MSP430 MCU

MSP430 MCU family from TI

http://www.ti.com/lit/sg/slab034ad/slab034ad.pdf

MSP430G2553 launchpad

32khz-crystal

Load capacitance !!!

http://www.msp430launchpad.com/2012/03/using-aclk-and-32khz-crystal.html

For example, the LaunchPad uses 12pF capacitors to load the crystal we just installed, yet many crystals require 22pF.

Edit: This statement is actually incorrect. Another big thank you goes out to Jens-Michael for pointing it out to me. Thanks for reading! "12pF is the typical load for most crystals I've ever seen. But due to the electric connection, a 12pF load means [there will be 2] 24pF capacitance on each of the crystals sides. Reason is that (seen from the crystal), the two capacitors are in series to each other and parallel to the crystal. […] Subtract the ~2pF pin capacitance of the MSPs pins and you get [two separate] 22pF [for] external capacitors, resulting in 12pF load. The XCAP settings already include pin capacitance and the /2 factor."