DAC38RF83IAAV - Dual 14-Bit 9-GSPS RF DAC | Texas Instruments
MPN: DAC38RF83IAAV β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $195.77 | $195.77 |
| 10 | $188 | $1,880.00 |
| 100 | $179.5 | $17,950.00 |
| 500 | $172 | $86,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $165 | $165,000.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for DAC38RF83IAAV β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DAC38RF82IAAV
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DAC38RF81IAAV
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DAC38J84IAAV
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DAC38J83IAAV
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DAC38J82IAAV
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DAC38RF83IAAV Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Resolution | 14 bit |
| Number of Channels | 2 |
| Maximum Sampling Rate | 9 GS/s |
| Output Signal Bandwidth | 0 to 4.5 GHz (RF sampling) |
| Interpolation Ratios | 6x to 24x |
| On-Chip PLL | 6 GHz and 9 GHz PLL |
| Digital Interface | JESD204B |
| Output Type | Single-ended or differential current output |
| Settling Time | 1 ns |
| Package | 144-FCBGA (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Architecture | RF-sampling, current-steering DAC |
| Series | DAC38RF83 |
| Typical Application | 5G base station, SDR, radar waveform generation |
| RoHS Status | unknown |
DAC38RF83IAAV 144-fcbga (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for DAC38RF83IAAV (144-fcbga (10x10 mm) package). This analog component features input, output, and power supply pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for offset null, compensation, and enable pin configurations. Ideal for signal conditioning and amplifier circuits.
No detailed pinout data available for DAC38RF83IAAV.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics
No official SOA curve available for this component. Always operate within absolute maximum ratings specified in the datasheet. Ensure adequate cooling and derate as needed.
Typical Applications
DAC38RF83IAAV is suitable for 6 applications: 5G Wireless Base Station Transmitter, Software-Defined Radio (SDR), Radar and Electronic Warfare Waveform Generation, Broadband Test and Measurement Signal Sources, Satellite Communications Uplink, Multi-Channel Instrumentation Signal Synthesis.
5G Wireless Base Station Transmitter
The DAC38RF83IAAV fits 5G massive-MIMO and macro-cell transmit chains because its 9 GSPS update rate and 0-4.5 GHz synthesis range enable direct-RF generation of wideband carriers without analog upconversion mixers or LO synthesizers. The integrated 6x-24x interpolation reduces the JESD204B lane rate demanded from the baseband FPGA, cutting FPGA transceiver utilization and system power. In a typical topology, the baseband FPGA feeds the DAC through JESD204B lanes, and the differential current output drives an RF gain block or direct balun into the PA driver. The dual-channel architecture supports two transmit paths from one device, halving DAC count versus single-channel designs. The trade-off versus lower-rate DACs is higher device power dissipation, so the 10x10 mm FCBGA requires solid thermal vias under the package.
Recommended
Software-Defined Radio (SDR)
Wideband software-defined radios benefit from the DAC38RF83IAAV because its digital up-conversion, NCO mixing, and programmable interpolation filters allow the waveform to be shaped entirely in the digital domain before RF synthesis from 0 to 4.5 GHz. At 9 GSPS with mix-mode operation, output images are pushed far from the fundamental, simplifying reconstruction filtering and letting a single DAC cover multi-octave frequency plans that previously required switched filter banks. The JESD204B interface with on-chip PLL clocking simplifies synchronization across multiple transmit channels, and 14-bit resolution preserves dynamic range for adjacent-channel performance. Designers should budget for the DAC's power consumption and use low-noise supplies, since spurious performance degrades with noisy AVDD rails. The 144-ball FCBGA footprint supports dense multi-channel SDR platforms such as EW jammers and cognitive radios.
Recommended
Radar and Electronic Warfare Waveform Generation
Modern radar and electronic warfare systems require agile, wideband waveform generation with fast frequency hopping, exactly what the DAC38RF83IAAV delivers through its 9 GSPS sample rate and direct-RF synthesis up to 4.5 GHz. Chirp, phase-coded, and arbitrary waveforms are computed in the FPGA and streamed over JESD204B, with the DAC's interpolation and mixing handling spectral translation. The 14-bit resolution and high update rate provide the range-resolution and instantaneous-bandwidth combination needed for LPI radar and DRFM-style exciters. The 1 ns settling time supports fast pulse transitions critical to pulsed radar. The industrial -40C to +85C operating range suits defense platforms. System designers must pair the DAC with a low-jitter clock such as the LMK04832, since clock aperture jitter directly limits wideband SFDR at multi-GHz output frequencies.
Recommended
Broadband Test and Measurement Signal Sources
Arbitrary waveform generators and vector signal generators use the DAC38RF83IAAV to synthesize test signals spanning DC to several GHz with 14-bit amplitude accuracy. The 9 GSPS rate yields multi-GHz instantaneous bandwidth, enabling generation of wideband modulated carriers, pulsed-RF profiles, and interference profiles in a single instrument without RF upconversion chains. On-chip interpolation (6x-24x) lets instrument firmware relax the digital data path while maintaining output fidelity, and mixed-mode operation optimizes high-frequency output amplitude roll-off. The differential current output interfaces cleanly with transformer-coupled or amplifier-based output stages used in benchtop instruments. Compared with slower DACs, the RF-sampling architecture removes mixer spurs from the output spectrum, improving measurement fidelity; the trade-off is higher power and a thermally demanding 10x10 mm FCBGA that instrument designers must cool with forced air.
Recommended
Satellite Communications Uplink
Satellite uplink modems employ the DAC38RF83IAAV to synthesize IF or direct-L-band carriers with high spectral purity. The 14-bit resolution supports high-order modulation schemes (e.g., 256QAM and above) where error-vector-magnitude budgets are tight, and the wide 0-4.5 GHz synthesis range covers common L-, S-, C-, and X-band plan allocations through digital NCO mixing rather than analog LOs, eliminating mixer-related spurs and LO leakage. The JESD204B interface simplifies interfacing to modem FPGAs, while on-chip PLL clocking reduces the external clock tree in size-constrained outdoor units. Dual channels support polarization-diversity transmit chains from a single device. Thermal design remains important: at multi-GSPS rates the FCBGA package dissipates substantial power, so designers should follow TI datasheet power-dissipation guidance and use adequate PCB copper area under the package.
Recommended
Multi-Channel Instrumentation Signal Synthesis
Automated test equipment and channel-emulation platforms use multiple DAC38RF83IAAV devices to synthesize many coherent wideband channels. The JESD204B interface with deterministic latency and the shared SYSREF clocking scheme allow phase-coherent multi-device synchronization, which is essential for phased-array exciters, MIMO channel emulators, and physics instrumentation. The integrated 6/9 GHz PLLs derive the high-rate DAC clock from a common low-frequency reference, keeping the clock distribution tree manageable across a backplane. Each device's dual outputs provide two channels, so four devices yield eight coherent outputs in a compact footprint. Designers must respect the -40C to +85C operating range, manage the power/thermal load of multiple FCBGAs, and follow the TI datasheet's JESD204B layout guidance for matched-length, controlled-impedance serial lanes to the host FPGA.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DAC38RF83IAAV β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DAC38RF82IAAV | DAC38RF81IAAV | DAC38J84IAAV | DAC38J83IAAV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-FCBGA (10x10 mm) | 144-FCBGA (10x10 mm) - same | 144-FCBGA (10x10 mm) - same | 144-FCBGA (10x10 mm) - same | 144-FCBGA (10x10 mm) - same |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Resolution | 14 bit | 14 bit | 14 bit | 14 bit | 14 bit |
| Max Sampling Rate | 9 GS/s | 9 GS/s | 9 GS/s | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Channels | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Interpolation | 6x-24x | 6x-24x | 6x-24x | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Digital Interface | JESD204B | JESD204B | JESD204B | JESD204B | JESD204B |
| On-Chip PLL | 6 GHz & 9 GHz PLL | Yes (per family datasheet) | Yes (per family datasheet) | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Direct-RF synthesis up to 4.5 GHz eliminates analog upconversion (vs DAC38J84IAAV)
- Dual-channel output density (vs DAC38RF81IAAV)
- Wide interpolation range reduces FPGA lane rate (vs DAC38J83IAAV)
- Cost trade-off (vs DAC38RF82IAAV)
Design Notes
The JESD204B serial lanes between the FPGA and DAC38RF83IAAV must be routed as 100-ohm differential pairs with matched intra-pair and inter-pair length skew, following the TI datasheet layout section. Keep lanes short, avoid stubs, and reference a solid ground plane. Provide SYSREF to all devices in the clock tree with matched delays for deterministic-latency multi-chip synchronization. Violating lane skew limits is the most common cause of initial link-sync failure in RF DAC designs.
Estimated: at multi-GSPS operation the DAC38RF83IAAV dissipates significant power in its 10x10 mm FCBGA (exact figure in the TI datasheet power section). Compute P = I_supply x V_supply at your configured sample rate and interpolation mode, then multiply by theta_JA from the datasheet to verify junction temperature stays within the -40C to +85C ambient envelope. Use an array of thermal vias under the package land pattern tied to internal ground planes, and allow airflow in benchtop or outdoor-unit enclosures.
Clock jitter dominates output SFDR at RF output frequencies: aperture jitter plus reference jitter translates to noise at 20*log10(f_out * 2*pi * jitter). Pair the DAC38RF83IAAV with an ultra-low-jitter JESD204B clock such as the LMK04832, use differential clock distribution, and power the analog and clock rails with low-noise LDOs rather than raw switching regulator outputs. Separate AVDD and DVDD domains per the datasheet and place 100 nF ceramic decoupling at every supply ball.
Do not assume the DAC38RF83 output configuration registers from DAC38Jxx designs port directly; interpolation, mixing mode, and PLL programming differ within the family even for same-footprint parts such as the DAC38J84IAAV. Verify output current setting against the load impedance to avoid overdriving the following gain stage, and confirm firmware/configuration files are regenerated for the substitute device whenever a family alternative is fitted.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH/lead-free status was not explicitly stated in the retrieved distributor data; confirm on TI.com product quality pages.
