HPMicro HPM5100: A $2.33 RISC-V MCU for Motor Control

The HPMicro HPM5100 is a new RISC-V microcontroller that packs a surprising amount of analog hardware into a chip that costs less than a cup of coffee. Covered by CNX Software on October 15, the HPM5100 series runs at 400 MHz and integrates four 16-bit ADCs, four op-amps and four comparators, making it a strong fit for motor control, sensor front ends and power electronics. Prices start at about $2.33, and the parts are already in mass production.

• Core: 32-bit RISC-V at 400 MHz with FPU, SIMD and DSP instructions, up to 3.57 CoreMark/MHz.
• Analog: four 16-bit SAR ADCs at up to 2 MSPS, four op-amps usable as programmable gain amplifiers, and four comparators.
• Control and I/O: 32 PWM channels, USB 2.0 high-speed OTG with PHY, and CAN FD at up to 8 Mbps.
• Price: about $2.33 to $2.91 per chip, with an evaluation board for roughly $38.50.

What Makes the HPM5100 Different?

Most low-cost microcontrollers give you a decent CPU and leave the analog work to external chips. The HPM5100 flips that. With four independent 16-bit ADCs, it can sample motor phase currents simultaneously, and the four built-in op-amps can amplify small sensor signals before they reach the converters. In 12-bit mode, the ADCs reach 4 MSPS for faster control loops.

That integration cuts board size and cost for things like brushless motor drivers, battery management systems and precision sensor modules. It is the same trend we saw with the WCH CH32V467 and its built-in Ethernet PHY: RISC-V chipmakers are competing by bundling the extras engineers would otherwise add themselves.

HPM5100 Specifications at a Glance

Beyond the analog block, the chip covers the essentials for embedded work:

• Memory: 416 KB of SRAM in total, including 256 KB of instruction memory and 128 KB of data memory, plus 1 MB of in-package flash.
• Interfaces: five UARTs, four SPI, three I2C, two I2S and up to 79 GPIO pins.
• Security: secure boot, JTAG protection and AES-128 encrypted execution from external flash.
• Environment: rated from -40 to 105 degrees Celsius for industrial use.

HPMicro also offers a 480 MHz high-performance mode, but CNX notes the company recommends staying at 400 MHz or below for long-term use.

How Much Does the HPM5100 Cost?

CNX lists three priced packages from Huaqiu Mall: about $2.33 for the 6 x 6 mm QFN48, $2.52 for the 8 x 8 mm QFN68 and $2.91 for the LQFP100. A tiny QFN32 version is also listed in the spec sheet.

Getting Started With the HPM5100 EVK

The HPM5100EVK evaluation board costs about $38.50 and is friendly for makers. It includes an onboard debugger, two USB Type-C ports, an audio codec, a CAN transceiver, dedicated ADC and op-amp connectors, a motor-control header and a Raspberry Pi-compatible 40-pin header. Software support arrived in the open-source HPM SDK v1.13.0, which includes FreeRTOS and TinyUSB.

If you have built motor projects on boards like the Banana Pi BPI-VP10 servo controller, the HPM5100 is a capable next step for RISC-V motion control. Find more chips and boards in our mini computers section.

Sources: CNX Software, HPMicro HPM5100 RISC-V MCU integrates four 16-bit ADCs and four op-amps — October 15, 2026; HPMicro, HPM5100 series product page — accessed October 15, 2026.