take advantage of the Feather pinout with an additional 8 consecutive outputs (or inputs).

![A close up view of SCORPIO board](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/117/239/medium800/adafruit_products_scorpio-oblique.jpg?1672076992)

[The RP2040 PIO state machine](https://learn.adafruit.com/intro-to-rp2040-pio-with-circuitpython) is ideal for NeoPixel control: it can generate perfect waveforms, with up to 8 outputs concurrently, all through DMA. That means no processor time is wasted to bit-bang the LED data. Just set up the buffer and tell the PIO peripheral to “make it so.” It issues that data to the 8 outputs without delay while your code can continue to read buttons, play music, run CircuitPython — whatever you like!

SCORPIO has a clever pinout, where all the standard Feather pins are the same as the GPIO numbers, plus the standard I2C, SPI and UART lines — and theres _still_ enough pins left over to have an extra 8 consecutive pins for PIO usage on GPIO16 through GPIO23.

To make NeoPixel usage glitch-free there is a 3V-to-5V level shifter so the output logic is 5V. If you want 3V signals, the shifter voltage is adjustable with a jumper on the bottom. It's also possible to flip the direction of the level shifter to make the 8 I/O pins _inputs_ — say for making a logic analyzer — with a directional jumper selection also on the bottom of the PCB.

The RP2040 SCORPIO also has a _ton_ of RAM, 264KB, making it trivial to buffer huge numbers of NeoPixels…_several thousand_ if needed. In fact there's so much RAM you can even _dither_ the pixels to for finer brightness control, for better-looking LEDs at low brightness or for gamma correction.

We have [NeoPXL8 driver code available in Arduino](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPXL8) and [CircuitPython](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_NeoPxl8), so you can jump immediately to making beautiful artworks driven by the Adafruit SCORPIO.

- Measures 2.0" x 0.9" x 0.28" (50.8mm x 22.8mm x 7mm) without headers soldered in
- Light as a (large?) feather - 5 grams
- RP2040 32-bit Cortex M0+ dual core running at ~125 MHz @ 3.3V logic and power
- 264 KB RAM
- **8 MB SPI FLASH**  chip for storing files and CircuitPython/MicroPython code storage. No EEPROM
- **Tons of GPIO! 21 x GPIO pins with following capabilities:**
  - **Four ** 12-bit ADCs (one more than Pico)
  - Two I2C, Two SPI, and two UART peripherals, we label one for the “main” in standard Feather locations
  - 16 x PWM outputs - for servos, LEDs, etc.

- **Plus:**
  - 8 x consecutive GPIO outputs (or inputs) with 5V level shifting for NeoPixel control

- **Built-in 200mA+ lipoly charger**  with charging status indicator LED
- **Pin #13 red LED ** for general purpose blinking
- **RGB NeoPixel**  for full-color indication on **D4**
- On-board  **STEMMA QT connector**  that lets you quickly connect any Qwiic, STEMMA QT or Grove I2C devices with no soldering!
- **Both Reset button and Bootloader select button for quick restarts ** (no unplugging-replugging to relaunch code). Bootloader button is also available as user-input button on GPIO #7
- 3.3V Power/enable pin
- 2 mounting holes
- 12 MHz crystal for perfect timing
- 3.3V regulator with 500mA peak current output
- **USB Type C connector ** lets you access built-in ROM USB bootloader and serial port debugging

- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-feather-rp2040-scorpio/pinouts.md)

## Primary Products

### Adafruit Feather RP2040 SCORPIO - 8 Channel NeoPixel Driver

[Adafruit Feather RP2040 SCORPIO - 8 Channel NeoPixel Driver](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5650)
If there is one thing Adafruit is known for, its mega-blinky-fun-rainbow-LEDs. [We just love sticking NeoPixels anywhere and everywhere](https://www.adafruit.com/category/168). When we saw the new 'PIO' peripheral on[the...](https://www.adafruit.com/category/875)

Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5650)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5650/guides)

## Related Guides

- [Feather Scorpio Snap Fit Case](https://learn.adafruit.com/feather-scorpio-snap-fit-case.md)
- [OOZE MASTER 3000: NeoPixel Simulated Liquid Physics](https://learn.adafruit.com/ooze-master-3000-neopixel-simulated-liquid-physics.md)
- [Water Drip Dress with Oozemaster 3000](https://learn.adafruit.com/water-drip-dress-with-oozemaster-3000.md)
- [Holiday Icicle Lights with Flair](https://learn.adafruit.com/holiday-icicle-lights-with-flair.md)
- [Holiday Tree with Feather RP2040 Scorpio](https://learn.adafruit.com/holiday-tree-with-scorpio.md)
- [Face Tracking Robot with MEMENTO](https://learn.adafruit.com/face-tracking-robot-with-memento.md)
- [HalloWing Macintosh](https://learn.adafruit.com/hallowing-mac.md)
- [LED Origami](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-origami.md)
- [Monster Matrix with WLED](https://learn.adafruit.com/monster-matrix-with-wled.md)
- [Festival Finder Hat with WLED](https://learn.adafruit.com/festival-finder-hat-with-wled.md)
- [Light-Up Reactive Ukulele](https://learn.adafruit.com/light-up-reactive-ukulele.md)
- [RGB & HSV NeoPixel Dialer](https://learn.adafruit.com/rgb-hsv-neopixel-dialer.md)
- [Mini Weather Station ESP32-S3 TFT](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-weather-station-esp32-s2-tft.md)
- [Adafruit Prop-Maker FeatherWing](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-prop-maker-featherwing.md)
- [Adafruit EYESPI Pi Beret](https://learn.adafruit.com/eyespi-pi-beret.md)