P3041NXN1PNB - QorIQ P3 4-Core 1.5GHz PowerPC MPU | NXP
MPN: P3041NXN1PNB ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $285 | $285.00 |
| 10 | $262.5 | $2,625.00 |
| 100 | $235 | $23,500.00 |
| 500 | $198.75 | $99,375.00 |
| 1,000 | $168.5 | $168,500.00 |
P3041NXN1PNB Overview
A microprocessor (MPU) is the central processing unit of an embedded system, integrating one or more CPU cores, caches, memory controllers, and high-speed serial interfaces on a single die. The QorIQ P3041 sits within NXP's communications-processor taxonomy: MPU -> embedded processor -> networking SoC -> multicore communications platform. This hierarchical positioning explains why it ships with multiple 10 GbE, PCIe, and DDR3/3L controllers on-die.
Key features include four e500mc PowerPC cores with hardware hypervisor and virtualization support, three tri-speed Gigabit Ethernet MACs plus a 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface, three PCIe 2.0 controllers (x4/x4/x4), a 64-bit DDR3/3L memory controller with ECC, integrated security acceleration (excluding the SEC variant), and a high-bandwidth interconnect fabric. The 1.5 GHz core frequency and large L2 cache per cluster enable wire-speed packet processing on Layer 2-4 workloads.
The P3041 is built on a 45 nm silicon-on-insulator CMOS process, allowing the four cores to operate within the device's power envelope for fan-less enclosures. Designers benefit from extensive debug features including JTAG/cJTAG and on-chip trace, plus multiple boot options (NOR, NAND, SPI, eMMC) for flexible system bring-up.
Typical applications include enterprise switches and routers, network-attached storage (NAS) controllers, LTE small-cell base stations, industrial control gateways, and single-board computers for telecom and defense. Its extended temperature rating makes it suitable for outdoor and factory-floor deployments.
When designing with the P3041, pay close attention to the 37.5 x 37.5 mm FCPBGA land pattern: 1295 balls at 1 mm pitch demand a high-density, microvia PCB stack-up and controlled-impedance routing for the DDR3 and 10 GbE lanes. Thermal management is critical - a heatsink or cold plate is mandatory because all four cores can draw substantial current under load.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in QorIQ P3041 family alternatives, and practical PCB thermal guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for P3041NXN1PNB — 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 P3041NXN1PNB (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Ethernet, Memory Controller, Package, Maximum Core Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
P3041NXE1PNB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
P3041NSE1NNB
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$184.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →P3041NXN1NNB
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$128.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →P3041NXE1NNB
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$65.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →P3041NSE1PNB
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$198.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →P3041NXN1PNB Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) |
| Product Family | QorIQ P3 |
| Core Architecture | PowerPC e500mc |
| Number of Cores | 4 |
| Data Bus Width | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Core Frequency | 1.5 GHz |
| Package Type | FCPBGA (Flip-Chip Plastic BGA) |
| Number of Balls | 1295 |
| Package Dimensions | 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm |
| Operating Temperature | Extended (-40C to +105C) |
| Security Engine (SEC) | Not included (NXN1 variant) |
| Memory Controller | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC, 64-bit |
| Gigabit Ethernet MACs | 3 (tri-speed) |
| 10 Gigabit Ethernet | 1 (XAUI/KR) |
| PCIe Controllers | 3 x PCIe 2.0 (configurable x4/x4/x4) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
P3041NXN1PNB 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for P3041NXN1PNB (37.5 mm x 37.5 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 P3041NXN1PNB.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
P3041NXN1PNB is suitable for 6 applications: Enterprise Network Router, LTE Small-Cell Base Station, Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Controller, Industrial Control Gateway, Single-Board Computer for Telecom, Defense and Aerospace Embedded Platform.
Enterprise Network Router
The P3041NXN1PNB's quad-core PowerPC e500mc design running at 1.5 GHz with three tri-speed Gigabit Ethernet MACs plus a 10 GbE XAUI/KR interface makes it a strong fit for enterprise routers handling Layer 2-4 forwarding at wire speed. Each core can be dedicated to a separate function (routing, QoS, ACL filtering, management) while sharing the coherent interconnect, allowing deterministic throughput under load. The DDR3/3L controller with ECC supports large routing tables and NetFlow caches without page faults, while the three PCIe 2.0 controllers accommodate crypto offload cards, additional switch fabric ASICs, or hardware accelerators. For SMB and branch-office routers in extended-temperature environments (outdoor cabinets, factory floors), the P3041's industrial-grade silicon and 1.5 GHz headroom outperform dual-core alternatives such as the P2020. Recommended companion parts: PEX8907SX PCIe switch, 88E1111 GbE PHY, MT41K512M16 DDR3L.
Recommended
LTE Small-Cell Base Station
The P3041NXN1PNB is well-suited for LTE femtocell and picocell base stations because its four e500mc cores can be partitioned across Layer 1 (PHY preamble processing), Layer 2 (MAC scheduling), Layer 3 (RRC signalling), and OAM (operations and maintenance) workloads simultaneously. The integrated 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface aggregates backhaul traffic to the EPC without an external switch, reducing cost and PCB area. Hardware virtualization lets operators run a real-time baseband OS alongside a general-purpose Linux on isolated partitions, satisfying carrier-grade reliability requirements. The DDR3/3L controller with ECC supports the high-bandwidth memory access patterns of Turbo-decoding and FFT computations, while the extended temperature grade allows outdoor pole-mount deployment. Recommended companion parts: SC2440A DSP for PHY acceleration, DDR3L RDIMM, RF transceiver SoC.
Recommended
Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Controller
For mid-range NAS controllers serving 50-200 client connections, the P3041NXN1PNB's quad cores provide enough compute to handle SMB/NFS/iSCSI protocol stacks, RAID parity calculation, and deduplication without offloading to a discrete RAID ASIC. Three PCIe 2.0 controllers support 6-12 SATA or SAS drives through port multipliers, while the 10 GbE interface enables high-throughput aggregation uplinks. The SEC-disabled NXN1 variant keeps cost down for storage appliances that rely on host-side encryption rather than hardware crypto. Linux or FreeBSD NAS distributions run comfortably on the P3041's memory footprint, and the extended-temperature grade allows deployment in non-conditioned server rooms. Recommended companion products: SAS2008 controller, 88SE9485 SATA multiplexer, ECC DIMMs.
Recommended
Industrial Control Gateway
The P3041NXN1PNB's extended temperature grade (-40C to +105C) and quad-core 1.5 GHz performance make it an excellent industrial control gateway platform for factory automation, substation RTUs, and SCADA aggregators. Each core can be dedicated to a different protocol stack (Modbus/TCP, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, DNP3, IEC 61850) with hardware isolation via the e500mc hypervisor. The three GbE MACs support redundant ring topologies common in industrial Ethernet, while the 10 GbE interface uplinks to the plant-wide historian. Hardware-assisted virtualization lets real-time control software coexist with general-purpose SCADA HMI servers on the same SoC. The 1295-ball FCPBGA package has ample I/O for parallel GPIO and serial interfaces through companion bridge chips. Recommended companion parts: TPS3823 supervisor, ISO1050 isolated CAN, TLK110 Ethernet PHY.
Recommended
Single-Board Computer for Telecom
The P3041NXN1PNB enables compact single-board computers (SBCs) for telecom SBCs, media gateways, and IP-PBX systems where four cores at 1.5 GHz provide ample headroom for voice DSP, signalling (SIP/H.248/MGCP), encryption, and packet processing. The 1295-ball FCPBGA and DDR3 controller fit a 4-layer PCB if proper microvia design is used, enabling sub-150 cm² SBC form factors. Designers can run VxWorks for real-time voice or Linux for general-purpose SBC workloads; both are well-supported by NXP's BSP and SDK. The 10 GbE uplink supports carrier-grade trunking, while PCIe slots accommodate DSP daughter cards for transcoding. Recommended companion products: TMS320C6678 DSP for voice processing, TLK10031 Ethernet PHY, TPS54620 PMIC.
Recommended
Defense and Aerospace Embedded Platform
The P3041NXN1PNB's extended temperature range, multicore determinism, and hardware virtualization suit defense and aerospace embedded applications including unmanned vehicle control, mission computers, and tactical network nodes. The e500mc hypervisor allows multiple security domains (red/black separation) on a single SoC, reducing SWaP-C in size-constrained platforms. The DDR3/3L controller with ECC detects and corrects single-bit memory faults caused by radiation-induced upsets in avionics environments, and the JTAG/cJTAG debug interface supports post-deployment fault analysis. The 10 GbE interface aggregates sensor data from multiple cameras, LiDARs, and radar units in real time. For higher security needs, the P3041NSE1NNB variant adds the SEC engine; for higher performance, designers move to the P4080. Recommended companion products: Virtex-6 FPGA for sensor fusion, 1GB DDR3L ECC SODIMM.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for P3041NXN1PNB — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | P3041NXE1PNB | P3041NSE1NNB | P3041NXN1NNB | P3041NXE1NNB | P3041NSE1PNB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | FCPBGA-1295 (37.5x37.5 mm) | FCPBGA-1295 (37.5x37.5 mm) - same | FCPBGA-1295 (37.5x37.5 mm) - same | FCPBGA-1295 (37.5x37.5 mm) - same | FCPBGA-1295 (37.5x37.5 mm) - same | FCPBGA-1295 (37.5x37.5 mm) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core Frequency | 1.5 GHz | 1.0 GHz (-33%) | 1.5 GHz | 1.5 GHz | 1.0 GHz (-33%) | 1.5 GHz |
| Number of Cores | 4 (e500mc) | 4 (e500mc) | 4 (e500mc) | 4 (e500mc) | 4 (e500mc) | 4 (e500mc) |
| SEC Crypto Engine | Not included | Not included | Included | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Operating Temperature | Extended (-40C to +105C) | Extended | Industrial (0C to +105C) | Industrial (0C to +105C) | Industrial | Extended |
| 10 GbE Interface | 1 (XAUI/KR) | 1 (XAUI/KR) | 1 (XAUI/KR) | 1 (XAUI/KR) | 1 (XAUI/KR) | 1 (XAUI/KR) |
| PCIe 2.0 Controllers | 3 (x4/x4/x4) | 3 (x4/x4/x4) | 3 (x4/x4/x4) | 3 (x4/x4/x4) | 3 (x4/x4/x4) | 3 (x4/x4/x4) |
| DDR3 Memory Controller | 64-bit + ECC | 64-bit + ECC | 64-bit + ECC | 64-bit + ECC | 64-bit + ECC | 64-bit + ECC |
Key Differentiators
- SEC-disabled variant for cost-sensitive non-crypto designs (vs P3041NSE1NNB)
- Higher 1.5 GHz core frequency (vs P3041NXE1PNB)
- Extended temperature grade for harsh environments (vs P3041NXN1NNB)
Design Notes
The P3041NXN1PNB's four e500mc cores running at 1.5 GHz can draw substantial current under load, with peak junction temperature ratings of 105C for the extended-temperature grade. A heatsink or cold plate is mandatory for any enclosed chassis with limited airflow. The 37.5 x 37.5 mm FCPBGA exposes a die-side thermal pad that should be soldered to a copper coin or thermal vias in the PCB to spread heat into inner copper planes. Estimated: at Tj_max 105C and ambient 70C in a sealed enclosure, the available thermal headroom is 35C; given the device's worst-case TDP in the 15-20 W range, designers must budget at least 1.8 C/W junction-to-ambient via a heatsink + thermal interface material. Reference the NXP AN3946 thermal design guide for QorIQ P-series processors.
The 1295-ball FCPBGA at 1.0 mm pitch requires a high-density PCB stack-up. Use at least an 8-layer board with microvia-in-pad construction (laser-drilled 0.1 mm vias) for the BGA break-out. Route DDR3 traces on inner layers with controlled impedance (50 ohm single-ended, 100 ohm differential) and length matching within 25 milia to the byte lanes. The 10 GbE XAUI lanes require AC-coupling capacitors and 100 ohm differential routing with <5 milia intra-pair skew. Reference the NXP P3041 Design Checklist (AN4035) for full layout guidelines. Power rails should use 0402-size 0.1 uF + 10 uF ceramic decoupling placed within 100 milia of each ball.
The P3041NXN1PNB requires multiple power rails: VDD (core, ~1.0 V at high transient current), AVDD (PLL, 1.5 V), GVDD (DDR3 I/O, 1.5 V for DDR3L mode), and SVDD (SerDes, 1.0 V). Use a multi-phase PWM controller such as the NXP MC34VR500 to meet the core rail's load-step requirements. Bulk decoupling (220 uF polymer + 22 uF ceramic) must be placed near each VRM output. Soft-start sequencing per NXP's power-up requirements (VDD first, then GVDD, then SVDD) is mandatory to prevent latch-up; an MCU-controlled power sequencer or the TPS3823 supervisor can manage this.
Common design pitfalls with the P3041 include: (1) omitting the 100 ohm differential termination on 10 GbE lanes, causing signal-integrity failures at 6.25 GHz; (2) using too few thermal vias under the BGA, leading to junction temperature excursions and thermal shutdown; (3) selecting non-ECC DDR3 memory, which the P3041's ECC controller requires for proper initialization; (4) failing to configure the cfg_rcw_src boot-mode pins before PORST deassertion, causing boot failures. Reference the P3041 Reference Manual (P3041RM) section 4 for boot configuration details.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per NXP product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable (communications processor, not automotive-qualified). Halogen-free status not stated in provided data. Conflict-minerals declaration filed with CFSI.
