2025-07-09 7:06 PM
Hi,
Since there's a huge market for microcontrollers on boards such as the Arduino, like the ATMega and ATTiny, which are available in 20- or 40-pin DIPs, I was wondering if ST competes (could be with the 32bit or 8bit line) with those somehow. If so, what are the options of microcontrollers that compare with them?
I'm asking because sometimes using an STM32 is overkill for certain projects, while some STM8 options are too restrictive. Having the flexibility for adding those TH components makes everything much easier when designing boards that do not necessarily need the complexity of manufacturing in SMD.
Best,
Alessandro
2025-07-09 8:15 PM
On STM32, no DIP packages.
You can buy a nucleo-32 board and use that in a similar manner as a DIP package. With bigger nucleo boards you can plug in daughter cards.
2025-07-09 9:47 PM - edited 2025-07-09 10:09 PM
You may look into
STM32C0116-DK - Discovery kit with STM32C011F6 MCU - STMicroelectronics
STM32G0316-DISCO - Discovery kit with STM32G031J6 MCU - STMicroelectronics
with detachable MCUs on DIP like mini PCBs and
STM32C0316-DK - Discovery kit with STM32C031C6 MCU - STMicroelectronics
which has a DIP-40 style connector fitting Arduino.
hth
KnarfB
2025-07-09 10:44 PM
As already mentioned, the C0 series is targeted at the lower end of the MCU market, intended to replace 8-bit MCUs.
> Since there's a huge market for microcontrollers on boards such as the Arduino, like the ATMega and ATTiny, which are available in 20- or 40-pin DIPs ...
Although the target is not really Arduino (the hobbyist market), but commercial mass products.
Those begin at about >10k p.a. produced, and BOM costs are one of the most critical factors.
> I'm asking because sometimes using an STM32 is overkill for certain projects, ...
Having been in this business for a while, performance is less of a criterion, as long as it suffices.
Unit price, size (package, pin count) and required peripherals are more important.
Architecture plays an implicit role, as it affects code density and thus Flash size requirements.
As you might know, internal Flash is one of the dominant cost drivers for MCUs.