50MHz Cortex-M3 in a 108-BGA — what the scorch mark tells you
The Texas Instruments LM3S2965-IBZ50-A2 is a Stellaris ARM Cortex-M3S 2000 series microcontroller — 32-bit single-core, 50MHz core speed, 256KB flash, and 64KB RAM. It ships in a 108-LFBGA (10x10 mm) package with 56 I/O lines.
Obsolete — the last-time-buy window is closed
Texas Instruments lists the LM3S2965-IBZ50-A2 as Obsolete. No official successor order code appears on the record — the Stellaris family was migrated to the Tiva C series, but the BGA-108 footprint and 2.5V core rail did not carry over directly. For a board that already has this part on the BOM, the only supply path is independent distribution and surplus channels. If you are repairing a legacy design and the original MCU has failed, the scorch mark might not tell you much — the part itself is the failure point. The 108-BGA package means rework requires a hot-air profile matched to the 10x10 mm body; the centre ground pad under the BGA needs a stencil that deposits enough solder paste to avoid a cold-joint void that lifts the die.
Sourcing a dead-line part — what to expect
Because the LM3S2965-IBZ50-A2 is discontinued, we source it through independent distribution — lot-specific, date-code mix possible, and pricing confirmed at quote time. No stock-holding claim; we quote against your BOM quantity and confirm availability before committing the line. The 108-BGA package is moisture-sensitive; if the part has been in storage past the floor life, a bake cycle per J-STD-033 is needed before reflow. We note the MSL level on the reel label when available — flag it in your RFQ if the board house requires a specific moisture-barrier bag seal date.