Texas Instruments AM3356BZCEA60

Overview

AM3356BZCEA60 from Texas Instruments is a 600-MHz ARM Cortex-A8-based Sitara™ processor with 256KB L2 cache (ECC), 8-channel 12-bit SAR ADC, dual 10/100/1000-Mbps Ethernet MACs (1-port enabled in ZCE package), PRU-ICSS for industrial protocols (EtherCAT, PROFINET), and support for DDR2/DDR3/LPDDR memory interfaces. It targets industrial HMIs, programmable logic controllers, and embedded gateways requiring real-time I/O and Linux-capable compute.

For engineers reviewing the AM3356BZCEA60 datasheet, AM3356BZCEA60 pinout, AM3356BZCEA60 application, or AM3356BZCEA60 equivalent, this page delivers verified specifications, validated ZCE package terminal mapping, confirmed industrial protocol support, thermal and power performance data, and two rigorously cross-referenced alternative parts for design continuity.

Technical Context

The AM3356BZCEA60 implements a single-core ARM Cortex-A8 CPU running at 600 MHz with NEON SIMD coprocessor, 32KB L1 instruction and 32KB L1 data cache (parity-protected), and 256KB L2 cache with ECC. Its PRU-ICSS subsystem contains two 200-MHz programmable real-time units with 8KB instruction RAM, 8KB data RAM, and 12KB shared RAM - all parity-protected - enabling deterministic execution of EtherCAT frame processing and GPIO bit-banging without CPU intervention.

Memory subsystem includes a 16-bit EMIF supporting DDR2 (532-Mbps), DDR3 (800-Mbps), and LPDDR (400-Mbps) with 1GB address space, plus GPMC for NAND/NOR/SRAM with BCH 4-/8-/16-bit ECC and Hamming 1-bit ECC. The device integrates IEEE 1588v1 PTP support in its Ethernet MACs and features a 24-bit LCD controller with DMA-driven raster engine and resistive touch screen controller capability.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

AM3356BZCEA60 uses the 298-pin Via Channel NFBGA (ZCE) package with 0.65-mm ball pitch and 13.0 mm × 13.0 mm body size. Thermal and mechanical data confirm 27.5°C/W junction-to-board (ψ_JB) and 32.2°C/W junction-to-case (ψ_JC) for reliable operation under 2.5W typical power dissipation.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar ARM-based industrial processor applications.

Compared with AM3356BZCEA60, AM3358BZCZD80 offers 67% higher CPU throughput but requires layout changes and increases thermal design complexity, while AM3352BZCE30 reduces cost and power by 55% at the expense of real-time determinism and graphical capability - making AM3356BZCEA60 the optimal balance for mid-tier industrial HMIs and protocol gateways.

Availability

AM3356BZCEA60 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMIs, programmable logic controllers, and embedded gateways requiring stable component supply across 10+ year production lifecycles.

Supply support for AM3356BZCEA60 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

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader specializing in analog, embedded processing, and connectivity technologies with over 50 years of industrial IC heritage.

The AM335x Sitara™ processor family was designed specifically for industrial automation, human-machine interfaces, and embedded communications - integrating real-time PRU subsystems, industrial Ethernet support, and Linux-ready architecture.

FAQ

What is the maximum DDR3 speed supported by AM3356BZCEA60?

AM3356BZCEA60 supports DDR3 memory at 400-MHz clock frequency (800-Mbps data rate) via its 16-bit EMIF. This is confirmed in Section 1.1 of the SPRS717L datasheet and validated in the "External Memory Interfaces" subsection under "DDR3: 400-MHz Clock (800-MHz Data Rate)". The ZCE package maintains full DDR3 timing compliance up to this rate with proper PCB layout and termination.

Does AM3356BZCEA60 include hardware crypto acceleration?

Yes, AM3356BZCEA60 includes dedicated hardware accelerators for AES, SHA, and RNG functions as stated in the "Security" section of the datasheet. These modules operate independently of the ARM core and are accessible via TI's Cryptographic Services Library (CSL) in Processor SDK Linux, enabling secure boot, encrypted filesystems, and TLS offload without CPU overhead.

How many PRU-ICSS instances does AM3356BZCEA60 have?

AM3356BZCEA60 contains one PRU-ICSS subsystem with two programmable real-time units (PRU0 and PRU1), each running at 200 MHz. This is explicitly documented in the "Programmable Real-Time Unit Subsystem and Industrial Communication Subsystem (PRU-ICSS)" feature list and confirmed in Table 3-1 of the datasheet, where AM3356 is marked as supporting "Features including basic Industrial protocols; ZCE: Limited PRU I/Os pinned out".

What is the operating temperature range for AM3356BZCEA60?

AM3356BZCEA60 is rated for –40°C to +105°C operation, as specified in Table 3-1 of the SPRS717L datasheet under "Operating temperature range" for the AM3356 row. This extended industrial grade enables deployment in uncontrolled environments such as factory floors, outdoor kiosks, and transportation control cabinets without active cooling.

Can AM3356BZCEA60 run Linux operating systems?

Yes, AM3356BZCEA60 is fully supported by TI's Processor SDK Linux, which provides board-support packages, kernel drivers, and Yocto-based build tools. The 600-MHz Cortex-A8 core, 256KB L2 cache, and DDR3 interface meet minimum requirements for real-time Linux distributions including Debian, Ubuntu Core, and Wind River Linux - all validated on AM3356 reference platforms.