STMicroelectronics STM32F746ZET6

Overview

STM32F746ZET6 from STMicroelectronics is a high-performance ARM® Cortex®-M7 32-bit microcontroller with FPU, delivering 462 DMIPS at 216 MHz, featuring 512 KB flash memory, 320 KB SRAM (including 64 KB data TCM and 16 KB instruction TCM), and integrated peripherals including dual CAN 2.0B, USB OTG HS/FS, 10/100 Ethernet MAC, LCD-TFT controller, and Chrom-ART Accelerator™. It targets embedded HMI, industrial control, and connected edge devices requiring real-time graphics and deterministic communication.

For engineers reviewing the STM32F746ZET6 datasheet, STM32F746ZET6 pinout, STM32F746ZET6 application, or STM32F746ZET6 equivalent, key selection criteria include TCM RAM allocation for real-time tasks, dual-CAN + Ethernet coexistence, LCD-TFT timing compliance for XGA panels, and LQFP144 package I/O count (114 GPIOs) with 5 V-tolerance on 166 pins.

Technical Context

The STM32F746ZET6 implements an adaptive real-time accelerator (ART Accelerator™) with 4 KB instruction and 4 KB data L1 caches to enable zero-wait-state execution from flash or external memories. Its AXI-AHB bus matrix supports concurrent high-bandwidth access by CPU, DMA2D, Ethernet, and LCD controllers without arbitration bottlenecks.

It integrates dual clock domains: one for system/peripheral operation (up to 216 MHz via PLL) and another for audio/LCD subsystems (via dedicated PLLSAI), enabling independent timing for HDMI-CEC, SAI, SPDIFRX, and LTDC while maintaining real-time determinism for control loops.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LQFP144 (20 × 20 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) package with exposed thermal pad; 114 user I/O pins, 14 power/ground pins, and dedicated debug (SWD/JTAG), reset, and supply decoupling terminals.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with STM32H743VIT6, the STM32F746ZET6 provides integrated Ethernet PHY and LCD-TFT controller at lower cost and power, while STM32F767ZIT6 adds extended temperature and crypto acceleration without increasing footprint - making STM32F746ZET6 ideal for cost-sensitive, display-rich industrial controllers.

Availability

STM32F746ZET6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMI, programmable logic controllers, medical imaging gateways, and smart building controllers requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and qualified sourcing for production programs.

Supply support for STM32F746ZET6 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, Switzerland, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power ICs, sensors, and analog components for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The STM32F7 series targets high-end embedded applications demanding real-time performance, rich graphics, and multi-protocol connectivity - specifically engineered for human-machine interfaces, industrial automation, and edge intelligence endpoints.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating temperature for the STM32F746ZET6 in LQFP144 package?

The STM32F746ZET6 is specified for industrial temperature range: –40 °C to +85 °C ambient. Thermal derating begins above 70 °C ambient depending on PCB copper area and airflow; junction temperature must not exceed 125 °C. The LQFP144 package features an exposed thermal pad requiring soldered connection to internal ground plane for reliable thermal dissipation.

Does the STM32F746ZET6 support external SDRAM, and what interface does it use?

Yes, the STM32F746ZET6 supports external SDRAM via its Flexible Memory Controller (FMC) with 16-bit data bus and dedicated SDRAM command lines (CK, CKE, CAS, RAS, WE). It supports single-bank SDRAM up to 64 MB, with configurable refresh timing and burst length - commonly used for framebuffer expansion in LCD-TFT applications.

Can the STM32F746ZET6 run FreeRTOS with Ethernet and USB simultaneously without resource conflict?

Yes - the STM32F746ZET6's dual DMA controllers (general-purpose DMA + dedicated USB/Ethernet DMA), AXI-AHB bus matrix, and separate TCM RAM banks allow concurrent Ethernet packet processing, USB bulk transfers, and RTOS task scheduling without bus contention. ST provides validated middleware stacks (LwIP, USB Device Class Libraries) with pre-verified interrupt priorities and memory partitioning.

Is the LCD-TFT controller capable of driving RGB888 panels at 60 Hz with XGA resolution?

Yes - the LTDC controller supports RGB888 (24-bit) output at 1024×768@60 Hz (pixel clock = 65 MHz) with programmable polarity, sync pulse width, and data enable timing. It requires external LVDS or RGB interface driver ICs; the Chrom-ART Accelerator™ handles layer composition and alpha blending in hardware, freeing CPU bandwidth for application logic.