80 MHz Cortex-M3 with integrated Ethernet MAC — the part that bridged control and connectivity
The LM3S6G65-IQC80-A2: The standout feature is the integrated Ethernet MAC — no external controller needed for wired networking, which simplifies the BOM and board layout for industrial gateways, building automation controllers, and remote monitoring nodes.
512 KB of program Flash and 64 KB of SRAM provide space for a real-time OS and Ethernet stack without external memory.
Peripheral set — Ethernet, ADC, and serial interfaces
Beyond Ethernet, the LM3S6G65 includes a 16-channel 12-bit ADC, multiple serial interfaces (I2C, SPI, SSI, UART/USART, IrDA, Microwire), a Quadrature Encoder Interface (QEI) for motor feedback, and PWM outputs.
An internal oscillator is available, though an external crystal is recommended for Ethernet timing accuracy. The 100-LQFP package has a central thermal pad; for continuous operation near the 85°C limit, a via stitch under the pad helps keep junction temperature in check.