A few years ago, we came across GigaDevice GD32 microcontroller compatible with STMicro STM32F103, but with a higher 108 MHz clock, and zero wait state internal flash. The MCU was also a drop-in replacement for the STMicro alternative since beside being software compatible, it was also pin-to-pin compatible.

The company is now back with a new microcontroller, but it’s not Arm-based. Instead, GigaDevice GD32V is based on RISC-V open source architecture.

GD32V General Purpose RISC-V MCU

GigaDevice GD32V is a 32-bit RISC-V general-purpose MCU that targets industrial and consumer applications such as IoT, edge computing, artificial intelligence and “vertical industries”. The new GD32VF103 series RISC-V MCU family features 14 models with the following key specifications:

Core – GD32VF103 32-bit rv32imac RISC-V “Bumblebee Core” @ 108 MHz

Memory – 8KB to 32KB SRAM

Storage – 16KB to 128KB flash

Peripherals – USB OTG and CAN 2.0B

I/O – 3.3V, 5V tolerant

Supply Voltage – 2.6 to 3.6V

Package – QFN36, LQFP48, LQFP64, and LQFP100 packages

I also understand there are pin-to-pin compatible with GD32 Arm microcontrollers, but this would have to be confirmed.

The new RISC-V microcontroller delivers 15% performance improvement in Coremark over the company’ GD32 Arm Cortex-M3 microcontroller (360 vs 312), as well as 25 to 50% lower power consumption with – as I understand it – GD32V consuming 33.7 mA in active mode, and 7.5 uA in sleep mode as illustrated below.

Best of all, you can already buy the microcontroller on Tmall, with for example GD32VF103TBU6 (QFN36, 64KB flash) going for 9 RMB ($1.27) per sample, and as low as $6.80 RMB ($0.95) per unit for ~3K orders, and the top of the line GD32VF103VBT6 (LQFQ100) going for 15 RMB ($2.11) for a single part, or 9.35 RMB ($1.31) per unit for 500 pieces orders. For reference, the equivalent GD32F103VBT6 Arm Cortex-M3 MCU is sold for exactly the same price. So we get better performance and low power consumption at the same price tag.

GD32V Development Boards

The Tmall page also has two development boards.

They did not provide any details about the board, but it’s based on a Gigadevice GD32V MCU with LQFP48 package, comes with buttons, Arduino headers, and three micro USB port for debugging, USB OTG, and USART. There are also configuration jumpers for boot and OTG/USART selection, as well as reset and wakeup buttons and some LEDs.

GD32VF103C-START board sells for 79 RMB, or about $11.

The second board is more complete as an evaluation platform with a LQFP100 GD32F103VCT6 microcontroller with access to all 100 pins, a 3.2″ display, DB9 serial ports, a micro USB ports (OTG + debug), an RTC battery socket, a reset push-button, and a joystick. There may also be an audio port sticking out on the left of the photo above.

If you are interested in GD32VF103C-EVAL, it can be yours for 325 RMB (~$46).

Docs & Software

The microcontroller and development kits look good, but they are just all bricks without tools, software, and documentation. The English version of official website has currently limited information about the new GD32V microcontroller, and I can only see “GD32VFXX- IoT Studio development tools” that may be related, but you’ll find more details in the Chinese version.

GD32VF103C-EVAL board is also be supported by RT-Thread real-time operating systems, and you’ll find the BSP directly on Github.

Thanks to Zamir & Freire for the tip.