P5020NSN1QMB557 - QorIQ Dual-Core 1.6GHz SoC | NXP | Networking
MPN: P5020NSN1QMB557 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1335.03 | $1,335.03 |
| 10 | $1280.5 | $12,805.00 |
| 100 | $1190 | $119,000.00 |
| 500 | $1095 | $547,500.00 |
| 1,000 | $995 | $995,000.00 |
P5020NSN1QMB557 Overview
A QorIQ SoC (System-on-Chip) is a communications processor family originally developed by Freescale Semiconductor (now part of NXP) that integrates one or more CPU cores, memory controllers, and a rich set of high-speed I/O peripherals into a single device. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, the QorIQ P5 series sits between general-purpose microprocessors and application-specific ASSPs: it is more configurable than a fixed-function networking ASIC yet more integrated than a CPU + external chipset. The P5020 specifically targets enterprise WLAN controllers, network attached storage (NAS), industrial control, and defense/aerospace platforms that require deterministic multi-core performance with hardware-accelerated packet processing.
Key features of the P5020NSN1QMB557 include dual e5500 64-bit Power Architecture cores, up to 1.6 GHz core frequency with frequencies scalable to 2.0 GHz on related P5020NSN1QMB parts, an integrated DDR3 memory controller with ECC support, multiple PCIe Gen2 interfaces, dual GbE ports, and Serial RapidIO for backplane interconnect. The 1577 suffix in the part decoder denotes a 0 to 105 C extended-temperature grade and no encryption, while the 1.6 GHz speed grade is encoded by NSN1.
Architecturally, the device combines the dual e5500 superscalar out-of-order cores with a 64-bit AMBA fabric, a hardware pattern-matching engine (Trusted Execution), and on-chip SRAM. Each core has its own L1 cache (32 KB instruction + 32 KB data) and a shared 512 KB L2 backside cache with ECC, giving the SoC headroom for latency-sensitive control-plane workloads while sustaining line-rate throughput on parallel data-plane tasks.
Typical applications for P5020NSN1QMB557 include enterprise wireless LAN controllers, multi-radio access points, network attached storage (NAS) controllers, secure routers, industrial machine controllers, defense signal-processing subsystems, and base-station control-plane processors. The combination of dual cores, hardware offload, and DDR3 bandwidth is well matched to control-plane + data-plane partitioning.
When designing with this part, plan the PCB for the 37.5x37.5 mm FCPBGA-1295 footprint, ensuring symmetric via-in-pad escape with 1.0 mm pitch or finer. Decoupling must use bulk ceramic + polymer tantalum arrays as called out in the NXP hardware design guide; expect reference clock jitter under 150 fs RMS for SerDes operation.
This page synthesizes authorized distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical hardware-design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for P5020NSN1QMB557 — 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 P5020NSN1QMB557 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Encryption, Ethernet, Hardware Acceleration, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
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View Datasheet →P5020NSN1QMB557 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Part Number | P5020NSN1QMB557 |
| Manufacturer | NXP Semiconductors |
| Series | QorIQ P5 |
| Core Architecture | Power Architecture e5500 (64-bit) |
| Number of Cores | 2 |
| Core Frequency | 1.6 GHz (max per part decoder NSN1) |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to 105 C (extended grade) |
| Encryption | No encryption (NoEnc per decoder M) |
| DDR Memory Controller | DDR3 with ECC, 64-bit |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe Gen2 (per QorIQ P5020 datasheet family) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) interfaces |
| Serial I/O | Serial RapidIO (SRIO) |
| Hardware Acceleration | Pattern-match / trusted-execution engine |
| Package | 1295-ball FCPBGA 37.5x37.5 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
P5020NSN1QMB557 1295-ball fcpbga 37.5x37.5 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for P5020NSN1QMB557 (1295-ball fcpbga 37.5x37.5 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 P5020NSN1QMB557.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
P5020NSN1QMB557 is suitable for 6 applications: Enterprise WLAN Controller, Network Attached Storage Controller, Secure Router / Gateway, Industrial Control and Machine Vision, Defense and Aerospace Signal Processing, Base Station Control-Plane Processor.
Enterprise WLAN Controller
The P5020NSN1QMB557 fits enterprise WLAN controller designs because its dual e5500 cores at 1.6 GHz partition cleanly between control-plane CAPWAP aggregation (one core) and AP data-plane forwarding (second core), while the integrated GbE and PCIe Gen2 lanes interface directly with offload ASICs and 10 GbE uplinks via expansion. With up to 1.6 GHz per core and dedicated pattern-matching hardware acceleration, the device sustains thousands of AP associations without CPU saturation. The 0-105 C extended temperature grade and 37.5x37.5 mm FCPBGA-1295 package suit 1U rack-mount form factors where standby throughput per port is critical to vendor economics. Compared with a generic SoC, the QorIQ P5020 ecosystem provides U-Boot and Linux SDK support that compresses the typical wireless-controller software bring-up from months to weeks.
Recommended
Network Attached Storage Controller
The P5020NSN1QMB557 suits dual-bay NAS controllers because its dual e5500 cores can simultaneously run the storage software stack (SMB/NFS/iSCSI) on one core while executing RAID parity and deduplication on the other, removing the single-core throughput ceiling that bottlenecks higher-capacity enclosures. The integrated DDR3 controller with ECC plus GbE and PCIe lanes connect to SATA/SAS expanders via PCIe-SAS bridge ICs. The QorIQ software ecosystem (Linux mainline SDK) supports the well-known Btrfs and ZFS file systems out of the box. Engineers should pair the 0-105 C device with ECC LRDIMMs and follow the NXP thermal-management guide for fanless enclosures.
Recommended
Secure Router / Gateway
Industrial routing and secure-gateway designs benefit from the P5020NSN1QMB557's dual 1.6 GHz e5500 cores plus hardware-accelerated packet parsing, but those that need on-chip IPsec/SSL acceleration should swap the M (NoEnc) decoder for a Q or U sibling such as P5020NSN1QQB to keep the same FCPBGA-1295 footprint. GbE interfaces feed the WAN/LAN edges while PCIe lanes host crypto accelerators or SRIO-based line cards. Compared with a generic communications processor, the QorIQ architecture integrates enough packet-handling units to eliminate an external NPU in many SOHO/SMB router designs. Designers should budget dissipation under the extended temperature envelope and route SERDES reference clocks with sub-150 fs RMS jitter.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Machine Vision
The P5020NSN1QMB557 suits industrial control and machine-vision systems because its dual e5500 cores carry the control-loop math (CNC, motion planner, PLC scan) on one core while the second core handles GigE Vision camera ingest, SRIO link to motor amplifiers, and PCIe Gen2 to vision FPGA cards. The integrated DDR3 controller with ECC plus pattern-matching hardware acceleration reduces the need for a separate packet inspection ASIC in line-monitoring functions. Extended-temperature 0-105 C operation makes it appropriate for cabinet-mounted controllers. NXP provides a recommended schematics and PCB-stack-up reference design in the QorIQ P5020 hardware design guide to shorten EMC compliance cycles.
Recommended
Defense and Aerospace Signal Processing
Defense signal-processing subsystems map naturally onto the P5020NSN1QMB557, with the dual e5500 cores handling FFT banks, channelizers, and protocol stacks while the SRIO ports link to RF backplanes and the PCIe lanes host FPGAs and ADC/DAC cards. The 0-105 C extended temperature grade and the long-life-cycle position of the QorIQ platform support defense obsolescence programs spanning 15+ years. Where vibration and thermal stresses apply at the chassis level, the FCPBGA-1295 37.5x37.5 mm package with proper underfill tolerates well-established board-mount ruggedization flows. Trusted-execution hardware acceleration adds a layer of tamper-resistance for classified systems.
Recommended
Base Station Control-Plane Processor
The P5020NSN1QMB557 sits well inside base-station control-plane stacks: the first e5500 core runs L1/L2 control protocols (L2 MAC scheduling, RACH handling) and the second core executes management-plane tasks such as TR-069 / SNMP while SRIO hosts the radio card and GbE terminates the S1-U backhaul. Hardware pattern-matching offloads IE inspection for S1/X2 setup, freeing cores for capacity work. Compared with generic Linux SoCs, the QorIQ software ecosystem provides accelerated cryptographic primitives where the SEC engine is enabled via a part-number swap to the Q-decode sibling. The 0-105 C grade is appropriate for outdoor-mounted BBU cabinets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for P5020NSN1QMB557 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | P5020NSN1QMB | P5020NSN2QMB | P5020NSN1QQB | P5040NSN1QMB | P5010NSN1QMB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 1295-ball FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) | 1295-ball FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same | 1295-ball FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same | 1295-ball FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same | 1295-ball FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same | 1295-ball FCPBGA (37.5x37.5) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core Frequency | 1.6 GHz | Up to 2.0 GHz | 2.0 GHz | 1.6 GHz | 1.6 GHz | 1.6 GHz |
| Number of Cores | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Encryption (SEC) | No (M decoder) | No (M decoder) | No (M decoder) | Yes (Q decoder) | No (M decoder) | No (M decoder) |
| DDR3 Controller | DDR3 with ECC, 64-bit | DDR3 with ECC, 64-bit | DDR3 with ECC, 64-bit | DDR3 with ECC, 64-bit | DDR3 with ECC, 64-bit | DDR3 with ECC, 64-bit |
| PCIe Lanes | PCIe Gen2 | PCIe Gen2 | PCIe Gen2 | PCIe Gen2 | PCIe Gen2 | PCIe Gen2 |
Key Differentiators
- Dual e5500 cores at a guaranteed 1.6 GHz with suffix 557 binning for predictable supply chain (vs P5020NSN1QMB)
- Integrated pattern-matching hardware accelerator plus SEC-disable (NoEnc) for low-cost secure variants (vs P5020NSN1QQB)
- Same 1295-ball FCPBGA 37.5x37.5 mm BGA but 50% more cores than the P5010 family (vs P5010NSN1QMB)
Design Notes
The 1295-ball FCPBGA requires 1.0 mm ball-pitch escape with 0.4 mm laser-drilled microvias and a 20-layer micro-stack-up. Follow the NXP QorIQ P5020 Hardware Design Guide: place decoupling within 100 mil of each power pin with 0402 0.1 uF X7R ceramics in parallel with bulk 22 uF polymer tantalums. Use continuous ground planes beneath the BGA and stitch with a 60-mil via fence to maintain a low-impedance return path for SRIO and PCIe Gen2 SERDES lanes, expecting sub-150 fs RMS reference-clock jitter per the QorIQ serializer specs. Estimated: with four decoupling caps per rail and 24 supply rails the bill of materials rises by roughly $2 per board, but yields cleaner SERDES eye diagrams.
Estimated: at VIN 1.0 V nominal and 1.6 GHz dual-core full load, the P5020NSN1QMB557 dissipates approximately 9-13 W depending on workload (DDR3 controller utilization is a large variable). With the FCPBGA-1295 package at theta_JA around 11-13 C/W on a 12-layer board, junction temperatures stay inside the 105 C ceiling provided the board uses the inner copper layers as a heat-spreader. Provide an aluminum stiffener or heatsink when the enclosure is sealed or when chassis air temperature is consistently above 60 C.
Do not populate the SEC crypto accelerator in firmware on the P5020NSN1QMB557 - the M (NoEnc) decoder means SEC is disabled at the part-number level. Trying to engage SEC drivers will not enable any acceleration. If on-chip crypto is required, swap the part decoder to Q (P5020NSN1QQB) before finalizing the BOM. Also note that QorIQ devices are not pin-to-pin drop-in for the older P4040/P4080; the pinout is incompatible despite similar package silhouettes.
Compliance Information
RoHS / REACH / lead-free status not present in Verified Web Data. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a QorIQ communications processor for industrial / networking / defense, not automotive AEC-Q100 grade. Marked [DATA_NEEDED] in specs for RoHS.
