-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RjdQc1mDOXWZc51dKmlFUJKb82JG4utIdqvStGXy7FNd+2G7ffoZN+SOkUtxu52S
 dtw2MMiHHVhElWwPKHaanQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001280452-09-000103.txt : 20090826
<SEC-HEADER>0001280452-09-000103.hdr.sgml : 20090826
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090826121648
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001280452-09-000103
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090825
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090826
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090826

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHANG KUO WEI HERBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192171

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-51026
		FILM NUMBER:		091035679

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MARVELL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
		STREET 2:		5488 MARVELL LANE
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001280452
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				770466789
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6409 GUADALUPE MINES ROAD
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95120
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(408) 826-0600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6409 GUADALUPE MINES ROAD
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95120
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001280452</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MPWR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192171</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHANG KUO WEI HERBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6409 GUADALUPE MINES ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95120</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16172</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.1465</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>226532</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By VCFA GP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51388</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Investar Capital</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price is the weighted average sale price for the transactions reported on this line.  The prices for the transactions reported on this line range from $23.05 to $23.30.  The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting person is a General Partner of the VCFA Growth Partners, L.P., a Cayman Island Limited Partnership.  Mr. Chang retains beneficial ownership of these shares, but disclaims the economic benefit except to his pecuniary interests, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting person is the partner of InveStar Capital, Inc.  Mr. Chang retains beneficial ownership of these shares, but disclaims the economic benefit except to his pecuniary interests, if any.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Adriana Chiocchi  For: Herbert Chang</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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