Does AVcc have to be connected?

>AVcc and AVss disconnected as I didn't need any analog capabilities. However, I can't get the board to program.
You are suspecting disconnected AVCC and AVSS, yet you are waiting for someone to tell what to do instead of just trying to connect mentioned pins and test? :)

[edit] Connect AVCC to DVCC and AVSS to DVSS

I have tested it, but it didn't seem to work. However, it's difficult to verify as I'd already tried programming the board with them disconnected so that may have affected the MSP. Also, it's a 0.5mm pitch QFN package, so the pins are rather hard to reliably connect to.

>tried programming the board with them disconnected so that may have affected the MSP
I doubt that you can kill msp such way, thou as far as I know you shall not leave analog ground and power pins floating no matter - you use analog funcitons or not.

What I'm finding now is that it's probably my programmer (just a regular MSP430EXP-G2 Launchpad). I'll try a more advanced programmer tomorrow.

Alex,

First: Do not leave AVcc and AVss unconnected, even if you do not use any analog functionality of the processor. Just tie them to DVcc and DVss.

Regarding your MSP430G2955 and the MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad as programmer: The LaunchPad does not support this processor. Look at this document on page 11/12:

The largest processor you can program with it is the MSP430G2553 - you will have to get another LaunchPad that has at least the eZ-FET lite like the MSP-EXP430F5529LP or get a real debugger/programmer like the MSP-FET.

Dennis

There is no specification for AVcc in the Data Sheet (as TI does for other devices), so from TI side you might leave AVcc unpowered, but leave a pin floating (unconnected) is always wrong also for AVcc and AVss.

It is listed in the user's guide, table 2.5, page 41:

Dennis

This is just an unmotivated and unspecified, general recommendation for a ‘Correct Termination’. The User’s Guide does not overrule the device specific value’s from the Data Sheet.

That is true!