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parth4
Associate II
April 15, 2025
Solved

Looking for MCU

  • April 15, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 499 views

Hello community,

We are designing a low-cost pump controller and are looking for an MCU with the following specifications:

MCU Requirements

  • Flash: 512 KB

  • RAM: 128 KB

  • GPIOs: 64 to 84

  • Integrated RTC

  • RTC cell support

  • No wireless connectivity needed

  • Lowest possible cost

If you have suggestions for a suitable MCU (from ST, TI, or others) that meets these requirements at a low price point, please share your recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

Best answer by mƎALLEm

Hello,

Please use the ST MCU Finder tool and apply your specific filters it gives also the raw price (of 10kU)):

mALLEm_1-1744709441210.png

I did the exercice and found the following list:

mALLEm_0-1744710112760.png

STM32F401VET is a good candidate for what you are looking for including the price. 

 

4 replies

RobK1
RobK1
Associate II
April 15, 2025

I have no idea why a pump controller would need so much memory and I/O, but my to-go solution is this:

Microcontrollers | Embedded | Electronic Components Distributor DigiKey

    mƎALLEm
    mƎALLEmAnswer
    Technical Moderator
    April 15, 2025

    Hello,

    Please use the ST MCU Finder tool and apply your specific filters it gives also the raw price (of 10kU)):

    mALLEm_1-1744709441210.png

    I did the exercice and found the following list:

    mALLEm_0-1744710112760.png

    STM32F401VET is a good candidate for what you are looking for including the price. 

     

    To give better visibility on the answered topics, please click "Best answer" on the reply which solved your issue or answered your question.
      Andrew Neil
      Andrew Neil
      Super User
      April 15, 2025

      As well as the ST MCU Finder tool  for PC (already mentioned by @mƎALLEm), there's also a version for mobile devices:

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

      See also: https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/stm32-mcu-product-selector.html

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

       

      As @RobK1 suggested, Distributors often have good parametric search facilities ...

       

      PS:

       

      @parth4 wrote:
      • RTC cell support

      Do you mean backup battery support?

       

      @parth4 wrote:

      suggestions for a suitable MCU (from ST, TI, or others) !

      Clearly, you'll not get competitors products recommended on ST's forums!

      This is where the Distributor's parametric search facilities come in ...

      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.
      Ozone
      Ozone
      Principal
      April 15, 2025

      > We are designing a low-cost pump controller and are looking for an MCU with the following specifications:

         MCU Requirements ...

      These are foregone conclusions I don't subscibe to.
      How did you arrive at that number of GPIOs - without specifying it further - and memory sizes ?
      And what does a cheap pump need the current date and time for ?

      Rather post some higher-level requirements like the pump interface, it's electrical characteristics, intended user interface (buttons, switches, display elements), additional interfaces, power requirements, and environmental and size requirements.
      And perhaps some additional constraints (field update capability, extendability, planned service life).

       

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