GigaDevice has officially launched the GD32F503/505 series of 32-bit general-purpose microcontrollers, expanding its high-performance product lineup based on the Arm Cortex-M33 core. Built on the Arm v8-M architecture, the new series is engineered to provide a computational foundation for complex applications including digital power supplies, industrial automation, motor control, robotic vacuum cleaners, and humanoid robots.
The series is headlined by the GD32F505, which operates at a frequency of 280 MHz, while the GD32F503 runs at 252 MHz. Both variants leverage an advanced DSP hardware accelerator and a single-precision floating-point unit (FPU) to achieve performance metrics of 4.10 CoreMark/MHz and 1.51 DMIPS/MHz. Memory resources include up to 1024 KB of Flash and 192 KB of SRAM. A key feature of the series is the ability for developers to use scatter loading to flexibly allocate Code-Flash, Data-Flash, and SRAM locations based on specific application requirements, enhancing design cost-effectiveness.
For high-precision control, the GD32F503/505 integrates three ADCs with sampling rates up to 3 Msps, a fast comparator, and a DAC. Connectivity is managed through a suite of interfaces including three SPIs, two I2Ss, two I2Cs, three USARTs, two UARTs, dual CAN-FD channels, and a USBFS interface. The timing system has been upgraded to include 32-bit and 16-bit general-purpose timers alongside two 16-bit PWM advanced timers for flexible waveform control and system protection.
Reliability and longevity are central to the series design. The MCUs support an industrial temperature range of -40°C to +105°C and an operating voltage between 2.6V and 3.6V. GigaDevice indicates that these chips are designed to operate continuously for over 25 years in typical industrial scenarios. Protection features include high-level ESD resistance (8 kV contact and 15 kV air discharge) and HBM/CDM immunity that exceeds conventional standards for home appliances and industrial equipment.
Security is addressed through a chip-level architecture providing a Secure Boot and Secure Firmware Update (SBSFU) platform. Hardware security engines integrate SHA-256 hash algorithms, AES-128/256 encryption, and a True Random Number Generator (TRNG). Furthermore, the series is supported by a Software Test Library (STL) that has obtained German IEC 61508 SC3 (SIL 2/SIL 3) functional safety certification.
The GD32F503/505 series is available in various package types, including LQFP100/64/48, QFN64/48/32, and BGA64. Development support is provided through the free GD32 Embedded Builder IDE and GD-LINK debugging tools, alongside third-party support from Arm KEIL, IAR, and SEGGER. Engineering samples and development boards are currently available, with mass production scheduled to begin in December.
