STMicroelectronics STM32F746BGT6

Overview

STM32F746BGT6 from STMicroelectronics is a high-performance ARM Cortex-M7 32-bit microcontroller with FPU, delivering 462 DMIPS at 216 MHz, featuring 1 MB Flash, 320 KB + 16 KB + 4 KB RAM, USB OTG HS/FS, 10/100 Ethernet MAC, LCD-TFT controller, and dual CAN 2.0B interfaces - deployed in industrial HMI, medical imaging front-ends, and real-time motor control systems.

For engineers reviewing the STM32F746BGT6 datasheet, STM32F746BGT6 pinout, STM32F746BGT6 application, or STM32F746BGT6 equivalent, key selection criteria include its 216 MHz Cortex-M7 core with L1 cache, dual-mode Quad-SPI support, Chrom-ART Accelerator™ for graphics offload, IEEE 1588v2 Ethernet timing, and 168 I/Os with 5 V tolerance - critical for deterministic embedded vision and connectivity-intensive designs.

Technical Context

The device integrates an adaptive real-time accelerator (ART Accelerator™) and 4 KB instruction/data caches enabling zero-wait-state execution from Flash or external memory. Its AXI-AHB bus matrix supports concurrent high-bandwidth access to Flash, SRAM, and peripherals including FMC, SAI, and SDMMC.

It implements dual USB controllers (OTG_FS + OTG_HS with dedicated DMA), a full-featured 10/100 Ethernet MAC with hardware IEEE 1588v2 timestamping, and a parallel camera interface (DCMI) supporting up to 54 MB/s - enabling simultaneous high-speed data acquisition, real-time processing, and networked telemetry.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

STM32F746BGT6 is housed in a TFBGA100 package (8 × 8 mm, 0.8 mm ball pitch) with 100 solder balls. Pin functions are defined per ST's DS10916 Rev 5, Table 10 (pin/ball definition) and Table 12 (alternate function mapping).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar high-performance MCU applications.

Compared with STM32F746BGT6, the STM32H743VIT6 delivers higher peak performance and dual-core flexibility but removes DCMI - making it unsuitable for parallel sensor input. The STM32F767ZIT6 provides identical feature parity with expanded I/O and memory, easing migration where pin count or Flash headroom is limiting.

Availability

STM32F746BGT6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMI, medical imaging front-ends, and smart energy gateways requiring stable component supply across long product lifecycles.

Supply support for STM32F746BGT6 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power ICs, sensors, and analog devices for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The STM32F7 series targets high-end embedded applications demanding real-time performance, rich connectivity, and advanced graphics - specifically engineered for industrial automation, medical devices, and IoT edge nodes with local intelligence.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency and how is it achieved?

The STM32F746BGT6 achieves 216 MHz via its ARM Cortex-M7 core with ART Accelerator™ and 4 KB instruction/data caches. This configuration enables zero-wait-state execution from Flash memory, eliminating pipeline stalls. The maximum frequency requires proper decoupling (VCAP1/VCAP2 capacitors), stable 1.8 V core supply, and thermal management below 85°C ambient per DS10916 Section 7.10.

Does STM32F746BGT6 support external SDRAM, and what interface is used?

Yes, it supports external SDRAM up to 256 MB using the Flexible Memory Controller (FMC) with 16-bit data bus and standard SDRAM command set. The FMC implements address/command multiplexing and refresh control per JEDEC standards, with configurable timing parameters accessible via registers in the FMC_BCR/FMC_BTR blocks.

How does the Chrom-ART Accelerator™ improve GUI performance?

The Chrom-ART Accelerator™ (DMA2D) performs hardware-accelerated 2D operations including memory-to-memory copy, pixel format conversion (RGB565 ↔ ARGB8888), and alpha blending - offloading these tasks from the CPU. Benchmarks show >70% reduction in CPU utilization during GUI rendering, enabling smoother animations and faster touch response in resource-constrained HMI designs.

What are the key differences between STM32F746BGT6 and STM32F767ZIT6?

The STM32F767ZIT6 shares identical core architecture, peripherals (including DCMI, LCD-TFT, Ethernet, USB), and software compatibility but uses an LQFP144 package (144 pins vs. TFBGA100's 100), offers 2 MB Flash (vs. 1 MB), and adds two extra USARTs. It lacks the 5 V-tolerant I/O guarantee of the BGT6 variant but provides greater I/O count and memory headroom for feature-rich applications.