MPC8548EPXAUJC - 1.333GHz PowerPC e500 MPU 783-FCPBGA | NXP
MPN: MPC8548EPXAUJC ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $222.06 | $222.06 |
| 10 | $215 | $2,150.00 |
| 100 | $198.5 | $19,850.00 |
| 500 | $185.2 | $92,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $172.8 | $172,800.00 |
MPC8548EPXAUJC Overview
A microprocessor (MPU) is an integrated circuit that contains the central processing unit of a computer system, executing instructions fetched from memory and orchestrating data movement across peripherals. PowerQUICC III devices such as the MPC8548E extend the classic PowerQUICC architecture with an embedded e500 core, bringing high-performance RISC processing to networking line cards, control-plane processors, and storage subsystems where deterministic throughput and hardware-accelerated security are required.
Key features include the integrated Signal Processing Engine and Security Engine, hardware-assisted encryption (DES/3DES, AES, SHA, MD5, Kasumi), a four-channel DMA controller, dual Gigabit Ethernet MACs, PCI Express and RapidIO fabric interfaces, and a 64-bit DDR/DDR2 memory controller with ECC. The e500 core includes a 32 KB instruction cache and a 32 KB data cache, with a 256 KB unified L2 cache and MMU support for embedded Linux, VxWorks, and other RTOS environments.
Architecturally, the MPC8548E combines a high-frequency e500 core with on-chip fabric, memory controllers, and I/O bridges that historically required companion chipsets. Hardware acceleration offloads compute-intensive networking and security workloads from the CPU, allowing deterministic wire-speed processing for routing, encryption, and QoS classification on the original power budget allocated to the PowerQUICC platform.
Typical applications include enterprise routers and switches, WAN access equipment, wireless base-station controllers, secure network appliances, line cards, RAID/HBA storage controllers, and industrial embedded controllers. The integrated dual GbE MACs and SERDES lanes also support equipment bridging legacy PCI-X to PCI Express fabrics.
Designers should plan thermal dissipation carefully given the 29x29 mm FCBGA power envelope, allocate adequate PCB layers for high-speed SERDES routing, and ensure proper DDR2 termination per the NXP hardware reference manual. Use the NXP CodeWarrior or Linux SDK BSP for bring-up.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from Heisener and Rochester Electronics, drop-in pin-compatible MPC85xx alternatives sourced from cross-reference data, and practical design notes that go beyond the raw datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MPC8548EPXAUJC — 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 MPC8548EPXAUJC (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Mounting Type, Co-Processors / DSP, Ethernet, Process Technology.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MPC8548EVXAQG
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MPC8548EHXATG
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MPC8548EVXAUJD
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MPC8548EPXAUJC Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PowerPC e500 |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| Core Width | 32-Bit |
| Core Speed | 1.333 GHz |
| Series | MPC85xx (PowerQUICC III) |
| Co-Processors / DSP | Signal Processing; SPE, Security; SEC |
| RAM Controllers | DDR, DDR2, SDRAM |
| Graphics Acceleration | No |
| Display & Interface Controllers | No |
| Ethernet | 2 x 10/100/1000 Mbps (GMII/RGMII/TBI/RTBI) |
| USB | USB 2.0 |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +105C (TJ) |
| Package | 783-FCPBGA (29x29 mm) |
| Process Technology | 0.09 um CMOS |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Part Status | Obsolete |
MPC8548EPXAUJC 783-fcpbga (29x29 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MPC8548EPXAUJC (783-fcpbga (29x29 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 MPC8548EPXAUJC.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MPC8548EPXAUJC is suitable for 6 applications: Enterprise Router / Switch Control Plane, WAN Access Equipment / xDSL Aggregation, Secure Network Appliance / VPN Gateway, Wireless Base Station Controller, RAID / HBA Storage Controller, Industrial Embedded Controller / RTOS Platform.
Enterprise Router / Switch Control Plane
The MPC8548EPXAUJC fits enterprise router and switch control-plane applications because its 1.333 GHz e500 core plus integrated dual Gigabit Ethernet MACs deliver wire-speed routing table lookups, ACL processing, and management-plane traffic without external packet engines. The DDR2 controller with ECC provides the memory bandwidth needed for large FIB/RIB tables, while the SEC engine offloads IPsec and TLS handshakes. Placed on the control card alongside line cards, it eliminates a companion Northbridge chipset that older PowerQUICC I designs required, reducing BOM and board area.
Recommended
WAN Access Equipment / xDSL Aggregation
For WAN access and xDSL aggregation, the MPC8548EPXAUJC's e500 core combined with the Signal Processing Engine handles ATM, PPPoE, and IPsec encapsulation at line rate for hundreds of subscriber sessions. The 64-bit DDR2 controller with ECC supports deep packet buffering, while the integrated SEC engine accelerates 3DES/AES/SHA for secure VPN aggregation. Compared to discrete CPU-plus-coprocessor designs, the integrated fabric reduces latency and power consumption in climate-controlled DSLAM chassis.
Recommended
Secure Network Appliance / VPN Gateway
The MPC8548EPXAUJC is well suited to secure VPN gateways because the dedicated Security Engine performs DES, 3DES, AES, SHA-1/2, MD5, and Kasumi at hardware speeds, freeing the e500 core for routing and QoS. Combined with 1.333 GHz of processing headroom and DDR2 bandwidth, it can sustain full-duplex IPsec tunnels at gigabit rates. Designers typically pair it with external PHYs and a tamper-detection circuit to build FIPS-compliant appliances in a 1U rack form factor.
Recommended
Wireless Base Station Controller
In 3G/4G base station controllers (NodeB/BTS), the MPC8548EPXAUJC's e500 core plus SPE handles the Iub/Iu protocol stacks, ATM/AAL2 segmentation, and Kasumi f8/f9 ciphering required for UMTS link security. The dual GbE MACs aggregate multiple radio carriers back to the RNC, while the PCI Express fabric connects to DSP arrays for baseband processing. Pin-compatible MPC8548E variants allow the same board to be deployed across multiple controller SKUs at different cell-site capacities.
Recommended
RAID / HBA Storage Controller
For RAID and HBA storage controllers, the MPC8548EPXAUJC delivers 1.333 GHz of e500 throughput with DMA engines capable of driving multi-gigabit SAS or SATA aggregates. The local bus glues to SAS controllers or SAS expanders, while the integrated GigE provides out-of-band management. The Security Engine accelerates self-encrypting drive (SED) management, making the part attractive for enterprise-class RAID cards where hardware-accelerated cryptography offloads the main CPU.
Recommended
Industrial Embedded Controller / RTOS Platform
The MPC8548EPXAUJC serves as a deterministic embedded controller for industrial platforms running VxWorks, INTEGRITY, or embedded Linux. The MMU-equipped e500 core supports protected-memory RTOS designs, while the SEC engine secures field-bus and industrial Ethernet (EtherCAT, PROFINET) traffic. Combined with the rugged FCBGA-783 package and 0 to +105C junction temperature range, it powers substation controllers, factory automation line controllers, and other long-lifecycle industrial systems.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MPC8548EPXAUJC — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MPC8548EVXAQG | MPC8548EHXATG | MPC8548EVXAUJD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 783-FCPBGA (29x29) | 783-FCPBGA (29x29) - same | 783-FCPBGA (29x29) - same | 783-FCPBGA (29x29) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 | PowerPC e500 |
| Core Speed | 1.333 GHz | 1.0 GHz (variant speed grade) | 1.5 GHz (higher speed grade) | 1.333 GHz (same grade) |
| Co-Processors | SPE + SEC | SPE + SEC | SPE + SEC | SPE + SEC |
| Memory Controller | DDR/DDR2/SDRAM + ECC | DDR/DDR2/SDRAM + ECC | DDR/DDR2/SDRAM + ECC | DDR/DDR2/SDRAM + ECC |
| Ethernet | 2 x 10/100/1000 Mbps | 2 x 10/100/1000 Mbps | 2 x 10/100/1000 Mbps | 2 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V |
| Lifecycle | Obsolete | Obsolete (same family) | Obsolete (same family) | Obsolete (same family) |
Key Differentiators
- 1.333 GHz e500 with integrated SEC engine (vs MPC8555EVTAPF)
- Single die combining MPU + SEC + SPE + dual GbE (vs MPC850DEZQ50BU)
- Pin-compatible family members for sourcing flexibility (vs Obsolete legacy single-source position)
Design Notes
The 783-FCPBGA package concentrates heat under the die; designers must attach a heatsink or thermal interface material and ensure 400+ LFM airflow across the package for full 1.333 GHz operation. Estimated: at VIN-domain total power of approximately 12W with theta_JA around 8 C/W on a 12-layer board, junction-to-ambient delta T is about 96C, requiring heatsinking for ambient temperatures above ~10C.
Use a 10+ layer PCB with matched 50 ohm SE / 100 ohm diff impedance for SERDES lanes, dedicated ground planes under the FCBGA, and microvia-in-pad construction to break out the 1.0 mm BGA pitch. Estimated: the 29x29 mm FCBGA-783 footprint requires 4 routing layers plus 2 power/ground layers minimum for clean DDR2 bus routing.
Sequence the 1.8V, 2.5V, and 3.3V rails per the NXP hardware reference manual - core voltage (1.0V internal) typically derived from 1.8V via on-package VRM, but external I/O rails must ramp in the correct order. Decouple each rail with 0.1 uF X7R plus bulk polymer capacitors placed within 5 mm of the corresponding BGA balls.
Do not confuse the MPC8548E (with SEC engine) for the MPC8555E (no SEC) - same FCBGA footprint but missing Kasumi/AES hardware acceleration. Also avoid hand-soldering the FCBGA package; reflow with nitrogen-atmosphere profile per J-STD-020 is mandatory, and the part is moisture-sensitive (MSL) - bake before assembly if the floor-life has expired.
Compliance Information
Compliance certifications are not explicitly stated in the verified distributor data. The 783-FCPBGA package family from NXP was historically offered in both leaded and lead-free finishes; contact the distributor for lot-specific certificates of compliance.