HX3 USB 3.0 hub controller — what it is and where it fits
The CYUSB3324-88LTXC is a Cypress HX3 series USB 3.0 hub controller integrating an ARM Cortex-M0 core for hub management, enumeration, and power control. It provides four downstream ports on a USB 3.0 upstream connection, with an I²C interface for configuration or firmware updates.
ARM Cortex-M0 and ROM firmware — what that means for the BOM
The integrated Cortex-M0 runs hub policy from 32 kB of ROM-based firmware, meaning the controller boots and operates without external Flash or EEPROM for code storage. That simplifies the BOM and reduces supply-chain exposure to a separate memory device. The 16K x 8 RAM handles packet buffering. For designs that need custom hub behavior (port mapping, charging profiles), the I²C interface allows an external MCU or EEPROM to override default settings — but the base firmware is fixed in ROM, so field-updating the hub core logic is not possible without a silicon change. This is a deliberate trade-off: lower BOM cost and smaller board area versus in-field reprogrammability.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
No end-of-life notice or last-time-buy window is on record. The part is not authorized-distributor exclusive, so we source across the open channel — quote turnaround is typically same-day for volume requests.