SDAA565 October   2026 AM2431 , AM2432 , AM2434 , AM6411 , AM6412 , AM6422 , AM6441 , AM6442

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Introduction
  5. 2Hardware Architecture
    1. 2.1 EVM Configuration
    2. 2.2 APS6408L PSRAM Device
      1. 2.2.1 OSPI PSRAM Configurations
  6. 3Software Architecture
  7. 4Implementation Guide
    1. 4.1 Prerequisites
    2. 4.2 Example Applications
      1. 4.2.1 Secondary Bootloaders
        1. 4.2.1.1 SBL OSPI PSRAM
        2. 4.2.1.2 SBL SD PSRAM
      2. 4.2.2 OSPI PSRAM I/O
      3. 4.2.3 Hello World with Code Execution from OSPI PSRAM
    3. 4.3 Integrating OSPI PSRAM into Custom Applications
  8. 5Performance Analysis and Benchmarks
    1. 5.1 Read and Write Throughput
    2. 5.2 Simulated Application Benchmarks
      1. 5.2.1 XIP Benchmark
      2. 5.2.2 On-Chip Memory Benchmark
    3. 5.3 PROFINET Benchmarks
      1. 5.3.1 Performance Degradation using Fast Startup Time
      2. 5.3.2 Performance Degradation using CPU Load
  9. 6Summary
  10. 7References

1 Introduction

The increasing cost and limited availability of DDR memory have become critical concerns for embedded system designers, particularly in cost-sensitive industrial applications. Global supply chain constraints and growing demand have significantly impacted bill-of-materials (BOM) costs, forcing engineers to evaluate alternative memory architectures.

The AM64x Sitara™ processor family addresses this challenge through its octal serial peripheral interface (OSPI) controller, which supports external pseudo-SRAM (PSRAM) devices. OSPI PSRAM devices allow the processor to execute code directly from external memory, effectively expanding available code space without the need for large internal RAM buffers.

This application note presents a complete implementation of OSPI PSRAM support on the modified TMDS64EVM using the APS6408L 8MB OSPI PSRAM device. The implementation includes hardware configuration, low-level driver architecture, and bootloader modifications to support execute-in-place (XIP) operation. To validate this approach for industrial use, comprehensive performance benchmarks are provided using PROFINET communication profiles. These benchmarks quantify read/write throughput, CPU load, and Fast Startup times, enabling engineers to evaluate OSPI PSRAM performance against stringent application requirements.