A Technical Comparability of the RP2350 and RP2040 Chips – Information

The launch of the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 marks a big improve from its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi Pico.

Again in August, Raspberry Pi launched the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 with the onboard RP2350 microcontroller. On the similar time, SparkFun got here out with the SparkFun Professional Micro – RP2350. Each offered out shortly and it took a while to get them again in inventory. Now that we have now wholesome inventory of each the Pico 2 and the Professional Micro – RP2350 we thought we might undergo the technical variations between Raspberry Pi’s RP2350 and its predecessor, the RP2040.

Overview of the RP2040

The RP2040 chip, launched in January of 2021 alongside the unique Raspberry Pi Pico, was a groundbreaking entry into the microcontroller market by Raspberry Pi. It featured:

• Twin-core ARM Cortex-M0+: Working at 133 MHz, the RP2040 supplied ample energy for quite a lot of embedded purposes.
• 264kB of SRAM: Adequate reminiscence for light-weight purposes and real-time duties.
• 2MB of Flash reminiscence: Offered ample storage for many embedded tasks.
• 30 GPIO Pins: Together with programmable IO (PIO) for versatile, customized peripherals.
• USB 1.1 System and Host Assist: Permitting for fundamental connectivity choices.
• 2 × Programmable IO (PIO) blocks, 8 state machines complete: Enabling customized peripheral implementations resembling SD Card and VGA.
  These options made the RP2040 a superb selection for hobbyists and professionals alike, providing an reasonably priced platform for a variety of purposes.

See Full RP2040 Datasheet

 

Merchandise providing the RP2040

Overview of the RP2350

The RP2350, the guts of the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, builds upon the strengths of the RP2040 whereas introducing a number of enhancements:

• Twin ARM CortexM33 and Hazard3 RISC-V Processors at 150 MHz: A big increase in clock pace, providing improved efficiency for extra demanding purposes. Customers can choose two processors to run on boot.
• 520kB of SRAM: A rise in reminiscence, supporting extra complicated operations and bigger datasets.
• As much as 16 MB of exterior QSPI flash/PSRAM: Accessible through elective second chip-select catering to purposes that require extra in depth codebases or information logging.
• 30-48 GPIO Pins (relying on mannequin): Increasing the I/O choices, providing extra flexibility in interfacing with exterior {hardware}.
• 12 Programmable IO (PIO) state machines: Growing the variety of customized peripheral implementations that may be run concurrently.
• Non-obligatory RISC-V Cores: Distinctive to the RP2350, customers can select between twin ARM Cortex-M33 cores and twin Hazard3 RISC-V cores, providing flexibility in structure selection.
• Superior Safety Options: Consists of Arm TrustZone for Cortex-M, signed boot, 8kB of antifuse OTP for key storage, SHA-256 acceleration, a {hardware} TRNG, and quick glitch detectors, offering strong safety choices for professional-grade purposes.

The RP2350’s superior security measures and dual-core, dual-architecture functionality spotlight its suitability for skilled and industrial purposes, whereas nonetheless retaining the accessibility and affordability that made the unique Raspberry Pi Pico so common.

See Full RP2350 Datasheet

 

Merchandise providing the RP2350

Key Variations

To offer a clearer view of the developments, right here’s a comparability desk highlighting the primary variations of the RP2040 and RP2350 chips:

Characteristic	RP2040	RP2350
Processor	Twin-core ARM Cortex-M0+ at 133 MHz	ARM® Cortex® M33 processors and two Hazard3 RISC-V processors at 150 MHz (user-selectable for dual-cores)
SRAM	264kB	520kB (in 10 banks)
Inside Flash Reminiscence	2MB	0/2MB (mannequin dependent)
GPIO Pins	30	30—48
USB Assist	USB 1.1 System and Host	USB USB 1.1 controller and PHY, with host and system help
Programmable IO (PIO)	8 state machines	12 state machines
Safety Options	No security measures	Arm TrustZone, signed boot, 8kB antifuse OTP, SHA-256 acceleration, {hardware} TRNG, glitch detectors

Efficiency and Safety Implications

The rise in clock pace from 133 MHz to 150 MHz within the RP2350 interprets to a noticeable efficiency increase, notably useful in real-time purposes. The elective RISC-V cores provide flexibility in processing structure, catering to varied utility wants. Moreover, the improved security measures make the RP2350 appropriate for purposes requiring strong safety towards tampering and unauthorized entry.

Conclusion

The RP2350 chip provides vital upgrades over the RP2040, making it a robust candidate for extra demanding embedded purposes. Whether or not you’re growing a brand new challenge or trying to improve an current one, the enhancements in efficiency, reminiscence, I/O choices, safety, and architectural flexibility make the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 a compelling selection transferring ahead.