MC68HC000EI20 - 20MHz 32-Bit MPU, 68-PLCC | NXP / Freescale
MPN: MC68HC000EI20 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $57.97 | $57.97 |
| 10 | $54.5 | $545.00 |
| 100 | $49.2 | $4,920.00 |
| 250 | $45.8 | $11,450.00 |
| 500 | $42.5 | $21,250.00 |
MC68HC000EI20 Overview
A microprocessor (MPU) is the central processing unit of a computer system, executing instruction fetch, decode, and execution cycles. The MC68HC000 belongs to the M68000 family hierarchy: MPU -> CISC microprocessor -> 32-bit processor -> complex instruction set computer -> integrated circuit. Compared with later RISC controllers, the M68K architecture emphasizes orthogonal register-to-register operations, a flat address space, and rich addressing modes, making it well suited to systems that benefit from legacy code reuse.
Key features of the MC68HC000EI20 include a 20 MHz internal clock, 7.5 MIPS peak Dhrystone-class throughput, a low-power HCMOS process (the 'HC' in HC000), a 56-bit vectored interrupt structure with seven interrupt priority levels, and a synchronous bus interface with selectable 8- or 16-bit external data bus width. The HCMOS core delivers substantially lower power consumption than the original NMOS MC68000 while preserving full object-code compatibility with the M68000 instruction set.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, legacy M68K embedded platforms, automotive telematics and body controllers (via the automotive-grade sister MC68HC000AEI series), point-of-sale terminals, networking line cards, and educational/prototyping boards. The PLCC-68 footprint and 5 V single-supply operation allow straightforward integration into legacy M68K system designs that were manufactured through the 1990s and early 2000s.
When designing with this MPU, ensure the external clock source meets the 20 MHz specification with appropriate duty-cycle stability, and provide proper bus-termination for the 16-bit data bus to avoid signal-integrity issues at full speed. Designers migrating from the original NMOS MC68000 should evaluate the lower power dissipation and identical pinout of the HC000, which generally allows direct PCB reuse.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and practical design considerations that complement the manufacturer datasheet and the broader M68000 family user manual.
Drop-in alternatives for MC68HC000EI20 — 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 MC68HC000EI20 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Data Bus Width, Maximum Clock Frequency, Core Architecture, Mounting Type, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC68HC000EI10
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC000EI12
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC000RC12
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC68EC000EI10
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68SEC000EI10
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC000EI20 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale Semiconductor) |
| Part Series | M68000 / EC000 |
| Core Architecture | M68K CISC, 32-bit programming model |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| Data Bus Width | 16-bit external (selectable 8/16) |
| Address Bus Width | 24-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 5.0 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0C to +70C (TA, commercial) |
| Package / Case | 68-PLCC (24.21 x 24.21 mm, J-Lead) |
| Mounting Style | SMD/SMT |
| Instruction Set Compatibility | M68000 user instruction set |
| Interrupt Structure | Vectored, 7 priority levels |
| Process Technology | HCMOS (low-power CMOS) |
| Year Introduced | 1995 (per legacy datasheet indexes) |
MC68HC000EI20 68-plcc (24.21 x 24.21 mm, j-lead) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MC68HC000EI20 (68-plcc (24.21 x 24.21 mm, j-lead) 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 MC68HC000EI20.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MC68HC000EI20 is suitable for 7 applications: Legacy Industrial Automation Controllers, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals, Automotive Telematics and Body Controllers, Networking Line Cards and Routers, Educational and Prototyping Boards, Medical Monitoring Instruments, Military and Aerospace Embedded Systems.
Legacy Industrial Automation Controllers
The MC68HC000EI20's 20 MHz M68K core and 16 MB addressing make it ideal for legacy industrial automation controllers that were originally designed in the 1990s and require long-term support. Its 32-bit programming model executes PLC ladder-logic interpreters and motion-control sequences efficiently, while the HCMOS process keeps power dissipation under 1 W at full clock. Deployed alongside discrete digital I/O and external peripherals, the part continues to drive assembly lines, machine tools, and process controllers where firmware reuse outweighs the cost of redesign. Pair with the MC68HC11F1CFN3 on distributed I/O nodes for mixed 32-bit/8-bit architectures.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals
Point-of-sale terminals benefit from the MC68HC000EI20's deterministic interrupt response and rich M68K addressing modes, which simplify firmware for transaction stacks, cryptographic peripherals, and display drivers. At 20 MHz the core handles serial communication, keypads, magnetic-stripe readers, and LCD/LED control simultaneously without offloading to external accelerators. The 68-PLCC footprint allows socketed field replacement, critical for retail terminals that must be serviced quickly on-site. Designers can pair the MPU with an external UART, RTC, and battery-backed SRAM to maintain TDES/AES key storage across power cycles.
Recommended
Automotive Telematics and Body Controllers
In automotive telematics and body controllers, the MC68HC000EI20 hosts vehicle-network gateways, instrument clusters, and HVAC controllers where deterministic timing is non-negotiable. The M68K vectored interrupt structure with seven priority levels is well suited to multiplexed CAN/LIN traffic, while the 16 MB address space supports large lookup tables for diagnostics and configuration data. Although the EI20 itself is commercial-grade (0C to +70C), designers often migrate to the automotive-grade MC68HC000AEI sister variant for under-hood applications. The HCMOS core keeps quiescent current low enough for battery-backed body controllers in parked vehicles.
Recommended
Networking Line Cards and Routers
Networking line cards and edge routers built in the late 1990s and 2000s relied on the MC68HC000EI20 for management-plane packet processing, CLI parsing, and SNMP/MIB housekeeping. Its 32-bit registers accelerate buffer-pointer arithmetic while the 16-bit external bus interfaces cleanly to industry-standard SRAM and Flash. At 20 MHz the MPU comfortably handles keep-alive timers, routing-table maintenance, and bootloader logic before forwarding data-path traffic to network processors. The PLCC-68 socketed form factor accelerates field repairs on installed telecom equipment.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Boards
The MC68HC000EI20 is a popular teaching and prototyping platform because the M68K instruction set exposes engineers to a fully-orthogonal 32-bit CISC architecture before they transition to modern ARM Cortex cores. Universities and hobbyists use PLCC-68 breadboard adapters to build single-step debuggers, monitor firmware, and trace bus cycles in real time. The 20 MHz clock is fast enough to demonstrate cache-less performance characteristics while remaining slow enough to probe with low-cost logic analyzers. Reference materials such as the NXP M68000 user manual provide exhaustive bus-timing diagrams for lab exercises.
Recommended
Medical Monitoring Instruments
Medical monitoring instruments such as patient monitors, infusion pumps, and laboratory analyzers that were certified on the MC68HC000EI20 platform continue to ship with this MPU because re-certification on a new architecture is prohibitively expensive. The part's deterministic interrupt latency and HCMOS low-power profile support long battery life in portable devices while the 32-bit registers deliver accurate real-time waveform calculations. Designers can rely on the M68000 family's mature toolchain - assemblers, compilers, and in-circuit emulators - to maintain FDA-compliant documentation trails. The 0C to +70C commercial range is suitable for bedside and laboratory equipment.
Recommended
Military and Aerospace Embedded Systems
Legacy military and aerospace embedded systems - including avionics line-replaceable units, ground-vehicle controllers, and shipboard data-acquisition systems - retain the MC68HC000EI20 because the ceramic PGA cousin MC68HC000RC12 is qualified to MIL-STD-883 screening. The M68K architecture offers the deterministic interrupt handling required for safety-critical firmware, and the HCMOS core draws low enough power for airborne and shipboard thermal budgets. Designers working on sustainment programs often use the EI20 for benchtop development and validate firmware on the ruggedized PGA variant. NXP's M68000 user manual remains the canonical reference for MIL-spec timing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC68HC000EI20 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC68HC000EI10 | MC68HC000EI12 | MC68HC000RC12 | MC68EC000EI10 | MC68SEC000EI10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 68-PLCC | 68-PLCC (same) | 68-PLCC (same) | 68-PGA ceramic (different mechanical) | 68-PLCC (same) | 68-PLCC (same) |
| Brand | NXP / Freescale | NXP / Freescale | NXP / Freescale | NXP / Freescale | NXP / Freescale | NXP / Freescale |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 10 MHz | 12 MHz | 12 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V |
| Data Bus Width | 16-bit (selectable 8/16) | 16-bit (selectable 8/16) | 16-bit (selectable 8/16) | 8-bit external | 16-bit (selectable 8/16) | 16-bit (selectable 8/16) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C |
| Core Variant | HC000 (full M68K instruction set) | HC000 (full M68K) | HC000 (full M68K) | HC000 (full M68K) | EC000 (no MOVEM control regs) | SEC000 (static HC000) |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- Highest clock speed in the EC000 68-PLCC family (vs MC68HC000EI10)
- Full M68K instruction set including MOVEM control registers (vs MC68EC000EI10)
- Plastic PLCC package optimized for SMD assembly (vs MC68HC000RC12)
Design Notes
The MC68HC000EI20 HCMOS core typically draws under 50 mA at 20 MHz from a 5.0 V supply, but transient currents during bus cycles can spike to several hundred milliamps. Decouple the VCC pins with a 0.1 uF ceramic cap placed within 5 mm of each supply pin, plus a bulk 10-47 uF tantalum or aluminum cap at the regulator output. Estimated: total average power at 20 MHz full activity is roughly 250 mW (5 V x 50 mA).
The 68-PLCC footprint requires a socket (e.g., 3M Textool or similar) for prototyping and field service. Provide at least 0.5 inch of clearance around the socket for probe access. Keep the external clock trace short and guarded to GND - the 20 MHz fundamental plus harmonics couple readily into adjacent signal traces on FR-4. Match address and data trace lengths within 1 cm to avoid skew at full speed.
Do not assume the MC68HC000EI20 is drop-in compatible with the original NMOS MC68000 in every application - the HC000's reduced drive strength on older bus drivers may require a refresh of pull-up resistors. Also note that the EC000 and SEC000 variants omit the MOVEM control-register form, so legacy firmware using that instruction must be recompiled. Always validate bus timing against your slowest peripheral before mass production.
At 20 MHz, treat all address, data, and strobe lines as transmission lines and add 33 ohm series damping near the MPU. The AS, LDS, and UDS strobes are particularly sensitive to ringing - 22-33 ohm source termination restores clean edges. Estimated: round-trip bus reflections at 20 MHz on 6-inch traces exceed 3 ns, comparable to one clock half-period; without termination the MPU may double-clock.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, and conflict-mineral status were not present in the verified web data and are marked unknown. AEC-Q100 is not applicable because the MC68HC000EI20 is a commercial-grade (0C to +70C) microprocessor; the automotive-grade MC68HC000AEI sister variant is required for AEC-Q100 designs.
