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A
anardinelli
Graduate
July 10, 2025
Solved

Any STM32 or STM8 in DIP that compares with ATMega or ATTiny?

  • July 10, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 708 views

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

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Best answer by Ozone

    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.

    3 replies

    T
    TDK
    Super User
    July 10, 2025

    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.

      K
      KnarfB
      Super User
      July 10, 2025

      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

        O
        OzoneAnswer
        Explorer
        July 10, 2025

        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.

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