Need help calculating OSC cap values

[skimask]

The problem is, if its going to be trial-and-error to work out the right value, i'm going to need a lot of caps.

That's a fact.
But you've also got a completely configurable PIC that you can program in a bunch of correction values into.
(i.e. crystal is off 1%, program in 1% compensation).
So, as I see it, you only need 2 capacitors and a bit of math.

[falingtrea]

Microchip also has a couple of app notes on the osc circuitry that you might want to check out

[Darrel Taylor]

I don't think the Value matters as much as the 2 capacitors being the same.

Another quote from the datasheet...

Higher capacitance increases the stability
of the oscillator, but also increases the
start-up time.

If you have different value caps then it will change the frequency.

I've been using some 12pf caps that came with the 32768 crystals I bought. And it keeps real good time.

DT