MuseLab's nanoCH32V003 Puts a 32-bit RISC-V Core on Your Breadboard for Just $1.50

Those looking to get started with WCH Electronics' CH32V003, a 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller available at volume for less than 10¢ per unit, now have a bargain-basement starting point in the form of a $1.50 all-in-one development board.

Launched late last year, WCH Electronics' CH32V003 is a family of microcontrollers based on an in-house implementation of the the RV32 RISC-V architecture the company has dubbed "RISC-V2A." Depending on model, the chips boast a clock speed of up to 48MHz, 2kB of static RAM (SRAM), 16kB of flash storage, and between six and 18 interrupt-capable general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins with one USART, one I2C, and one SPI bus plus up to eight channels of 10-bit analog to digital conversion (ADC).

While the chips themselves cost under 10¢ in volume, though, the cheapest development available at launch cost $6.90 — which, to be fair, is still very much affordable. With the chips as cheap as they are, we predicted that lower-cost development boards would soon follow — and follow they have.

MuseLab's nanoCH32V003, brought to our attention by Linux Gizmos, definitely takes the award for lowest-cost entry point into CH32V003 development. Launched at just $1.50 per board, the compact breadboard-friendly device is based on the CH32V003F4U6 which gives it a 48MHz clock speed regulated by an on-board 24MHz oscillator, 2kB of SRAM, 16kB of flash, and 18 GPIO pins — all of which are brought out to unpopulated 0.1" headers around the edge of the board.

A USB Type-C connector is provided for power, but the device isn't programmable over USB: instead, a 1-Wire Serial Debug Interface (SDI) is provided, requiring an external programmer — with MuseLab recommending the WCHLink-E. The board does, however, include a physical reset button and an on-board LED.

The nanoCH32V003 is now available to order on MuseLab's Tindie store for $1.50.