MC9S08AW50CFUE - 8-bit HCS08 MCU 40MHz 50KB Flash | NXP
MPN: MC9S08AW50CFUE ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
MC9S08AW50CFUE Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory, and peripherals into one chip, forming the lowest tier of the embedded computing hierarchy: MCU -> embedded processor -> microprocessor -> system-on-chip. The HCS08 family is NXP's enhanced 8-bit core architecture, an evolution of the legacy 68HC08 and HC08 cores, offering higher clock speeds and lower power per instruction cycle for cost-sensitive embedded control.
Key features of the MC9S08AW50CFUE include the enhanced S08 core running at up to 40 MHz, 50 KB of on-chip FLASH memory with in-circuit programming capability, and integrated connectivity peripherals including I2C, SCI, SPI, and UART/USART serial interfaces. The device also integrates system protection peripherals such as low-voltage detect (LVD) and power-on reset (POR), reducing external component count.
Technical depth: the S08 core uses a von Neumann architecture with a background debug controller (BDC) enabling non-intrusive, single-wire flash programming and debugging without consuming user resources. The FLASH memory scaling across the AW family (16 KB to 60 KB) lets designers migrate firmware within the same peripheral set and pinout as memory requirements grow or shrink.
Typical applications include automotive body electronics, industrial control systems, consumer appliance controllers, and motor control or lighting systems where 8-bit cost efficiency with automotive-grade reliability is required.
Design consideration: verify FLASH density against firmware roadmap - the 50 KB density sits between the AW48 and AW60 variants, so selecting the AW60 provides upgrade headroom on an identical footprint.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical sourcing guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet. Pricing is available on request as of 2026-10-18.
Drop-in alternatives for MC9S08AW50CFUE — 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 MC9S08AW50CFUE (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Debug Interface, Package, Core Processor, Instruction Set, Peripherals.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC9S08AW60CFUE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$8.1029 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC9S08AW60CPUE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MC9S08AW48CFUE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC9S08AW32CFUE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$7.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC9S08AW48CPUE
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MC9S08AW50CFUE Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | HCS08 (S08) |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 40 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 50 KB (50K x 8) |
| Package | 64-QFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Connectivity | I2C, SCI, SPI, UART/USART |
| Peripherals | LVD, POR |
| Product Family | S08AW (AW60/48/32/16 general-purpose family) |
| Applications | Industrial and Automotive |
MC9S08AW50CFUE 64-qfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MC9S08AW50CFUE (64-qfp (14x14 mm) 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 MC9S08AW50CFUE.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MC9S08AW50CFUE is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive Body Electronics, Industrial Control Systems, Consumer Appliance Controllers, Motor Control and Lighting, Battery-Powered and Portable Devices, Legacy System Maintenance and Obsolescence Recovery.
Automotive Body Electronics
The MC9S08AW50CFUE fits automotive body-control functions such as door modules, seat controllers, lighting control, and wiper systems because the S08AW family is explicitly positioned by NXP for automotive industry support. The 40 MHz enhanced S08 core executes control loops and LIN-style serial protocols with margin, while 50 KB of FLASH holds protocol stacks plus calibration data. Integrated LVD and POR protection ensures predictable reset behavior during cranking voltage transients. The I2C, SCI, SPI, and UART/USART interfaces connect switches, drivers, and diagnostic links. Using the 64-QFP (14x14 mm) footprint gives enough GPIO for switch matrices and relay or LED driver outputs without external port expanders, and the AW60 variant offers a drop-in memory upgrade if firmware grows.
Recommended
Industrial Control Systems
In factory automation nodes, sensor hubs, and small PLC I/O modules, the MC9S08AW50CFUE provides an 8-bit cost profile with industrial-grade peripherals. The 40 MHz S08 core handles PID loops, debounce logic, and Modbus-style UART/USART communication, while SPI and I2C connect ADCs, EEPROMs, and displays. The 50 KB FLASH accommodates firmware plus parameter tables, and in-application FLASH programming supports field updates without replacing hardware. NXP positions the S08AW family for industrial markets, and the LVD/POR peripherals protect against brownouts common on noisy factory floors. The 64-QFP (14x14 mm) package supplies the GPIO density needed for relay, optocoupler, and indicator interfacing. Designs can later migrate to the pin-compatible AW60 for added headroom.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Controllers
Washers, cooktops, small HVAC units, and power-tool chargers benefit from the MC9S08AW50CFUE's balance of cost, FLASH density, and peripheral integration. A single 8-bit MCU runs the user-interface state machine over I2C or GPIO, drives triac or relay outputs, and manages UART/USART links to display boards. The 50 KB FLASH stores multiple wash/heat profiles and localization strings without external memory, cutting bill-of-materials cost. The enhanced S08 core at 40 MHz provides deterministic timing for zero-cross detection and PWM generation. Because the AW family spans 16 KB to 60 KB on the same pinout, appliance platforms can reuse one PCB across product tiers, programming AW32, AW48, AW50, or AW60 devices per feature level - a significant logistics and qualification advantage.
Recommended
Motor Control and Lighting
The MC9S08AW50CFUE suits DC fan, small BLDC, and lighting-ballast control where a cost-effective 8-bit controller with fast core timing is sufficient. The 40 MHz HCS08 core delivers short interrupt latency for commutation and zero-cross events, while timer and PWM resources derived from the S08 peripheral set drive half-bridges or LED strings. The 50 KB FLASH supports sensorless startup algorithms plus protection state machines (over-current, stall, over-temperature via external monitoring). SCI/SPI links report speed and fault status to a host controller. The 64-QFP (14x14 mm) footprint offers enough GPIO for gate-drive control, current-sense multiplexing, and NTC inputs. LVD and POR peripherals guarantee safe reset behavior when supply rails sag during motor start-up surges.
Recommended
Battery-Powered and Portable Devices
Handheld meters, remote controls, and portable sensor instruments use the MC9S08AW50CFUE where an 8-bit MCU minimizes cost and power draw. The HCS08 architecture supports low-power wait and stop modes for battery-operated duty cycles, and the integrated LVD warns of low battery before data loss. The 40 MHz core wakes quickly to service button presses or sensor reads over I2C/SPI, then returns to sleep. The 50 KB FLASH stores calibration constants and multi-language menus without external EEPROM, while UART/USART or SCI links handle accessory communication. The 64-QFP (14x14 mm) package supports keyboard matrices and segment-driving GPIO for LCD boards. For longer battery life requirements, verify stop-mode currents in the manufacturer datasheet before finalizing the power budget.
Recommended
Legacy System Maintenance and Obsolescence Recovery
A major use case for the MC9S08AW50CFUE today is sustaining existing products: industrial machinery, automotive subassemblies, and appliance platforms originally designed around the S08AW family. Because the device is fulfilled through Rochester Electronics - NXP's authorized source for discontinued or supply-disrupted parts - maintenance engineers can keep producing legacy boards without redesign. DigiKey stocks the Rochester listing with ships-today availability. For lines where stock runs dry, the pin-compatible AW48, AW60, and AW32 variants in the same 64-QFP (14x14 mm) footprint allow substitution with only a firmware-size check. XAIPART supports procurement of the AW50 and its same-family alternates, plus the legacy HC08 devices (MC908 series) that often share board ecosystems in very old designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC9S08AW50CFUE — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC9S08AW60CFUE | MC9S08AW60CPUE | MC9S08AW48CFUE | MC9S08AW32CFUE | MC9S08AW48CPUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-QFP (14x14 mm) | 64-QFP (14x14 mm) - same | 64-QFP (14x14 mm) - same | 64-QFP (14x14 mm) - same | 64-QFP (14x14 mm) - same | 64-QFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale Semiconductor) | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) |
| Core / Speed | HCS08 8-bit, 40 MHz | HCS08 8-bit, 40 MHz | HCS08 8-bit, 40 MHz | HCS08 8-bit, 40 MHz | HCS08 8-bit, 40 MHz | HCS08 8-bit, 40 MHz |
| FLASH Memory | 50 KB (50K x 8) | 60 KB | 60 KB | 48 KB | 32 KB | 48 KB |
| Connectivity | I2C, SCI, SPI, UART/USART | I2C, SCI, SPI, UART/USART | I2C, SCI, SPI, UART/USART | I2C, SCI, SPI, UART/USART | I2C, SCI, SPI, UART/USART | I2C, SCI, SPI, UART/USART |
| System Peripherals | LVD, POR | LVD, POR | LVD, POR | LVD, POR | LVD, POR | LVD, POR |
| Target Markets | Industrial and Automotive | Industrial and Automotive | Industrial and Automotive | Industrial and Automotive | Industrial and Automotive | Industrial and Automotive |
| Firmware Migration Effort | Baseline | Recompile only (more headroom) | Recompile only (more headroom) | Recompile + verify fits 48 KB | Recompile + verify fits 32 KB | Recompile + verify fits 48 KB |
Key Differentiators
- Balanced 50 KB FLASH density (vs MC9S08AW32CFUE)
- 40 MHz enhanced S08 core (vs MC908AP8CBE)
- Same-pinout family scaling (vs MC9S08AW48CFUE)
Design Notes
The MC9S08AW50CFUE sits between the AW48 and AW60 in the S08AW memory ladder. Before finalizing the BOM, compile the final firmware image (including any bootloader reserve) and confirm it fits 50 KB with at least 10% margin. If the margin is thin, order the pin-compatible MC9S08AW60CFUE instead - same 64-QFP footprint and peripherals, so the swap is a firmware recompile with no PCB change. Never assume a same-family part is identical without checking the memory map in the NXP family datasheet.
The device integrates low-voltage detect (LVD) and power-on reset (POR). Design the supply so the LVD trip threshold sits above the minimum guaranteed S08 core operating voltage, and add local decoupling (100 nF ceramic per supply pin pair plus bulk capacitance) at the 64-QFP. In automotive or industrial environments with cranking or inductive-load transients, verify LVD behavior against the reset thresholds in the manufacturer datasheet rather than assuming HC08-generation values, since S08 LVD trip points differ from older MC908 devices.
The 64-QFP (14x14 mm) package has 0.5 mm-pitch leads; use solder-mask-defined pads per IPC-compatible QFP land patterns and inspect with magnification or X-ray for lead bridging. Route oscillator traces short and guard them from the fast SPI/UART lines to avoid clock jitter. Reserve a 0.1-inch single-wire debug (BDC) header footprint on the board - the S08 background debug controller programs and debugs FLASH through one pin, and having the header populated saves field-reprogramming effort for a legacy-support product like this.
Compliance Information
Compliance data was not stated in the provided distributor snippets. NXP confirms the S08AW family supports Industrial and Automotive industries, but specific AEC-Q100 qualification for this exact ordering code is not stated in the verified data and should be confirmed with NXP or Rochester Electronics.