Seeking Recommendations for Dual-Core STM32 Microcontrollers

[STbeginner]

Hello everyone,

I am currently working on a project that requires a dual-core microcontroller with the following specifications:

• Flash Memory: 256 KB to 1 MB
• RAM: 16 KB to 64 KB
• Architecture: 16-bit / 32-bit MCUs
• RTOS Support: Yes
• Clock Frequency: 48 MHz to 100 MHz
• Core: Dual core
• Over The Air programming: Yes

I would greatly appreciate your suggestions on the best STM32 models that meet these criteria. If you have experience with any specific models, please share your insights regarding their performance, ease of use, and any potential drawbacks.

[Ozone]

> I am currently working on a project that requires a dual-core microcontroller ...

Why is that ?

Dual core MCUs add significant complexity.

 

[STbeginner]

Hi,

 

Thanks for replying i need to run two simultaneous tasks at the same time without interruption.

[Andrew Neil]

---

@STbeginner wrote:

i need to run two simultaneous tasks at the same time without interruption.

---

Do you really?

(almost) all microcontroller systems are handling multiple "tasks", and manage to do it without requiring separate cores.

It seems highly unlikely that "an RFID reader controller, like an access control system" really needs dual cores.

Again, look at your system requirements before leaping into implementation details like this.

[Andrew Neil]

Overview of the STM32 Microcontroller range here:

https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32-32-bit-arm-cortex-mcus.html

You can see that STM32H7 is the dual-core family

https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32h7-series.html

 

See also:

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

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

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

 

---

@STbeginner wrote:

• Over The Air programming: Yes

---

So you want a radio?

Options there are:

But they may not fit your other criteria.

 

Perhaps explain your actual system requirements?

As @Ozone says, why specifically dual-core? What system requirement drives that?

[STbeginner]

Hi, 

 

Thanks for replying i don't need a radio it's more like an RFID reader controller, like an access control system.

[Andrew Neil]

---

@STbeginner wrote:

i don't need a radio .

---

You said you wanted Over-The-Air programming.

So that's not actually a real requirement?

[TDK]

Probably any STM32 MCU can meet your needs. RFID reader is not going to tax any onboard resources.

Narrow your search by choosing cost/size/performance. If these not restrictions, STM32H7 is going to be the most powerful. Single core will be much easier to work with. I am unconvinced that your project requires dual core. Obviously, it's up to you but expect the overhead and learning curve of a dual core to be significant.

[Andrew Neil]

---

@TDK wrote:

Probably any STM32 MCU can meet your needs. RFID reader is not going to tax any onboard resources.

:

I am unconvinced that your project requires dual core.

 Indeed.

@STbeginner  Previously, you said you'd selected STM32C051G8GU6 as the main controller of the RFID system:

https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-products/stm32c0-use-internal-oscillators/td-p/792414

That's just a Cortex-M0+ - very much at the lower end of the STM32 space.

So what makes you now think that you need to go dual-core?

 

---

@TDK wrote:

expect the overhead and learning curve of a dual core to be significant.

---

Absolutely - and @Ozone said it, too!

Especially as a beginner, and in the light of that previous question, are you sure you want to get into all that at this stage?

 

BTW: If that previous question is now resolved, please go and mark the solution in that thread.

[LCE]

One more vote for:

Do you really need 2 cores? ;)

Don't forget that an MCU isn't a "real-time" device anyway, unless it has some peripherals with such functionality.

What I mean is for example: you can toggle an IO controlled by interrupts and this will always have some latency, or you might find a peripheral which can do this by itself in real time with certain settings.

So I would restart and think about what is really needed, then check / ask for an MCU with these special (peripheral) abilities.

But maybe you are right and need 2 cores - or even an FPGA? :D

[Ozone]

> ... or you might find a peripheral which can do this by itself in real time with certain settings.

A FIFO or DMA (for SPI or UART) gives the core approximately 8 x <nr. of FIFO/DMA bytes> x bit-time of leverage, to do other jobs. And this is usually more than enough to handle several tasks / data streams quasi-simultaneously.