STM32F103C6T6 - 72MHz Cortex-M3 MCU 32KB Flash | ST
MPN: STM32F103C6T6 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.2 | $3.20 |
| 10 | $2.88 | $28.80 |
| 100 | $2.55 | $255.00 |
| 500 | $2.3 | $1,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.05 | $2,050.00 |
STM32F103C6T6 Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals on a single chip, sitting at the top of the embedded hierarchy: MCU -> embedded processor -> microprocessor -> semiconductor. The STM32F1 series, based on the ARM Cortex-M3 RISC core, is one of the most widely deployed 32-bit MCU families in industrial and consumer electronics, and the STM32F103C6T6 is its entry-level mainstream-line member.
Key features include the 72 MHz Cortex-M3 core, 32 KB (32K x 8) Flash, 10 KB SRAM, two 12-bit ADCs (up to 10 external channels), seven 16-bit timers including one 24-bit down-counter, USB 2.0 full-speed and CAN 2.0B interfaces, and multiple SPI, I2C, and USART serial ports. Supply voltage spans 2.0 V to 3.6 V with the core at 3.3 V nominal.
Architecturally, the Cortex-M3 uses a 3-stage pipeline with Harvard bus structure, Thumb-2 instruction set, and a nested vectored interrupt controller (NVIC) delivering low, deterministic interrupt latency. Peripherals connect through the APB1/APB2 bus matrix, and the flash accelerator keeps 72 MHz execution efficient from zero-wait-state-capable memory ranges.
Typical applications include motor control, industrial automation nodes, USB and CAN communication boards, consumer appliances, and low-cost development platforms such as the Blue Pill board ecosystem.
For design, plan flash headroom carefully: 32 KB fills quickly with USB stacks or RTOS code, so consider the pin-compatible STM32F103C8T6 (64 KB) if code size is uncertain.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives including GigaDevice GD32F103, and practical design notes not found in the ST datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for STM32F103C6T6 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with STM32F103C6T6 (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Flash Memory, Package, SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
STM32F103C8T6
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet βGD32F103C6T6
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
APM32F103C8T6
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
CH32F103C8T6
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
CKS32F103C8T6
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
GD32F103C8T6
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32F103C6T6 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Max Clock Frequency | 72 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB (32K x 8) |
| SRAM | 10 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit |
| Number of ADCs | 2 |
| Timers | Seven 16-bit timers plus one 24-bit down-counter |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device |
| CAN | CAN 2.0B |
| Package | 48-LQFP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Series | STM32F1 STM32F103 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
STM32F103C6T6 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VBAT β Battery backup supply for RTC and backup registers |
| Pin 2 | PC13-TAMPER β GPIO C13 / TAMPER pin |
| Pin 3 | PC14-OSC32_IN β GPIO C14 / 32 kHz oscillator input |
| Pin 4 | PC15-OSC32_OUT β GPIO C15 / 32 kHz oscillator output |
| Pin 5 | PD0-OSC_IN β GPIO D0 / main oscillator input |
| Pin 6 | PD1-OSC_OUT β GPIO D1 / main oscillator output |
| Pin 7 | NRST β System reset (active low) |
| Pin 8 | VSSA β Analog ground |
| Pin 9 | VDDA β Analog supply (2.0 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 10 | PA0-WKUP β GPIO A0 / ADC12_IN0 / wake-up |
| Pin 11 | PA1 β GPIO A1 / ADC12_IN1 |
| Pin 12 | PA2 β GPIO A2 / ADC12_IN2 / USART2_TX |
| Pin 13 | PA3 β GPIO A3 / ADC12_IN3 / USART2_RX |
| Pin 14 | PA4 β GPIO A4 / ADC12_IN4 / SPI1_NSS |
| Pin 15 | PA5 β GPIO A5 / ADC12_IN5 / SPI1_SCK |
| Pin 16 | PA6 β GPIO A6 / ADC12_IN6 / SPI1_MISO |
| Pin 17 | PA7 β GPIO A7 / ADC12_IN7 / SPI1_MOSI |
| Pin 18 | PB0 β GPIO B0 / ADC12_IN8 |
| Pin 19 | PB1 β GPIO B1 / ADC12_IN9 |
| Pin 20 | PB2-BOOT1 β GPIO B2 / boot 1 configuration |
| Pin 21 | PB10 β GPIO B10 / I2C2_SCL / USART3_TX |
| Pin 22 | PB11 β GPIO B11 / I2C2_SDA / USART3_RX |
| Pin 23 | VSS β Digital ground |
| Pin 24 | VDD β Digital supply (2.0 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 25 | PB12 β GPIO B12 / SPI2_NSS / I2C2_SMBA |
| Pin 26 | PB13 β GPIO B13 / SPI2_SCK |
| Pin 27 | PB14 β GPIO B14 / SPI2_MISO |
| Pin 28 | PB15 β GPIO B15 / SPI2_MOSI |
| Pin 29 | PA8 β GPIO A8 / USART1_CK / MCO |
| Pin 30 | PA9 β GPIO A9 / USART1_TX |
| Pin 31 | PA10 β GPIO A10 / USART1_RX |
| Pin 32 | PA11 β GPIO A11 / USB_DM / CAN_RX |
| Pin 33 | PA12 β GPIO A12 / USB_DP / CAN_TX |
| Pin 34 | PA13 β GPIO A13 / SWDIO (debug) |
| Pin 35 | VSS β Digital ground |
| Pin 36 | VDD β Digital supply (2.0 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 37 | PA14 β GPIO A14 / SWCLK (debug) |
| Pin 38 | PA15 β GPIO A15 / SPI1_NSS (JTDI) |
| Pin 39 | PB3 β GPIO B3 / SPI1_SCK (JTDO) |
| Pin 40 | PB4 β GPIO B4 / SPI1_MISO (NJTRST) |
| Pin 41 | PB5 β GPIO B5 / I2C1_SMBA / SPI2 related |
| Pin 42 | PB6 β GPIO B6 / I2C1_SCL / USART1_TX alt |
| Pin 43 | PB7 β GPIO B7 / I2C1_SDA / USART1_RX alt |
| Pin 44 | BOOT0 β Boot 0 configuration pin |
| Pin 45 | PB8 β GPIO B8 / I2C1_SCL alt / CAN_RX alt |
| Pin 46 | PB9 β GPIO B9 / I2C1_SDA alt / CAN_TX alt |
| Pin 47 | VSS β Digital ground |
| Pin 48 | VDD β Digital supply (2.0 V to 3.6 V) |
Typical Applications
STM32F103C6T6 is suitable for 6 applications: Motor Control, USB Communication Boards, CAN Bus Industrial Nodes, Low-Cost Development Platforms, Consumer Appliances and IoT Sensor Nodes, Industrial Automation and PLC I/O.
Motor Control
The STM32F103C6T6 fits motor control applications through its seven 16-bit timers, including advanced timers supporting complementary PWM outputs with dead-time insertion, plus two 12-bit ADCs that can sample current shunts synchronized to PWM events. Running at 72 MHz, the Cortex-M3 core executes field-oriented control (FOC) or sensorless trapezoidal algorithms within loop budgets of a few microseconds for small BLDC and stepper motors. The 10 KB SRAM constrains buffer depth, so current-loop histories and filter states should be kept compact; applications needing wider dynamic buffers should step to the pin-compatible STM32F103C8T6. Typical implementations pair the MCU with gate drivers and use the timer break input for hardware overcurrent protection.
Recommended
USB Communication Boards
With an integrated USB 2.0 full-speed device controller, the STM32F103C6T6 implements CDC virtual COM ports, HID devices, and custom vendor classes without an external USB interface chip. The 48 MHz USB clock is derived from the PLL, and the 32 KB Flash accommodates a compact CDC stack in a few kilobytes, leaving room for application logic. The main engineering constraint is the 10 KB SRAM shared with endpoint buffers; keep endpoint counts low (one IN, one OUT) and use 64-byte packets to fit the USB PMA allocation. The huge Blue Pill ecosystem means abundant reference firmware, bootloaders, and debugging knowledge, making this part a default choice for low-cost USB-enabled industrial adapters and test fixtures.
Recommended
CAN Bus Industrial Nodes
The bxCAN 2.0B controller makes the STM32F103C6T6 a natural fit for CANopen, DeviceNet-style, and J1939-adjacent industrial nodes. The CAN peripheral provides 14 scalable filter banks and three transmit mailboxes, and the 72 MHz core leaves adequate margin for protocol stacks such as CANopen or lightweight J1939 within 32 KB Flash when using minimal stacks. Combine with an external transceiver such as the TJA1050 or SN65HVD230 and note that the 2.0-3.6 V supply requires a 3.3 V-compatible transceiver. Two 12-bit ADCs let the same chip handle local analog sensing (temperature, current) while servicing the bus, consolidating node BOM cost in a single 48-pin LQFP device.
Recommended
Low-Cost Development Platforms
The STM32F103C6T6 anchors one of the largest hobbyist and education MCU ecosystems in the industry, including the Blue Pill-class boards and abundant ST-Link/J-Link SWD tooling support. Core clock of 72 MHz, 32 KB Flash, and standard peripherals (USART, SPI, I2C) match the needs of student projects and prototype firmware, while ARM Cortex-M3 keeps tooling standard: GCC-based arm-none-eabi, STM32CubeIDE, PlatformIO, and Arduino framework ports all target this silicon directly. For prototyping, designers should use the C8T6 variant for headroom and switch to the C6T6 for production cost-down once the linker map confirms firmware fits in 32 KB. SWD pins (PA13/PA14) should always be broken out on custom boards.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances and IoT Sensor Nodes
In appliances and battery-powered sensor nodes, the STM32F103C6T6 offers a 2.0-3.6 V supply range, low-power sleep and stop modes, and enough integration (ADC, timers, USART) to replace several discrete components on the board. Wake-up from stop mode via EXTI lines supports event-driven designs that spend most of the time asleep, and the 12-bit ADC handles NTC thermistors, potentiometers, and supply monitoring. The 32 KB Flash suits fixed-function firmware without OTA loaders; adding a bootloader plus OTA usually forces migration to the 64 KB C8T6. For RF nodes, the MCU pairs with sub-GHz or 2.4 GHz radio modules over SPI or UART, keeping the MCU as the deterministic control and sensor-fusion element.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and PLC I/O
For distributed I/O modules, relay controllers, and small PLC peripherals, the STM32F103C6T6 combines seven 16-bit timers, ten ADC channels across two 12-bit converters, and rich serial connectivity (3x USART, 2x SPI, 2x I2C) in a compact 48-pin package. The nested vectored interrupt controller provides deterministic response for safety-relevant inputs, while the timers generate PWM for heater, valve, or lamp control with hardware decoupling from software jitter. Industrial designs should use the -40 C to +85 C qualified variant, add supply supervision via the built-in PVD, and route the 5 V-tolerant FT pins to 24 V-buffered inputs via resistor dividers. Modbus RTU slave firmware fits easily within 32 KB Flash for RS-485 networked I/O.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for STM32F103C6T6 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | STM32F103C8T6 | GD32F103C6T6 | APM32F103C8T6 | CH32F103C8T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-LQFP | 48-LQFP - same | 48-LQFP - same | 48-LQFP - same | 48-LQFP - same |
| Brand | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | GigaDevice | Geehy | WCH (Nanjing Qinheng) |
| Core / Max Clock | Cortex-M3 / 72 MHz | Cortex-M3 / 72 MHz | Cortex-M3 / 108 MHz | Cortex-M3 / 72 MHz | Cortex-M3 / 72 MHz |
| Flash | 32 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 10 KB | 20 KB | 10 KB | 20 KB | 20 KB |
| USB / CAN | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V - 3.6 V | 2.0 V - 3.6 V | 2.6 V - 3.6 V | 2.0 V - 3.6 V | 2.7 V - 5.5 V |
| Migration Effort | Baseline | None - BOM swap only | Low - timing/USB re-validation | Low - re-validation advised | Medium - USB behavior differs |
Key Differentiators
- Authentic ST silicon with full ecosystem compatibility (vs GD32F103C6T6)
- Lowest-cost genuine ST entry point in the 48-pin F103 footprint (vs STM32F103C8T6)
- Integrated USB 2.0 full-speed and CAN 2.0B in the same package (vs APM32F103C8T6)
Design Notes
Decouple every VDD/VDDA pin with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 3 mm of the pin, plus a single 4.7 uF bulk capacitor. VDDA should be filtered separately (ferrite bead plus 1 uF plus 10 nF) because ADC accuracy degrades sharply with supply noise. With no external main crystal requirement, the internal 8 MHz HSI can clock simple designs, but USB and CAN applications require an external 8 MHz crystal because the HSI tolerance exceeds USB specification limits.
Break out PA13 (SWDIO) and PA14 (SWCLK) to a standard 4-pin SWD header plus NRST on every custom board - once the firmware disables JTAG/SWD remapping incorrectly or enters a bad clock configuration, only SWD recovery avoids destroying the board. Keep the 8 MHz crystal traces short and guarded by ground. BOOT0 must be tied to ground through a 10k resistor, never left floating, to guarantee flash boot at power-up.
The 32 KB Flash and 10 KB SRAM fill faster than expected: a USB CDC stack plus modest application logic typically consumes 12-18 KB, and FreeRTOS with two tasks consumes 5-7 KB of SRAM. Generate and review the linker map early. When migrating code to GD32F103 alternatives, note that delay loops calibrated on STM32 flash wait states run faster on GD32 zero-wait-state flash, breaking software timing - use timer-based delays instead.
Estimated: the STM32F103C6T6 in 48-LQFP dissipates well under 0.5 W at 72 MHz with typical I/O loading, so no heatsink or thermal via array is needed. Ensure ambient temperature stays within the qualified temperature grade for your suffix and avoid placing the part adjacent to hot power components such as linear regulators on the same board.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per ST product page and distributor listings. AEC-Q100 qualification not applicable to this standard-grade suffix; check ST automotive F103 variants if automotive qualification is required.
