DM3730 POP Recommendations

Hi!!

Did you find any answer about this? one of the principal problems I founded is micron is continuously change pop memory availability. There are other alternatives like micro semi, hynix, samsung.

Thanks

Actually it wasn't so much who makes POP memory, I was looking for a list of recommended POP devices, if there is such a list.

I have found that for embedded applications, unless I am extremely tight on space, I prefer standard memory such as DDR2 and DDR3 over POP memory.  They are more widely available and they seem to have longer life cycles.

Yes I agree with you, POP memories go so fast to be EOL products. Besides is very difficult to find a pcb factory which has economic prices for such kind of pcb, considering constrains put on problems some pcb shops.

By the way do you get good results with discrete ram and nand elements?

Do you mean individual chips rather than DIMMs?  Yes, I have quite a few customers who are successfully using discrete RAM and NAND/NOR.

For DRAM pay close attention to any layout guides from the processor and memory maker; studying eval boards and reference designs helps as well.

I find for NAND the biggest thing is the number of ECC bits required.  ECC is definitely something you want done in hardware, either the processor or the NAND.  Make sure that you don't select a NAND with a higher ECC requirement than the processor can support.

When selecting memory of any type I always spend time researching the roadmap, some part numbers will be around longer than others.  Memory manufacturers are also starting to provide lists of parts that they plan to support for 10 or 12 years (they will have die shrinks and rev changes but there should be a form-fit-function part available over an extended period), these "long life" parts will cost a bit more but you won't be in constant redesign mode. Your distributor can help guide you as they have access to this information.

Hi Terry,

The Micron's DDR PoP memory chips are widely use with DM3730 and OMAP3530 but it is not the only DDR PoP memory vendor. I would like to suggest you a link to Memory vendor selection guide where you can find various memory vendors:

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Memory_Vendor_Selection_Guide

For example there is a link to Micron's memory catalog:

http://www.micron.com/products/dram/mobile-lpdram#fullPart&306=0&218=7&233=3

Also pay attention on the processor package because only the CBB package uses 168 ball 12x12 PoP memories.

BR

Tsvetolin Shulev

Hi Terry:

You're complete right with this. I have contacted to Micron and actually its lead time right now is 12 weeks for their new numbers. Also I have observe pop memories from Micron are continuously being end of life product. In fact is pretty rare to observe a Micron number to be more than 2 years on market.

Hynix and Micro Semi seems out of stock, I'm waiting their respective responses.

Really a nightmare to find pop memories :(

Regards,

Omar.

POP memory is generally intended for commercial applications, where long life isn't the highest on the wish list.  That being said, if you are careful in your selection you can get some decent longevity.  For instance Micron's POP memory on the 30 nm node should be good for at least 5 years.

Memory selection takes more care than many put into it.  Spend some time with your distribution FAE or manufacturer and go over the roadmaps and longevity lists, it will save you time in the long-run.