MCU recommendation for SDRAM + Zio header

dish12 · ‎2025-10-07

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a development board that has ZIO headers and on-board SDRAM as well? I can't seem to find any.

I have some other requirements as well:

-> Needs to have a system clock > 180Mhz

-> Advanced DMA Features

-> Needs to have on chip ADC and DAC

-> Nice to have ethernet support.

Thanks in advance,

Disha

Andrew Neil · ‎2025-10-07

https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/st-mcu-finder-pc.html

https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32-finder.html

https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/stm32-mcu-developer-zone/mcu-portfolio.html

Distributors often also have parametric search facilities...

@dish12 wrote:
an MCU that has ZIO headers

You mean the double-row Arduino headers? Like this:

That's a feature of the board - not the MCU.

They are found only (I think) on the Nucleo-144 boards.

@dish12 wrote:
and on-board SDRAM as well?

Again, that would be a feature of the board - rather than the MCU.

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.

mƎALLEm · ‎2025-10-07

Hello,

That depends also on the application needs and the performance

SDRAM is available only on some Eval boards and some DISCO boards.

No exactly a ZIO connector but I can suggest STM32F429-DISCO board that has an onboard SDRAM + male connectors. almost all pins are exported externally.

Top:

Bottom:

STM32F429 MCU datasheet

I don't think there is a daughter board in the market for an eventual SDRAM extension that can fit in the NUCLEO-144 ZIO connector.

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Andrew Neil · ‎2025-10-07

@mƎALLEm wrote:
STM32F429-DISCO board that has ... male ZIO connectors.

Does it?

I thought Zio meant the double-row headers on the Arduino layout ?

That disco just has standard 0.1" two-row headers ?

PS:

https://www.st.com/resource/en/user_manual/um1974-stm32-nucleo144-boards-mb1137-stmicroelectronics.pdf#page=37

There is no mention of "Zio" in the STM32F429-DISCO manual:

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.

mƎALLEm · ‎2025-10-07

That depends on what the OP means by "ZIO". I think he needs that most of IOs are available on the board.

For the ZIO mentioned in the user manual, I don't think there is a board fitting: Arduino ZIO + SDRAM.

And I think STM32F429-DISCO fits most of the OP requirements.

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Andrew Neil · ‎2025-10-07

@mƎALLEm wrote:
That depends on what the OP means by "ZIO".

Indeed, the OP may be misusing it.

But what ST means by it is the doubled-up Arduino pattern - yes?

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.

mƎALLEm · ‎2025-10-07

I don't have the info :)

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