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CC2530: CC2533 vs CC2530, how compatible are these?

Part Number: CC2530
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2533,

Dear champs,

My customer uses CC2533 in an existing product today, but looking to use CC2530 in some products. How compatible are these?

Pinouts are very similar apart from pins 1-4 which are unused on CC2530 and should be connected GND according to datasheet. Is this mandatory, i.e. are these pins connected to die GND or just floating inside the package? Customer is asking for layout reuse purposes.

Other differences are obvoius from the datasheets, such as flash sizes, Rx sensitivity and Tx output power.

Thanks,

/ Wolfgang

  • Hi Wolfgang,

    Here is a device comparison, the CC2530 has more memory and RAM since it is not a reduced function device intended only for lightweight RF4CE purposes.  As you've already observed, they are pin-compatible with the exception of 1 through 4 which are not critical towards operation.  Unused pins are recommended to be connected to GND.  The CC2530 also has ADC and AES peripherals.

    Regards,
    Ryan

  • Hi Ryan,

    Many thanks for quick response! Sounds like CC2530 could replace CC2533 in my customer's case, taking the internal differences into account.

    I think my customer's main concern is to understand if there is any risk leaving the unused pins 1-4 floating on the PCB vs connecting to GND? CC2533 has an I2C interface on two these pins and the other are NC. I believe the thought is to reuse the same PCB but populating a CC2530 in some products and CC2533 in others.

    Thanks,

    / Wolfgang

  • Hi Wolfgang.

    If they're not planning to use the I2C interface and they want to keep the same layout for their boards, then I'd recommend grounding all 4 pins. Our measurements for the devices and reference designs are taken with these pins grounded, so the device's performance may be different if they are left unconnected.

    Best,

    Nate

  • Thank you Nathan for clarifying. Much appreciated.

    Best,

    / Wolfgang