Renesas Expands RA8 MCU Series with 1GHz Cortex-M85 RA8M2 and RA8D2 Groups Featuring Embedded MRAM for Industrial and IoT Applications

Renesas Electronics Corporation has introduced the RA8M2 and RA8D2 microcontroller groups as part of the second generation of its RA8 Series. These MCUs are based on a 1 GHz Arm Cortex-M85 processor with Helium technology and an optional 250 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor, delivering 7300 Coremarks of performance. The Cortex-M33 supports system partitioning and task segregation.

The RA8M2 targets general-purpose applications, while the RA8D2 focuses on high-end graphics and human-machine interface (HMI) needs. Both groups include single and dual-core options and are built on a 22-nm ultra-low leakage (ULL) process, matching the RA8P1 and RA8T2 devices released earlier in the year. They enable performance gains in digital signal processing (DSP) and machine learning (ML) tasks.

Embedded MRAM provides high endurance, data retention, faster writes without erase cycles, byte addressability, lower leakage, and reduced manufacturing costs compared to Flash. System-in-package (SIP) options with 4 MB or 8 MB external Flash are available for larger applications. Both groups feature Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and a 2-port Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) switch for industrial networking.

The combination of the Cortex-M85 core, large memory, and peripherals suits IoT and industrial use cases. The Cortex-M33 handles system tasks while the Cortex-M85 remains in sleep m...