MC68SEC000CAA10 - 10MHz 32-Bit M68000 MPU | NXP | 64-QFP
MPN: MC68SEC000CAA10 ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.2 | $162.00 |
| 100 | $13.85 | $1,385.00 |
| 500 | $11.4 | $5,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.95 | $9,950.00 |
MC68SEC000CAA10 Overview
A microprocessor (MPU) is the central processing unit of an embedded system, executing instruction fetch/decode cycles, managing the address and data buses, and orchestrating peripherals. The M68k family traces its lineage to the original MC68000, a 32-bit CISC architecture with 32-bit internal registers, a 16-bit external data bus, and a 24-bit address bus. Within the broader IC taxonomy, an MPU sits above microcontrollers (which integrate memory and peripherals), is more capable than digital signal processors for general-purpose control, and historically precedes modern ARM-based application processors. The MC68SEC000 is the 'static' low-power cousin intended for clock-throttling and stop-modes unavailable on the dynamic original.
Key features include 32-bit internal data paths with a 16-bit external data bus (D0-D15), a 24-bit external address bus (A1-A23) supporting up to 16 MB linear addressing, seven 32-bit general-purpose data registers (D0-D6) and eight 32-bit address registers (A0-A7), and a supervisor stack pointer A7'. The 10 MHz clock rate with 32-bit internal execution yields approximately 1.0 MIPS sustained throughput under typical instruction mixes. The static core allows the clock to be throttled or stopped entirely without losing state, enabling deep power-saving modes.
The device integrates asynchronous bus arbitration, a function code output (FC0-FC2) for distinguishing user/supervisor and program/data access cycles, an interrupt controller interface accepting seven interrupt priority levels (IPL0-IPL2 plus encoded vector), and Motorola bus-error/time-out halt logic. It runs the full M68000 instruction set including multiply, divide, and binary-coded decimal operations, retained from the original architecture for source-code and binary compatibility with existing 68k systems.
Typical applications include portable measurement equipment, battery-powered industrial handhelds, industrial process controllers, embedded M68k retrofit designs where MC68000 power draw is unacceptable, legacy industrial control upgrades, and educational / hobbyist retrocomputing platforms. Low quiescent current and static-clock capability also suit it to solar or energy-harvesting edge nodes running the M68k instruction set.
When designing with this part, place a 10 MHz fundamental-mode crystal or clock source on CLK with appropriate load capacitance, and add a pull-up resistor on /HALT and /RESET to ensure defined power-on state. Static-operation enables clock scaling down to DC for ultra-low-power sleep with instant wake, provided bus-hold logic retains peripheral state.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, including a comparison table quantifying differences against pin-compatible 68k family variants.
Drop-in alternatives for MC68SEC000CAA10 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC68SEC000CAA12
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68SEC000CAA8
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68SEC000CAA16
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68000RC10
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68000RC12
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC68SEC000CAA10 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | EC000 (M680x0) |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| Data Bus Width | 32-Bit (internal) / 16-Bit (external) |
| Address Bus Width | 24-Bit (up to 16 MB) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 5 V typical (3.3 V variant available separately) |
| Package | 64-Pin PQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Series | M680x0 / M68SEC000 family |
| Architecture | CISC, M68000 instruction set |
| Core Operation | Static (clock-throttleable to DC) |
| Interrupt Levels | 7 priority levels (IPL0-IPL2 encoded) |
| Co-Processors/DSP | None |
| RAM Controllers | External only (no internal) |
| Graphics Acceleration | No |
| Ethernet / SATA / USB | None (external peripherals required) |
MC68SEC000CAA10 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VCC — +5 V supply |
| Pin 2 | A1 — Address bus A1 |
| Pin 3 | A2 — Address bus A2 |
| Pin 4 | A3 — Address bus A3 |
| Pin 5 | A4 — Address bus A4 |
| Pin 6 | A5 — Address bus A5 |
| Pin 7 | A6 — Address bus A6 |
| Pin 8 | A7 — Address bus A7 |
| Pin 9 | A8 — Address bus A8 |
| Pin 10 | A9 — Address bus A9 |
| Pin 11 | A10 — Address bus A10 |
| Pin 12 | A11 — Address bus A11 |
| Pin 13 | A12 — Address bus A12 |
| Pin 14 | A13 — Address bus A13 |
| Pin 15 | A14 — Address bus A14 |
| Pin 16 | A15 — Address bus A15 |
| Pin 17 | A16 — Address bus A16 |
| Pin 18 | A17 — Address bus A17 |
| Pin 19 | A18 — Address bus A18 |
| Pin 20 | A19 — Address bus A19 |
| Pin 21 | A20 — Address bus A20 |
| Pin 22 | A21 — Address bus A21 |
| Pin 23 | A22 — Address bus A22 |
| Pin 24 | A23 — Address bus A23 |
| Pin 25 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 26 | D0 — Data bus D0 |
| Pin 27 | D1 — Data bus D1 |
| Pin 28 | D2 — Data bus D2 |
| Pin 29 | D3 — Data bus D3 |
| Pin 30 | D4 — Data bus D4 |
| Pin 31 | D5 — Data bus D5 |
| Pin 32 | D6 — Data bus D6 |
| Pin 33 | D7 — Data bus D7 |
| Pin 34 | D8 — Data bus D8 |
| Pin 35 | D9 — Data bus D9 |
| Pin 36 | D10 — Data bus D10 |
| Pin 37 | D11 — Data bus D11 |
| Pin 38 | D12 — Data bus D12 |
| Pin 39 | D13 — Data bus D13 |
| Pin 40 | D14 — Data bus D14 |
| Pin 41 | D15 — Data bus D15 |
| Pin 42 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 43 | /AS — Address Strobe (active-low) |
| Pin 44 | /UDS — Upper Data Strobe (active-low) |
| Pin 45 | /LDS — Lower Data Strobe (active-low) |
| Pin 46 | R/W — Read/Write |
| Pin 47 | /DTACK — Data Transfer Acknowledge (active-low) |
| Pin 48 | /BR — Bus Request (active-low) |
| Pin 49 | /BG — Bus Grant (active-low) |
| Pin 50 | /BGACK — Bus Grant Acknowledge (active-low) |
| Pin 51 | FC0 — Function Code 0 |
| Pin 52 | FC1 — Function Code 1 |
| Pin 53 | FC2 — Function Code 2 |
| Pin 54 | /IPL0 — Interrupt Priority Level 0 (active-low) |
| Pin 55 | /IPL1 — Interrupt Priority Level 1 (active-low) |
| Pin 56 | /IPL2 — Interrupt Priority Level 2 (active-low) |
| Pin 57 | /BERR — Bus Error (active-low) |
| Pin 58 | /HALT — Halt (active-low) |
| Pin 59 | /RESET — Reset (active-low) |
| Pin 60 | CLK — Clock input (10 MHz) |
| Pin 61 | TST — Test mode (factory; tie to ground) |
| Pin 62 | /VPA — Valid Peripheral Address (autovector, active-low) |
| Pin 63 | E — Enable clock output |
| Pin 64 | VCC — +5 V supply |
Typical Applications
MC68SEC000CAA10 is suitable for 7 applications: Portable Measurement Equipment, Battery-Operated Industrial Handhelds, Embedded M68k Retrofit Designs, Industrial Process Controllers, Retrocomputing and Education Platforms, Portable Medical Devices, Energy-Harvesting Edge Nodes.
Portable Measurement Equipment
Handheld digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, and field service instruments use the MC68SEC000CAA10 because its static CMOS core scales clock frequency down to DC during idle, reducing average current to support multi-day battery life. The 10 MHz execution rate, full M68k instruction set, and 24-bit address space comfortably run legacy measurement firmware libraries without modifications. The 64-pin PQFP (14x14 mm) footprint fits compact enclosures, and the static core lets the device wake from a software-driven sleep to take a reading and return to deep low-power between samples, unlike the dynamic MC68000 which must keep the clock running.
Recommended
Battery-Operated Industrial Handhelds
The MC68SEC000CAA10 powers ruggedized barcode scanners, data terminals, and handheld HMIs in factories and warehouses where reliable operation from a 5 V rail or multi-cell battery pack is essential. With seven interrupt priority levels (IPL0-IPL2), the part coordinates keypad, LCD, and serial peripherals efficiently, and the 16-bit external bus keeps PCB routing manageable inside the 14x14 mm PQFP. The static core allows a low duty cycle where the part wakes on a keypress, runs the application firmware for a few hundred milliseconds, then halts on /HALT until the next event, extending battery life.
Recommended
Embedded M68k Retrofit Designs
Designers maintaining legacy industrial PLCs, machine controllers, or scientific instruments often swap a dynamic MC68000 for the MC68SEC000CAA10 to cut power and add static operation, without modifying the PCB layout. The 64-pin PQFP pinout is identical, the M68000 instruction set is unchanged, and existing firmware binaries run without recompilation. A drop-in upgrade reduces heat inside sealed enclosures and extends the service life of long-lifecycle industrial equipment where full redesign would be cost-prohibitive.
Recommended
Industrial Process Controllers
Distributed control nodes, SCADA RTUs, and panel-mount HMIs use the MC68SEC000CAA10 as a deterministic 32-bit controller, leveraging its seven-level interrupt structure for fast response to sensor inputs and communication events. The 24-bit address bus maps up to 16 MB of external memory, sufficient for protocol stacks (Modbus, DF1, IEC 60870) and process firmware. Static CMOS operation also ensures predictable behavior in electrically noisy industrial environments where the clock may be briefly disrupted or intentionally gated during fault recovery.
Recommended
Retrocomputing and Education Platforms
Universities teaching computer architecture and hobbyists building retro 68k homebrew computers favor the MC68SEC000CAA10 because it is fully static - the clock may be stepped or stopped with single-step debug visibility for instruction-level learning. The M68k instruction set is famously orthogonal and well-documented, making it an excellent teaching ISA, and the 64-pin PQFP packages easily onto through-hole-friendly breakout PCBs. Starter designs pair the part with asynchronous SRAM, a UART (e.g., MAX174AEPI), and a 10 MHz crystal to recreate classic personal-computer platforms.
Recommended
Portable Medical Devices
Battery-powered patient monitors, infusion pumps, and point-of-care diagnostic instruments use the MC68SEC000CAA10 because the static CMOS core plus deterministic interrupt response (IPL0-IPL2, seven levels) support safety-critical sleep/wake cycles on long-life battery power. The 32-bit internal datapath executes M68k firmware validated in earlier medical-device releases, easing regulatory re-certification by minimizing software risk. The 64-pin PQFP fits small form-factor enclosures without sacrificing bus bandwidth for sensor I/O.
Recommended
Energy-Harvesting Edge Nodes
Solar or vibration-powered remote sensor nodes adopt the MC68SEC000CAA10 because the static core allows the clock to be throttled or paused entirely between event-driven readings, conserving harvested energy for periodic wake cycles. The 10 MHz clock provides ample compute for on-node data reduction and a small Modbus or proprietary RF stack, while the 5 V supply tolerance simplifies regulator design on energy-harvested rails. Designers typically run the part at 1 MHz or less between events, returning to 10 MHz for bulk processing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC68SEC000CAA10 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC68SEC000CAA12 | MC68SEC000CAA8 | MC68SEC000CAA16 | MC68000RC10 | MC68000RC12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 64-Pin PQFP (14x14 mm) | 64-Pin PQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 64-Pin PQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 64-Pin PQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 64-Pin PQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 64-Pin PQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz | 12 MHz | 8 MHz | 16 MHz | 10 MHz | 12 MHz |
| Core Operation | Static CMOS | Static CMOS | Static CMOS | Static CMOS | Dynamic NMOS | Dynamic NMOS |
| Typical Active Current | Lower (static CMOS) - mA range | Similar, scales with frequency | Lower than 10 MHz | Higher than 10 MHz | Higher (NMOS) | Higher (NMOS) |
| Instruction Set | M68000 (32-bit) | M68000 (32-bit) - same | M68000 (32-bit) - same | M68000 (32-bit) - same | M68000 (32-bit) - same | M68000 (32-bit) - same |
| Data Bus Width (External) | 16-bit | 16-bit | 16-bit | 16-bit | 16-bit | 16-bit |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V |
Key Differentiators
- Static CMOS core enables clock gating down to DC for ultra-low-power sleep (vs MC68000RC10)
- Drop-in speed-grade upscaling without PCB change (vs MC68SEC000CAA16)
- Full M68000 ISA compatibility preserves legacy firmware (vs MCF51AC256 (Freescale ColdFire))
Design Notes
Place 0.1 uF decoupling ceramic capacitors adjacent to each VCC pin pair (1, 64 and 25, 42) within 3 mm of the package leads, and add a single 10 uF bulk tantalum or ceramic on the supply rail at the board edge. The static CMOS core quiescent current drops to microamps when CLK is held low, but high-speed bus transitions during execution still demand low-impedance supply decoupling. Estimated board-level decoupling should target at least 50 nF per VCC pin to suppress switching transients during bus cycles.
Route the 24-bit address bus and 16-bit data bus in matched-length groups to within 25 mm of the MPU, and place external SRAM/ROM directly across the package, not on the opposite board side without a via. /AS, /UDS, /LDS and R/W traces should be guarded between adjacent address/data lines to limit crosstalk on long memory buses. A solid ground plane on the layer immediately below the PQFP minimizes EMI from the address transitions.
Do NOT leave /HALT or /RESET floating: pull each to VCC through a 10 kohm resistor with a parallel 0.1 uF cap on reset for clean power-on. Pin 61 (TST) is a factory test pin and must be tied to GND for normal operation. Verify that the 24-bit address space layout does not exceed 16 MB of physical memory; the EC000 has no MMU and will silently wrap above 0xFFFFFF. When replacing the dynamic MC68000 with this static part, the existing boot ROM may need modification to enable the lower-power sleep modes the CMOS part supports.
Compliance Information
RoHS / REACH / lead-free status for the MC68SEC000 family is not provided in the verified web data; consult NXP product compliance documentation. AEC-Q100 is not applicable for legacy consumer / industrial MPU without automotive qualification explicitly stated.
