NXP Semiconductors S32K338GHT1VPCSR

Overview

S32K338GHT1VPCSR from NXP Semiconductors is an ASIL-B certified, triple-core Arm® Cortex-M7 automotive microcontroller operating up to 240 MHz, featuring 8 MB ECC-protected program flash, 1152 KB SRAM with 384 KB TCM, and integrated QuadSPI supporting up to 2 Gbps for external memory expansion. It delivers deterministic real-time control in body electronics, domain controllers, and gateway modules requiring high I/O count and CAN FD networking.

For engineers reviewing the S32K338GHT1VPCSR datasheet, S32K338GHT1VPCSR pinout, S32K338GHT1VPCSR application, or S32K338GHT1VPCSR equivalent, key selection criteria include triple-core lockstep readiness, 8 MB flash scalability, ASIL-B safety compliance, and support for 8 FlexCAN channels with CAN FD across harsh automotive environments.

Technical Context

The S32K338GHT1VPCSR implements three independent Arm Cortex-M7 cores-each with FPU, DSP, I/D-cache, and zero-wait TCM-coordinated via a 64-bit crossbar fabric. Its safety architecture includes centralized error detection (FCCU), hardware watchdogs (SWT), ECC on all memories, and XRDC-based access control for ASIL-B system-level compliance.

Timing and communication are tightly integrated: BCTU enables cross-triggering between ADCs and timers; TRGMUX routes 32+ event sources; and FlexIO supports UART/I²C/SPI/I²S/SENT/PWM emulation. The device uses dual PLLs, FXOSC (8–40 MHz), FIRC (48 MHz), and SXOSC (32 kHz) for flexible clock domain management.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: MAPBGA437 (17 × 17 mm, 0.8 mm pitch, exposed thermal pad). Pinout validated per NXP S32K338 Reference Manual Rev. 14 and S32K338 Hardware Design Guide.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with S32K338GHT1VPCSR, S32K344 provides higher safety integrity (ASIL-D) at lower compute density, while S32K328 offers identical memory and Ethernet specs but lacks the third core and uSDHC-making S32K338GHT1VPCSR optimal for scalable gateways requiring concurrent protocol stacks and firmware update storage.

Availability

S32K338GHT1VPCSR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body control, domain gateway, electric power steering, and charging control applications requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for S32K338GHT1VPCSR 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 specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets, with deep expertise in functional safety and automotive-grade MCUs.

The S32K3xx family-including S32K338GHT1VPCSR-is designed for next-generation automotive domain controllers and zonal architectures, emphasizing ASIL-B/D compliance, multi-core real-time performance, and hardware-accelerated security for OTA-updatable systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the S32K338GHT1VPCSR?

The S32K338GHT1VPCSR features three independent Arm Cortex-M7 cores, each capable of running at up to 240 MHz. This frequency is achieved using the System PLL driven by the FXOSC (8–40 MHz) or FIRC (48 MHz) clock source, with full support for dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) within the 2.97–5.5 V supply range. All timing-critical peripherals-including eMIOS, ADC, and FlexCAN-are synchronized to this core clock domain in the S32K338GHT1VPCSR.

Does the S32K338GHT1VPCSR support CAN FD, and how many channels are available?

Yes, the S32K338GHT1VPCSR integrates eight FlexCAN modules, and all channels support CAN FD (Flexible Data-Rate) per ISO 11898-1:2015, enabling data rates up to 5 Mbps and payloads up to 64 bytes. Each channel includes dedicated message RAM, acceptance filtering, and hardware timestamping-critical for time-sensitive automotive networks like domain gateways and ADAS interconnects. This capability is confirmed in the S32K338GHT1VPCSR datasheet Rev. 14 section 1.3.2.

What package type and pin count does the S32K338GHT1VPCSR use?

The S32K338GHT1VPCSR is packaged in a MAPBGA437 (17 mm × 17 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) with an exposed thermal pad for enhanced heat dissipation in automotive under-hood environments. This package provides 437 I/O terminals, including dedicated pins for high-speed interfaces (Ethernet, QuadSPI), safety-critical signals (FCCU, SWT), and analog functions (ADC, CMP). Pin compatibility is maintained across the S32K3xx family for migration flexibility.

Is the S32K338GHT1VPCSR qualified for automotive temperature grades?

Yes, the S32K338GHT1VPCSR is qualified for operation across −40 °C to +125 °C ambient temperature in all power modes (RUN, STOP, VLPR), meeting AEC-Q100 Grade 1 requirements. This qualification covers full functionality of its 8 MB flash, 1152 KB SRAM, triple-core execution, and all communication peripherals-including CAN FD, Ethernet, and QuadSPI-at temperature extremes, making it suitable for engine bay, transmission, and chassis-mounted applications.

Does the S32K338GHT1VPCSR include hardware security features beyond basic encryption?

Yes, the S32K338GHT1VPCSR integrates the HSE-B (Hardware Security Engine-B) module, which provides certified AES-256, RSA-4096, and ECC-521 acceleration, true random number generation (TRNG), secure key storage, and side-channel attack resistance. It also supports secure boot with immutable root-of-trust, lifecycle management (production/field/service states), and Evita Full compliance-enabling ISO 15118 V2G authentication and secure OTA updates without CPU intervention in the S32K338GHT1VPCSR.