Microchip Technology MEC1701H-C1-SZ

Overview

MEC1701H-C1-SZ from Microchip Technology is an ARM Cortex-M4F-based embedded controller designed for notebook and tablet platform power management, keyboard scanning, and system control. It integrates 256KB SRAM (configurable as 224KB code + 32KB data), 2KB EEPROM, eSPI/LPC host interface, and hardware cryptographic engines (AES-128/192/256, SHA-1/256/384/512, RSA-2048, ECC-640). It operates with dual voltage support (1.8V/3.3V GPIO/core, 3.3V analog/PLL) and delivers secure boot via immutable Boot ROM.

For engineers reviewing the MEC1701H-C1-SZ datasheet, MEC1701H-C1-SZ pinout, MEC1701H-C1-SZ application, or MEC1701H-C1-SZ equivalent, key selection criteria include eSPI/LPC host interface compatibility, VBAT-backed RTC and 128-byte SRAM, 148 GPIO count with glitch protection, 11-channel PWM fan control with ±3% RPM accuracy, and hardware Root of Trust for firmware authentication.

Technical Context

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ implements a tightly coupled ARM Cortex-M4F core with FPU, NVIC supporting 240 interrupt sources, and debug infrastructure including SWJ-DP, DWT, FPB, ITM, ETM, and TPIU. Its memory subsystem includes 64KB Boot ROM, configurable SRAM blocks, 128-byte VBAT-SRAM, and 2KB EEPROM with 1M write-cycle endurance.

It supports dual host interfaces-Intel eSPI (Peripheral/VW/OOB/Flash channels) and LPC (19–33 MHz, ACPI SCI/SMI#)-with integrated 8042 emulation, five ACPI-ECI instances, and three Embedded Memory Interface (EMI) channels. Power management includes VTR/VBAT standby planes, hibernation timer (0.5ms–128 min wake), and RTC with leap-year/daylight savings support.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MEC1701H-C1-SZ is housed in a 144-pin WFBGA package (RoHS compliant), measuring 10 mm × 10 mm × 0.65 mm, with 0.5 mm ball pitch. The package supports 148 GPIOs (including 6 battery-powered outputs), eSPI/LPC I/O, VBAT/VTR power domains, and dedicated debug pins (SWD/JTAG, TFDP, Port 80).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MEC1701H-C1-SZ, MEC1701H-C2-SZ offers identical silicon functionality with variant eFUSE programming for secure deployment, while MEC1703H-C1-SZ provides expanded non-volatile storage and I/O resources at the cost of larger footprint-making MEC1701H-C1-SZ optimal for space-constrained, cost-sensitive notebook EC implementations.

Availability

MEC1701H-C1-SZ is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for notebook platform design, secure firmware controller integration, and thermal management subsystems requiring stable component supply across long-lifecycle industrial and consumer programs.

Supply support for MEC1701H-C1-SZ 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

Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of microcontrollers, analog, FPGA, and security solutions, serving automotive, industrial, communications, and computing markets with vertically integrated silicon and development tools.

The MEC170x product line delivers highly configurable, mixed-signal embedded controllers optimized for x86 notebook and tablet platforms-integrating ARM Cortex-M4F processing, eSPI/LPC host connectivity, and hardware-accelerated security for system-level power and I/O management.

FAQ

What host interface protocols does the MEC1701H-C1-SZ support?

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ supports both Intel eSPI (compliant with specification v1.1) and Low Pin Count (LPC) bus protocols. It can be configured at boot to operate exclusively in eSPI mode or LPC mode, with full ACPI SCI, SMI#, and Serial IRQ support in either configuration. The MEC1701H-C1-SZ does not support I2C as a primary host interface-this capability is reserved for other members of the MEC170x family.

Does the MEC1701H-C1-SZ include hardware cryptographic acceleration?

Yes, the MEC1701H-C1-SZ integrates three dedicated hardware crypto engines: a multi-mode AES engine (128/192/256-bit keys), a SHA hashing engine (SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512), and a public-key engine supporting RSA-2048 and ECC-640. These engines share DMA access to SRAM and are used by the Boot ROM for secure firmware authentication and by application firmware for TLS offload and TPM services.

What is the memory configuration of the MEC1701H-C1-SZ?

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ contains 64KB of immutable Boot ROM, 256KB of configurable SRAM (split as 224KB code + 32KB data), 128 bytes of VBAT-backed SRAM, and 2KB of EEPROM with 1,000,000 write-cycle endurance. The SRAM blocks are independently assignable for program or data use, and the EEPROM supports single-byte read/write with 32-byte page granularity.

How many GPIOs does the MEC1701H-C1-SZ provide, and what are their voltage capabilities?

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ provides up to 148 GPIOs, all configurable for 1.8V operation and most supporting 3.3V tolerance. Six of these are battery-powered general-purpose outputs (BGPOs) that remain functional during VCC loss. Each GPIO features programmable drive strength, slew rate control, and glitch filtering-critical for noise immunity in notebook hinge and button-sense applications.

What fan control capabilities does the MEC1701H-C1-SZ offer?

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ integrates eleven 16-bit PWM outputs and three tachometer inputs, enabling precise closed-loop fan speed regulation. Its RPM-based control algorithm achieves ±3% accuracy from 500–16,000 RPM, includes automatic spin-up sequencing, aging/failure detection, and ramp-rate limiting. All fan control logic executes autonomously without CPU intervention, reducing host processor load and improving thermal response time.