STM32F303RET6 - 512KB Flash 72MHz Cortex-M4F MCU | STMicroelectronics
MPN: STM32F303RET6 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.05 | $6.05 |
| 10 | $5.45 | $54.50 |
| 100 | $4.86 | $486.00 |
| 500 | $4.37 | $2,185.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.92 | $3,920.00 |
STM32F303RET6 Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a compact integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory, RAM, and programmable peripherals on a single chip to govern a specific operation in an embedded system. Within the semiconductor taxonomy, the MCU sits under embedded processors, which belong to the broader class of integrated circuits and semiconductors. The STM32F303RET6 belongs to the STM32F3 series, a family specifically optimized for mixed-signal real-time control where analog and digital peripherals must work closely together.
Key differentiating features include two fast 12-bit ADCs capable of up to 5 MSPS, three 12-bit DAC channels, seven fast comparators, and an advanced motor-control PWM timer. Communication coverage is broad: CAN 2.0B, USB 2.0 full-speed device, multiple USARTs, SPI, and I2C buses. Two 32-bit timers plus an MPU, DMA controller, and nested vectored interrupt controller (NVIC) round out the real-time capability.
Technically, the Cortex-M4F core adds single-precision floating-point hardware and DSP instructions, so control loops and FFT-based analysis execute efficiently without external math coprocessors. The mixed-signal integration significantly reduces external component count and total system cost in digital-power and motor-drive designs. The RET6 suffix denotes 512 KB flash and an industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade in the LQFP-64 package.
Typical applications include field-oriented control (FOC) of BLDC and PMSM motors, industrial automation such as PLCs and sensor front ends, digital power conversion (totem-pole PFC, LLC controllers), and medical devices like patient monitors and infusion pumps, where the 5 MSPS ADCs and fast comparators directly support current sensing and protection functions.
Design consideration: decouple every VDD pin and the VDDA pin with 100 nF ceramics plus bulk 4.7 uF capacitance placed as close to the pins as possible, and feed VDDA from a filtered analog supply to realize the specified ADC performance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers procurement and engineering data in one place.
Drop-in alternatives for STM32F303RET6 — 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 STM32F303RET6 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Communication Interfaces, SRAM, Timers, Flash Memory.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
STM32F303VET6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →STM32F303ZET6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →STM32F302RCT6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →STM32F411RET6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →STM32L433RCT6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →GD32F303RET6
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
GD32F103RET6
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32F303RET6 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU and DSP |
| Core Frequency | 72 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 512 KB |
| SRAM | 80 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 2x 12-bit, up to 5 MSPS |
| DAC | 3x 12-bit channels |
| Comparators | 7 fast comparators |
| Timers | Advanced motor-control PWM, 2x 32-bit timers |
| Communication Interfaces | CAN 2.0B, USB 2.0 FS, USART, SPI, I2C |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Package | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Data Bus Width | 32 bit |
| Memory Protection Unit | Yes (MPU) |
| DMA Controller | Yes |
| Series | STM32F3 |
STM32F303RET6 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VBAT — Battery backup supply for RTC and backup registers |
| Pin 2 | PC13 — GPIO port C, with tamper/RTC AF |
| Pin 3 | PC14-OSC32_IN — GPIO / 32.768 kHz oscillator input |
| Pin 4 | PC15-OSC32_OUT — GPIO / 32.768 kHz oscillator output |
| Pin 5 | PH0-OSC_IN — GPIO / high-speed external oscillator input |
| Pin 6 | PH1-OSC_OUT — GPIO / high-speed external oscillator output |
| Pin 7 | NRST — System reset (active low) |
| Pin 8 | PC0 — GPIO port C |
| Pin 9 | PC1 — GPIO port C |
| Pin 10 | PC2 — GPIO port C |
| Pin 11 | PC3 — GPIO port C |
| Pin 12 | VSSA — Analog ground |
| Pin 13 | VDDA — Analog power supply for ADC/DAC/comparators |
| Pin 14 | PA0 — GPIO / ADC1_IN1 / comparator inputs / WKUP |
| Pin 15 | PA1 — GPIO / ADC1_IN2 |
| Pin 16 | PA2 — GPIO / ADC1_IN3 / USART2_TX |
| Pin 17 | PA3 — GPIO / ADC1_IN4 / USART2_RX |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Digital power supply |
| Pin 20 | PA4 — GPIO / ADC2_IN1 / DAC1_OUT1 / SPI1_NSS |
| Pin 21 | PA5 — GPIO / ADC2_IN2 / DAC1_OUT2 / SPI1_SCK |
| Pin 22 | PA6 — GPIO / ADC2_IN3 / SPI1_MISO |
| Pin 23 | PA7 — GPIO / ADC2_IN4 / SPI1_MOSI |
| Pin 24 | PC4 — GPIO / ADC2_IN13 |
| Pin 25 | PC5 — GPIO / ADC2_IN15 |
| Pin 26 | PB0 — GPIO / ADC3_IN12 / comparator output |
| Pin 27 | PB1 — GPIO / ADC3_IN1 |
| Pin 28 | PB2 — GPIO / BOOT1 |
| Pin 29 | PB10 — GPIO / I2C2_SCL / USART3_TX |
| Pin 30 | PB11 — GPIO / I2C2_SDA / USART3_RX |
| Pin 31 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Digital power supply |
| Pin 33 | PB12 — GPIO / SPI2_NSS / TIM1_BKIN |
| Pin 34 | PB13 — GPIO / SPI2_SCK / TIM1_CH1N |
| Pin 35 | PB14 — GPIO / SPI2_MISO / TIM1_CH2N |
| Pin 36 | PB15 — GPIO / SPI2_MOSI / TIM1_CH3N |
| Pin 37 | PC6 — GPIO / TIM8_CH1 / USART6_TX |
| Pin 38 | PC7 — GPIO / TIM8_CH2 / USART6_RX |
| Pin 39 | PC8 — GPIO / TIM8_CH3 |
| Pin 40 | PC9 — GPIO / TIM8_CH4 / I2C3_SDA |
| Pin 41 | PA8 — GPIO / TIM1_CH1 / I2C3_SCL / MCO1 |
| Pin 42 | PA9 — GPIO / TIM1_CH2 / USART1_TX |
| Pin 43 | PA10 — GPIO / TIM1_CH3 / USART1_RX |
| Pin 44 | PA11 — GPIO / TIM1_CH4 / CAN_RX / USB_DM |
| Pin 45 | PA12 — GPIO / CAN_TX / USB_DP |
| Pin 46 | PA13 — GPIO / SWDIO (debug) |
| Pin 47 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 48 | VDD — Digital power supply |
| Pin 49 | PA14 — GPIO / SWCLK (debug) |
| Pin 50 | PA15 — GPIO / SPI1_NSS / TIM2_CH1 |
| Pin 51 | PC10 — GPIO / UART4_TX / SPI3_SCK |
| Pin 52 | PC11 — GPIO / UART4_RX / SPI3_MISO |
| Pin 53 | PC12 — GPIO / UART5_TX / SPI3_MOSI |
| Pin 54 | PD2 — GPIO / UART5_RX / TIM3_ETR |
| Pin 55 | PB3 — GPIO / SPI1_SCK / TIM2_CH2 / SWO |
| Pin 56 | PB4 — GPIO / SPI1_MISO / TIM3_CH1 |
| Pin 57 | PB5 — GPIO / SPI1_MOSI / TIM3_CH2 / CAN2 |
| Pin 58 | PB6 — GPIO / I2C1_SCL / TIM4_CH1 / USART1_TX |
| Pin 59 | PB7 — GPIO / I2C1_SDA / TIM4_CH2 / USART1_RX |
| Pin 60 | BOOT0 — Boot mode selection (tie via resistor) |
| Pin 61 | PB8 — GPIO / I2C1_SCL / CAN_RX / TIM4_CH3 |
| Pin 62 | PB9 — GPIO / I2C1_SDA / CAN_TX / TIM4_CH4 |
| Pin 63 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 64 | VDD — Digital power supply |
Typical Applications
STM32F303RET6 is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC/PMSM Motor Control (FOC), Digital Power Conversion (PFC/LLC), Industrial Automation and PLC I/O, Medical Devices and Patient Monitoring, Consumer Power Tools and Drones, Prototyping with Nucleo-64 Development Boards.
BLDC/PMSM Motor Control (FOC)
The STM32F303RET6 fits motor control because its advanced PWM timer generates complementary outputs with hardware dead-time insertion while the two 12-bit ADCs sample phase currents at up to 5 MSPS, enabling per-PWM-cycle current sensing required by field-oriented control. The seven fast comparators provide cycle-by-cycle overcurrent protection without CPU intervention, and the Cortex-M4F FPU executes the Clarke/Park transforms and PI loops in single precision at 72 MHz. Placed as the main controller between gate drivers and current-shunt conditioning amplifiers, it eliminates the need for a separate DSP. The trade-off is that ADC sampling must be tightly synchronized to the PWM timer trigger to avoid switching-noise corruption of shunt measurements.
Recommended
Digital Power Conversion (PFC/LLC)
In digital power supplies, the STM32F303RET6 serves as the digital controller for totem-pole PFC, buck, and LLC stages. Its 5 MSPS ADCs capture input voltage, output voltage, and inductor current within a single switching period at 100 kHz-plus switching frequencies, and the fast comparators implement hardware cycle-by-cycle overcurrent limiting with nanosecond-class latency. The Cortex-M4F FPU computes control-law arithmetic and the advanced timers supply the complementary PWM with programmable dead time. Typically the MCU reads the voltage loop error each period and updates the compare registers, achieving tight regulation. A design consideration is that the analog front-end must be filtered and layout kept short, because switching transients couple directly into high-impedance ADC inputs.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and PLC I/O
The STM32F303RET6 suits industrial automation nodes because its CAN 2.0B interface connects directly to fieldbus backbones while multiple USART, SPI, and I2C ports handle sensor and actuator sub-buses. The dual 12-bit ADCs digitize analog sensor channels at up to 5 MSPS and the comparators provide threshold alarms in hardware, offloading the 72 MHz Cortex-M4F core for protocol stacks and control logic. Its -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade and 2.0V to 3.6V operation tolerate noisy factory-floor supplies. In a typical PLC I/O module, the MCU scans inputs, executes the user logic slice, and updates outputs on a fixed cycle. Ensure robust ESD and surge protection on CAN and field-wired lines, since the pins themselves are not industrial-rated.
Recommended
Medical Devices and Patient Monitoring
For medical electronics such as patient monitors and infusion pumps, the STM32F303RET6 offers the analog precision and processing headroom needed for biosignal acquisition. The 12-bit ADCs with hardware oversampling resolve small physiological signals, the DACs drive stimulus or calibration outputs, and the Cortex-M4F runs DSP filtering (IIR/FIR, FFT) efficiently on-device. USB 2.0 full-speed provides a data link to host equipment, and the MPU supports memory partitioning helpful for software safety architecture. Integrated on a single PCB with analog front-end ICs such as instrumentation amplifiers, it consolidates acquisition and control. Designs must observe creepage/clearance for patient-applied parts and follow IEC 60601 isolation practices outside the MCU itself, as the device provides no intrinsic isolation.
Recommended
Consumer Power Tools and Drones
Cordless power tools and hobby/prosumer drones use the STM32F303RET6 as a compact brushless motor controller: the FOC-ready PWM timers, 5 MSPS current-sense ADCs, and hardware comparators deliver responsive torque control and rapid fault cutoff, all within one 64-pin LQFP that keeps controller PCB area small for tight tool grips and drone ESC stacks. The Cortex-M4F FPU handles speed-dependent field weakening and startup algorithms, while the 512 KB flash accommodates field-oriented control plus telemetry and bootloader code. In flight controllers the same part can host sensor fusion over SPI-connected IMUs on separate interrupt-driven loops. Thermal design matters: board copper under the chip should conduct heat from sustained motor-current sampling and computation workloads, and RC snubbers reduce PWM edge ringing at ADC inputs.
Recommended
Prototyping with Nucleo-64 Development Boards
The STM32F303RET6 is the MCU fitted on the STMicroelectronics Nucleo-64 development board, making it one of the easiest F3 devices to prototype. The Nucleo provides an integrated ST-LINK debugger/programmer, Arduino Uno R3 and Morpho expansion headers exposing the LQFP-64 GPIO, and mbed-enabled online tooling. Engineers validate the 72 MHz Cortex-M4F peripherals - ADCs, DACs, comparators, CAN, and USB - using STM32CubeMX-generated HAL code, then migrate directly to the production STM32F303RET6 because the Nucleo target MCU is the same silicon and pin budget. A practical consideration is that Nucleo onboard peripherals (user button, LED) consume PA0 and PA5, so replicate those nets in final hardware to keep test code portable.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for STM32F303RET6 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | STM32F303VET6 | STM32F303ZET6 | STM32F302RCT6 | STM32F411RET6 | GD32F303RET6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | LQFP-64 (10x10 mm) | LQFP-64 - same | LQFP-64 - same | LQFP-64 - same | LQFP-64 - same | LQFP-64 - same |
| Brand | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | GigaDevice | GigaDevice |
| Core / Max Frequency | Cortex-M4F, 72 MHz | Cortex-M4F, 72 MHz | Cortex-M4F, 72 MHz | Cortex-M4F, 100 MHz | Cortex-M3, 108 MHz | |
| Flash | 512 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB | 512 KB | |
| ADC / DAC | 2x 12-bit 5 MSPS ADC, 3x 12-bit DAC | 4x 12-bit 5 MSPS ADC, 2x DAC | 1x 12-bit 5 MSPS ADC, 2x DAC | No ADC/DAC | 2x 12-bit ADC, DAC channels | |
| USB / CAN | USB 2.0 FS device + CAN 2.0B | USB FS + CAN - same | USB FS (OTG), no CAN | USB FS device + CAN (bxCAN-class) | ||
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | ||
| Price (qty 1) | $6.05 as of 2026-09-06 | $6.05 | $5.10 | $2.10 | $1.50 |
Key Differentiators
- Rich mixed-signal analog set for its class (vs STM32F411RET6)
- FPU and DSP at mainstream price (vs GD32F103RET6)
- Cost advantage over same-peripheral ST parts (vs STM32G474VET6)
Design Notes
Provide a clean, filtered VDDA supply separate from digital VDD: use an LC or ferrite-bead filter from the 3.3V rail and decouple VDDA with 100 nF plus 1 uF. Decouple each of the five VDD pins with 100 nF ceramics plus one bulk 4.7 uF capacitor. Tie VBAT to VDD via a 100-ohm resistor when no backup battery is used. Poor VDDA filtering is the most common cause of ADC noise and missing LSBs on the STM32F3 family.
Route the crystal (HSE 8 MHz) traces short and guarded with ground, and keep the boot strap resistor on BOOT0 close to pin 60 (typically 10 kohm to GND for flash boot). Keep SWDIO/SWCLK (PA13/PA14) accessible on a header or test pads for production programming. Place the current-shunt amplifier outputs for motor control as close to PA0-PA7 ADC pins as possible with a dedicated analog ground island under the ADC routing.
Do not drive PA13/PA14 as GPIO if SWD debugging is required; remap only after debug release. Remember that PC13-PC15 are limited-output pins intended for RTC/tamper functions and should not drive loads. ADC sampling synchronized with PWM triggers must respect the sample-time requirement of the external shunt amplifier settling, otherwise readings are corrupted by switching transients. Consult the current STM32F3 errata sheet on st.com before production, as silicon limitations in early revisions affect specific peripherals.
Estimated: at 72 MHz full-speed flash execution with all peripherals active, typical current draw is on the order of 40-50 mA, giving roughly 165 mW dissipation from 3.3V. With LQFP-64 junction-to-ambient resistance around 50 C/W, the junction rise is under 10 C above ambient, so no heatsinking is required; only sustained high ambient temperatures near +85 C warrant airflow attention.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free status per STMicroelectronics product page for LQFP-64 T6 suffix parts. Not an automotive AEC-Q100 qualified part number.
