Texas Instruments TMS320C6746AZWT3

Overview

TMS320C6746AZWT3 from Texas Instruments is a fixed- and floating-point digital signal processor (DSP) based on the C674x VLIW core, operating at 456 MHz with 32KB L1P cache, 32KB L1D RAM/cache, and 256KB unified L2 RAM/cache. It integrates EMAC, USB 2.0 OTG, McASP, dual McBSPs, DDR2/mDDR controller, and PRUSS for real-time offload-targeting embedded vision and biometric processing in industrial edge devices.

For engineers reviewing the TMS320C6746AZWT3 datasheet, TMS320C6746AZWT3 pinout, TMS320C6746AZWT3 application, or TMS320C6746AZWT3 equivalent, key selection considerations include its 456-MHz C674x DSP core, 361-ball NFBGA (ZWT, 16×16 mm, 0.80-mm pitch), IEEE SP/DP floating-point support, dual-channel EDMA3, and integrated PRU subsystem for deterministic I/O control.

Technical Context

The TMS320C6746AZWT3 implements a two-level cache hierarchy: 32KB direct-mapped L1P program cache and 32KB 2-way set-associative L1D data cache, backed by 256KB unified L2 memory configurable as RAM, cache, or hybrid. Its C674x core executes up to four single-precision floating-point additions per cycle and supports mixed-precision IEEE FP multiply (e.g., 2 SP×SP→SP per clock).

Peripheral integration includes a 10/100-Mbps EMAC with MII/RMII and MDIO, USB 2.0 OTG with integrated PHY, dual 16-bit eHRPWM modules with dead-band generation, three 32-bit eCAP modules configurable as capture or APWM, and a programmable PRUSS with two 32-bit RISC cores-each with 4KB IRAM and 512B DRAM-for time-critical I/O handling independent of the main DSP.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 361-ball NFBGA (ZWT suffix), 16.0 mm × 16.0 mm body size, 0.80-mm ball pitch, RoHS-compliant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with TMS320C6746AZWT3, the C6748ZWT3 extends on-chip memory for larger workloads, while the OMAP-L138AZWT3 adds an ARM9 host processor for full-featured embedded Linux deployment-neither offers pin compatibility, but both share identical ZWT package and core architecture for design reuse.

Availability

TMS320C6746AZWT3 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for currency inspection, biometric identification, and low-end machine vision applications requiring stable component supply, long-term industrial lifecycle support, and consistent electrical specifications across production batches.

Supply support for TMS320C6746AZWT3 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, embedded processing, and wireless technologies for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The TMS320C6746AZWT3 belongs to TI's C6000™ DSP platform, designed specifically for low-power, high-performance embedded signal processing in cost-sensitive industrial edge applications where floating-point precision and real-time I/O coexistence are critical.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the TMS320C6746AZWT3?

The TMS320C6746AZWT3 operates at a maximum frequency of 456 MHz when supplied with a 1.3-V core voltage. This speed delivers 2746 MFLOPS and 3648 MIPS, validated under industrial temperature conditions. The device also supports a 375-MHz mode at 1.2 V for lower-power operation. Both frequencies are production-tested and documented in the SPRS591F datasheet revision January 2017.

Does the TMS320C6746AZWT3 support IEEE double-precision floating-point arithmetic?

Yes, the TMS320C6746AZWT3 fully supports IEEE 754 double-precision (64-bit) floating-point operations through its C674x DSP core. It executes up to two DP additions every two clocks and supports DP multiply operations-including 2 DP×DP→DP every four clocks. Double-precision capability is confirmed in Section 1.1 of the SPRS591F datasheet and enabled via standard C6x compiler toolchain support.

What package type and dimensions does the TMS320C6746AZWT3 use?

The TMS320C6746AZWT3 uses a 361-ball NFBGA package with ZWT suffix, measuring 16.0 mm × 16.0 mm with 0.80-mm ball pitch. This RoHS-compliant package is distinct from the smaller 13×13-mm ZCE variant. Mechanical details-including thermal resistance and solder paste recommendations-are specified in Section 8.2 of the SPRS591F datasheet.

Can the TMS320C6746AZWT3 boot from NAND flash memory?

Yes, the TMS320C6746AZWT3 supports NAND flash boot via its EMIFA interface. Boot mode is selected using the BOOT[3:0] strap pins, and NAND configuration-including 8-bit or 16-bit data width and hardware ECC enable-is handled by the internal boot ROM. This capability is explicitly listed in Table 3-1 and Section 4.1 of the SPRS591F datasheet.

How many independent DMA channels does the TMS320C6746AZWT3 provide?

The TMS320C6746AZWT3 integrates the Enhanced Direct Memory Access Controller 3 (EDMA3) with 64 independent DMA channels and 16 quick DMA (QDMA) channels. These channels support memory-to-peripheral, peripheral-to-memory, and memory-to-memory transfers without CPU intervention-critical for real-time audio/video streaming. Full channel mapping and priority control are detailed in Section 6.9 of the SPRS591F datasheet.