MSP432 vs. Atmel SAM D – Which Low-power Microcontroller is Better
If you are in the market for a low-power microcontroller, two popular choices are the MSP432 from Texas Instruments and the Atmel SAM D series. While both are excellent options, you might be wondering which one is better. In this Flare Compare blog post, we will provide you with an unbiased comparison of MSP432 and Atmel SAM D, complete with facts, figures, and a dose of humor.
Power Consumption
When it comes to low-power operation, both microcontrollers perform well. The MSP432 has a power-down mode that consumes just 900 nA with RTC running off a 3 V supply, while the Atmel SAM D has a range of sleep modes that draw as little as 150 nA. So, it's clear that the Atmel SAM D wins in terms of power consumption.
Processing Power
The MSP432 is based on a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F core, which can run at speeds up to 48 MHz. The Atmel SAM D series, on the other hand, are based on a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ core with speeds up to 48 MHz. While the MSP432 has a more powerful processor, both microcontrollers are quite capable, and which one is better depends on your specific application.
Memory
The MSP432 has up to 256 KB of flash memory and 64 KB of RAM, whereas the Atmel SAM D has up to 256 KB of flash memory and up to 32 KB of SRAM. Once again, the MSP432 offers more memory than the Atmel SAM D. However, if your project requires less memory, then the Atmel SAM D might be a better choice to save on costs.
Peripherals
Both microcontrollers have similar peripherals, including GPIO, SPI, I2C, and UART. The MSP432 offers a few more features such as DMA, a 12-bit ADC, and an 8-bit DAC. The Atmel SAM D, on the other hand, offers a programmable logic controller and a dedicated USB controller with crystal-less USB full speed.
Development Environment
Texas Instruments provides the Code Composer Studio, which is a powerful and easy-to-use development environment for the MSP432. Atmel offers a similar development environment called Atmel Studio for the SAM D series. If you're familiar with one development environment, you should have no problem adapting to the other.
Price
The MSP432 is priced at around $6 for the 48-pin LQFP package, while the Atmel SAM D will cost you around $4 for a 64-pin TQFP package. Overall, the differences in the price are rather small, and the choice of microcontroller will likely depend on your project's requirements rather than the price.
Conclusion
In summary, both the MSP432 and the Atmel SAM D are great low-power microcontrollers with similar features. The MSP432 is more powerful and offers more memory, while the Atmel SAM D is more power-efficient and cheaper. The choice of microcontroller depends on the requirements of your specific application.
We hope this comparison has been helpful in your decision-making process. Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or comments!