NXP Semiconductors MCIMX508CVK1B

Overview

MCIMX508CVK1B from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A8 applications processor with integrated EPDC for electrophoretic displays, 2D GPU (200 Mpix/s), ePXP pixel pipeline, and dual USB 2.0 OTG/host PHYs. It supports DDR2/LPDDR2/LPDDR1 up to 266 MHz and operates from 0°C to 70°C ambient. Used in e-reader and portable multimedia terminals requiring low-power grayscale display control.

For engineers reviewing the MCIMX508CVK1B datasheet, MCIMX508CVK1B pinout, MCIMX508CVK1B application, or MCIMX508CVK1B equivalent, key selection factors include EPDC availability, 416-pin MAPBGA 13×13 mm 0.5 mm pitch package, 1 GHz core frequency, dual-display capability (EPDC + eLCDIF), and HAB4 secure boot support.

Technical Context

The MCIMX508CVK1B implements a 64-bit AXI fabric (266 MHz) as its central interconnect, arbitrating between ARM CPU, ePXP, EPDC, eLCDIF, GPU2D, SDMA, FEC, and USB controllers. It integrates four PLLs - including one with eight independently controllable outputs - optimized for display timing and connectivity clocking.

Its memory subsystem includes 32 KB L1 instruction cache, 32 KB L1 data cache, 256 KB unified L2 cache, 96 KB boot ROM with HAB4, and 128 KB on-chip RAM. The DRAM controller supports 16/32-bit DDR2-533, LPDDR2-533, or LPDDR1-400 up to 2 GB, with dedicated hardware ECC for NAND flash.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MCIMX508CVK1B uses a 416-ball plastic MAPBGA package (Case 416), 13 mm × 13 mm, 0.5 mm ball pitch, RoHS-compliant and moisture sensitivity level 3. Ball map follows i.MX50 family standard layout with dedicated EPDC signal groups (EPDC_DATA[7:0], EPDC_GDCLK, EPDC_SDCLK, EPDC_SDOE, EPDC_SDLE, EPDC_SDSHR, EPDC_SDCE, EPDC_BDR0–BDR3).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar applications processor applications.

Compared with MCIMX508CVK1B, MCIMX507CVK1B removes GPU2D but keeps identical EPDC and pinout - ideal for cost-sensitive e-reader variants. i.MX6ULL G0 offers newer architecture and extended peripherals but requires PCB redesign and lacks EPDC, making it unsuitable for direct e-paper migration.

Availability

MCIMX508CVK1B is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for e-reader terminals, industrial handhelds, medical patient monitors, and smart retail kiosks requiring stable component supply across multi-year production cycles.

Supply support for MCIMX508CVK1B includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

NXP Semiconductors is a global semiconductor leader focused on secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets, with roots in Freescale's embedded processor heritage.

The i.MX50 product line was designed specifically for high-efficiency portable multimedia applications - emphasizing electrophoretic display integration, low-power ARM performance, and rich peripheral flexibility for consumer electronics.

FAQ

What display technologies does the MCIMX508CVK1B natively support?

The MCIMX508CVK1B natively supports electrophoretic displays (E Ink) via its integrated EPDC and standard LCD/TFT panels via the eLCDIF controller. It can drive both simultaneously - e.g., an E Ink main screen and a small auxiliary LCD - though eLCDIF bandwidth is reduced to 16-bit when EPDC is active due to pin muxing constraints confirmed in the i.MX50 datasheet Section 1.1.3.

Does the MCIMX508CVK1B include hardware security features for firmware authentication?

Yes, the MCIMX508CVK1B includes High-Assurance Boot 4 (HAB4) with SHA-256 hashing and 2048-bit RSA signature verification, enabling cryptographically signed firmware images. It also provides secure real-time clock (SRTC) with tamper detection and on-chip fuse programming for key storage - all documented in Section 1.1.8 and Table 4 of the IMX50CEC datasheet.

What memory types and speeds are supported by the MCIMX508CVK1B DRAM controller?

The MCIMX508CVK1B DRAM controller supports DDR2-533, LPDDR2-533, and LPDDR1-400 up to 266 MHz clock rate with 16/32-bit bus width and up to 2 GB total capacity. It also supports NAND Flash (SLC/MLC) with hardware BCH32 ECC, NOR Flash, PSRAM, and eMMC 4.4 - as specified in Sections 1.1.5 and 4.8 of the IMX50CEC datasheet.

Is the MCIMX508CVK1B pin-compatible with other i.MX50 variants like MCIMX507CVK1B?

Yes, the MCIMX508CVK1B and MCIMX507CVK1B share identical 416-pin MAPBGA 13×13 mm 0.5 mm pitch packaging and ball map per Table 3 of the IMX50CEC datasheet. However, MCIMX507CVK1B disables the GPU2D block, so GPU-related pins retain their ALT0 function but are non-operational - requiring software and layout validation before substitution.

What power management features help reduce active and idle power in the MCIMX508CVK1B?

The MCIMX508CVK1B implements Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS), state-retention power gating (SRPG) for ARM core and NEON, auto slow architecture, flexible clock gating, and on-chip temperature monitoring. These features enable sub-15 mW idle power and scalable active power from 396 MHz/0.95V to 1 GHz/1.25V - detailed in Sections 1.1.6 and 4.2 of the IMX50CEC datasheet.