NXP Semiconductors MCIMX6S1AVM08AC

Overview

MCIMX6S1AVM08AC from NXP Semiconductors is an i.MX 6Solo applications processor featuring a single Arm Cortex-A9 core operating at up to 800 MHz, integrated VPU and GPU for 1080p video decode/encode and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration, and support for DDR3/DDR3L/LPDDR2-800 memory. It includes dual CAN interfaces, Gigabit Ethernet controller (IEEE 1588 compliant), HDMI 1.4, MIPI CSI-2/DSI, and EPDC for E-INK displays - deployed in industrial HMIs and portable medical devices.

For engineers reviewing the MCIMX6S1AVM08AC datasheet, MCIMX6S1AVM08AC pinout, MCIMX6S1AVM08AC application, or MCIMX6S1AVM08AC equivalent, key selection criteria include its commercial temperature grade (0°C to +95°C), 21 mm × 21 mm MAPBGA package with 0.8 mm pitch, 1 GHz core speed capability (with 24 MHz reference clock limitation), TrustZone security, and hardware-accelerated multimedia subsystems including VPU, IPUv3H, and PXP.

Technical Context

The MCIMX6S1AVM08AC implements a single-core Arm Cortex-A9 MPCore platform with 32 KB L1 instruction and 32 KB L1 data caches, plus 512 KB unified L2 cache. Its memory subsystem supports 32-bit DDR3/DDR3L-800 and LPDDR2-800, with on-chip OCRAM (128 KB) and secure RAM (16 KB).

It integrates dedicated accelerators: VPU for H.264/VC-1/MPEG-4 decode/encode, GPU3Dv5 (OpenGL ES 2.0), GPU2Dv2 (BitBlt), PXP for E-INK pixel processing, ASRC for multi-channel audio sample rate conversion, and CAAM for cryptographic acceleration with NIST-certified PRNG and 16 KB secure RAM.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MCIMX6S1AVM08AC uses a 224-ball MAPBGA package (21 mm × 21 mm, 0.8 mm pitch, RoHS-compliant). Ball map and signal assignments are defined in Section 6.2 of IMX6SDLCEC Rev. 9, with dedicated power domains (VDD_ARM, VDD_SOC, VDDA_3P3, etc.), differential clock inputs (OSC_IN/OSC_OUT, CLKIN), and multiplexed I/O grouped by function (e.g., ENET, USDHC, CSI, I2C, UART).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MCIMX6S1AVM08AC, MCIMX6U5DVM10AC trades EPDC and single-core efficiency for dual-core throughput and higher clock stability, while MCIMX6S5EVM10AC retains identical functionality but extends operational range - making the former ideal for compute-dense gateways and the latter for thermally demanding industrial sites.

Availability

MCIMX6S1AVM08AC is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMI, portable medical monitoring, and smart energy gateway applications requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and traceable sourcing from authorized channels.

Supply support for MCIMX6S1AVM08AC 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 headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets with >50 years of microcontroller and SoC innovation.

The i.MX 6Solo family - including MCIMX6S1AVM08AC - was designed specifically for cost-sensitive, power-constrained consumer and industrial applications requiring rich multimedia, robust security, and flexible display interfaces without dual-core complexity.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MCIMX6S1AVM08AC under standard conditions?

The MCIMX6S1AVM08AC is rated for up to 800 MHz operation with a 24 MHz crystal input. When using a 24 MHz reference clock - which is mandatory for USB functionality - the maximum achievable core frequency is 996 MHz per the IMX6SDLCEC Rev. 9 datasheet. This limit ensures stable USB PHY operation and meets timing closure requirements across all silicon revisions.

Does the MCIMX6S1AVM08AC include hardware support for secure boot?

Yes, the MCIMX6S1AVM08AC implements Advanced High Assurance Boot (A-HAB) v4 with SHA-256 hashing, 2048-bit RSA signature verification, version control, and warm-boot support. Secure boot is enforced by the CSU and CAAM modules, and validated during ROM code execution before loading the first-stage bootloader - ensuring only cryptographically signed firmware executes.

Can the MCIMX6S1AVM08AC drive both HDMI and E-INK displays simultaneously?

Yes, the MCIMX6S1AVM08AC supports concurrent HDMI 1.4 and EPDC operation. The HDMI controller handles RGB/YUV video output up to 1080p60, while the dedicated EPDC block independently manages E-INK waveform generation and partial updates - enabling hybrid display systems such as retail kiosks with dynamic video and static price tags.

What memory types does the MCIMX6S1AVM08AC support for external storage?

The MCIMX6S1AVM08AC supports NAND Flash (MLC/SLC, BCH ECC up to 40-bit), NOR Flash, PSRAM, and managed NAND (eMMC up to rev 4.41) via its GPMI and WEIM interfaces. It does not support LPDDR3 or DDR4; supported DRAM includes DDR3, DDR3L, and LPDDR2-800 at 32-bit width with interleaving disabled in Solo configuration.

Is the MCIMX6S1AVM08AC pin-compatible with other i.MX 6Solo variants like MCIMX6S5DVM10AC?

Yes, all i.MX 6Solo MAPBGA packages in the VM suffix (e.g., MCIMX6S1AVM08AC, MCIMX6S5DVM10AC, MCIMX6S8DVM10AC) share identical 224-ball 21 mm × 21 mm layout, 0.8 mm pitch, and ball-to-signal mapping per IMX6SDLCEC Rev. 9. Differences lie in fuse-configured features (e.g., EPDC enablement) and speed grade - not physical connectivity.