PicoScope 5000D Series

The PicoScope 5000D Series from Pico Technology introduces FlexRes — a variable-resolution architecture that allows engineers to trade between sample rate and vertical resolution in hardware, selecting from 8-bit, 12-bit, 14-bit, 15-bit, or 16-bit modes depending on the measurement requirement. At 8-bit resolution the series delivers 1 GS/s sampling and up to 200 MHz bandwidth for capturing fast digital edges; at 16-bit it provides 62.5 MS/s with the vertical precision needed for low-noise analog measurements. This flexibility eliminates the need to choose between a fast digital oscilloscope and a high-resolution instrument — the 5000D Series is both.

5000D Series Specifications

Feature	Specification
Channels	2 or 4 analog (+ 16 digital on MSO models)
Resolution	8, 12, 14, 15, or 16-bit (FlexRes hardware selectable)
Bandwidth	60 / 100 / 200 MHz (model dependent)
Sample Rate	1 GS/s (8-bit), 62.5 MS/s (16-bit)
Buffer Memory	Up to 512 MS
Waveform Rate	130,000 waveforms/second
AWG	14-bit, 200 MS/s arbitrary waveform generator
Spectrum Analyzer	Up to 200 MHz
Streaming	125 MS/s continuous USB streaming
Protocol Decode	40 serial protocols included
Digital Channels	16 channels on MSO models
Software	PicoScope 7 (Win/Mac/Linux)
SDK	PicoSDK (C, Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW)
Interface	SuperSpeed USB 3.0
Power	USB bus-powered, fanless

The series spans twelve models across 2-channel and 4-channel configurations, with bandwidths of 60, 100, or 200 MHz, and optional MSO (mixed-signal) digital inputs. Models range from the PicoScope 5242D (2-channel, 60 MHz) through to the PicoScope 5444D MSO (4-channel, 200 MHz with 16 digital channels). All models include a 14-bit 200 MS/s arbitrary waveform generator, built-in spectrum analyzer, and 40 serial protocol decoders at no extra cost — capabilities typically reserved for premium benchtop oscilloscopes. The 512 MS capture buffer and 130,000 waveforms-per-second capture rate ensure that both long-duration recordings and infrequent glitches are captured reliably.

Watch the PicoScope 5000D Series introduction

For embedded systems engineers working across the analog-digital boundary, the MSO variants provide simultaneous analog and digital signal capture with protocol decoding across all 18 channels (2 or 4 analog plus 16 digital), enabling correlation of SPI transactions, I2C bus activity, or CAN frames with the underlying analog waveforms. GSAS Micro Systems supplies the full PicoScope 5000D range with model selection guidance, helping engineers match bandwidth, resolution, and channel count to their specific measurement requirements.