NXP Semiconductors MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA

Overview

MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA from NXP Semiconductors is an industrial-grade i.MX 8M Nano DualLite applications processor featuring dual Arm Cortex-A53 cores (1.4 GHz), one Cortex-M7 core (750 MHz), no GPU, no MIPI DSI, and FCBGA-486 (14 × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) packaging - designed for cost-optimized, low-power embedded HMI and edge AI inference in industrial gateways and smart sensors.

For engineers reviewing the MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA datasheet, MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA pinout, MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA application, or MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA equivalent, key selection considerations include its dual-core A53 + M7 asymmetric architecture, absence of GC7000UL GPU and MIPI DSI, DDR4/LPDDR4 support, industrial temperature range (−40°C to +105°C), and security features including CAAM, TrustZone, and HAB.

Technical Context

The MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA implements a heterogeneous dual-core Cortex-A53 platform with 512 KB L2 cache and Arm NEON/FPU, paired with a dedicated Cortex-M7 for real-time control and low-power firmware execution. It integrates a full suite of industrial I/O: three uSDHC controllers (MMC 5.1/SD 3.0), Gigabit Ethernet with IEEE 1588, four UARTs, four I²C, three SPI, five SAI audio interfaces, and PDM input.

Its memory subsystem supports LPDDR4-3200, DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1600 (16-bit), 8-bit NAND with BCH62 ECC, eMMC 5.1, and QuadSPI with XIP capability for the M7. Security is enforced via TrustZone, Resource Domain Controller (RDC), CAAM with RSA/ECC acceleration, and Secure JTAG.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: FCBGA-486 (14 × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch), plastic, RoHS-compliant. Ball map defined per Section 5.1 (pages 77–92) of IMX8MNIEC Rev. 5. Pin functions are multiplexed via IOMUXC and documented in Tables 5–8 and Appendix A of the datasheet.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MIMX8MN4CVTIZAA, MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA removes GPU/DSI to lower cost and power for headless use cases; versus MIMX8MN5CVTIZAA, it trades two A53 cores for reduced silicon area and thermal density - both alternatives retain identical security, memory, and peripheral compatibility.

Availability

MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial gateways, smart sensor hubs, headless edge AI appliances, and secure HMI controllers requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA 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 deep expertise in Arm-based application processors and edge AI acceleration.

The i.MX 8M Nano family - including MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA - was designed specifically for cost-sensitive, power-constrained industrial edge devices requiring Linux capability, real-time responsiveness, and hardware-enforced security without display subsystem overhead.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the Cortex-A53 cores in the MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA?

The MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA features two Arm Cortex-A53 cores rated for operation up to 1.4 GHz under industrial temperature conditions (−40°C to +105°C). This frequency is guaranteed across the full voltage and temperature range specified in the IMX8MNIEC datasheet Section 3.1, with dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) supported via the CCM module for power optimization.

Does the MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA support LPDDR4 memory, and what is the maximum data rate?

Yes, the MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA supports LPDDR4-3200 (3200 MT/s) via its 16-bit DRAM interface. This enables up to 6.4 GB/s peak bandwidth when configured with dual-rank LPDDR4, meeting requirements for real-time video analytics preprocessing and high-throughput sensor fusion - as validated in the Electrical Characteristics section (3.9) of the IMX8MNIEC datasheet.

Is the MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA pin-compatible with other i.MX 8M Nano variants in the same package?

MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA shares the identical FCBGA-486 (14 × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) package and ball map with MIMX8MN4CVTIZAA, MIMX8MN5CVTIZAA, and MIMX8MN6CVTIZAA. All share the same power, ground, DDR, and core I/O pin assignments; however, unused interface balls (e.g., MIPI DSI, GPU supplies) are NC or require specific termination per Table 7 of IMX8MNIEC Rev. 5.

What security features are implemented in hardware on the MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA?

The MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA integrates Arm TrustZone, Resource Domain Controller (RDC), Cryptographic Acceleration and Assurance Module (CAAM) with RSA/ECC engines, High Assurance Boot (HAB), Secure Non-Volatile Storage (SNVS), and Secure JTAG Controller (SJC). These are confirmed in Sections 1.1 (Block Diagram), Table 1 (Features), and Chapter 4 of IMX8MNIEC Rev. 5 - enabling secure boot, encrypted storage, and runtime integrity verification.

Can the Cortex-M7 core in the MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA execute code directly from external QuadSPI flash?

Yes, the MIMX8MN3CVTIZAA supports Execute-in-Place (XIP) from QuadSPI flash for the Cortex-M7 core, as documented in Section 3.9 and Table 1 of IMX8MNIEC Rev. 5. This allows the M7 to run firmware directly from flash in low-power modes, eliminating SRAM usage and reducing wake-up latency - critical for battery-operated sensor nodes.