36 MHz Cortex-M3 with 384 KB Flash — what it fits
The STM32F101VDT6TR: STM32F1 value-line family, 36 MHz, 384 KB Flash, 48K x 8 RAM, 80 I/O, 100-LQFP.
The MCU runs from 2.0 V to 3.6 V, which covers both 3.3 V and 2.5 V logic rails without an external regulator. The internal oscillator option saves a crystal on low-cost boards, though the accuracy is adequate for UART timing, not USB.
The DMA engine offloads the CPU for peripheral data transfers, which matters at 36 MHz where every cycle counts. Two 12-bit DAC channels are useful for analog set-point generation or waveform synthesis without an external converter.
There is no last-time-buy risk on the horizon. For dual-sourcing flexibility, the pin-compatible STM32F103VDT6 offers 72 MHz operation and a full-speed USB peripheral — a straightforward drop-in upgrade if the application later needs more performance.
