MPC8536AVTAKGA - PowerQUICC III 600MHz SoC | NXP | Networking
MPN: MPC8536AVTAKGA ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $95 | $95.00 |
| 10 | $88.5 | $885.00 |
| 100 | $79.2 | $7,920.00 |
| 500 | $71.4 | $35,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $64.8 | $64,800.00 |
MPC8536AVTAKGA Overview
A PowerQUICC (pronounced "power-quick") processor is a family of communications-centric SoCs that originated at Motorola/Freescale and continued under NXP. The PowerQUICC architecture targets embedded networking equipment where deterministic I/O, multi-protocol support, and robust peripheral integration outweigh raw GHz performance. Within the broader taxonomy, MPC8536 sits in the PowerQUICC III family of integrated communications processors -> Power Architecture SoCs -> embedded processors -> microprocessors -> semiconductors.
Key features include the e500 core with dual-issue superscalar pipeline, integrated L1/L2 caches, a system-on-chip DDR2/DDR3 SDRAM controller with ECC, two Gigabit Ethernet MACs with SGMII support, two PCI Express interfaces, one PCI interface, two SATA ports, USB 2.0, SDHC, and a security engine. The integrated peripherals allow a single MPC8536 to replace a CPU-plus-discrete-controller board, reducing BOM count in routers, switches, and network attached storage.
The architecture employs a coherent system bus connecting the e500 core to the memory controller and high-speed I/O. Hardware acceleration for protocol processing offloads packet handling from the core, enabling sustained line-rate throughput on GbE ports without CPU saturation. The 0 to 90 C operating range supports thermally constrained embedded environments without industrial-grade silicon.
Typical applications include enterprise routers, SOHO/SMB switches, network attached storage (NAS), industrial gateways, and IP set-top boxes. The combination of GbE plus PCIe plus SATA makes the part well suited to consolidated headless NAS controllers where DDR3 memory bandwidth and dual GbE aggregation are required.
When designing with this device, allocate the largest available PCB area to the 783-ball FCPBGA breakout, route DDR3 signals with matched lengths, and verify that the heatsink thermal design keeps junction temperature below 90 C at maximum sustained load. The part is now in NXP's obsolescence roadmap for the PowerQUICC III line - check the NXP product change notification before committing to new designs.
Drop-in alternatives for MPC8536AVTAKGA — 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 MPC8536AVTAKGA (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Ethernet, Operating Temperature, Mounting Type, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MPC8536AVJAKGA
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MPC8536BVJAKGA
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MPC8536CVJAULA
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MPC8535AVTAQG
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$185.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →MPC8536AVTAKGA Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | Power Architecture e500 |
| Core Count | 1 Core, 32-Bit |
| Maximum Core Frequency | 600 MHz |
| Series | MPC85xx PowerQUICC III |
| Memory Controller | DDR2, DDR3 with ECC |
| Ethernet | 2x 10/100/1000 Mbps (SGMII) |
| PCI Express | 2 lanes (x1/x2) |
| PCI | 1 port |
| SATA | 2 ports |
| USB | USB 2.0 |
| Storage | SDHC |
| Core Voltage | 1 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to 90 C |
| Package | 783-FCPBGA (29x29 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Graphics Acceleration | No |
MPC8536AVTAKGA Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | VCC_CORE — 1V core supply |
| Pin B5 | DDR3_DQ0 — DDR3 data lane 0 |
| Pin C12 | SGMII1_TX_P — Gigabit Ethernet 1 transmit positive |
| Pin D17 | SATA0_TX_P — SATA port 0 transmit positive |
| Pin E22 | PCIe0_TX_P — PCI Express lane 0 transmit positive |
| Pin F26 | USB1_DP — USB 2.0 data plus |
| Pin G30 | SDHC_CLK — SDHC clock output |
Typical Applications
MPC8536AVTAKGA is suitable for 6 applications: Enterprise Edge Routers, Network Attached Storage (NAS), SOHO/SMB Managed Switches, Industrial Gateways, IP Set-Top Box / Media Gateways, Wireless LAN Controllers.
Enterprise Edge Routers
The MPC8536AVTAKGA fits enterprise edge routers because its e500 core at 600 MHz plus hardware protocol acceleration delivers sustained line-rate throughput on dual Gigabit Ethernet SGMII ports. The integrated DDR3 controller with ECC supplies the memory bandwidth needed for routing tables and ACL processing. Place the SoC as the main CPU, with PHY devices on each GbE port and external DDR3 chips on the dedicated memory bus.
Recommended
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
In NAS controllers, the MPC8536AVTAKGA's dual SATA ports plus GbE plus DDR3 bandwidth cover single-drive to small RAID configurations. The e500 core runs NAS firmware stacks while the SATA controller handles disk I/O. Unlike a discrete CPU plus chipset design, this single-SoC approach reduces BOM and PCB area. Estimated total system power at 600 MHz core with one GbE active is approximately 4 to 5 W.
Recommended
SOHO/SMB Managed Switches
The MPC8536AVTAKGA is well suited to SOHO/SMB managed switches where it acts as the management CPU plus routing engine. Its dual GbE MACs and PCI Express lane can connect to an external GbE switch fabric. The integrated peripherals eliminate the need for a discrete Ethernet controller. The 0 to 90 C operating range supports fanless enclosures with proper thermal design.
Recommended
Industrial Gateways
Industrial protocol gateways use the MPC8536AVTAKGA to translate between fieldbus protocols (via PCIe or USB expansion) and Ethernet uplinks. The 600 MHz e500 core runs gateway software stacks including Modbus TCP, PROFINET, or EtherNet/IP. The PCI and PCIe expansion allows adding industrial protocol cards. Mount on a thermally managed PCB to keep junction temperature below 90 C at continuous load.
Recommended
IP Set-Top Box / Media Gateways
The MPC8536AVTAKGA's combination of GbE plus SATA plus DDR3 bandwidth supports IP set-top boxes and media gateways that stream recorded content from local storage. The e500 core handles media control plane, while SATA reads disk content and GbE delivers it to the network. Estimated memory bandwidth from DDR3-1066 at 32-bit is approximately 4.3 GB/s, sufficient for HD media streams.
Recommended
Wireless LAN Controllers
WLAN controllers for small to medium deployments can use the MPC8536AVTAKGA as the central CAPWAP/DHCP/DNS server. The dual GbE provides a wired uplink plus a downlink to wireless access points via PCIe-attached radios. The DDR3 controller handles the association table and control-plane traffic. Compared to a discrete CPU plus multi-chip platform, the integrated peripherals reduce total cost.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MPC8536AVTAKGA — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MPC8536AVJAKGA | MPC8536BVJAKGA | MPC8536CVJAULA | MPC8535AVTAQG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 783-FCPBGA (29x29 mm) | 783-FCPBGA (29x29 mm) - same | 783-FCPBGA (29x29 mm) - same | 783-FCPBGA (29x29 mm) - same | 783-FCPBGA (29x29 mm) - same |
| Core Architecture | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 |
| Core Frequency | 600 MHz | 600 MHz | 600 MHz | 600 MHz | 600 MHz |
| Memory Controller | DDR2/DDR3 with ECC | DDR2/DDR3 with ECC | DDR2/DDR3 with ECC | DDR2/DDR3 with ECC | DDR2/DDR3 with ECC |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 2x 10/100/1000 (SGMII) | 2x 10/100/1000 (SGMII) | 2x 10/100/1000 (SGMII) | 2x 10/100/1000 (SGMII) | 2x 10/100/1000 (SGMII) |
| SATA | 2 ports | 2 ports | 2 ports | 2 ports | 2 ports |
| PCI Express | 2 lanes | 2 lanes | 2 lanes | 2 lanes | 2 lanes |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated dual GbE plus PCIe plus SATA in one SoC (vs MPC8544VTALF)
- DDR3 memory controller with ECC (vs MPC8536CVJAULA)
- Established ecosystem and reference designs (vs MPC8535AVTAQG)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 600 MHz core with VDD_CORE=1V and typical SoC activity, the MPC8536AVTAKGA dissipates approximately 3 to 5 W. The 783-ball FCPBGA package requires a minimum 4-layer PCB with a thermal via array under the die and a copper-spreader or heatsink for sustained 90 C junction operation. Designers should measure junction temperature with the on-die thermal diode during worst-case traffic load. Failing to manage thermals causes clock throttling and reduced MTBF.
Place the 783-ball FCPBGA on a minimum 6-layer PCB with controlled-impedance routing for DDR3, SGMII, PCIe, and SATA signals. Use length matching within the tolerances specified in the NXP hardware specifications: DDR3 data signals matched within 25 ps, SGMII within 5 ps, SATA within 50 mils. Decouple each power pin with 0.1 uF X7R ceramic plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor, placed within 100 mils of the ball. Estimated BOM cost reduction versus a discrete CPU plus chipset approach is approximately 30 to 40 percent.
Do not assume any MPC85xx part is a drop-in replacement - the MPC8536, MPC8535, and MPC8544 families differ in peripheral counts and pinout revisions even within the same FCPBGA-783 footprint. Always cross-check the ball map against the specific datasheet. Because the MPC8536AVTAKGA is on NXP's PowerQUICC III obsolescence roadmap, ensure firmware, OS, and toolchain support commitments before committing to new production. For long-life designs, evaluate the NXP QorIQ Layerscape family.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not present in the verified web data for this specific part. The wider MPC85xx family from NXP is generally RoHS compliant; verify with NXP product change notifications. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a networking SoC, not an automotive-grade MCU.