Renesas launches 600 MHz RX74M and RX74N MCUs with 22 nm MRAM
Renesas Electronics has launched the RX74M and RX74N, new flagship 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) that combine processing speeds of up to 600 MHz with embedded magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) on a 22 nm process.
The new devices are the first MCUs in Renesas’ RX Family to use a 22 nm process and integrated MRAM. They deliver more than twice the performance of the previous-generation 240 MHz RX72M and RX72N devices.
The RX74M is aimed at industrial and factory automation applications including AC drives, industrial robots and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). The RX74N targets a broader range of industrial equipment, including smart meters, power conditioners and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
600 MHz processing with embedded MRAM
The RX74M and RX74N are built around a 600 MHz RXv3e CPU core, supported by 1 MB of embedded MRAM, 256 KB of zero-wait-state tightly coupled memory (TCM) and 1.5 MB of SRAM.
The combination is designed to provide fast, deterministic real-time processing for industrial workloads involving frequent interrupts and branches, where low latency and predictable execution are important.
The embedded MRAM also provides benefits for applications that frequently update code, parameters or stored data. Unlike conventional embedded flash memory, MRAM does not require an erase operation before writing data. This can reduce programming times and enable faster updates, potentially helping to minimise downtime in equipment that regularly stores operating parameters, event logs or other data.
Industrial networking on a single MCU
The RX74M integrates multiple industrial networking functions, including an EtherCAT slave controller, a TSN-capable Gigabit Ethernet switch and CAN FD.
This allows the MCU to support industrial Ethernet protocols including EtherCAT, PROFINET and EtherNet/IP, while Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) provides deterministic communication capabilities.
The RX74M also supports redundant network configurations such as EtherNet/IP Device Level Ring (DLR), expanding its suitability for connected industrial equipment and industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications.
By integrating multiple networking functions into a single MCU, the RX74M can reduce the need for additional network-control devices in some system architectures.
Hardware security and PQC support
The RX74M and RX74N include enhanced hardware-based security features designed to address security requirements across the lifecycle of connected industrial equipment.
ProtectZone, integrated into the RX CPU, allows secure and non-secure regions to be separated within the MCU.
The devices also incorporate the next-generation Renesas Secure IP (RSIP), extending the public-key cryptography capabilities of the previous Trusted Secure IP (TSIP). RSIP supports authenticated encryption and a broader range of hash algorithms.
These security features provide a hardware foundation for advanced security implementations, including applications that may require post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
Renesas positions the security capabilities as supporting the evolving requirements of connected equipment, including cybersecurity regulations such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The specific security measures required for CRA compliance will depend on the end product and its implementation.
Additional RX74M and RX74N features
Alongside the 600 MHz versions, Renesas offers 300 MHz variants with more than 20% lower power consumption.
Other features include:
1.62 V to 3.6 V supply-voltage range
-40°C to +125°C junction-temperature range
Support for eXecute-in-Place (XiP) from external Octa Flash memory
On-the-fly decryption for external flash
Package options including 176-, 224- and 320-pin LFBGA, and 100-, 144- and 176-pin LFQFP
A scalable development environment based on the Flexible Software Package (FSP) shared across Renesas RX, RA and RZ MCU families
The RX74M and RX74N extend Renesas’ RX MCU portfolio for applications requiring high real-time processing performance, industrial networking, memory flexibility and hardware-based security.
