T2081NXN8MQB - QorIQ 4-Core 1.2GHz MPU BGA | NXP
MPN: T2081NXN8MQB ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $462.5 | $462.50 |
| 10 | $425 | $4,250.00 |
| 100 | $388.75 | $38,875.00 |
| 250 | $350 | $87,500.00 |
| 500 | $318.5 | $159,250.00 |
T2081NXN8MQB Overview
This part belongs to the QorIQ T series of communications processors, a category of 64-bit Power Architecture multicore SoCs targeting networking, industrial control, and military/aerospace platforms. Within the broader SoC taxonomy, the QorIQ T2 sits between the dual-core T1 family and the higher-end quad-/octal-core T4 devices, and is fabricated on a 28 nm process for a strong performance-per-watt envelope. Cryptographic acceleration and SEC engines are present in related variants but are explicitly disabled on the T2081NXN8MQB (the 'N' suffix denotes no-crypto build). Designers familiar with P4080 can use T2080/T2081 as a pin-compatible upgrade path with lower power and cost.
Key features include four e6500 cores at 1.2 GHz supporting hardware hypervisor virtualization, two 10G Ethernet controllers, a 64-bit DDR3/3L controller with ECC up to 1.6 GT/s, two PCIe controllers, and a 780-ball FCBGA package (25x25 mm). The industrial temperature grade of -40C to +105C and the long-life product program make it attractive to defense and aerospace integrators.
Architecturally the SoC uses a coherent fabric with on-chip SRAM, dedicated L2 caches per pair of cores, and a hardware queue manager for packet processing. The 28 nm process enables lower static and dynamic power relative to the 45 nm T4240, while maintaining the same e6500 ISA and programming model. Crypto modules are masked out in this part number, freeing thermal and silicon budget for the throughput-oriented cores.
Typical applications include software-defined networking (SDN) line cards, industrial routers and protocol converters, network-attached storage controllers, military secure communications (when not requiring on-die crypto here is replaced by an external accelerator), and printed-circuit board-mounted industrial gateways. The compact 25x25 mm FCBGA package and industrial temperature grade support dense SBC and OpenVPX/VPX modules.
When designing with this device, ensure the PCB stackup supports the DDR3/3L 1.6 GT/s interface and provides sufficient via-in-pad microvia thermal relief for the 780-ball FCBGA. Plan external PCIe and SGMII routing to keep reference-clock jitter within the SerDes mask, and budget for a multi-rail power supply with sequenced rails - typical designs use a discrete management MCU plus a suite of regulators, since the SoC's power-on sequence is non-trivial.
This page synthesizes distributor inventory snapshots, pin-compatible QorIQ drop-in options, and practical board-design notes not collected in a single spot inside the NXP datasheet. It is intended as a complementary engineering reference.
Drop-in alternatives for T2081NXN8MQB — 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 T2081NXN8MQB (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Memory Controller.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
T2081NXN8MFB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
T2080NXE8MQB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
T2080NXE8MFB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
T2081NXN8MQB Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | QorIQ T2 |
| Core Architecture | Power Architecture e6500 (64-bit) |
| Number of Cores | 4 physical cores / 8 virtual threads (dual-threaded SMT) |
| Core Frequency | 1.2 GHz |
| Memory Controller | DDR3 / DDR3L with ECC, up to 1.6 GT/s |
| Ethernet | 2x 10 Gigabit Ethernet |
| Cryptographic Acceleration | Disabled (no-crypto part) |
| Process Technology | 28 nm |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C (industrial) |
| Package | 780-ball FCBGA, 25 x 25 mm |
| Terminal Form | Ball (BGA) |
| Number of Terminals | 780 |
| Package Shape / Type | Square, FCPBGA |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Data Sheet Revision | Rev 1.1 |
T2081NXN8MQB square, fcpbga Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for T2081NXN8MQB (square, fcpbga 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 T2081NXN8MQB.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
T2081NXN8MQB is suitable for 7 applications: Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Line Cards, Industrial Routers and Protocol Gateways, Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Controllers, Military and Defense Communications, Industrial IoT and Edge Gateways, Single-Board Computers (SBC) and VPX/OpenVPX Modules, Wireless Baseband and Protocol Stack Processing.
Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Line Cards
The T2081NXN8MQB is well matched to SDN line-card applications because its four 1.2 GHz e6500 cores deliver enough headroom for control-plane packet parsing alongside two 10 Gigabit Ethernet MACs that carry east-west traffic. The 1.6 GT/s DDR3/3L controller with ECC sustains concurrent CAM lookups and table-miss processing for OpenFlow without back-pressure. With 28 nm silicon and -40C to +105C industrial temperature grading, the device fits fanless ATCA/VPX chassis where controlled air-flow is impractical. Designers typically pair it with external 10G retimers and QSFP+ cages, splitting PHY duties off-chip while the SoC handles classification. The no-crypto variant is acceptable when tunneling is done in software or terminated by an external IPsec ASIC.
Recommended
Industrial Routers and Protocol Gateways
Industrial protocol gateways running PROFINET, EtherCAT, Modbus, and classic IP routing benefit from the T2081NXN8MQB's four e6500 threads and rich peripheral set. Real-time Linux (PREEMPT_RT) and Xenomai run comfortably on top of the hardware threads, while the dedicated Ethernet controllers offload the deterministic latency-critical traffic. The -40C to +105C industrial operating range means the gateway survives factory-floor enclosures without needing active heating or thermal derating. DDR3L with ECC gives parity-protected operation in 24/7 plants. Crypto is disabled, so IPsec tunnels must be offloaded to an external accelerator - typical pairings include NXP's SEC-supported companion ASIC or a discrete CAAM.
Recommended
Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Controllers
Mid-range NAS controllers map well to the T2081NXN8MQB because four e6500 cores can drive RAID6 parity, deduplication, and SMB/NFS stack concurrency without starving. The dual 10 Gigabit Ethernet MACs provide link aggregation and iSCSI multi-path, while 1.6 GT/s DDR3/3L with ECC protects bit-flips in 1-2 TB cached writes. The industrial temperature grade and 28 nm process make the design appropriate for SOHO/SMB rack appliances deployed in non-datacenter mechanical rooms. Designers commonly connect SATA/SAS controllers over PCIe and run a lightweight RTOS or Linux kernel; the no-crypto build is acceptable if the SMB/NFS layer is on a trusted LAN.
Recommended
Military and Defense Communications
The T2081NXN8MQB is firmly inside NXP's military-grade product window: -40C to +105C, Traceability per MIL-PRF-38535, and Long-Term Supply programs that guarantee availability over multi-decade program lifetimes. With four Power Architecture threads running ARINC 664, MIL-STD-1553, or tactical-radio IP stacks, it fits tactical routers, SIGINT pre-processors, and situational-awareness gateways. Crypto is masked out ('N' suffix), so classified waveforms use an external FPGA/ASIC accelerator, or the design is upgraded to the SEC-enabled T2081NXN8MFB variant. The 780-ball FCBGA's high pin density supports the dense I/O required for multiple SERDES lanes and parallel RapidIO connections.
Recommended
Industrial IoT and Edge Gateways
Edge-gateway appliances in smart-grid, energy, and SCADA networks are a natural fit because the T2081NXN8MQB brings the MB of cache and the threads required to aggregate multiple southbound interfaces (CAN, RS-485, Modbus TCP) while serving 10G northbound. The industrial 105C top temperature is essential for outdoor cabinet enclosures, and NXP's 28 nm silicon keeps the SoC in a 15-25 W envelope under typical IP-packet workloads. The no-crypto build suits deployments where perimeter firewalls handle secure tunneling instead of the gateway itself. The two 10G Ethernet MACs also enable link-redundancy protocols such as IEC 62439 PRP/HSR without external switches.
Recommended
Single-Board Computers (SBC) and VPX/OpenVPX Modules
The T2081NXN8MQB powers dense commercial and defense SBC modules that must fit a 3U/6U VPX envelope while delivering millions of Dhrystone MIPS. Its 25x25 mm FCBGA, four 1.2 GHz threads, and dual 10G MACs match VPX Switched-Fabric slots that route 10GBase-KR backplane traffic. The industrial temperature rating means the same module ships in air-cooled commercial boxes or conduction-cooled mil/aero chassis. The 1.6 GT/s DDR3 controller typically connects to a solder-down 4 or 8 GB ECC DIMM, which fits the vibration and shock profile of VPX. Designers leverage VxWorks, Integrity, or Linux with the BSP shipped by NXP for the family.
Recommended
Wireless Baseband and Protocol Stack Processing
Small-cell base stations and LTE/5G protocol-stack processors leverage the T2081NXN8MQB's four e6500 threads to run Layer 2/3 and OAM concurrently, while the 10G Ethernet MACs provide fronthaul/backhaul aggregation over CPRI or standard Ethernet. The 28 nm process gives a comfortable thermal envelope for fan-less pico-cells, and the 105C ceiling handles pole-mount outdoor units. With crypto disabled, IPsec/SCTP acceleration must be offloaded to an external accelerator - typical deployments attach an LTE crypto co-processor or FPGA alongside. The PCIe controller connects Wireshark-friendly monitor taps for OAM use cases.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for T2081NXN8MQB — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | T2081NXN8MFB | T2080NXE8MQB | T2080NXE8MFB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 780-ball FCBGA 25x25 mm | 780-ball FCBGA 25x25 mm - same | 780-ball FCBGA 25x25 mm - same | 780-ball FCBGA 25x25 mm - same |
| Cores / Threads | 4 e6500 / 8 threads @ 1.2 GHz | 4 e6500 / 8 threads @ 1.2 GHz | 4 e6500 / 8 threads @ ~1.5 GHz | 4 e6500 / 8 threads @ ~1.5 GHz |
| Cryptographic Acceleration | Disabled (no-crypto) | SEC 4.0 enabled | Disabled (no-crypto) | SEC 4.0 enabled |
| Memory Controller | DDR3/3L with ECC, 1.6 GT/s | DDR3/3L with ECC, 1.6 GT/s | DDR3/3L with ECC, 1.6 GT/s | DDR3/3L with ECC, 1.6 GT/s |
| Ethernet MACs | 2x 10 Gigabit Ethernet | 2x 10 Gigabit Ethernet | 2x 10 Gigabit Ethernet | 2x 10 Gigabit Ethernet |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C (industrial) | -40C to +105C (industrial) | -40C to +105C (industrial) | -40C to +105C (industrial) |
| Process Technology | 28 nm | 28 nm | 28 nm | 28 nm |
Key Differentiators
- Cryptographic acceleration masked out (vs T2081NXN8MFB)
- Smaller-package variant of T2080 (vs T2080 family)
- Drop-in replaceable by SEC-enabled sibling (vs T2081NXN8MFB)
Design Notes
Estimated: A typical 28 nm QorIQ SoC running four e6500 cores at 1.2 GHz with sustained throughput draws 12-18 W. The 780-ball FCBGA exposes the die through the top side; therefore a heatsink with thermal interface material and a 4-6 CFM airflow path is recommended. For VPX conduction-cooled enclosures, mount a thermal pad to the chassis with theta-JC under 0.5 C/W to keep Tj below 105C. Derating curves are defined in the T2080 reference manual.
The 780-ball FCBGA demands a 1.0 mm ball pitch with via-in-pad microvia construction and a 6-8 layer stackup. Route the DDR3/3L byte lanes point-to-point with matched-length rules (target 25 mil tolerance on byte/clock, datasheet references the JEDEC DIMM topology). Provide 100 nF decoupling at each power island plus 10 uF bulk, located within 5 mm of the balls, per the NXP hardware-design guide.
Do not confuse the no-crypto suffix: the T2081NXN8MFB retains SEC 4.0, the T2081NXN8MQB does not. Mixing orderable part numbers at the same firmware image will leave SEC libraries referencing unavailable hardware blocks. The 'Q' vs 'F' suffix encodes material/finish and tape-and-reel options; confirm against the NXP ordering information before placing volume POs.
SerDes reference-clock jitter must stay inside the 0.7 ps-rms mask for 10GBase-KR operation. Isolate the reference-clock generator's PLL loop-filter components from noisy rails, and stitch guard rings around the SerDes Rx/Tx blocks. Match the PCIe Gen2 transmit de-emphasis to the channel loss budget, which typically limits to 8-10 inches with FR4-stripline at 5 GHz.
Compliance Information
Industrial-grade QorIQ family member, shipped on NXP's long-life supply program. RoHS/REACH compliance confirmed via NXP product environmental compliance documents. Not AEC-Q100 rated - belongs to industrial / defense / aerospace product lines.
