EEVblog® Electronics Community Forum
Electronics => Microcontrollers => Topic started by: sparkydonkey on June 19, 2026, 10:53:40 am
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I correctly assume that its always a symmetric ratio so if your MCU had two VDD pins then theres supposed to be two VSS pins equally as well, right?
and likewise to that I assume that even if the first VDD pin was for 2.5V but the second one was for 3.3V, the two VSS nevertheless don't care which is which?
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Especially with MCUs now often having separate Vcore and Vio supply pins but modest power consumption and low pin count packages, there may be a single ground pin but multiple supply pins.
Generally all grounds will be connected to the substrate and should be at the same potential.
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aeg beat me to the punch, but I present valid examples. 8)
I don't think your first assumption is true. For instance the Allwinner F1C100s has multiple VCC and VDD pins, but only a single ground pad. Same for the T113-S3 and T113-S4. I'm sure there will be plenty more examples of MCU's having a different number off supply pins versus ground pins.
The second assumption is valid though. Ground (VSS) is the 0V potential and carries all the current from the supply voltages back to the supply.
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Most often, yes, paired conclusions are made side by side, most likely for the convenience of wiring the installation of filter capacitors.
For large chips with a large number of pins (BGA for example) It's different there.
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Many Microchip 28 pin PIC16 and PIC18 parts have two Vss pins and only one Vdd pin.
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Some Silabs micros are exclusively available in QFN and only have VDD pins (except for VSS on built-in DC/DC). They use the QFN exposed pad as ground. E.g. EFR32MG22 series.
Similar thing with RP2350B.
For those parts, I try to optimize the capacitor loop between EP and any VDD pin. But with QFN routing is not always that easy. Can't always snake a whole lot of stuff under the QFN package.
On the other hand, having a loop go through one via and a few mm of trace isn't the end of the world.
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I correctly assume that its always a symmetric ratio so if your MCU had two VDD pins then theres supposed to be two VSS pins equally as well, right?
Well, not always, as aeg said, especially in lower pin count packages. But depends on what you call "VDD", as MCU frequently have different supply voltages with different roles.
For current distribution reasons, an equal number of supply pins and ground pins would make sense for supplies that provide significant current, otherwise it's not strictly necessary.
Also keep in mind that the same die is often packaged in different packages and supply/ground pins are often internally bonded together in low pin count packages.
And, of course, for packages (QFN) with an exposed pad connected to GND, you already have a large ground connection externally, but it's often internally connected to many pads.