Renesas TW2809-BC1-GR

Overview

TW2809-BC1-GR from Intersil is a multichannel H.264 audio/video codec IC designed for real-time security DVR systems. It supports up to 8-channel SD video encode/decode or HD 1080x60i encode/decode, 16-channel ADPCM audio encode, and features four BT.656 video input/output ports at 108 MHz plus two BT.1120 ports at 74.25 MHz.

For engineers reviewing the TW2809-BC1-GR datasheet, TW2809-BC1-GR pinout, TW2809-BC1-GR application, or TW2809-BC1-GR equivalent, key selection considerations include PCI 32-bit target interface compliance, DDR2 SDRAM support at 400 MHz, dual-voltage operation (1.2V core / 3.3V I/O), PBGA-320 packaging, and full-duplex H.264 main profile encoding/decoding capability.

Technical Context

The TW2809-BC1-GR implements a dedicated hardware-accelerated H.264 encoder/decoder engine with independent per-channel control of resolution, frame rate, and bit rate mode (CBR/VBR). It integrates a 32-bit PCI target interface operating at 33/66 MHz and supports external 16-bit DDR2 SDRAM at 400 MHz for video buffer management.

Video I/O includes four BT.656-compliant ports (108 MHz) and two BT.1120-compliant ports (74.25 MHz); audio subsystem handles 16-channel ADPCM encode and 1-channel decode with I²S-compatible digital audio interfaces and sample rates from 8 kHz to 48 kHz.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

PBGA-320 package with 27 mm × 27 mm body, 1.27 mm ball pitch, and exposed thermal pad on underside. Pinout includes dedicated PCI bus signals (AD[31:0], C/BE[3:0]#, PAR, FRAME#, IRDY#, TRDY#, STOP#, DEVSEL#), DDR2 interface (DQ[15:0], DQS[1:0], DM[1:0], CK/CK#, CKE, CS#, RAS#, CAS#, WE#), video I/O (BT.656/BT.1120 data/control), I²S audio, UART, GPIO, and power/ground balls.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar multichannel H.264 codec applications.

Compared with HI3516C V200 and TCM8230MD, the TW2809-BC1-GR uniquely combines full-duplex H.264 encode/decode, PCI target interface, and DDR2 memory controller in a single chip-making it irreplaceable in legacy x86-based DVR add-in card architectures requiring hardware-accelerated bidirectional video processing.

Availability

TW2809-BC1-GR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for video surveillance DVRs, hybrid analog/IP recorders, and PCI-based embedded DVR systems requiring stable component supply and long-term lifecycle support.

Supply support for TW2809-BC1-GR 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

Intersil Corporation was a U.S.-based semiconductor company specializing in precision analog and power management ICs, later acquired by Renesas Electronics in 2017.

The TW2809-BC1-GR belongs to Intersil's TW28xx family of video codec processors, engineered specifically for cost-sensitive, high-channel-count security DVR platforms requiring hardware-accelerated H.264 compression and PCI host integration.

FAQ

Is TW2809-BC1-GR still recommended for new designs?

No. The official datasheet explicitly states "NOT RECOMMENDED FOR NEW DESIGNS." TW2809-BC1-GR remains available for legacy DVR repair, replacement, and continuity programs, but Intersil/Renesas does not endorse its use in newly initiated projects. Engineers designing new systems should evaluate modern alternatives with active support and extended lifecycle.

What video standards does TW2809-BC1-GR support for input and output?

TW2809-BC1-GR supports BT.656-compliant video I/O at up to 108 MHz across four ports, and BT.1120-compliant I/O at 74.25 MHz across two ports. It does not support HDMI, MIPI, or LVDS interfaces. All video processing is strictly baseband digital - no analog front-end or serializer/deserializer functions are integrated into the TW2809-BC1-GR.

Does TW2809-BC1-GR include an integrated microprocessor or run firmware internally?

No. TW2809-BC1-GR is a fixed-function hardware codec with no embedded CPU or flash memory. It operates under host control via PCI register writes and PDMA transfers. Firmware execution occurs externally on the host processor; the TW2809-BC1-GR provides only hardware acceleration for H.264 and ADPCM operations.

What DDR2 SDRAM configuration is required for TW2809-BC1-GR?

TW2809-BC1-GR requires a 16-bit wide DDR2 SDRAM running at 400 MHz (200 MHz clock with double-data-rate). The device implements a dedicated DDR2 memory controller with configurable timing registers (DDR Timing Control Register 0/1), and supports standard JEDEC DDR2-400 (PC2-3200) modules with appropriate command/address layout.

Can TW2809-BC1-GR perform simultaneous encode and decode on the same video channel?

Yes. TW2809-BC1-GR supports real-time full-duplex operation: each of its eight SD channels can be independently configured for encode-only, decode-only, or simultaneous encode+decode. This enables applications such as live preview (decode) while recording (encode) on the same stream, with hardware-managed buffer arbitration and no host CPU intervention.