NXP Semiconductors T4160NSE7PQB

Overview

T4160NSE7PQB from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a multicore Power Architecture® system-on-chip integrating eight dual-threaded e6500 CPU cores (16 vCPUs), DPAA-based hardware acceleration for packet processing, crypto (SEC 5.0), regex (PME 2.1), and compression/decompression (DCE 1.0), plus three 64-bit DDR3/3L memory controllers with ECC - deployed in 1U security appliances, NFV platforms, and intelligent NICs.

For engineers reviewing the T4160NSE7PQB datasheet, T4160NSE7PQB pinout, T4160NSE7PQB application, or T4160NSE7PQB equivalent, key selection criteria include verified 1.6 GHz core frequency, 16-thread symmetric/asymmetric multiprocessing support, DPAA throughput scalability, DDR3L-1600 memory interface compliance, and FC-PBGA-1932 package compatibility with ATCA and microserver board layouts.

Technical Context

The T4160NSE7PQB implements a clustered multicore architecture with two banks of four e6500 cores sharing 2 MB L2 cache each, supporting full hardware virtualization via hypervisor privilege level and LRAT-assisted address translation. Its CoreNet coherency fabric enables low-latency cache intervention across clusters and supports up to 1.46 Tbps coherent read bandwidth.

DPAA is tightly integrated: Frame Manager (FMAN 1.1) performs header parsing and classification at up to 50 Gbps; Queue Manager (QMAN 1.1) schedules work across vCPUs and accelerators; BMan 1.1 handles buffer management; RMAN 1.0 enables chip-to-chip interconnect via RapidIO. All accelerators operate concurrently with CPU execution without software intervention.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 1932-ball flip-chip plastic ball grid array (FC-PBGA), 45 mm × 45 mm, 1.0 mm ball pitch, RoHS-compliant. Thermal design requires integrated heatsink and forced airflow per JEDEC JESD51-2.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with T4240NSE7PQB, the T4160NSE7PQB delivers identical DPAA acceleration, memory subsystem, and virtualization features at lower power and cost - making it optimal for mid-scale 1U appliances and ATCA blades where 16 vCPUs meet throughput targets. Compared with LS2088AXE7QQB, it retains Power Architecture toolchain continuity and AltiVec-based signal processing, critical for wireless infrastructure upgrades.

Availability

T4160NSE7PQB is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for NFV infrastructure, 1U security appliances, and intelligent network adapters requiring stable component supply across multi-year production cycles.

Supply support for T4160NSE7PQB 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 Philips' semiconductor division and later the acquisition of Freescale Semiconductor in 2015, specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and networking markets.

The QorIQ T4 family - including T4160NSE7PQB - was designed to consolidate control and data plane processing in carrier-grade networking equipment, targeting services cards, microservers, and intelligent NICs with hardware-accelerated packet handling and virtualization readiness.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the T4160NSE7PQB?

The T4160NSE7PQB is rated for a maximum core frequency of 1.6 GHz, confirmed in Freescale's T4240PB product brief Appendix A (T4160). This speed bin is validated across the full industrial temperature range (0°C to 105°C junction) and supports sustained operation under DDR3L-1600 memory bandwidth constraints. The T4160NSE7PQB does not support the 1.8 GHz bin reserved for the T4240NSE7PQB variant.

Does the T4160NSE7PQB support hardware virtualization?

Yes, the T4160NSE7PQB supports full hardware-assisted virtualization via its e6500 core hypervisor privilege level, Logical-to-Real Address Translation (LRAT), and platform-level IOMMU-based DMA protection. It runs KVM, Linux containers, and commercial hypervisors from Enea and Wind River. The T4160NSE7PQB implements SR-IOV on PCIe controllers and provides configurable "storage profiles" to isolate I/O buffers between guest environments.

What memory types and speeds does the T4160NSE7PQB support?

The T4160NSE7PQB integrates three 64-bit DDR3/3L memory controllers with ECC, supporting DDR3-1866 (1.5 V) and DDR3L-1600 (1.35 V) at up to 1.6 GT/s. Each controller supports x4/x8/x16 memory widths, unbuffered/registered DIMMs, and 4 chip-selects, delivering up to 64 GB per channel. Page-mode support enables up to 64 open pages for reduced latency on burst accesses.

Is the T4160NSE7PQB pin-compatible with other QorIQ T4 family processors?

Yes, the T4160NSE7PQB uses the same 1932-pin FC-PBGA package (45 mm × 45 mm) as the T4240NSE7PQB and T4080NSE7PQB, enabling direct PCB footprint reuse across the T4 family. Pin functions, power sequencing, and thermal pad layout are identical - allowing scalable platform design where performance tiers are selected via firmware and BOM changes rather than board revision.

What accelerators are integrated into the T4160NSE7PQB's Data Path Acceleration Architecture (DPAA)?

The T4160NSE7PQB integrates DPAA components including Frame Manager (FMAN 1.1) for packet parsing/classification at up to 50 Gbps, Queue Manager (QMAN 1.1) for hierarchical scheduling, Buffer Manager (BMAN 1.1), Cryptographic Engine (SEC 5.0) at up to 40 Gbps, Regex Pattern Matching Engine (PME 2.1) at up to 10 Gbps, and Decompression/Compression Engine (DCE 1.0) at up to 20 Gbps - all operating concurrently with CPU execution.