NXP Semiconductors P3041NXN1PNB

Overview

P3041NXN1PNB from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a quad-core Power Architecture® e500mc processor operating at up to 1.5 GHz, featuring 128 KB per-core L2 cache, 1 MB CoreNet platform cache, DDR3/3L memory controller, and integrated DPAA for packet acceleration. It targets mixed control/data plane networking applications such as integrated access routers and base station NICs.

For engineers reviewing the P3041NXN1PNB datasheet, P3041NXN1PNB pinout, P3041NXN1PNB application, or P3041NXN1PNB equivalent, key selection considerations include its 1295-pin FCPBGA package, hardware hypervisor support, 5× Gigabit + 1× 10 Gigabit Ethernet with IEEE 1588, SerDes lane configuration, and SEC 4.2 cryptographic acceleration.

Technical Context

The P3041NXN1PNB implements four e500mc cores with private 32 KB L1 I/D caches and 128 KB ECC-protected backside L2 caches, plus a shared 1 MB ECC-enabled CoreNet platform cache. Its CoreNet coherency fabric replaces traditional buses with point-to-point scalable interconnect, eliminating internal bottlenecks between accelerators, memory controllers, and I/O subsystems.

It integrates DPAA with Frame Manager, Queue Manager, Buffer Manager, and Pattern Matching Engine to offload packet parsing, classification, distribution, and buffering from CPU cores. The hardware hypervisor enables independent OS execution per core with strict memory and I/O partitioning, supporting SMP, asymmetric, or real-time + general-purpose mixed workloads.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 1295-pin Fine-Pitch Chip Array Ball Grid Array (FCPBGA), 37.5 mm × 37.5 mm, 1.0 mm ball pitch, RoHS-compliant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with P3041NXN1PNB, P3041NXN2PNA trades peak frequency for lower power and thermal envelope, while T1040NXN2PKC shifts to ARM architecture with integrated switching but omits DPAA and SEC - making P3041NXN1PNB uniquely suited for legacy Power Architecture-based, crypto- and packet-intensive telecom infrastructure.

Availability

P3041NXN1PNB is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for integrated access routers, base station NICs, industrial control gateways, and secure edge firewall appliances requiring stable component supply across long-lifecycle deployments.

Supply support for P3041NXN1PNB 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 company formed from the spin-off of Freescale Semiconductor and NXP's RF Power division, specializing in secure connectivity and processing solutions for automotive, industrial, and communications markets.

The P3041NXN1PNB belongs to the QorIQ P3 series - a family of Power Architecture-based multicore processors designed specifically for cost-optimized, power-efficient mixed control-and-data-plane networking equipment including IADs, wireless infrastructure, and industrial gateways.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the P3041NXN1PNB?

The P3041NXN1PNB operates at a maximum core frequency of 1.5 GHz. This rating is guaranteed under specified thermal and voltage conditions per the official NXP datasheet QP3041FS REV 3. Each of the four e500mc cores can sustain this frequency when adequately cooled and supplied with stable 1.0 V ±3% core voltage. The P3041NXN1PNB uses dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) to adjust performance based on workload and thermal headroom.

Does the P3041NXN1PNB support hardware virtualization?

Yes, the P3041NXN1PNB includes a hardware hypervisor built into the e500mc core architecture. This enables true isolation between guest operating systems, memory protection, and I/O resource partitioning. The P3041NXN1PNB hypervisor supports both symmetric and asymmetric multiprocessing configurations, allowing one core to run a real-time OS while others handle Linux-based control plane services - a capability confirmed in the QorIQ P3 Reference Manual.

What types of Ethernet interfaces does the P3041NXN1PNB integrate?

The P3041NXN1PNB integrates six Ethernet MACs: five 10/100/1000BASE-T controllers and one 10GBASE-X controller. All support IEEE 1588-2008 hardware timestamping, classification, hardware queueing, policing, buffer management, checksum offload, QoS, and lossless flow control. Physical layer connectivity is implemented via SerDes lanes configured as XAUI, SGMII, 2.5 GbE SGMII, or RGMII - with the P3041NXN1PNB supporting up to 1× XAUI, 4× SGMII, or 2× RGMII simultaneously.

Is the P3041NXN1PNB pin-compatible with other QorIQ processors?

Yes, the P3041NXN1PNB uses the same 1295-pin FCPBGA package (37.5 mm × 37.5 mm) as the P4 and P5 series QorIQ processors. This enables mechanical and electrical pin compatibility across the P3/P4/P5 families, allowing shared PCB layouts and migration paths. However, functional pin mapping differs - for example, SerDes lane assignments and PCIe root complex vs. endpoint roles vary - so schematic review and signal integrity validation are required before drop-in replacement.

What security acceleration features are included in the P3041NXN1PNB?

The P3041NXN1PNB integrates the Security Engine (SEC) version 4.2, which accelerates AES-128/256, DES/3DES, SHA-1/256, MD5, ARC4, Kasumi F8/F9, SNOW 3G, CRC-32, and RSA up to 2048-bit. It also includes a true random number generator (TRNG) and public key accelerator. These capabilities enable line-rate IPsec and SSL/TLS offload - verified in NXP application note AN4495 - and are accessible via the CAAM driver in Linux BSPs for the P3041NXN1PNB.