EEDEHD ARM Cortex M4F MCU choices

Standard DigiKey Search Filters/Criteria for ICs apply:
Whenever possible, we would do our best to never use FN packages.
We will minimize BGA packages use.
We choose parts not under EOL/Obsolete/Discontinued status.
View Prices At: Quantity 1
Marketplace Product: Exclude
Part Status: Active
Package / Case: NOT FN
Supplier Device Package: NOT FN

As explained in [[EEDEHD_ARM_Cortex_M7_MCU_choices]], choices for ARM Cortex M7 MCUs influence our choices of M4F MCUs. F stands for Floating Point calculation co-processor option that is built in. Without dedicated hardware, floating-point calculations are extremely inefficient and slow otherwise.

Note: only single-core solutions are looked at here, as being far less easier to start using for the first time by a newcomer, compared to multicore solutions.

Starting from:

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/embedded-microcontrollers/685

Additional Search Criteria/Parameters:

Core Processor: ARM Cortex-M4/M4F. Note regarding also selecting M4 in addition to M4F: because just like in countless other situations, DigiKey search lists/criteria are to NEVER be trusted. They are too frequently incorrect, incomplete, stupid, or useless!!!

Due to our desire to be able to jump to M7 as needed, we will only support same three manufacturers that offer ARM Cortex M7 MCUs:

• Microchip Technology
• STMicrolectronics
• NXP USA Inc.

And just for cross-compatibility's sake, we only consider MCU families that offer Ethernet and other advanced connectivity options (also like CAN, etc), just in case these will be ever utilized.

Microchip Technology ARM Cortex M7 MCU offers

SAM E53

SAM E54

TODO additional???

SAM4E. TODO older???

Unfortunately, Microchip packages peter out at a measly 128-TQFP / 120-TFBGA. This is a deal-killer!!! And the TQFP package has a rather limited number of CRET pins as well. We suspect that at 120MHz, such a poor provision for number and location of CRET pins will likely cause serious Signal Integrity issues at full clock speed... Therefore, the only reason we would consider using Microchip is if there is a rather serious software compatibility (such as to Arduino bootloaders already written for Microchip) / customer support / documentation / hardware compatibility benefit to sacrificing pincount and SI considerations.

STMicrolectronics ARM Cortex M7 MCU offers

STM32F4

Dual-core families:

STM32H7

Package options go all the way up to 265-TFBGA, and that is awesome!!!

NXP USA Inc ARM Cortex M7 MCU offers

Kinetis K50

Kinetis K60

Kinetis K70

LPC40xx

PLC540xx

LPC546xx

S32K

Dual-core families:

i.MX

NXP will be penciled in as a standby option, and won't be considered further at this time.