Highly anticipated low-end MCUs

[dannyf]

What are the low-end MCUs that you look forward to playing with?

For me, it is STM32F030F, a 20pin CM0 chip. For its form factor, performance, versatility and low price.

It is my replacement for the equally low-end 16F684.

[dannyf]

Not to mention it's isp-capable.

[Laurynas]

http://www.cypress.com/?rid=92146

MCU is available for some time and i already used about a dozen of them, but this prototyping kit is great when i want something simple like arduino, but with "proper" IDE and chip

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

Just designed a board using the STM32F030F, finished and ordered yesterday. But only RS components seem to have the chips in stock now. Hopefully they will make more soon.

By ISP you mean the SWD on the STM32s?

[dannyf]

MCU is available for some time

Wow! That's really interesting.

[miceuz]

http://www.cypress.com/?rid=92146

wow, this looks interesting, ordered

[nuhamind2]

By ISP you mean the SWD on the STM32s?

I think he means the uart bootloader

[Psi]

I have a STM32F030  discovery kit here somewhere but ive not played with it yet.

Definitely seems like a good replacement for the larger AVRs which can get up to $10 each

[miguelvp]

http://www.cypress.com/?rid=92146

Nice!! 24MHz or 48MHz with programmable logic blocks? decisions decisions decisions, might as well get both! or many of each, but more of the 4200s.

Nah I'll start with one of each for now, Thank you VERY much!

[andyturk]

... i want something simple like arduino, but with "proper" IDE and chip

A "proper" IDE would actually let you write C++ code. :-(

[miguelvp]

... i want something simple like arduino, but with "proper" IDE and chip

A "proper" IDE would actually let you write C++ code. :-(

Not with 32kB of Flash RAM, 4kB of SRAM and 4kB of ROM

[miguelvp]

More pricey PSOC 4200 at $25 but with Arduino header and capacitance slider, leds etc
http://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-53992

Edit:
Features
PSoC® 4200 SoC
- ARM Cortex™-M0
- 48MHz CPU
- Supports an extremely low-leakage hibernate mode consuming only 150nA, and also 20nA best-in-class stop mode
Arduino® Shields and Pmod™ Compatible interface
CapSense® Slider with SmartSense™ Auto Tuning
RGB LED
User button and more!

[true]

Waiting for general availability and general pricing for STM32F042...

Also using STM32F030F4P6, nice little chip.

[Laurynas]

That pioneer board also has a PSoC5 along with PSoC4 (M3 core, much more regular stuff and programmable digital blocks).
I got a couple of those boards, but I'm more excited about small, cheap, basic dev boards

[Seg]

... i want something simple like arduino, but with "proper" IDE and chip

A "proper" IDE would actually let you write C++ code. :-(

Not with 32kB of Flash RAM, 4kB of SRAM and 4kB of ROM

By "C++" do you mean "STL"? Because STL on a micro is insanity.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Most interesting thing for me at the moment, more mid than low end,  is PIC32MZ - 512K RAM, hi-speed USB, QSPI and external memory interface, in packages down to a 64QFP.
 

[hans]

I've been looking at a PIC16F1455, as a $1 chip capable of USB without a crystal, in a 14-pin package.

But seeing all those interesting STM32F0 chips makes me think whether it's not more productive to change to ARM all together

The PIC32MZ is an interesting.. should be capable of running Linux.
Also, finally, they have got a chip with proper external memory integration. However, with 512kB integrated RAM I don't see when you will need that anytime soon
Not too impressed with PPS on PIC32 though. I tried to design in a PIC32MX470 on a project last month, but it felt more like a clutter than a feature. SPI SCK was not on PPS matrix, not every pin supports SPI SDO/SDI at the same time. Maybe I'm spoiled with the PIC24 PPS where it is like "oh I need timer/UART/SPI, I just throw it on any RPx pin and sort it out when I write firmware"

[dannyf]

I've been looking at a PIC16F1455, as a $1 chip capable of USB without a crystal, in a 14-pin package.

Yeah. Both 1455 and 1454 are quite interesting and competitive, particularly vs. older / other PIC16F chips.

PIC24 PPS

That remappable pin assignment implementation is absolutely the best, in my view - actually the whole pic24 family is very well done. No one has come close to Microchip in terms of PPS.

[dannyf]

A "proper" IDE would actually let you write C++ code. :-(

A "proper" IDE would actually let you get your job done. Period.

In this particular case, it actually allows you to write whatever code you wish to write, as long as you are able to set up your tool chain.

So if you cannot write C++ code on it, you have to blame yourself for that.

[gmb42]

http://www.cypress.com/?rid=92146

Does anyone know where I can get these in (or shipped at non-exorbitant cost to) the UK, Farnell don't have stock, Mouser have a 15 week lead time?  I can't see any shipping costs on the Cypress site.

[dannyf]

You will, once you go through the checkout process.

[Laurynas]

cypress online shop is best for chips, as they ship them for free and they keep lower costs than most distributors (i ordered 20 of these 4200 chips for 1$ each a couple of days ago).
for these prototype kits they have 15$ shipping so it's quite high for one device but not that exorbital when you're getting 5+.
for all other kits(like pioneer) they charge 25$ so it's usually more economical to get them from farnell or other distributors.

[poorchava]

I like PIC10F200: best replacement for 555 timer on dense boards.

[dannyf]

For that, I use 12F675 - you gain two extra pins.

[miguelvp]

cypress online shop is best for chips, as they ship them for free and they keep lower costs than most distributors (i ordered 20 of these 4200 chips for 1$ each a couple of days ago).
for these prototype kits they have 15$ shipping so it's quite high for one device but not that exorbital when you're getting 5+.
for all other kits(like pioneer) they charge 25$ so it's usually more economical to get them from farnell or other distributors.

I ordered one of each last night and shipping to Chicago was $7.50 not terrible at all. Only thing is that you have to register and provide a web page address.