Microchip EVB8740, MII → LAN Evaluation Board for LAN8740/41

The Microchip EVB8740 is a user‑friendly evaluation board designed to interface a MAC controller via a standard 40‑pin MII connector to the LAN8740/LAN8741 10/100 Mbps Ethernet PHY. Supporting IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u, and energy‑saving IEEE 802.3az standards, the board features an integrated RJ‑45 jack with magnetics, built‑in cable diagnostics, and Wake‑on‑LAN capability. With accessible test points for power rails and strap configurations, it provides a practical platform for development, evaluation and system validation of Ethernet transceiver solutions.

Core Capabilities of the Microchip Evaluation Board

• Standard 40‑pin MII connector enables a direct MAC interface.
• Supports 10BASE‑T / 100BASE‑TX Ethernet for flexible network speeds.
• Energy-Efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az) support reduces power consumption during low utilisation.
• Built‑in RJ‑45 with integrated magnetics simplifies board layout.
• Test points for +5 V, +3.3 V, VDDIO, and VDDCR facilitate power-trace debugging.
• Configurable strap settings for PHY address, mode, and interrupt/timer operation.

Engineered for Evaluation and Integration

The EVB8740 evaluation board offers developers a reliable reference design to validate the LAN8740/LAN8741 PHY in real‑world applications. It allows rapid integration of PHY technology into networked devices, minimising development time and reducing design risk. Documentation includes schematics, BOM and Gerber files.

Applicable Areas of the Board

• Prototype networked devices requiring 10/100 Mbps Ethernet connectivity.
• Embedded systems where PHY features (EEE, diagnostics) need evaluation.
• Industrial control panels, IP cameras or PoE devices implementing Ethernet interfaces.
• OEM development platforms for rapid translation from PHY reference to production.
• Design verification of Ethernet connectivity in telecom, automation or test equipment.

For more information please check the datasheets.