Industrial MCUs pair 600-MHz cores with MRAM
Renesas has introduced the RX74M and RX74N 32-bit industrial MCUs, available now along with corresponding evaluation boards. The two devices are the first in the RX family to use a 22-nm process and incorporate embedded MRAM. Based on a 600-MHz RXv3e core, they achieve more than twice the performance of their 240-MHz predecessors, the RX72M and RX72N. Each MCU features 1 MB of code MRAM, 256 KB of zero-wait-state TCM (tightly coupled memory) RAM, and 1.5 MB of SRAM for real-time processing. Unlike embedded flash, MRAM can be written without a prior erase operation, allowing faster code and data updates and reducing programming time. The RX74M is designed for industrial automation equipment, including AC drives, industrial robots, and PLCs, while the RX74N targets smart meters, power conditioners, and HVAC systems. Both integrate Gigabit Ethernet and CAN FD, and the RX74M adds a TSN-capable Ethernet switch and an EtherCAT slave controller for industrial networking.