MPC8548EPXAQGD - PowerQUICC III e500 1GHz SoC MPU | NXP
MPN: MPC8548EPXAQGD ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $285 | $285.00 |
| 10 | $268 | $2,680.00 |
| 100 | $245 | $24,500.00 |
| 500 | $222 | $111,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $205 | $205,000.00 |
MPC8548EPXAQGD Overview
An integrated communications processor (or communications SoC) combines a high-performance CPU with networking, security, and memory subsystems on a single die. Within the broader taxonomy, the MPC85xx family sits under embedded microprocessors, which themselves belong to the microprocessor unit (MPU) class of ICs, then to microcontrollers and processors, and ultimately to the integrated circuits (semiconductors) hierarchy. PowerQUICC III represents NXP's third-generation Power Architecture communications platform, succeeding PowerQUICC II and targeting enterprise networking and telecom infrastructure.
Key features include a 32-bit e500 core with MMU and double-precision FPU, integrated DDR2 SDRAM controller with ECC, four DMA channels, dual 10/100/1000 Ethernet MACs, three PCI/PCI-X interfaces plus one x8 PCI Express or Serial RapidIO interface, and the integrated SEC 2.0 security engine for IPsec, SSL/TLS, and public-key acceleration. The 783-ball FC-PBGA package provides high pin density for the multi-interface design, while the 0.09 um process enables 1 GHz operation at manageable thermal envelopes for managed switches and router line cards.
The architecture pairs the e500 superscalar core with the system interface unit (SIU) that handles external masters and address map windows, plus the CPM-style peripheral cluster adapted to the SoC bus. The internal MPX bus at the front side connects memory controllers to the SIU, while a 64-bit local bus supports glue-less peripheral attachment. This combination balances deterministic communications throughput with general-purpose compute.
Typical applications include multi-service routers, Ethernet switches with control plane processing, telecom line cards, industrial control and factory automation controllers, secure VPN gateways leveraging SEC 2.0, and military/aerospace embedded systems. The integrated peripherals reduce BOM and board area compared to a discrete CPU-plus-discrete-NPU design.
When designing with this part, allocate careful attention to power sequencing and decoupling because the 783-ball FC-PBGA requires multi-rail sequencing (1.0V core, 1.5V/1.8V DDR2, 2.5V/3.3V I/O). Use at least eight layers with dedicated power planes for the high-speed DDR2 interface.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in MPC85xx family alternatives, and design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MPC8548EPXAQGD — 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 MPC8548EPXAQGD (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Security Engine, Mounting Type, RoHS Status, Ethernet.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MPC8548ECPXAQGD
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MPC8548EPXAVHD
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$175.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →MPC8548EVTAUJB
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$195 / Unit
View Datasheet →MPC8555EVTAPF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$218.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →MPC8548ECPXAUB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MPC8548EPXAQGD Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PowerPC e500 |
| Core Count | 1 |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit |
| Maximum Core Frequency | 1.0 GHz |
| Process Technology | 0.09 um CMOS |
| Package | 783-ball FC-PBGA (29x29 mm) |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 1.0 V |
| Supply Voltage (DDR2 I/O) | 1.8 V |
| Supply Voltage (I/O) | 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +105 C |
| Ethernet | Dual 10/100/1000 Mbps (GMII/RTA/RGMII/TBI) |
| PCI Interfaces | 3x PCI/PCI-X + 1x PCIe x8 or Serial RapidIO |
| Memory Controller | DDR2 SDRAM with ECC |
| Security Engine | SEC 2.0 (IPsec, SSL/TLS, public key) |
| Local Bus | 64-bit |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (FC-PBGA) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per NXP product page) |
MPC8548EPXAQGD Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | VDD — Core supply voltage |
| Pin A20 | GND — Common ground reference |
| Pin B12 | DDR2_DQ0 — DDR2 data lane bit 0 |
| Pin B15 | DDR2_DQ1 — DDR2 data lane bit 1 |
| Pin C7 | DDR2_A0 — DDR2 address bit 0 |
| Pin D18 | DDR2_BA0 — DDR2 bank address 0 |
| Pin E5 | TSEC1_TXD0 — Gigabit Ethernet 1 transmit data 0 |
| Pin E22 | TSEC2_TXD0 — Gigabit Ethernet 2 transmit data 0 |
| Pin F11 | PCI1_AD31 — PCI/PCI-X 1 address/data bit 31 |
| Pin G19 | PCI2_AD0 — PCI/PCI-X 2 address/data bit 0 |
| Pin H3 | LAD0 — Local bus address/data 0 |
| Pin J21 | LCS0 — Local bus chip select 0 |
| Pin K9 | SRIO_TX0 — Serial RapidIO transmit 0 |
| Pin L17 | PCIE_TX0_P — PCI Express transmit 0 positive |
| Pin M5 | JTAG_TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin N23 | JTAG_TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin P13 | UART_SOUT0 — UART 0 serial data out |
| Pin R3 | SYSCLK_IN — System clock input |
| Pin T20 | HRESET — Hard reset input |
| Pin U7 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet package drawing) |
Typical Applications
MPC8548EPXAQGD is suitable for 6 applications: Multi-Service Routers and Edge Gateways, Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches, Telecom Line Cards and Base Station Controllers, Secure VPN and SSL Acceleration Gateways, Storage Controllers and RAID Adapters, Military and Aerospace Embedded Systems.
Multi-Service Routers and Edge Gateways
The MPC8548EPXAQGD is well matched to enterprise and SMB multi-service routers that need an embedded control plane plus packet processing at line rate. The single e500 core at 1.0 GHz runs routing daemons, IPSec or networking functions, while the integrated SEC 2.0 engine accelerates IPsec, SSL/TLS, and public-key operations, eliminating a discrete crypto ASIC. Dual Gigabit Ethernet MACs feed WAN and LAN ports directly, and the three PCI/PCI-X banks plus one x8 PCIe or Serial RapidIO interface attach DSP co-processors or NPUs for deep packet inspection.
Recommended
Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches
In managed Layer-2/Layer-3 industrial Ethernet switches, the MPC8548EPXAQGD serves as the control-plane processor, running the switch management stack, SNMP, RSTP, and QoS policies while an external switch fabric handles data-plane forwarding. The 0 to 105 C operating range covers most industrial cabinet environments, and the integrated DDR2 controller with ECC holds routing tables and ACL databases reliably. Compared with a discrete MPC plus Ethernet NPU design, the integrated peripherals cut BOM cost and reduce board area for DIN-rail and rack-mounted switches.
Recommended
Telecom Line Cards and Base Station Controllers
The MPC8548EPXAQGD fits telecom line cards where one SoC handles cell-site control, OAM functions, and backhaul encryption. The Serial RapidIO interface links to DSP and FPGA co-processors for physical-layer baseband, while the local 64-bit bus attaches glue-less glue logic for legacy telecom interfaces. The integrated SEC engine accelerates IPSec for backhaul encryption. With 1.8V DDR2 plus 2.5V/3.3V I/O rails, the SoC integrates easily into typical telecom board power architectures that use intermediate bus converters and point-of-load regulators.
Recommended
Secure VPN and SSL Acceleration Gateways
VPN gateways, SSL inspection appliances, and secure web gateway controllers leverage the MPC8548EPXAQGD's integrated SEC 2.0 cryptographic engine. The accelerator handles AES, 3DES, SHA-1/256, RSA, and ECC at line rate, offloading thousands of tunnels or flows from the e500 core. The dual GbE MACs segregate WAN and LAN sides, while PCI-X or PCIe connects crypto accelerator expansion cards. Designers achieve VPN throughput without a separate NPU, shrinking the gateway BOM and improving reliability over a discrete-CPU-plus-discrete-crypto-card design.
Recommended
Storage Controllers and RAID Adapters
External storage controllers and RAID adapters use the MPC8548EPXAQGD's e500 core to run storage stacks (iSCSI, NFS, SMB) while the PCI-X or PCIe interface attaches to SAS/SATA controller ASICs. The integrated DDR2 controller with ECC supports large cache memory with single-bit error correction - critical for write-back cache integrity. Compared with embedded ARM SoCs at similar frequency, the MPC8548E offers more memory bandwidth for cache-heavy RAID workloads and a more mature software ecosystem for storage OEMs.
Recommended
Military and Aerospace Embedded Systems
The MPC8548EPXAQGD in its extended grade (-40C to +105C) supports ruggedized military and aerospace applications including flight-control co-processors, mission computers, and tactical communications. The integrated SEC 2.0 engine accelerates Type-1 encryption (when paired with appropriate firmware), and the e500 core's deterministic interrupt latency suits real-time command-and-control software. NXP's long-life commitment program provides multi-year supply continuity for avionics and defense programs that require decade-long support windows.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MPC8548EPXAQGD — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MPC8548ECPXAQGD | MPC8548EPXAVHD | MPC8548EVTAUJB | MPC8555EVTAPF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 783-ball FC-PBGA (29x29) | 783-ball FC-PBGA (29x29) - same | 783-ball FC-PBGA (29x29) - same | 783-ball FC-PBGA (29x29) - same | 783-ball FC-PBGA (29x29) - same |
| Core Architecture | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 |
| Core Frequency | 1.0 GHz | 1.0 GHz | 1.0 GHz | 1.33 GHz (+33%) | 1.0 GHz |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +105 C | 0 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C (extended) | -40 C to +105 C (extended) | 0 C to +105 C |
| Security Engine (SEC) | SEC 2.0 | SEC 2.0 | SEC 2.0 | SEC 2.0 | Not integrated |
| Gigabit Ethernet MACs | 2x 10/100/1000 | 2x 10/100/1000 | 2x 10/100/1000 | 2x 10/100/1000 | 2x 10/100/1000 |
| Memory Controller | DDR2 with ECC | DDR2 with ECC | DDR2 with ECC | DDR2 with ECC | DDR2 with ECC |
| Serial RapidIO / PCIe | 1x x8 PCIe or SRIO | 1x x8 PCIe or SRIO | 1x x8 PCIe or SRIO | 1x x8 PCIe or SRIO | CPM-based serial interfaces |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated SEC 2.0 cryptographic accelerator (vs MPC8555EVTAPF)
- Higher core frequency versus same-package MPC85xx siblings (vs MPC8548ECPXAQGD)
- Extended temperature range availability in same family (vs MPC8548ECPXAQGD)
Design Notes
The MPC8548EPXAQGD requires multi-rail power sequencing: 1.0 V core must ramp before or simultaneously with 1.8 V DDR2 I/O and 2.5 V/3.3 V I/O rails per the NXP hardware specification. Use a sequenced power-supply controller such as the LTC2974 or equivalent to enforce monotonic ramps and prevent latch-up. Each rail requires bulk decoupling plus high-frequency ceramic capacitors placed adjacent to the package balls. With 1 GHz operation across the full 0 to 105 C range, budget thermal dissipation at approximately 8 to 12 W typical - the FC-PBGA package requires thermal vias to inner ground planes.
Allocate at least eight PCB layers with dedicated power and ground planes for the 783-ball FC-PBGA footprint. The DDR2 controller requires matched-length routing with controlled impedance (50 ohm single-ended, 100 ohm differential for DQS) per the NXP hardware specification. Keep the e500 core clock trace short and isolated from switching signals; route high-speed Serial RapidIO and PCIe lanes as 100 ohm differential pairs with length matching within 5 mils. Reference NXP application note AN4321 for the reference BGA breakout pattern and DDR2 topology recommendations.
BGA breakout demands careful via-in-pad or microvia topology; place at least one decoupling capacitor per five power balls within 100 mils. The local bus, PCI/PCI-X, and PCI Express interfaces must share adjacent ground-return vias to control return-path inductance. For dual Gigabit Ethernet MACs, route the GMII/RGMII signals as source-synchronous matched-length groups with separate ground-reference shielding, per NXP design guideline AN3988. Maintain the JTAG chain in a single uninterrupted series for boundary-scan test access.
Do not assume the e500 core runs from a single rail; the SoC requires 1.0 V core plus 1.8 V DDR2 plus 2.5 V/3.3 V I/O, all sequenced. Forgetting SEC 2.0 firmware initialization will leave the cryptographic engine non-functional, manifesting as VPN/SSL failures on first boot. The 1 GHz boot configuration is held in reset until HRESET deassertion is recognized by the system clock PLL - verify HRESET timing against the NXP datasheet. For production builds, lock the boot ROM configuration to prevent unauthorized firmware loads.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per NXP product page; AEC-Q100 not applicable (this is an MPU, not an automotive analog IC). Halogen-free status not stated in source data - marked unknown.
