PIC32MZ-DA: processor modules available for own projects - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: fchk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 10:59:29 am
content: Hi();I'm planning a new project with an PIC32MZ-DA and a 800*480 TFT. Unfortunately, the versions with embedded 32MB DDR2 memory are out of stock, so I need to use the 288 pin version plus an external 128M*16 DDR2 chip. Both chips are BGA, and DDR2 layouting is always a non-trivial task. For these reasons I'd like to ask if there are CPU/RAM modules available so I only need to make a musch simpler carrier board.fchk

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 11:08:15 am
content: Have you considered an other processor?For instance the lichee nano with the Alwinner F1C100s:https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005002542701015.htmlIt supports a display like what you want, and runs on 600MHz. Sure it is older technology, but it works.See my github repository about it:https://github.com/pecostm32/Lichee_NanoThe processor is also used in the FNIRSI-1013D. Check my signature for more repositories.

author: fchk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 12:48:08 pm
content: Quote from: pcprogrammer on August 21, 2022, 11:08:15 amYes. I had a look at STM32H7/F7, NXP, Atmel SAM. Poor availability, and I always need external SDRAM.I'll do bare-metal programming - no Linux! The CAN bus must be running within 25ms after power-up.Quote from: pcprogrammer on August 21, 2022, 11:08:15 amSeems interesing, but lacks CAN. I need one or better two Hi-Speed CAN busses, and I'd like to avoid SPI CAN MACs as much as possible due to performance/latency reasons. So these Allwinners don't fit my needs. And I down't have a reliable source within Europe. I'm hesitant to order larger quantities on aliexpress (will need 0k5 to 3k of these parts over the duration of the project)fchk

author: benSTmax
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 01:00:54 pm
content: If you considered Atmel SAM E/S/V7x series for its SDRAM capability, forget about it. This micro is a pile of c**p. It should be fixed or killed. Too many serious bugs ... the latter solution would be best ...

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 03:10:58 pm
content: What about the PIC32MX170F256B-I/SP?256KB Flash 64KB RAM 40MHzIs there something you need the MZ for?Mouser has stock:https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Microchip-Technology/PIC32MX170F256B-I-SP?qs=PQDAUpz3sUPfyyBbsTNwmg%3D%3DDigikey has stock:https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/microchip-technology/PIC32MX170F256B-50I-SP/4902612Maybe look for a CAN bus interface instead of external memory?

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 03:19:45 pm
content: Quote from: fchk on August 21, 2022, 12:48:08 pmSo do IBut yes, when you need CAN bus the Alwinner is not for you. It might also be hard to get in larger quantities, but that was not clear from your original post. Thought it was just a one of thing as a hobby

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 03:26:50 pm
content: Quote from: fchk on August 21, 2022, 12:48:08 pmWaveshare sells core boards with STM32H7 and 8MB of ram on board. Not cheap thoughhttps://www.waveshare.com/product/mcu-tools/core-boards-compact-boards/stm32-core/coreh743i.htm

author: benSTmax
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 04:31:48 pm
content: Looks like there are a few (51 pcs when I checked a few moments ago) PIC32MZ DA variants with integrated 32MB DDR2 available in LQFP package at Digikeyhttps://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/microchip-technology/PIC32MZ1025DAS176-I-2J/10187803

author: fchk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 07:21:21 pm
content: Quote from: MarkF on August 21, 2022, 03:10:58 pmYes, I need to drive an 800*480 pixel TFT, so I absolutely need MZ-DA with integrated TFT controller and 2D acceleration. And such a display needs lots of memory (800*480*3 is 1.2MByte for the framebuffer, plus more for off-screen bitblitting). Plus 1 or 2 CAN busses.fchk

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 08:23:56 pm
content: Quote from: fchk on August 21, 2022, 07:21:21 pmIMHO you would be better off with external hardware for the TFT display and CAN buses that you can use the PICs DMA channels from the internal memory for fast updates. Using external memory for the PIC programming area will just slow down the microcontroller execution. I don't know if you can do DMA with external memory; but losing the DMA capability would be a major loss.I would search for a TFT display module with a driver such as aSSD1963 for display memoryand a second CAN bus interface with a SPI.The PIC32MX170F256B has twice the memory you're asking for.

author: fchk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 08:38:40 pm
content: Quote from: MarkF on August 21, 2022, 08:23:56 pmIt has 64k.I need 32M. M, not k. Thats 2^9 more. The TFT primary framebuffer needs 1.2M, the secondary one (for double-buffering) needs another 1.2M. A SSD1963 does not have enough memory for double buffering, so doesn't work.fchk

author: NorthGuy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 02:06:07 pm
content: Quote from: fchk on August 21, 2022, 10:59:29 amNot that bad, and their DDR2 is slow, so you have bigger margin of error. But you will need at least 4-layer board.