P4040NSN1PNB - QorIQ P4 4-Core 1.5GHz PowerPC e500mc MPU | NXP
MPN: P4040NSN1PNB ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $850 | $850.00 |
| 10 | $780 | $7,800.00 |
| 100 | $695 | $69,500.00 |
| 500 | $615 | $307,500.00 |
| 1,000 | $545 | $545,000.00 |
P4040NSN1PNB Overview
A communications MPU (microprocessor unit) is a system-on-chip that integrates CPU cores, memory controllers, packet-processing engines, and high-speed serial I/O into a single device. These parts sit higher in the compute hierarchy than MCUs by offering GHz-class cores, multi-MB coherent caches, DDR3 controllers, and multiple 1/10 GbE MACs/PEC blocks; the P4040NSN1PNB is targeted at routers, switches, and networked industrial systems where deterministic packet throughput matters more than raw CPU clock speed.
Key features include four e500mc cores at 1.5 GHz, integrated DDR3/DDR3L memory controller with ECC support, hardware pattern matching for packet inspection, SerDes lanes supporting multiple 1 GbE / 10 GbE configurations, and an enhanced secure-boot chain. The FCPBGA-1295 substrate exposes all high-speed signals through the BGA array, enabling multi-gigabit serial links without external transceivers.
The architecture is built on a coherent SMP fabric that allows all four cores to share the L2 cache and on-chip network interfaces. Hardware queues distribute packet buffers across cores, allowing line-rate processing on multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports. Per-core complex includes a 32 KB L1 instruction cache and a 32 KB L1 data cache, while the shared platform cache provides low-latency data exchange between cores and accelerators.
Typical applications for the P4040NSN1PNB include enterprise and SMB routers, industrial control gateways, network-attached storage controllers, and edge compute platforms. The 1.5 GHz frequency and four-core SMT capability make it suitable for firewalls and VPN concentrators that must sustain multi-gigabit encrypted throughput alongside control-plane management.
When designing with this part, allocate generous BGA fanout routing and thermal management for the 37.5 x 37.5 mm substrate. Power decoupling requires multiple bulk and high-frequency ceramic capacitors placed as close as possible to the ball grid, and a high-efficiency multi-phase VRM is needed to supply the core and SerDes rails.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, internal die/process details, and drop-in alternatives for the QorIQ P4040 part that are not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for P4040NSN1PNB — 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 P4040NSN1PNB (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Number of Cores, Mounting Type, Package, Package Code.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
P2040NSN1PNB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
P4080NSN1PNB
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$230 / Unit
View Datasheet →P4040NSE1PNB
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$218.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →P4040NSN1MMB
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
P4040NSN1NNB
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$198 / Unit
View Datasheet →P4040NSN1PNB Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Processor Type | PowerPC e500mc Microprocessor |
| Series | QorIQ P4 |
| Number of Cores | 4 cores |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 1.5 GHz |
| Core Architecture | e500mc (SMP, hardware multithreading) |
| Package / Case | 1295-BBGA, FCPBGA, 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Terminal Form | Ball |
| Number of Terminals | 1295 |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL) | 3 |
| Lead Free Status | Lead Free per datasheet |
| RoHS Status | Compliant per distributor listing |
| Primary Applications | Networking routers, switches, industrial gateways |
P4040NSN1PNB 1295-bbga, fcpbga, 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for P4040NSN1PNB (1295-bbga, fcpbga, 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 P4040NSN1PNB.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
P4040NSN1PNB is suitable for 6 applications: Enterprise Router and Gateway, Network-Attached Storage Controller, Industrial Control Gateway, Edge Compute and NFV Platform, Firewall and VPN Concentrator, Wireless Base Station Controller.
Enterprise Router and Gateway
The P4040NSN1PNB's four e500mc cores at 1.5 GHz and integrated multi-port Ethernet MACs make it well suited to enterprise router and SMB gateway designs. Placed at the heart of the control plane, it routes sub-microsecond latency traffic while running routing daemons such as Quagga or FRR on the host CPU. The DDR3 controller with ECC sustains multi-gigabit flow tables, and the hardware queue manager feeds packets to the cores without software intervention. Unlike competing Cortex-A9 designs, the e500mc core was designed for deterministic interrupt latency in networking workloads.
Recommended
Network-Attached Storage Controller
Used as a NAS controller, the P4040NSN1PNB offloads RAID calculations, TCP/IP networking, and ZFS/Btrfs housekeeping from the host x86 CPU. The 1.5 GHz quad-core block manages multiple SATA or SAS HBAs, runs iSCSI target software, and serves SMB/NFS clients. With the DDR3 controller bandwidth typically above 12.8 GB/s and ECC support, the device sustains 10 Gigabit Ethernet file transfers without dropping packets. The integrated SerDes lanes simplify board layout by eliminating external PHY chips.
Recommended
Industrial Control Gateway
In an industrial control gateway the P4040NSN1PNB aggregates Modbus, EtherCAT, and PROFINET fieldbus traffic into a single OPC-UA uplink. Its four e500mc cores dedicate two cores to deterministic EtherCAT masters and two to web services and security stacks. The BGA package is rated MSL-3 and supports industrial -40C to +85C operation when ordered as the extended-grade suffix. Hardware AES/SHA accelerators cut VPN tunnel setup time by an order of magnitude compared with software implementations.
Recommended
Edge Compute and NFV Platform
Network Function Virtualization platforms at the network edge leverage the P4040NSN1PNB's four cores to run containers and virtual network functions (VNFs) alongside traditional switching. The deterministic e500mc architecture and hardware-offloaded encryption make it well suited to lightweight NFV where ARM or x86 platforms are over-spec. The 1295-ball FCPBGA exposes enough SerDes lanes for two 10 GbE plus four 1 GbE ports, satisfying typical edge node port counts without external PHYs.
Recommended
Firewall and VPN Concentrator
The P4040NSN1PNB excels as a firewall and VPN concentrator because its hardware pattern matcher scans packets in parallel with deep-packet-inspection engines running on the four cores. Per the QorIQ P4 architecture, classification tables are stored in the on-chip L2 cache and the queue manager distributes flows across cores for line-rate processing. IPSec AES throughput benefits from the integrated SEC engine, allowing 2-4 Gbps encrypted tunnels without exhausting CPU cycles on routing protocol overhead.
Recommended
Wireless Base Station Controller
In small-cell LTE or 5G NR base station controllers, the P4040NSN1PNB handles the L2/L3 packet processing while external DSPs handle PHY. The four cores each manage one antenna chain's MAC scheduling, with the platform cache providing low-latency data exchange between chains. Hardware timestamping and 1588 support align fronthaul traffic across multiple radios. The 1295-ball FCPBGA provides sufficient I/O for CPRI or eCPRI SerDes links up to 6 Gbps per lane.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for P4040NSN1PNB — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | P2040NSN1PNB | P4080NSN1PNB | P4040NSE1PNB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5 mm) | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5 mm) | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5 mm) | 1295-FCPBGA (37.5x37.5 mm) |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Number of Cores | 4 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Core Architecture | PowerPC e500mc | PowerPC e500mc | PowerPC e500mc | PowerPC e500mc |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 1.5 GHz | 1.5 GHz | 1.5 GHz | 1.5 GHz |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit | 32-bit | 32-bit | 32-bit |
| Series | QorIQ P4 | QorIQ P4 | QorIQ P4 | QorIQ P4 |
| Memory Controller | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC | DDR3/DDR3L with ECC |
| Temperature Grade (suffix) | Commercial (N) | Commercial (N) | Commercial (N) | Extended (E, -40C to +85C) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest core density in standard QorIQ P4 family at 1.5 GHz (vs P2040NSN1PNB)
- Doubled compute capability in same package (vs P4080NSN1PNB)
- Extended temperature operation without redesign (vs P4040NSE1PNB)
Design Notes
The 1295-ball FCPBGA at 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm requires an HDI PCB stack-up with microvias or stacked microvias to escape the dense ball array. Allocate at least 6 routing layers for signal escape plus dedicated power and ground planes for the core and SerDes rails. Per the QorIQ P4 hardware design guide, place bulk ceramic decoupling capacitors (22 uF and 10 uF X5R) within 100 mil of the BGA corners, with 0.1 uF and 0.01 uF high-frequency capacitors directly under the package footprint on the bottom side.
Estimated: at typical router workloads the P4040NSN1PNB dissipates 8-12 W. With a theta_JA of approximately 12-15 C/W on a 4-layer FR4 board, this translates to a junction temperature rise of 100-180 C above ambient. Active cooling (heatsink + airflow) is mandatory; passive cooling alone is insufficient. NXP provides thermal models and reference heat-spreader designs in the application note package - follow them precisely when targeting extended temperature operation.
The P4040NSN1PNB requires multiple voltage rails: VDD_CORE (typically 1.0-1.1 V at high current transients), VDD_SERDES (1.0 V), VDD_DDR (1.5 V for DDR3 with VTT termination). NXP's reference design uses a multi-phase PWM controller such as the ISL6341 or MAX15301 for VDD_CORE to handle the 20+ A transients without droop. Per NXP's hardware specs, bulk capacitance on VDD_CORE must exceed 2 x 330 uF polymer plus high-frequency ceramic to keep impedance below the target VRM crossover frequency.
For DDR3 routing maintain matched lengths within 25 mils between byte lanes; keep trace impedance at 50 ohm single-ended to the device balls. Route SerDes lanes on the top layers with continuous reference ground and avoid crossing split-plane boundaries. Ethernet MAC signals should remain inside the BGA escape via microvia-in-pad construction - avoid bringing them back through long traces on internal layers.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per NXP product family documentation; AEC-Q100 not applicable as this is a communications MPU rather than an automotive-grade part.
