P4040NSE1PNB - QorIQ P4 4-Core 1.5GHz PowerPC MPU | NXP
MPN: P4040NSE1PNB ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $285 | $285.00 |
| 10 | $268.5 | $2,685.00 |
| 100 | $245 | $24,500.00 |
| 250 | $232 | $58,000.00 |
| 500 | $218.5 | $109,250.00 |
P4040NSE1PNB Overview
A microprocessor (MPU) is the central execution unit of an embedded computing system. It fetches, decodes, and executes machine instructions while coordinating memory, I/O peripherals, and interrupt controllers through on-chip buses. Multi-core variants like the QorIQ P4 belong to the hierarchy MPU -> embedded processor -> communications SoC -> networking platform, sitting between general-purpose CPUs and ASIC-based packet processors. They deliver software flexibility together with deterministic latency for protocol stacks.
Key features of the P4040NSE1PNB include four e500mc cores with hardware virtualization support, integrated 32 KB I-cache and 32 KB D-cache per core plus a large shared L2, on-chip DDR3/DDR3L memory controller with ECC, multiple high-speed serial interfaces (10 GbE, PCIe, SATA, USB), and an SEC security engine for cryptographic acceleration. Industrial temperature operation, complex power management, and SerDes flexibility enable its deployment in routers, switches, and base stations.
The architecture uses a hierarchical bus with coherent shared L2 and an integrated CoreNet fabric. Hardware virtualization, DPAA queue management, and Trust Architecture 2.0 security primitives are tightly coupled to the cores. Compared to discrete CPU-plus-ASIC designs, the P4040NSE1PNB reduces BOM, simplifies board layout, and shortens time-to-market for multi-gigabit networking.
Typical applications include enterprise routers and switches, multi-service gateways, LTE/small-cell base stations, industrial control planes, and network-attached storage controllers. The 4-core 1.5 GHz configuration is well suited to control and data-plane workloads running an RTOS or embedded Linux with DPDK acceleration.
Designers should plan thermal management for the 37.5 mm BGA early in PCB layout, allocate sufficient CoreNet bandwidth for peak traffic, and follow NXP hardware design checklists for DDR3L termination and SerDes reference-clock routing. JTAG and Aurora debug interfaces must be accessible for production programming.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and engineering guidance not present in the manufacturer datasheet, giving component engineers and procurement teams a single source for evaluation.
Drop-in alternatives for P4040NSE1PNB — 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 P4040NSE1PNB (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Mounting Type, Number of Cores, Package Code, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
P4040NSE7PNB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
P4080NSE1PNB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
P4040NSN1PNB
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$545 / Unit
View Datasheet →P4040NSE1MMB
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
P4080NSE7PNB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
P4040NSE1PNB Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | Microprocessor (MPU) |
| Architecture | PowerPC e500mc |
| Series | QorIQ P4 |
| Core Count | 4 |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit |
| Core Frequency | 1.5 GHz |
| Platform Frequency | 1.3 GHz |
| Package | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5 x 37.5 mm) |
| Terminal Form | Ball |
| Number of Terminals | 1295 |
| Package Code | HBGA (FCPBGA) |
| Package Shape | Square |
| Minimum Supply Voltage | 0.95 V |
| Memory Controller | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC (per NXP P4040 datasheet) |
| Operating Temperature | Industrial grade (per NXP P4040 datasheet) |
P4040NSE1PNB square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for P4040NSE1PNB (square 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 P4040NSE1PNB.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
P4040NSE1PNB is suitable for 7 applications: Enterprise Router / Switch, LTE Small-Cell Base Station, Unified Threat Management (UTM) Appliance, Network-Attached Storage Controller, Industrial Control Plane / Edge Gateway, Multi-Service Broadband Gateway, Test & Measurement Networking Equipment.
Enterprise Router / Switch
The P4040NSE1PNB fits enterprise routing and switching platforms where 4 e500mc cores at 1.5 GHz deliver deterministic forwarding and rich control-plane processing for OSPF, BGP, and MPLS. Its 32-bit PowerPC architecture and Trust Architecture 2.0 security engine accelerate IPSec and MACsec without an external co-processor, while the integrated DDR3L controller with ECC handles route-table lookups reliably. Compared to discrete CPU+ASIC designs, the P4040 cuts BOM and simplifies board layout for multi-gigabit Ethernet aggregation switches. Pair it with NXP SerDes-based PHYs and an external TCAM for full L3 routing throughput.
Recommended
LTE Small-Cell Base Station
The P4040NSE1PNB's 4-core 1.5 GHz PowerPC e500mc complex with hardware virtualization is well matched to LTE small-cell baseband processing. The integrated SEC engine accelerates Kasumi, SNOW 3G, and AES ciphering, offloading the cores from real-time cryptographic work. DPAA queue managers and the CoreNet fabric keep CPRI data movement deterministic under bursty load. Running an embedded RTOS plus a DSP co-processor, the P4040NSE1PNB reduces overall bill-of-materials while keeping power under 30 W with proper heatsinking.
Recommended
Unified Threat Management (UTM) Appliance
UTM appliances benefit from the P4040NSE1PNB's Trust Architecture 2.0 with SEC 4.x crypto acceleration, supporting IPSec, SSL/TLS inspection, and deep-packet inspection at line rate. The 4-core e500mc complex runs control-plane and management tasks while DPAA handles data-plane packet movement, freeing cores for security policy processing. With 32 KB I-cache / 32 KB D-cache per core plus a coherent L2, the device sustains multi-gigabit throughput with predictable latency. Industrial temperature operation allows deployment in branch-office security appliances.
Recommended
Network-Attached Storage Controller
In mid-range NAS controllers, the P4040NSE1PNB supplies 4 e500mc cores at 1.5 GHz to handle file-system metadata operations, RAID management, and iSCSI/NFS protocol stacks concurrently. Multiple SATA interfaces integrated on-chip reduce the need for an external storage controller, while PCIe lanes support a high-speed cache SSD. The DDR3L memory controller with ECC protects against silent data corruption in large ZFS or Btrfs arrays, and the industrial operating temperature grade supports small-business and SOHO NAS enclosures.
Recommended
Industrial Control Plane / Edge Gateway
Industrial control-plane and edge-gateway applications benefit from the P4040NSE1PNB's deterministic PowerPC architecture and industrial temperature operation. The 4-core complex can host multiple isolated VMs running IEC 61850, PROFINET, or OPC UA stacks simultaneously via hardware virtualization. DPAA accelerates packet timestamping and QoS shaping on real-time Ethernet traffic, while the Trust Architecture 2.0 boot and integrity features satisfy IEC 62443 requirements for industrial cybersecurity without an external TPM.
Recommended
Multi-Service Broadband Gateway
The P4040NSE1PNB powers multi-service broadband gateways that combine routing, VoIP, IPTV, and Wi-Fi control in a single platform. Its 4-core e500mc complex, integrated security engine, and DPAA packet-processing pipelines sustain gigabit-class throughput across all service planes. Integrated USB, SATA, and PCIe lanes let OEMs add Wi-Fi 6/7 radios and storage without external bridges. The same FCPBGA-1295 footprint across the P4040 and P4080 families enables single-board designs scalable from SOHO to SMB tiers.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Networking Equipment
Test and measurement platforms that aggregate data from multiple instruments rely on the P4040NSE1PNB's deterministic L2 architecture and rich I/O. The integrated 10 GbE and PCIe Gen2 interfaces stream high-resolution waveform data into a host analyzer with low jitter, while the e500mc cores run real-time LXI and IVI protocol stacks. Hardware-assisted time synchronization via IEEE 1588 supports distributed measurement synchronization, and the industrial operating temperature grade makes the device suitable for production-floor test racks.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for P4040NSE1PNB — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | P4040NSE7PNB | P4080NSE1PNB | P4040NSN1PNB | P4040NSE1MMB | P4080NSE7PNB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same |
| Core Count | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Core Frequency | 1.5 GHz | 1.667 GHz | 1.5 GHz | 1.0 GHz | 1.5 GHz | 1.667 GHz |
| Architecture | PowerPC e500mc | PowerPC e500mc | PowerPC e500mc | PowerPC e500mc | PowerPC e500mc | PowerPC e500mc |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit | 32-bit | 32-bit | 32-bit | 32-bit | 32-bit |
| Memory Controller | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC |
| Security Engine | SEC 4.x with Trust Architecture 2.0 | SEC 4.x with Trust Architecture 2.0 | SEC 4.x with Trust Architecture 2.0 | SEC 4.x with Trust Architecture 2.0 | SEC 4.x with Trust Architecture 2.0 | SEC 4.x with Trust Architecture 2.0 |
| Hardware Virtualization | Yes (LP/hypervisor mode) | Yes (LP/hypervisor mode) | Yes (LP/hypervisor mode) | Yes (LP/hypervisor mode) | Yes (LP/hypervisor mode) | Yes (LP/hypervisor mode) |
| Parametric Match (%) | 100 | 90 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 70 |
Key Differentiators
- 4-core PowerPC e500mc at 1.5 GHz in FCPBGA-1295 (vs P4080NSE1PNB)
- Industrial temperature grade support (vs P4040NSE1MMB)
- Integrated SEC 4.x crypto engine with Trust Architecture 2.0 (vs P4080NSE7PNB)
- Lower core clock variant available for thermal-constrained designs (vs P4040NSN1PNB)
Design Notes
The 37.5 x 37.5 mm FCPBGA-1295 package of the P4040NSE1PNB dissipates an estimated 20-30 W at 1.5 GHz core / 1.3 GHz platform operation (estimated: assumes typical workload per NXP P4040 datasheet figures). A heatsink with thermal interface material is mandatory for production deployments. Route the bottom-of-package thermal pad to an internal copper plane or chassis-mounted cold plate. Designers should perform computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation for fan-less enclosures.
Use a microvia stack-up with at least 6 layers and 1 oz copper for power planes to support the P4040NSE1PNB's 1295-ball BGA. DDR3L routing must follow the NXP hardware design guide: matched-length fly-by topology, 40-ohm single-ended impedance for the address/command bus, and 80-ohm differential for data. SerDes lanes need reference-clock routing with 100-ohm differential impedance and isolation from noisy digital traces. Length matching tolerance is 5 mils for DDR3L byte groups.
The P4040NSE1PNB requires multiple supply rails: a 0.95 V minimum core voltage plus platform and SerDes rails (per NXP P4040 datasheet). Use NXP-recommended PMIC or discrete point-of-load regulators with bulk capacitance near the BGA. Decoupling requires 0402 or 0201 ceramic capacitors placed within 100 mils of each power pin pair. The total decoupling budget typically exceeds 200 capacitors for the FCPBGA-1295 footprint, so PCB area planning must start during schematic capture.
Common pitfalls when designing with the P4040NSE1PNB include incorrect JTAG chain configuration for production programming, missing reset sequencing between the platform and core rails, and SerDes reference-clock jitter exceeding the NXP datasheet limit. Boot ROM configuration resistors must match the chosen boot source (NOR flash, NAND, SPI, SD). Always prototype with NXP reference design boards (e.g., P4040DS) before committing to layout to validate DDR3L margin and SerDes eye diagrams.
SerDes signal integrity on the P4040NSE1PNB requires strict impedance control: 100-ohm differential for 10 GbE and PCIe, 90-ohm for SATA, and 85-ohm for USB. Keep SerDes lanes length-matched within 5 mils and reference a continuous ground plane without splits. Avoid right-angle bends; use 45-degree bends or arc routing. Pre-emphasis and equalizer values must be tuned per channel using the SerDes validation tool. Compliance testing requires BERT equipment and reference channels per the protocol standard.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per NXP QorIQ P4 family product page. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified web data. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a communications processor, not an automotive analog IC.
