Texas Instruments TMS320C6742BZCE2

Overview

TMS320C6742BZCE2 from Texas Instruments is a fixed- and floating-point digital signal processor (DSP) based on the C674x VLIW core, operating at 200 MHz with 32KB L1P cache, 32KB L1D cache, and 64KB unified L2 RAM/cache. It integrates EMIFA and DDR2/mDDR memory controllers, dual eHRPWMs, three eCAP modules, McASP, McBSP, UART, SPI, I²C, RTC, and dual 64-bit timers. It targets low-power embedded signal processing in currency inspection and biometric identification systems.

For engineers reviewing the TMS320C6742BZCE2 datasheet, TMS320C6742BZCE2 pinout, TMS320C6742BZCE2 application, or TMS320C6742BZCE2 equivalent, key selection considerations include its 200-MHz C674x DSP core with IEEE SP/DP floating-point support, 361-ball NFBGA (ZCE) package with 0.65-mm pitch, dual-level cache architecture, EDMA3 controller with 64 independent channels, and peripheral set optimized for real-time audio, motor control, and industrial vision preprocessing.

Technical Context

The TMS320C6742BZCE2 implements a load-store VLIW architecture with eight functional units (.M1/.M2, .L1/.L2, .D1/.D2, .S1/.S2), 64 general-purpose 32-bit registers, and hardware support for modulo loops, exceptions, and privilege modes. Its memory subsystem includes configurable L1P/L1D caches and flexible L2 partitioning between mapped RAM and cache.

Peripherals are tightly coupled via a high-performance switch fabric: EDMA3 enables zero-overhead data movement across McASP, McBSP, EMIFA, and DDR2 interfaces; eHRPWMs provide dead-band generation and trip-zone protection for motor drive timing; and the McASP supports TDM/I²S/DIT with 16 serializers and FIFO buffering for multichannel audio I/O.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 361-ball NFBGA (ZCE suffix), 13.0 mm × 13.0 mm body size, 0.65-mm ball pitch, RoHS-compliant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar DSP applications.

Compared with TMS320C6742BZCE2, the C6748BZCEA offers significantly higher compute density and expanded connectivity at increased power and layout complexity, while the C6746BZCEA sacrifices memory bandwidth and peripheral richness to reduce cost-making the TMS320C6742BZCE2 the optimal balance for mid-tier embedded DSP tasks requiring DDR2, dual eHRPWM, and full McASP/McBSP support.

Availability

TMS320C6742BZCE2 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for currency inspection systems, biometric identification terminals, and low-end machine vision controllers requiring stable component supply, long-term industrial lifecycle support, and traceable sourcing.

Supply support for TMS320C6742BZCE2 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 headquartered in Dallas, Texas, delivering analog and embedded processing solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets since 1930.

The TMS320C6742BZCE2 belongs to TI's C6000™ DSP platform, designed specifically for low-power, high-precision signal processing in resource-constrained embedded systems where floating-point accuracy and peripheral integration are critical.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the TMS320C6742BZCE2?

The TMS320C6742BZCE2 operates at a guaranteed maximum frequency of 200 MHz across commercial temperature range. This clock rate applies to the C674x DSP core and is sustained under recommended operating conditions (VDD_CORE = 1.1 V, junction temperature ≤ 85°C). The device uses an on-chip PLL to multiply an external reference clock (e.g., 25 MHz crystal) to achieve this core frequency. Performance benchmarks confirm 1600 MIPS and 1200 MFLOPS at 200 MHz.

Does the TMS320C6742BZCE2 support DDR2 memory interfacing?

Yes, the TMS320C6742BZCE2 includes a dedicated DDR2/mDDR memory controller supporting 16-bit bus width, up to 156 MHz DDR2 operation, and 256-MB address space. It supports standard DDR2 SDRAM protocols including auto-precharge, burst reads/writes, and refresh commands. The controller requires separate 1.8-V VDD_DDR supply and uses dedicated ball groups for DQ, DQS, and control signals-pinout details are specified in Section 3.5 of the SPRS587F datasheet.

What boot options are available for the TMS320C6742BZCE2?

The TMS320C6742BZCE2 supports multiple boot modes controlled by BOOT[3:0] pins: EMIFA NOR flash, EMIFA NAND flash, SPI serial flash, UART download, and ROM boot. Boot ROM contains initial bootloader code that configures clocks, memory, and peripherals before loading application firmware. The device does not support SD card or USB mass storage boot natively-those require external host or software-level implementation.

How many independent DMA channels does the TMS320C6742BZCE2 provide?

The TMS320C6742BZCE2 integrates the Enhanced Direct Memory Access Controller 3 (EDMA3) with 64 independent DMA channels and 16 Quick DMA (QDMA) channels. These channels support scatter-gather transfers, linked-list chaining, and event-driven triggering from peripherals including McASP, McBSP, UART, and EMIFA. Channel prioritization and bandwidth allocation are programmable via EDMA3 parameter RAM and shadow registers.

Is the TMS320C6742BZCE2 pin-compatible with other C674x family members?

No, the TMS320C6742BZCE2 is not pin-compatible with other C674x devices such as the C6746 or C6748. Although all use 361-ball NFBGA packages, ball assignments differ significantly-especially for DDR2 interface signals, power domains, and peripheral multiplexing. The ZCE package (0.65-mm pitch) is unique to the C6742; C6746/C6748 use ZCEA (0.65-mm pitch but different footprint) or ZWT (0.80-mm pitch). Migration requires full PCB redesign.