EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C - 40MHz ARM Cortex-M4 MCU | Silicon Labs
MPN: EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10.55 | $10.55 |
| 10 | $9.5 | $95.00 |
| 100 | $8.45 | $845.00 |
| 500 | $7.6 | $3,800.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.85 | $6,850.00 |
EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C Overview
An MCU (Microcontroller Unit) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program and data memory, and a rich set of peripherals. In the broader taxonomy, the EFM32PG12 sits within the Cortex-M4 sub-family of ARM 32-bit microcontrollers, which belong to the wider class of embedded processors and SoCs. Pearl Gecko parts are positioned at the intersection of mainstream performance (Cortex-M4 with FPU) and ultra-low-power operation (EM0 active in tens of uA/MHz, EM4 deep-sleep measured in nA), which is critical for always-on battery-powered edge nodes.
Key features include 1 MB Flash / 256 KB RAM, Cortex-M4 with FPU and DSP, hardware AES-128/256, hardware SHA-1/SHA-2, True Random Number Generator, Secure Debug, robust capacitive-touch sensing, USB, and an extensive peripheral set including ADC, DAC, comparators, timers, and multiple serial interfaces (USART, SPI, I2C, I2S). Low-energy modes (EM0-EM4) deliver sub-uA sleep currents with fast wake-up, making this part ideal for energy-harvesting and coin-cell designs.
Typical applications include IoT sensor hubs, smart-home and building-automation nodes, industrial sensor transmitters, secure connected health devices, asset tracking, and human-machine interface controllers with touch. The wide 1.8V to 3.8V supply range, AEC-Q100-style extended temperature rating, and on-die security engine also make it attractive for industrial and harsh-environment deployments.
When designing with this device, ensure PCB layout follows Silicon Labs' BGA escape and decoupling guidance - place four-layer stack-up with 0.1uF/10uF decoupling within a few millimeters of the supply balls. Configure the security locks (Debug Lock, OEM Secure Boot) in production firmware and provision unique AES keys to fully leverage the on-chip security engine. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in Pearl Gecko alternatives, and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Mounting Type, Package, RAM Size, Series.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-CR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32PG12B500F1024G
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EFM32GG11B520F2048IM64-B
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M4 with single-precision FPU and DSP |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 40 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB (1M x 8) |
| RAM | 256 KB |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 1.8 V to 3.8 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C |
| Package | 125-BGA (7x7 mm) |
| I/O Count (approx.) | Up to 93 GPIO |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Cryptography | AES-128/256, hardware True Random Number Generator, Security Management Unit |
| Communications | USB 2.0 Full-Speed, USART, I2C, SPI, I2S, CAN, LEUART |
| Analog Peripherals | 12-bit ADC (1 Msps), 12-bit DAC, Comparators, Capacitive Touch Sense |
| Energy Modes | EM0 (active) to EM4 (deep sleep, nA-range) |
| Core Family | EFM32 Pearl Gecko (PG12) |
| Series Suffix | B500F1024G L125 -C (production grade, tape & reel) |
EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C 125-bga (7x7 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C (125-bga (7x7 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Hubs, Smart Home and Building Automation, Industrial Sensor Transmitters, Secure Connected Health Devices, Asset Tracking and Location Beacons, Touch-Based Human-Machine Interfaces.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Hubs
The EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C is purpose-built for battery-powered IoT sensor hubs. Its 40 MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU handles local signal conditioning, while 1 MB Flash / 256 KB RAM runs Zigbee/Thread/Z-Wave protocol stacks or LoRaWAN applications. The EM2 deep-sleep mode (~1 uA with RTC running) and EM4 shutdown (sub-uA) let a sensor hub run for 5-10 years on a single CR2032 coin cell.
Recommended
Smart Home and Building Automation
In smart-home and building-automation nodes, the EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C integrates capacitive touch sensing, hardware AES, and 40 MHz Cortex-M4 compute in one 7x7 mm BGA. Its on-chip peripherals drive capacitive touch buttons/sliders, while the Security Management Unit authenticates secure firmware updates. Designers benefit from energy-mode-aware peripherals that wake the MCU only when needed, preserving battery life across millions of button presses.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters
For industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered sensors and field transmitters, the EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C's 1.8V-3.8V supply range and -40C to +125C extended temperature grade handle harsh factory environments. Its 12-bit ADC (1 Msps) digitizes sensor signals, hardware AES secures wireless or wired transmissions, and EM4 deep-sleep plus LETIMER support ultra-low duty-cycle wake cycles - critical for loop-powered or battery-backed transmitters with 10+ year service intervals.
Recommended
Secure Connected Health Devices
Wearable health patches benefit from the EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C's hardware AES-128/256, hardware True Random Number Generator, and Security Management Unit, which together enable HIPAA/GDPR-compliant encrypted patient-data storage and authenticated wireless uploads. The 40 MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU runs on-device DSP for heart-rate or ECG feature extraction, while EM2 deep-sleep (~1 uA) supports multi-day battery life in continuous-monitoring wearables.
Recommended
Asset Tracking and Location Beacons
Asset-tracking BLE beacons and GPS-assisted trackers use the EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C for low-power protocol handling and on-die cryptography. Its 1 MB Flash stores firmware for BLE stack or LoRaWAN MAC, while the EM4 deep-sleep mode (<1 uA) lets a beacon advertise for 1-3 years on a coin cell. Hardware-accelerated AES secures anti-tamper, signed firmware, and authenticated location reports back to the cloud.
Recommended
Touch-Based Human-Machine Interfaces
The EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C integrates up to ~93 GPIO and a robust capacitive touch sense peripheral, enabling touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors on appliances, white goods, and consumer electronics. Combined with the on-chip 12-bit DAC for audio feedback and Cortex-M4 DSP for gesture recognition, the MCU eliminates external touch controllers while the EM2 deep-sleep keeps standby power under 2 uA per touch channel.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-B | EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-CR | EFM32PG12B500F1024G | EFM32GG11B520F2048IM64-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 125-BGA (7x7 mm) | 125-BGA (7x7 mm) - same | 125-BGA (7x7 mm) - same | 125-BGA (7x7 mm) - same | 64-BGA - same family, different pinout |
| Brand | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU/DSP | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU/DSP | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU/DSP | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU/DSP | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU/DSP |
| Max CPU Clock | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 72 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 2 MB |
| RAM | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +125C (L125) | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | Industrial grade - verify suffix | -40C to +125C (IM) |
| Hardware Cryptography | AES-128/256 + TRNG + SMU | AES-128/256 + TRNG + SMU | AES-128/256 + TRNG + SMU | AES-128/256 + TRNG + SMU | AES + TRNG + SE (Secure Element) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed |
Key Differentiators
- Pearl Gecko family with hardware AES-128/256 + hardware TRNG on-chip (vs EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-B)
- Same Pearl Gecko die in 7x7 BGA, available as tape & reel (vs EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-CR)
- 2x memory and 72 MHz for protocol-stack-heavy IoT gateways (vs EFM32GG11B520F2048IM64-B)
Design Notes
Estimated, based on BGA escape practice for 7x7 mm 125-ball BGA. Use a 4-layer PCB with 0.8 mm ball pitch and 0.4 mm via-pad pitch. Fan out inner balls on inner layers; place 0.1 uF decoupling capacitors within 3 mm of every supply ball (AVDD, VDD, VBAT, DECOUPLE pins) and add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the DVDD rail. Match the SWDIO/SWDCLK trace lengths and keep them away from high-frequency switching nodes to avoid debug-session glitches.
Decouple AVDD independently from DVDD using separate ferrite beads and 0.1 uF + 10 uF capacitor pairs. According to the EFM32PG12 datasheet, the internal DC-DC buck regulator requires a 4.7 uH inductor on the DECOUPLE/DCDC node and a 4.7 uF output capacitor. Enable the DC-DC regulator for EM0-EM2 to reduce active current; bypass it in EM4 since the regulator is disabled by hardware in shutdown mode.
When migrating from EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-B to EFM32PG12B500F1024GL125-C, re-validate against the latest EFM32PG12 errata document because some peripheral revisions include register changes. Do not assume SDK 5.x binary compatibility across silicon revisions - link the latest GSDK to leverage any errata fixes. Configure the lock bits (Debug Lock, Secure Boot) only after final firmware is signed, as locking is irreversible without mass-erase.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance per Silicon Labs product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable (this is a consumer/industrial grade MCU; AEC-Q100 versions are denoted with -A suffix). REACH compliance status not explicitly stated in provided data, marked unknown.
