Can i swap max3232 IC into max232 PCB

[FFMan]

I have a max232 PCB that works just fine with my 328n, now i want to program the 128a1, can i put a max3232 in place of the max232, run it at 3.3v and get it to work ?

I have compared the diagrams in the reference manual regarding external circuitry and the only difference i can see is that on the 128a1 version pin 10 on max3232 is connected, whereas on the max232 this pin isn't connected.

is this difference significant ?

thanks

[dkinzer]

can i put a max3232 in place of the max232, run it at 3.3v and get it to work ?

Yes, the MAX3232 is functionally equivalent to the MAX232 but it will run at 3.3V. Note that the MAX3232 will also run at 5V but you need larger capacitors (330nF, I think). I haven't checked to see if those larger capacitors would work equally well at 3.3V but I suspect that they would. My point is that you could have one circuit that could be used for either 3.3V or 5.0V.