NXP Semiconductors T1040NSN7PQB

Overview

T1040NSN7PQB from NXP is a quad-core 64-bit Power Architecture® communications processor with integrated 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch, e5500 cores up to 1.5 GHz, 256 KB shared L3 cache, DDR3L/4 memory controller (1600 MT/s), and Data Path Acceleration Architecture (DPAA) for networking control-plane and data-plane processing in fixed routers and UTM appliances.

For engineers reviewing the T1040NSN7PQB datasheet, T1040NSN7PQB pinout, T1040NSN7PQB application, or T1040NSN7PQB equivalent, key selection considerations include integrated switch port count, DPAA accelerator throughput (13 Gb/s classification), SEC 5.4 crypto performance (5 Gb/s AES/3DES), SerDes lane configuration (8×5 Gb/s), and hypervisor-enabled virtualization support.

Technical Context

The T1040NSN7PQB implements four single-threaded e5500 cores with hybrid 32/64-bit ISA, 32 KB I/D L1 cache per core, 256 KB backside L2 cache, and 256 KB shared platform L3 cache. Its CoreNet coherency fabric enables prioritized, bandwidth-allocated transactions between CPU, accelerators, and peripherals.

DPAA integration includes Frame Manager (FMAN) for packet parsing/classification at 13 Gb/s, Queue Manager (QMAN) supporting 224 queues, Buffer Manager (BMAN) with 64 buffer pools, and Security Engine (SEC 5.4) delivering 5 Gb/s symmetric encryption. The 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch operates at wire-speed with VLAN, QoS, and ACL support.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 1296-pin FC-BGA (37.5 mm × 37.5 mm, 0.8 mm pitch), RoHS-compliant, thermal lid-equipped.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with T1040NSN7PQB, T1042NSN7PQB trades integrated switching for higher-speed uplinks, while LX2160A replaces Power Architecture with ARM and DPAA2 - both require PCB redesign and software migration, making them functional alternatives rather than drop-in replacements.

Availability

T1040NSN7PQB is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for fixed routers, unified threat management gateways, and industrial Ethernet switches requiring stable component supply across long-life industrial and telecom programs.

Supply support for T1040NSN7PQB 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 headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and networking markets.

The QorIQ T1 family - including T1040NSN7PQB - was designed specifically for mixed-control-and-data-plane networking applications requiring integrated switching, hardware-accelerated packet processing, and deterministic real-time performance in space- and power-constrained platforms.

FAQ

What is the maximum DDR4 data rate supported by T1040NSN7PQB?

The T1040NSN7PQB supports DDR3L and DDR4 memory interfaces up to 1600 MT/s. This rate is validated for both DDR3L and DDR4 configurations with ECC enabled, and requires proper signal integrity design including fly-by topology, on-die termination, and calibrated write leveling. The memory controller implements a 64-bit bus width and supports up to 64 GB of physical address space. T1040NSN7PQB's memory subsystem is optimized for low-latency access patterns typical in packet buffering and control-plane table lookups.

Does T1040NSN7PQB include hardware virtualization support?

Yes, T1040NSN7PQB includes hardware-assisted virtualization via the e5500 core's hypervisor privilege level (HV mode). This enables direct execution of KVM, NXP Hypervisor, and commercial Type-1 hypervisors from Green Hills and Enea. The PAMU (Peripheral Access Management Unit) enforces memory and I/O isolation between VMs, and the CoreNet fabric ensures coherent transaction routing across virtualized partitions. T1040NSN7PQB's virtualization features are production-qualified for use in consolidated network appliance deployments.

How many Gigabit Ethernet ports does T1040NSN7PQB integrate?

T1040NSN7PQB integrates an 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch plus four additional 1 Gb/s MAC controllers, totaling 12 logical GbE interfaces. The 8-port switch supports wire-speed forwarding for all frame sizes, with full VLAN, QoS, and ACL capability. The four auxiliary MACs connect externally via RGMII or SGMII to PHYs or backplanes. All 12 interfaces are managed through the FMAN and QMAN within DPAA, enabling unified packet scheduling and classification across the entire set.

What cryptographic algorithms does the Security Engine (SEC) in T1040NSN7PQB accelerate?

The Security Engine 5.4 in T1040NSN7PQB accelerates AES-128/192/256 (ECB/CBC/CTR/GCM), DES/3DES, SHA-1/224/256/384/512, HMAC-SHA, RSA up to 4096-bit, and elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) over NIST P-256/P-384 curves. It delivers up to 5 Gb/s symmetric throughput and supports secure key injection via dedicated fuses and volatile key storage. T1040NSN7PQB's SEC is integrated into the DPAA data path, allowing inline IPsec and TLS offload without CPU intervention.

Is T1040NSN7PQB pin-compatible with other QorIQ T1 family processors?

Yes, T1040NSN7PQB is pin-compatible with T1020, T1022, and T1042 in the same 1296-pin FC-BGA package footprint. This allows hardware reuse across performance tiers - for example, a single PCB can support T1020 (dual-core), T1040 (quad-core + switch), or T1042 (quad-core + 10GbE) via firmware and BOM changes. However, T1040NSN7PQB's integrated 8-port switch pins are unused on T1020/T1022/T1042, and SerDes lane assignments differ slightly between variants - requiring layout-aware pinmux configuration.