When it comes to choosing a microcontroller for your project, you want it to have power efficiency, reliability, and great performance. Two microcontrollers that you may have heard of are STM32G0 and STM32L5. In this blog post, we'll be comparing these two low-power microcontrollers, exploring their features, and finding out which one is perfect for your project.
STM32G0 - The Affordable Choice
The STM32G0 microcontroller is perfect for those on a budget. It features a 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ operating at 1.8V with a supply current of only 125uA/MHz. It also includes 36 KB of RAM, and 256 KB of flash memory. STM32G0 boasts of its analog peripherals including a 12-bit ADC, zero-cross comparison unit, and an OP-AMP ideal for temperature measurement.
But hold on, there’s more! STM32G0 has an innovative feature called the “power ladder” that allows the voltage of the flash memory to scale from Vcore to Vcap resulting to lower power consumption.
- Cortex-M0+ running at 48 MHz - for fast processing on low power
- Low power consumption - only 125uA/MHz
- Analog peripherals - 12-bit ADC, zero-cross comparison unit, OP-AMP for temperature measurement
- Power ladder feature - a programmable voltage ladder that assigns the voltage level to each of the flash memory levels resulting in a lower power consumption
We would recommend STM32G0 for those searching for cost-effective and low-power performance with analog devices.
STM32L5 - The Power Packed Controller
STM32L5 is one of the best controllers on the market when it comes to power efficiency and security. It features the Arm Cortex-M33 running at 110 MHz, with a voltage supply down to 1.62 V, and an operating current of as low as 33 µA/MHz. The controller also provides double data rate memory, which dramatically improves the data transfer rate to 80 Mbps.
STM32L5 has hardware-based security features like a true random number generator, AES-256 hardware accelerator, and a physical unclonable function. This allows the microcontroller to protect itself from reverse engineering, hacking, and other security vulnerabilities.
- Cortex-M33 running at 110 MHz - a fast processing speed
- Low operating current - as low as 33µA/MHz
- Double Data Rate memory - an efficient 80 Mbps data transfer rate
- Hardware-based security - true random number generator, AES-256 hardware accelerator, and Physical Unclonable Function.
We recommend STM32L5 for high-end IoT projects or devices that require high power efficiency with hardware-based security features.
STM32G0 vs. STM32L5: Which One To Use?
Now that we've looked at the STM32G0 and STM32L5, let's compare their features side-by-side:
| Feature | STM32G0 | STM32L5 |
|---|---|---|
| Processing Speed | 48 MHz | 110 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.62 V |
| Operating Current | 125 µA/MHz | 33 µA/MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 1 MB |
| RAM | 36 KB | 320 KB |
| Analog Peripherals | 12-bit ADC, zero-cross comparison unit, and OP-AMP | None |
| Data Transfer | Up to 12.5 Mbps | Up to 80 Mbps |
| Hardware-based Security | None | True Random Number Generator, AES-256 Hardware Accelerator, and Physical Unclonable Function |
If your project needs an affordable and low-power performance with analog peripherals, then the STM32G0 is the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you need higher power efficiency with hardware-based security features, then the STM32L5 is the way to go.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your project demands and budget. At Flare Compare, we encourage our readers to do thorough research before making a final decision.
So, which low-power microcontroller will you pick for your project? Let us know in the comments.
References
- “Datasheets” STMicroelectronics, Accessed on October 7, 2021, https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32g0-series.html
- “STMicroelectronics - STM32L5 Series” STMicroelectronics, Accessed on October 7, 2021, https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32l5-series.html#overview