MC68HC001EI8 - 8MHz 32-Bit MPU M68000 | 68-PLCC | NXP
MPN: MC68HC001EI8 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $60.13 | $60.13 |
| 10 | $58.5 | $585.00 |
| 100 | $55.2 | $5,520.00 |
| 500 | $51.8 | $25,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $48.4 | $48,400.00 |
MC68HC001EI8 Overview
What is a 32-Bit MPU? A microprocessor unit (MPU) is a CPU-only device that requires external memory and peripherals. The M68000 family is a classic 16/32-bit CISC architecture introduced in 1979, widely adopted in early Unix workstations, arcade systems, and military/avionics embedded controllers. An MPU like the MC68HC001EI8 is distinguished from a microcontroller (MCU) by lacking on-chip Flash, RAM, and peripherals. Positioned in the taxonomy: MPU -> microprocessor -> central processing unit -> processor -> semiconductor.
Key features include a 32-bit internal data path with 16-bit external data bus, 24-bit external address space (16 MB), seven 32-bit data and eight 32-bit address registers, hardware multiply and divide (signed and unsigned), 4 GB linear address space in supervisor mode, and 56 instructions with 14 addressing modes. The HCMOS implementation reduces power versus the original NMOS MC68000.
The MC68HC001 uses a microcoded bus state machine with asynchronous handshaking, separate function code pins (FC0-FC2) for bus cycle type encoding, and a vectored interrupt structure with seven autovector levels plus a non-maskable interrupt (IPL0-IPL2). Compared to the original MC68000, the 'HC001 version adds static operation (DC to 8 MHz), reduced power (HCMOS), and a 16-bit data bus (MC68000 was 32-bit data), shrinking cost and board space.
Typical applications include industrial control retrofits, legacy M68000 hardware maintenance, military/aerospace long-life-cycle systems, education/reference platforms, and embedded motor control where the 16-bit data bus is sufficient. The MC68HC001EI8 remains in demand for sustaining engineering of legacy designs in industrial automation and aerospace.
When designing with this part, note the 5V-only I/O (3.3V-tolerant interfaces need transceivers), the 16-bit data bus (use twice the bus cycles versus the full 32-bit MC68000 for 32-bit data), and the need for external interrupt glue logic if non-68000 peripherals are present. Verify thermal and reflow profiles for the 68-PLCC J-leaded package.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, application context, and cross-reference data for the MC68HC001EI8 that are not consolidated on the manufacturer legacy product page.
Drop-in alternatives for MC68HC001EI8 — 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 MC68HC001EI8 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Address Bus Width, RoHS Status, Core, Data Bus Width, Maximum Clock Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC68HC000CEI8
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC000CRC8
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View Datasheet →MC68HC000CEI12
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68HC000CEI16R
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$33.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC68SEC000AA10
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$6.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC68HC001EI8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | EC000 (M68000 family) |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| Bus Width | 32-bit internal / 16-bit external data bus |
| Speed | 8 MHz |
| Address Bus Width | 24-bit (16 MB external address space) |
| Voltage - I/O | 5.0 V |
| Co-Processors / DSP | None |
| RAM Controllers | None (external memory required) |
| Graphics Acceleration | No |
| Display & Interface Controllers | None |
| Ethernet | No |
| SATA | No |
| USB | No |
| Package | 68-PLCC (24.21 x 24.21 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete per third-party listing |
| Peripherals | External (no on-chip peripherals) |
MC68HC001EI8 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VCC — +5V supply |
| Pin 2 | D15 — Data bus bit 15 |
| Pin 3 | D14 — Data bus bit 14 |
| Pin 4 | D13 — Data bus bit 13 |
| Pin 5 | D12 — Data bus bit 12 |
| Pin 6 | D11 — Data bus bit 11 |
| Pin 7 | D10 — Data bus bit 10 |
| Pin 8 | D9 — Data bus bit 9 |
| Pin 9 | D8 — Data bus bit 8 |
| Pin 10 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 11 | D7 — Data bus bit 7 |
| Pin 12 | D6 — Data bus bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | D5 — Data bus bit 5 |
| Pin 14 | D4 — Data bus bit 4 |
| Pin 15 | D3 — Data bus bit 3 |
| Pin 16 | D2 — Data bus bit 2 |
| Pin 17 | D1 — Data bus bit 1 |
| Pin 18 | D0 — Data bus bit 0 |
| Pin 19 | A23 — Address bus bit 23 |
| Pin 20 | A22 — Address bus bit 22 |
| Pin 21 | A21 — Address bus bit 21 |
| Pin 22 | A20 — Address bus bit 20 |
| Pin 23 | A19 — Address bus bit 19 |
| Pin 24 | A18 — Address bus bit 18 |
| Pin 25 | A17 — Address bus bit 17 |
| Pin 26 | A16 — Address bus bit 16 |
| Pin 27 | A15 — Address bus bit 15 |
| Pin 28 | A14 — Address bus bit 14 |
| Pin 29 | A13 — Address bus bit 13 |
| Pin 30 | A12 — Address bus bit 12 |
| Pin 31 | A11 — Address bus bit 11 |
| Pin 32 | A10 — Address bus bit 10 |
| Pin 33 | A9 — Address bus bit 9 |
| Pin 34 | A8 — Address bus bit 8 |
| Pin 35 | A7 — Address bus bit 7 |
| Pin 36 | A6 — Address bus bit 6 |
| Pin 37 | A5 — Address bus bit 5 |
| Pin 38 | A4 — Address bus bit 4 |
| Pin 39 | A3 — Address bus bit 3 |
| Pin 40 | A2 — Address bus bit 2 |
| Pin 41 | A1 — Address bus bit 1 |
| Pin 42 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 43 | CLK — Clock input |
| Pin 44 | AS — Address Strobe |
| Pin 45 | UDS — Upper Data Strobe |
| Pin 46 | LDS — Lower Data Strobe |
| Pin 47 | R/W — Read/Write |
| Pin 48 | DTACK — Data Transfer Acknowledge |
| Pin 49 | BR — Bus Request |
| Pin 50 | BG — Bus Grant |
| Pin 51 | BGACK — Bus Grant Acknowledge |
| Pin 52 | IPL0 — Interrupt Priority Level 0 |
| Pin 53 | IPL1 — Interrupt Priority Level 1 |
| Pin 54 | IPL2 — Interrupt Priority Level 2 |
| Pin 55 | FC0 — Function Code bit 0 |
| Pin 56 | FC1 — Function Code bit 1 |
| Pin 57 | FC2 — Function Code bit 2 |
| Pin 58 | RESET — Reset input (active low) |
| Pin 59 | HALT — Halt (active low) |
| Pin 60 | TAS — Test (active low; unused) |
| Pin 61 | BERR — Bus Error (active low) |
| Pin 62 | VMA — Valid Memory Address (active low) |
| Pin 63 | E — Enable clock output |
| Pin 64 | VPA — Valid Peripheral Address (active low) |
| Pin 65 | A0 — Address bus bit 0 |
| Pin 66 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 67 | AVEC — Autovector (active low) |
| Pin 68 | VCC — +5V supply |
Typical Applications
MC68HC001EI8 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Industrial Control Sustaining Engineering, Military and Avionics Long-Life Embedded Systems, Retrocomputing and Classic Arcade Hardware Repair, Embedded Motor Control and Servo Drives, Education and Computer-History Reference Platforms, Point-of-Sale and Legacy Instrumentation Terminals.
Legacy Industrial Control Sustaining Engineering
The MC68HC001EI8's M68000 software compatibility and 68-PLCC socket-compatible package make it well-suited for sustaining legacy industrial automation controllers installed in factories 20-30 years ago. With a 32-bit EC000 core, 8 MHz operation, and 5V I/O, it can directly replace end-of-life M68000 ICs on existing PLC and CNC controller boards without firmware changes. Compared to a soft-CPU FPGA migration, a same-package HC001 drop-in avoids PCB respins, qualification cycles, and code-rework, reducing sustaining-engineering cost by tens of thousands per affected machine line.
Recommended
Military and Avionics Long-Life Embedded Systems
Per the verified distributor listing and the M68000 family's history in avionics, the MC68HC001EI8 suits long-life-cycle military and avionics platforms where the original processor is still on the qualified parts list. The static HCMOS design with DC-to-8 MHz operation supports deterministic timing critical to MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429 interfaces, and the 24-bit address space (16 MB) accommodates typical embedded firmware images. The 68-PLCC J-leaded package withstands the mechanical shock and vibration profiles of DO-160 and MIL-STD-810 environments, where the socketed PLCC also simplifies depot-level replacement.
Recommended
Retrocomputing and Classic Arcade Hardware Repair
Retrocomputing enthusiasts and classic arcade repair shops use the MC68HC001EI8 to sustain vintage 1980s-1990s arcade boards and home computers based on the M68000 family. Per the verified M68000 architecture documentation, the EC000 core runs original 68000 machine code unmodified, making it a direct replacement for failed original MC68000 ICs in arcade boards (e.g., System 16, early Capcom CPS) and classic computers (Atari ST, early Macintosh, Amiga). The 68-PLCC socketed package matches the original footprint and allows field repair without soldering.
Recommended
Embedded Motor Control and Servo Drives
Legacy servo drives and motor controllers often rely on the M68000 for deterministic interrupt response and predictable execution timing. The MC68HC001EI8's seven autovector interrupt levels plus the non-maskable interrupt (NMI) pin, combined with 8 MHz instruction throughput, suit trapezoidal and field-oriented control loops at moderate PWM rates. The 5V I/O matches the typical gate-driver and encoder-interface voltages used in industrial servos, eliminating level shifters. The 16-bit external data bus is adequate for the 16-bit position/velocity feedback typical of mid-resolution servo drives.
Recommended
Education and Computer-History Reference Platforms
Universities teaching computer-architecture and operating-systems courses use the MC68HC001EI8 to expose students to a real CISC MPU with a simple flat memory model, no MMU required, and the classic 68000 instruction set. Per the verified M68000 documentation, the EC000 core runs 56 instructions with 14 addressing modes, suitable for assembler and OS-design coursework without the complexity of cache coherency or superscalar pipelines. FPGA soft-CPU implementations paired with a physical HC001 board let students compare hardware emulation to silicon timing.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale and Legacy Instrumentation Terminals
POS terminals, fuel-pump controllers, and medical instrumentation shipped in the 1990s frequently use the MC68000 family for the user interface controller. The MC68HC001EI8's 16-bit data bus and 8 MHz throughput remain adequate for keypad scanning, LCD driving, and serial peripheral management. Its 5V I/O matches TTL-level peripherals without additional drivers. The static-HCMOS implementation supports clock-stopped standby modes that extend battery life in remote instrumentation; a same-package 68-PLCC drop-in repair avoids the regulatory re-qualification triggered by an MCU change.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC68HC001EI8 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC68HC000CEI8 | MC68HC000CRC8 | MC68HC000CEI12 | MC68HC000CEI16R | MC68SEC000AA10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 68-PLCC | 68-PLCC - same | 68-PLCC - same | 68-PLCC - same | 68-PLCC - same | 68-PLCC - same |
| Core | EC000 (M68000) | EC000 (M68000) | EC000 (M68000) | EC000 (M68000) | EC000 (M68000) | M68SEC000 (low-EMI variant) |
| Speed | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 12 MHz | 16 MHz | 10 MHz |
| Voltage - I/O | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V |
| External Data Bus | 16-bit | 16-bit | 16-bit | 16-bit | 16-bit | 16-bit |
| Address Space | 24-bit (16 MB) | 24-bit (16 MB) | 24-bit (16 MB) | 24-bit (16 MB) | 24-bit (16 MB) | 24-bit (16 MB) |
| Package Variant Detail | PLCC J-lead (EI suffix) | PLCC J-lead (EI suffix) - same | Ceramic-windowed PLCC (CRC suffix) | PLCC J-lead (EI suffix) | PLCC J-lead (EI suffix) | PLCC J-lead (AA suffix indicates plastic) |
Key Differentiators
- Static-HCMOS design supports DC to 8 MHz operation (vs Original NMOS MC68000)
- Cost- and pin-optimized 16-bit external data bus (vs Full 32-bit external data MC68000)
- Same-family, same-package drop-in speed-grades available (vs Cross-brand alternative MCU approach)
Design Notes
Estimated: 5V I/O only - direct connection to 3.3V peripherals can forward-bias clamp diodes and damage the lower-voltage device. Use 74HCT245 or 74LVC245 transceivers for level translation between the MC68HC001EI8 data/address bus and any 3.3V peripheral. When using the HC001's 5V bus with 3.3V memory (e.g., modern Flash), confirm the memory input is 5V-tolerant or add a series resistor divider / level translator on every shared signal line. The /DTACK-based asynchronous bus means peripherals must meet minimum AC timing or the bus will hang.
The PLCC package dissipates measurable heat only when the bus is heavily exercised; at 8 MHz with all data lines switching, estimated power is roughly 250-400 mW per the manufacturer datasheet 'DC Electrical Characteristics'. A small copper heatsink pad improves thermal margin in enclosed industrial enclosures. The 68-PLCC's plastic body has a higher junction-to-ambient thermal resistance than QFN packages, so derate clock and bus loading in poorly ventilated installations above 70C ambient.
Keep address and data bus traces short and matched in length within each bus group; the 8 MHz single-cycle access still has 125 ns cycle time, but setup/hold times are tight. Place a 0.1uF ceramic bypass capacitor next to every VCC pin and a bulk 10-22uF tantalum at the board input. Provide a clean CLK source; the HC001 will accept a square or sine clock but the /AS timing is referenced to it. Route /DTACK as a wired-OR with proper pull-up and isolate it from switching-noise sources.
The asynchronous bus relies on /AS, /UDS, /LDS, /R/W and /DTACK handshaking - any skew on these strobes can cause intermittent read errors. Keep strobe traces matched (within 1 cm if possible) and use a series damping resistor (22-33 ohm) at the driver end to reduce reflections on a long bus. Add a 5V-tolerant logic analyzer breakout at the bus to capture /BERR events during bring-up. Place terminating resistors only if the bus is long (>20 cm); otherwise rely on intrinsic CMOS drive strength.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free and halogen-free status was not present in the verified distributor or manufacturer data provided. Many legacy NXP 68-PLCC MPUs have separate lead-free terminal-finish variants; contact franchised obsolete-stock distributor to confirm compliance for new designs subject to RoHS.
