Texas Instruments AM3356BZCZD80

Overview

AM3356BZCZD80 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 with integrated switch, and PRU-ICSS supporting EtherCAT and PROFINET - deployed in industrial HMIs, programmable logic controllers, and connected vending machines.

For engineers reviewing the AM3356BZCZD80 datasheet, AM3356BZCZD80 pinout, AM3356BZCZD80 application, or AM3356BZCZD80 equivalent, key selection criteria include its ZCZ package (324-ball NFBGA, 0.80-mm pitch), 600-MHz OPP, industrial temperature range (–40°C to +105°C), and PRU-ICSS real-time protocol offload capability for deterministic I/O control.

Technical Context

The AM3356BZCZD80 implements a dual-core PRU-ICSS subsystem with two 200-MHz RISC processors, 12KB shared RAM (parity), and dedicated peripherals including dual MII Ethernet ports, eCAP, eHRPWM, and eQEP modules - enabling independent real-time execution alongside the Cortex-A8 core. It supports IEEE 1588v1 PTP for time-synchronized industrial networking.

Its memory subsystem integrates a 16-bit DDR3/DDR3L interface (400-MHz clock, 800-MHz data rate), GPMC with NAND/NOR/SRAM support and BCH-based ECC (4-/8-/16-bit per 512-byte block), and 64KB OCMC RAM accessible by all masters with retention mode for fast wakeup.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

AM3356BZCZD80 uses a 324-pin NFBGA (ZCZ) package with 0.80-mm ball pitch and 15.0 mm × 15.0 mm body size. Pin functions are defined across three sections (left/middle/right) with dedicated banks for DDR3, GPMC, PRU-ICSS I/O, and high-speed interfaces including RGMII and USB DRD.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with AM3358ZCZD100, AM3356BZCZD80 trades peak performance for lower power consumption and thermal footprint; versus AM3352ZCZD60, it adds PRU-ICSS real-time control and dual Ethernet - making it optimal for mid-tier industrial edge nodes balancing determinism, connectivity, and cost.

Availability

AM3356BZCZD80 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMIs, programmable logic controllers, and connected vending machines requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for AM3356BZCZD80 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 company specializing in analog, embedded processing, and connectivity technologies with over 90 years of innovation in industrial and automotive markets.

The AM335x Sitara™ processor family targets industrial automation and human-machine interface applications, combining ARM Cortex-A8 performance with programmable real-time units and industrial protocol acceleration to replace FPGA+MPU architectures.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the AM3356BZCZD80?

The AM3356BZCZD80 operates at a guaranteed maximum frequency of 600 MHz under industrial temperature conditions (–40°C to +105°C). This OPP (Operating Performance Point) is validated across voltage and process corners, and the device supports dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) to reduce power during low-load periods while maintaining system stability.

Does the AM3356BZCZD80 support secure boot functionality?

The AM3356BZCZD80 supports optional secure boot through hardware-accelerated HMAC-SHA-256 authentication of the first-stage bootloader, using fuse-programmed keys stored in the Electrical Fuse Farm. Secure boot requires custom part engagement with Texas Instruments and is not enabled by default on standard orderable variants like AM3356BZCZD80.

Which packages are compatible with the AM3356BZCZD80?

The AM3356BZCZD80 is exclusively offered in the 324-ball NFBGA (ZCZ) package with 0.80-mm ball pitch and 15.0 mm × 15.0 mm body size. It is not available in the smaller 298-ball ZCE package - that variant is designated AM3356ZCE and has different pinout, thermal characteristics, and peripheral pin assignments.

Can the AM3356BZCZD80 run real-time protocols like EtherCAT without external hardware?

Yes, the AM3356BZCZD80 integrates a dual-core PRU-ICSS subsystem with dedicated MII Ethernet ports, allowing full EtherCAT slave stack execution in firmware without external ASICs or FPGAs. The PRUs handle frame processing, synchronization, and I/O mapping with sub-microsecond latency, while the Cortex-A8 manages higher-layer services and diagnostics.

What types of external memory does the AM3356BZCZD80 support?

The AM3356BZCZD80 supports LPDDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR3L via its 16-bit EMIF with 1 GB addressable space. It also includes a flexible GPMC for NAND/NOR flash, SRAM, and muxed-NOR devices - with hardware BCH ECC (4-/8-/16-bit per 512-byte block) and Hamming code support for robust data storage in industrial environments.