Microchip Technology MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR

Overview

MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR from Microchip Technology is an ARM Cortex-M4F-based embedded controller designed for notebook and tablet platform system management. It integrates secure boot, hardware cryptographic engines (AES/SHA/RSA/ECC), 256KB–480KB SRAM, eSPI/LPC host interface, and 148 GPIOs with 1.8V/3.3V I/O support. Used as the primary EC in Windows-connected standby systems for power sequencing, thermal control, and keyboard/mouse interface.

For engineers reviewing the MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR datasheet, MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR pinout, MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR application, or MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR equivalent, key selection criteria include eSPI/LPC dual-host compatibility, VBAT-backed RTC and 128-byte SRAM, hardware root-of-trust with immutable boot ROM, and integrated 11-channel PWM fan control with 3% RPM accuracy.

Technical Context

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR implements a 32-bit ARM v7-M architecture with hardware FPU, NVIC supporting 240 interrupt sources, and full ARM-standard debug infrastructure including SWJ-DP, DWT, FPB, ITM, ETM, and TPIU. Its memory subsystem includes 64KB boot ROM, configurable SRAM blocks totaling 256KB/320KB/480KB, 2KB EEPROM, and 128-byte VBAT-powered SRAM.

It supports dual host interfaces-LPC (19–33 MHz, 1.8V/3.3V) and Intel eSPI (compliant, four-channel)-with five ACPI-ECI instances, eight 8042-style host registers, and mailbox-based firmware communication. Power management includes VTR/VBAT suspend planes, hibernation timers (0.5ms–128 min wake-up), and RTC with leap-year/daylight-saving support.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR is housed in a 144-pin WFBGA package (RoHS compliant, 6 mm × 6 mm, 0.5 mm pitch), optimized for high-density notebook motherboard integration with dedicated VBAT, VTR, and VCC power domains.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR, the MEC1701H-C1-TN-TR offers expanded non-volatile storage and battery-backed I/O at the cost of larger footprint, while MEC1703H-C1-SZ-TR delivers identical package compatibility with enhanced GPIO and EEPROM - enabling drop-in upgrades where firmware leverages those resources.

Availability

MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for Windows notebook power management, tablet instant-on system control, and enterprise laptop security subsystems requiring stable component supply across multi-year product lifecycles.

Supply support for MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR 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 microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog, and Flash-IP solutions, serving automotive, industrial, consumer, and computing markets with vertically integrated silicon and development tools.

The MEC170x family was designed specifically for notebook and tablet platform system management - integrating secure boot, cryptographic acceleration, and dual-host (eSPI/LPC) connectivity into a single ARM Cortex-M4F-based embedded controller.

FAQ

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

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR supports both Intel eSPI (compliant with eSPI specification, four-channel: peripheral/virtual wire/OOB/flash) and legacy LPC (19–33 MHz, 1.8V/3.3V compatible). The interface is selected at boot time via configuration fuses or strap pins - no hardware modification is required to switch between them. MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR implements full ACPI-ECI and 8042 emulation regardless of host protocol used.

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

Yes, the MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR integrates three dedicated hardware engines: AES supporting ECB/CTR/CBC/OFB modes with 128/192/256-bit keys; SHA-1/256/384/512 hash engine; and public-key engine for RSA-1024/2048 and ECC-640. All share a DMA interface to SRAM and operate independently of the ARM Cortex-M4F core - enabling secure boot, firmware signing, and TPM 2.0 acceleration without CPU load. MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR also includes a TRNG with 1K-bit FIFO.

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

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR contains 64KB boot ROM, two SRAM blocks totaling 256KB/320KB/480KB (configurable as code or data), 128 bytes of VBAT-powered SRAM, and - unlike some MEC170x variants - no on-chip EEPROM. Its SRAM architecture supports flexible partitioning: one block sized 32KB or 64KB, the other 224KB, 288KB, or 416KB. MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR relies on external SPI flash for persistent firmware storage, authenticated by the secure boot ROM.

How does the MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR handle power management in low-power states?

The MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR uses three independent power domains: VCC (runtime), VTR (standby), and VBAT (battery backup). In S3/S4/S5 states, VTR powers eSPI/LPC interfaces, GPIOs, and timers, while VBAT sustains RTC, 128B SRAM, week timer, and five wake-up inputs. Hibernation timers support wake-up intervals from 0.5ms to 128 minutes; the 32-bit RTOS timer extends to 35 hours. MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR achieves sub-100µA quiescent current in heavy sleep using the 32kHz standby clock.

Is the MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR pin-compatible with other MEC170x devices?

MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR uses a 144-pin WFBGA package (SZ suffix), matching pinout with other SZ-package MEC170x variants like MEC1703H-C1-SZ-TR and MEC1704H-C1-SZ-TR. However, functional differences exist: MEC1701H-C1-SZ-TR lacks on-chip EEPROM and has 123 GPIOs (vs. 148 in MEC1703H-C1-SZ-TR), so firmware must account for resource availability. Electrical pin behavior (voltage levels, drive strength) remains consistent across SZ variants, enabling layout reuse where feature set alignment is verified.