ESP32-S3 Ethernet RMII

[RaeEnw1]

I am developing a new product and have been working with the ESP32-Wroom-32d, which is slowly becoming obsolete. Important for me was the Ethernet port, because I communicated with RMII with a switch. Now I am looking for a new module, which also offers this RMII interface and is available. I wanted to use the new ESP32-S3 module. But now I found out that this no longer supports RMII. Is this correct and what replacement could I use? I need 2 I2C interfaces, one RMII interface, some analog inputs and various GPIOs. I ask for suggestions.

Thank you

[ESP_Sprite]

The Wroom-32D is superseded by the Wroom-32E, which still is current and offers the same silicon, including the RMII interface.

[david@millares.se]

Hi, I also want to use the RMII interface in a product with a longer expected availability than ESP32 but none of the coming ESP32-S or ESP32-C have the interface.

If ESP32-S3 have had RMII that would have been an perfect fit. Are there any plans for coming chips with RMII?

[ESP_Sprite]

While we're certainly not thinking of dropping Ethernet for future products, at this point we do not have any publicly announced upcoming chips with Ethernet in it. (I cannot comment on if the feature is in not-yet-announced chips, sorry for that.) Note that you could always add e.g. a SPI Ethernet chip to an ESP32-S3 to get Ethernet connectivity, although I agree that is not as optimal as simply having an integrated MAC.

[Axent1987]

While we're certainly not thinking of dropping Ethernet for future products, at this point we do not have any publicly announced upcoming chips with Ethernet in it. (I cannot comment on if the feature is in not-yet-announced chips, sorry for that.) Note that you could always add e.g. a SPI Ethernet chip to an ESP32-S3 to get Ethernet connectivity, although I agree that is not as optimal as simply having an integrated MAC.

I will add my opinion. Rejecting a RMI support in new ESP32 series like S3 is a very bad decision. Now I cannot to achieve high network performance. When I used LAN8720 with old chip, I could achieve up to 60Mbit/s in useful throughput. But now if I forced to use some SPI bridges like Wiznet W5500, it allows me only 15Mbit/s throughput. Of course, I can use Wiznet W5300 with parallel interface, that gives me 80Mbit/s network performance, but this chip is enough expensive in comparison with W5500 or LAN8720 and much bigger in their case.
Finally, ESP32S3 provides good perifh, but now developers are forced to choose :
1) Old ESP32 series + cheap LAN8720 with high speed network performance
2) New ESP32 series + cheap W5500 but with slow and braked network performance (thanks to SPI)
3) New ESP32 series + expensive W5300 with great count of used pins

Rejecting a RMI support is very very bad decision. Now I m forced to search some another solutions, that allows me to stay in low price for bill electronics components and sufficient LAN network performance.
I am disappointed in 'Espressif'

[Axent1987]

My problem is made worse by the fact, that my ESP32S3 also uses SPI in Slave mode (24Mbit/s).
If I try to connect old ESP32 with LAN8720 for high speed LAN solution, my SPI will be dead. Old ESP32 provides only up to 10Mbit/s in SPI Slave mode, that is very unsatisfactory for my project.
That why I m angry for rejecting RMII. Thanking this , it very hard to find inexpensive solution. Rejecting RMII caused a lot of problems and limitations (like SPI in slave mode and old Bluetooth version (4.2)).

[username]

Ever since the S3 came out we have developed several products with it. It's my go to part for anything that needs a micro.
Today we got a project that needs Ethernet, and I was shocked to see that they left out the RMII.
Crap!!!

Espressif, your products are economical, saving $0.001 to remove a feature when you already had it in there was not a good idea.

[harryweb]

As we need to create new products with ethernet I planned to use the ESP32.... Taking my old olimex EVB, that was fine. Now I see it's not a good idea to plan that chip.... I'm disappointed

[martins]

Has anyone measured the SPI ethernet throughput with S3 yet? Preferably with KSZ8851..

I may have project where ESP32 RMII can't be used because of high pin usage while not needing super-fast ethernet anyways, also builtin USB-JTAG saves other 4 pins, so the S3 seems to be a good fit