The GD32303C-START is a compact starter development board from GigaDevice featuring the GD32F303CGT6 microcontroller with an ARM Cortex-M4 core running at up to 120 MHz. It includes an integrated GD-Link SWD debugger, eliminating the need for external programming hardware. With 1024 KB Flash, 96 KB SRAM, and a rich set of peripherals including CAN 2.0B, USB 2.0 FS, SDIO, and EXMC, this affordable platform delivers professional-grade features for rapid prototyping, industrial control, and embedded product development. Features Integrated GD-Link Debugger: Onboard SWD debugger via Mini-USB — no external hardware required High-Performance MCU: GD32F303CGT6 @ 120 MHz with DSP and FPU, 1024 KB Flash, 96 KB SRAM Comprehensive Peripheral Set: USART, I²C, I²S, CAN 2.0B, SPI, ADC, DAC, SDIO, EXMC, USB 2.0 FS User Interface Elements: RESET, BOOT, and USER buttons + LEDs for rapid interaction External Memory Support: EXMC for NAND/LCD, SDIO for SD cards (SDHC up to 32 GB) Development Ecosystem: Board Support Package (BSP) with examples for Keil MDK, IAR, and GCC Compact Form Factor: LQFP48 package, up to 37 GPIO pins Cost-Effective Entry: Affordable platform for ARM Cortex-M4 development and evaluation Specifications Parameter Value Part Number GD32303C-START Microcontroller GD32F303CGT6 CPU Core ARM Cortex-M4 with DSP/FPU Max Clock 120 MHz Flash 1024 KB SRAM 96 KB Package LQFP48 Operating Voltage 3.3 V Operating Temperature -40 °C to +85 °C Debugger GD-Link SWD via Mini-USB GPIO Up to 37 pins ADC 12-bit, 10 channels DAC 12-bit, 2 channels Serial 3× USART + 2× UART SPI 2× SPI I²S 2× I²S I²C 2× I²C CAN CAN 2.0B USB USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device Timers 2× Advanced + 10× General + 2× Basic + 2× Watchdog RTC Calendar + Alarm SDIO SDSC ≤ 2 GB, SDHC ≤ 32 GB EXMC LCD / NAND / PSRAM / SRAM CRC Hardware CRC Application Industrial Control: Motor control and PLC-like systems with CAN 2.0B Consumer Electronics: Smart home devices and wearables IoT Edge Nodes: Sensor acquisition and cloud connectivity Data Logging: SD card storage for monitoring and measurement Audio Processing: I²S interface + DSP for audio applications Education & Training: Teaching embedded systems and ARM development HMI Development: EXMC interface for LCD and touch panel prototyping STM32 Migration: Pin-compatible migration path from STM32F103/F303 to GD32F303 Packing List 1× GD32303C-START Board (with integrated GD-Link debugger) FAQ What are the differences between GD32303C-START and GD32F303R-START? The C-START uses an LQFP48 package with up to 37 GPIO pins, while the R-START uses an LQFP64 package with up to 51 GPIO pins. The core MCU specifications are identical. Can I use STM32 development tools? Yes. The GD32F303 is pin-compatible with the STM32F103/F303. The onboard GD-Link debugger supports CMSIS-DAP. Use the GD32 BSP for full peripheral support. Which IDEs are supported? Keil MDK, IAR EWARM, GCC toolchains, VS Code, Eclipse, and PlatformIO. The BSP includes project templates for all supported toolchains. Can I use an external debugger? Yes. SWD header pins are available for external debuggers such as J-Link, ULINK, or ST-Link. The onboard GD-Link is sufficient for most development tasks. What SD card capacities are supported? SDSC up to 2 GB and SDHC up to 32 GB. SDXC is not supported. Does the board support USB Host mode? No, only USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device mode is available. For USB Host functionality, consider the GD32F4xx series. What is the operating voltage? The MCU operates at 3.3 V. The onboard voltage regulator accepts 5 V input via the Mini-USB port. Where can I find resources and documentation? Datasheets, user manuals, BSP, and demo projects are available on the GD32 MCU portal.
