MCF51MM256VML - 32-bit ColdFire V1 MCU 50MHz 256KB | NXP
MPN: MCF51MM256VML ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12.5 | $12.50 |
| 10 | $11.9 | $119.00 |
| 100 | $10.8 | $1,080.00 |
| 500 | $9.95 | $4,975.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.2 | $9,200.00 |
MCF51MM256VML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a processor core, memory, and programmable peripherals on one die. Within the semiconductor hierarchy, the MCF51MM256 belongs to the ColdFire V1 family of 32-bit microcontrollers, which sits above 8-bit MCUs in processing capability while retaining the low cost and low power of compact embedded designs. MCUs of this class typically serve as the main system controller in embedded products.
Key features include the 50 MHz ColdFire V1 core delivering 32-bit integer performance, 256 KB Flash program memory for large application code, operation down to 2.5V for battery-friendly designs, and a peripheral set designed for handheld metering devices. The MAPBGA package provides high I/O density in a compact 10x10 mm footprint.
Technically, the ColdFire V1 architecture is a cost-optimized implementation of the ColdFire instruction set with a variable-length RISC-like instruction format, giving efficient code density compared with fixed-width 32-bit RISC cores. The device was originally produced by Freescale Semiconductor, which merged into NXP Semiconductors; production for standard channels is now largely handled through aftermarket sources such as Rochester Electronics, indicating legacy-lifecycle status.
Typical applications include handheld metering devices (the family's stated design target), battery-powered industrial instruments, portable data loggers, and low-cost control panels where 32-bit performance is needed but power budget is tight.
When designing with this device, plan early for sourcing: because standard-channel availability is limited, new designs should verify long-term supply or consider a pin-compatible family variant before committing to a layout.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing context, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with data verified as of 2026-10-18.
Drop-in alternatives for MCF51MM256VML — 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 MCF51MM256VML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Supply Voltage, Flash Memory, Mounting Type, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MCF51JE256VML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MCF51JE256CML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCF51MM128VML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCF51MM256CMB
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →MCF51MM256VML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ColdFire V1 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 50 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Package | 104-MAPBGA (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Product Family | MCF51MM (ColdFire V1) |
| Target Application | Handheld metering devices |
MCF51MM256VML 104-mapbga (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MCF51MM256VML (104-mapbga (10x10 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 MCF51MM256VML.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MCF51MM256VML is suitable for 6 applications: Handheld Utility Metering, Battery-Powered Industrial Instruments, Portable Data Loggers, Low-Cost Control Panels, Handheld Medical and Health Meters, Legacy Embedded System Sustaining Engineering.
Handheld Utility Metering
The MCF51MM256VML's defining application is handheld metering: the ColdFire V1 MM family was explicitly designed by Freescale as a low-cost, low-power, high-performance 32-bit MCU platform for portable utility meters. The 50 MHz 32-bit core provides the arithmetic throughput needed for energy-accumulation algorithms, while the 256 KB Flash accommodates multi-protocol metering firmware, tariff tables, and communication stacks in a single chip. Operation from a 2.5V supply lowers dynamic power consumption, extending battery life in portable readers and residential meter endpoints. The integrated metering-oriented analog front-end reduces external component count and board area, which matters in compact handheld enclosures where every square millimeter and every microamp of standby current affects product cost and runtime.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Industrial Instruments
Portable industrial instruments - gauges, testers, and field calibrators - need 32-bit processing with strict energy budgets, a combination the MCF51MM256VML delivers directly. Its 2.5V/3.3V operation allows direct connection to lithium primary cells through a simple LDO, and the ColdFire V1 core executes signal-processing and UI code at 50 MHz while retaining low average current through clock gating and wait modes. The 256 KB Flash supports rich menu-driven interfaces, data-logging buffers, and field-updatable firmware. Because instruments often remain in the field for years, the end-of-life sourcing path through Rochester Electronics is a practical fit for long-service-life product lines that cannot justify a redesign.
Recommended
Portable Data Loggers
Data loggers for environmental, energy, and process monitoring benefit from the MCF51MM256VML's balance of compute, memory, and low power. The 50 MHz ColdFire V1 core timestamps and processes sensor samples, while 256 KB of Flash doubles as code storage and the device can pair with external serial EEPROM or Flash for extended logging capacity. Operation at 2.5V suits single-cell and two-cell battery designs, and sleep-mode operation between sampling intervals keeps average current low enough for month-to-year deployments. The 104-ball MAPBGA's 10x10 mm footprint fits compact logger PCBs, and the family's metering heritage means robust analog peripherals for direct sensor connection without excessive external signal conditioning.
Recommended
Low-Cost Control Panels
Embedded control panels for HVAC, pumping, and small machinery require dependable human-machine interface handling and actuator control at minimal BOM cost. The MCF51MM256VML's 32-bit core runs display drivers, keypad scanning, and control loops concurrently at 50 MHz, while 256 KB Flash holds multi-language menus and communication firmware. Its ColdFire V1 architecture gives code density advantages over fixed-width 32-bit RISC cores, reducing Flash requirements and cost. The 104-ball BGA provides enough I/O for displays, relays, and serial links without glue logic. Legacy panels already designed around the MCF51MM platform can continue sourcing the VML variant through the Rochester Electronics aftermarket without layout changes.
Recommended
Handheld Medical and Health Meters
Consumer and point-of-care health meters - glucose meters, thermometers, and portable vital-sign monitors - share the exact requirements that shaped the MCF51MM family: low cost, low power, and compact 32-bit processing with capable analog. The MCF51MM256VML's 2.5V operation supports small battery packs, its metering-grade analog conditions sensor signals directly, and the 50 MHz core handles measurement algorithms and display updates. The 256 KB Flash allows firmware for measurement sequences, calibration compensation, and Bluetooth-adjacent companion-chip protocols. Designers should verify the device's specific qualification level against applicable medical standards for their use case, as legacy Freescale consumer/metering parts were not universally qualified for regulated medical end products.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded System Sustaining Engineering
A substantial installed base of MCF51MM256VML designs continues in the field - utility meters, instruments, and controllers sold through the 2010s. For sustaining engineering teams, the correct strategy is to secure supply through Rochester Electronics LLC, the authorized aftermarket source visible on current DigiKey listings, rather than migrating hardware. Keeping the existing 50 MHz ColdFire V1 platform preserves validated firmware, EMC compliance test reports, and production test fixtures. New-purchase lots from the aftermarket arrive with original-die provenance, and XAIPART can quote production quantities. Teams planning eventual migration should evaluate NXP Kinetis Cortex-M devices as the architectural successor, budgeting for firmware port and PCB respin.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MCF51MM256VML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MCF51JE256VML | MCF51JE256CML | MCF51MM128VML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) | NXP Semiconductors (Freescale) |
| Package | 104-MAPBGA (10x10 mm) | 104-MAPBGA (10x10 mm) - same VML | 104-MAPBGA (10x10 mm) - same ML | 104-MAPBGA (10x10 mm) - same VML |
| Core | ColdFire V1, 32-bit | ColdFire V1, 32-bit | ColdFire V1, 32-bit | ColdFire V1, 32-bit |
| Max Clock Frequency | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| Metering Analog IP | Yes (MM family) | No (non-analog IP per Utmel comparison) | No (non-analog IP) | Yes (MM family) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated metering analog IP (vs MCF51JE256VML)
- Double the program Flash of the smaller family member (vs MCF51MM128VML)
- Authorized aftermarket availability despite EOL (vs MCF51MM256CMB)
Design Notes
Sourcing is the primary risk with the MCF51MM256VML. The part is end-of-life in standard NXP channels and current stock flows through Rochester Electronics LLC, the authorized Freescale aftermarket manufacturer. Before committing to or sustaining a design, secure a lifetime-buy forecast or an aftermarket supply agreement. Avoid unverified gray-market brokers: counterfeit ColdFire parts circulate, and BGA fakes cannot be detected visually. Verify date codes and request certificates of conformance with each lot.
The 104-MAPBGA (10x10 mm) package uses approximately 0.8 mm ball pitch with an dense center ball field. Follow the NXP MCF51MM256 data sheet land-pattern recommendations and escape-routing rules: via-in-pad or dog-bone escapes on the inner balls, with solder-mask-defined pads. Reflow profiles must follow MSL guidance on the shipping label - do not exceed the cumulative floor-life exposure. X-ray inspection of the center ball array is recommended after assembly since optical inspection cannot see under the die.
The device operates from 2.5V or 3.3V. When selecting 2.5V for battery designs, confirm in the NXP MCF51MM256 data sheet electrical chapter that your required 50 MHz core clock and all analog peripherals remain within specification at 2.5V - frequency/voltage derating tables may restrict maximum bus clock at the lower supply. Decouple each supply ball with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed close to the BGA escapes, plus bulk 10 uF at the regulator output. Estimated: dynamic current scales roughly with fCV squared, so 2.5V operation yields roughly 43% lower dynamic power than 3.3V at equal frequency (input values: 2.5V vs 3.3V).
Compliance Information
Compliance status for this legacy Freescale part was not stated in the verified web data; consult the NXP product page or Rochester Electronics certificate of conformance for RoHS/REACH declarations of specific date-code lots.
