MCF54451VM240 - ColdFire V4 MPU, 240 MHz, MAPBGA-256 | NXP
MPN: MCF54451VM240 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $35.2 | $352.00 |
| 100 | $31.95 | $3,195.00 |
| 500 | $28.4 | $14,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $25.1 | $25,100.00 |
MCF54451VM240 Overview
Background: A microprocessor (MPU) is an integrated circuit that contains the CPU (and typically caches, memory controllers, and select peripherals) but requires external memory and storage for program and data. Within the broader taxonomy, the MCF54451 belongs to MPU -> 32-bit microprocessor -> embedded processor -> ColdFire V4 family -> Freescale/NXP MPU portfolio. ColdFire is a 32-bit variable-length RISC ISA descended from the Motorola 68000, optimised for low power and high code density relative to traditional 32-bit cores.
Key features include a Version 4 ColdFire core with MMU and Enhanced Multiply-Accumulate Unit (EMAC) delivering up to 410 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS, dual 16-KByte instruction/data caches, an integrated memory controller supporting DDR/DDR2 SDRAM, NAND flash controller, 10/100 Ethernet MAC, USB OTG, PCI, and FlexBus. The 240 MHz core combined with EMAC accelerates DSP-style signal processing without an external coprocessor.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, factory HMI panels, networked point-of-sale terminals, networked printers, medical instrumentation, and embedded gateways. The combination of MMU plus PCI plus Ethernet plus USB OTG positions the MCF54451 for Linux-based and MQX-thawed designs requiring full operating-system support.
When designing with this part, note that it is a ROMless MPU that requires an external boot memory (typically NAND or NOR flash) and DDR/DDR2 SDRAM. PCB layout for a 256-ball MAPBGA requires via-in-pad or microvia technology, controlled-impedance DDR traces, and matched-length clocks to meet timing margins.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, NRND lifecycle signals, drop-in same-package alternatives within the MCF5445x family, and practical design guidance not collated in the NXP datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for MCF54451VM240 — 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 MCF54451VM240 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Connectivity, Data Cache, Instruction Cache, Mounting Type, Program Memory Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MCF54455VM240
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCF54450VM240
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$24.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →MCF54451CVM180
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →MCF54453VM240
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCF54452VM240
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCF54451VM240 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ColdFire V4 (Version 4 with MMU and EMAC) |
| Operating Frequency | 240 MHz |
| DMIPS | up to 410 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS |
| Program Memory Type | ROMless (external boot flash required) |
| RAM Size | 32K x 8 on-chip SRAM |
| Instruction Cache | 16 KByte |
| Data Cache | 16 KByte |
| I/O Count | 132 |
| Package | 256-MAPBGA (17x17 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Connectivity | 10/100 Ethernet MAC, USB OTG, PCI |
| Memory Controller | DDR/DDR2 SDRAM + NAND flash controller |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND (Not Recommended for New Designs) |
| Packaging | Tray |
MCF54451VM240 Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | DDR_DQS — DDR SDRAM data strobe (signal depends on SIM routing) |
| Pin A2 | VCC — Core supply (per datasheet) |
| Pin B1 | DDR_DQM — DDR SDRAM data mask |
| Pin B2 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin C1 | ETHRX+ — Ethernet receive positive (when configured) |
| Pin C2 | ETHRX- — Ethernet receive negative (when configured) |
| Pin D1 | USB_DP — USB OTG data plus |
| Pin D2 | USB_DM — USB OTG data minus |
| Pin E1 | PCI_AD[0] — PCI address/data bit 0 (multiplexed) |
| Pin E2 | PCI_AD[1] — PCI address/data bit 1 |
| Pin F1 | PCI_FRAME — PCI cycle frame |
| Pin F2 | PCI_CLK — PCI bus clock input |
| Pin G1 | JTAG_TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin G2 | JTAG_TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin H1 | JTAG_TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin H2 | JTAG_TDO — JTAG test data out |
| Pin J1 | RESET — External reset input |
| Pin J2 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
MCF54451VM240 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controller, Networked Point-of-Sale Terminal, Networked Multifunction Printer, Medical Instrumentation, Embedded Industrial Gateway, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Panel.
Industrial Automation Controller
The MCF54451VM240's 240 MHz ColdFire V4 core with MMU and EMAC delivers up to 410 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS, well suited to industrial PLCs and motion controllers running embedded Linux or MQX with deterministic task scheduling. The integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC enables PROFINET/EtherCAT slave or master connectivity without an external PHY MCU, while the PCI bus supports legacy industrial I/O cards. DDR/DDR2 controller with 16-KByte instruction and 16-KByte data caches accelerates scan-cycle loops, and 132 GPIOs accept wide digital I/O for relay and sensor aggregation. The 256-MAPBGA package with -40C to +85C industrial temperature range supports factory-floor deployment.
Recommended
Networked Point-of-Sale Terminal
POS terminals demand a full-OS-capable MPU with Ethernet and USB connectivity - exactly the MCF54451VM240's profile. The ColdFire V4 core at 240 MHz runs embedded Linux with TCP/IP stacks, while the integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC and USB OTG controllers handle LAN and peripheral connectivity (barcode touch drawers, customer displays, NFC readers) without extra bridge chips. The 32-KByte on-chip SRAM reduces DDR pressure for transaction buffering, and the 16-KByte instruction cache accelerates cryptographic routines. PCI allows legacy cash-drawer or printer interface cards to be reused, shortening time-to-market for terminal refresh projects.
Recommended
Networked Multifunction Printer
Multifunction printers require an MPU that can drive the scanner engine, formatter, network stack and UI simultaneously. The MCF54451VM240's 240 MHz ColdFire V4 core with EMAC executes single-cycle multiply-accumulate operations critical for image processing pipelines such as JPEG decompression and page-description-language (PDL) rasterisation. The integrated PCI bus connects standard imaging ASICs and network controllers, while USB OTG supports direct printing/scanning from USB flash drives. The DDR/DDR2 memory controller sustains the high bandwidth needed for 600 dpi A4 colour rasterisation, and the 256-MAPBGA keeps the MPU footprint compact inside printer chassis.
Recommended
Medical Instrumentation
Patient monitors and diagnostic instruments require deterministic embedded computing with rich connectivity - the MCF54451VM240's MMU enables full-process isolation for safety-critical tasks running under MQX or embedded Linux with the PREEMPT_RT patch. The ColdFire V4 core's EMAC accelerates DSP-style filtering of ECG, SpO2 and EEG signal chains. The 10/100 Ethernet MAC provides connectivity to hospital networks (HL7, DICOM), while USB OTG accepts bedside accessory peripherals. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range and 256-MAPBGA package suit the mechanical envelope of portable carts. IEC 60601-1 compliance is the integrator's responsibility but the MMU supports required software isolation.
Recommended
Embedded Industrial Gateway
Edge gateways aggregate data from Modbus, PROFINET, CAN and Ethernet devices and forward it to cloud backends - a workload the MCF54451VM240 handles comfortably. The ColdFire V4 core at 240 MHz runs an embedded Linux distribution with full networking stack plus OPC UA or MQTT clients. The integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC serves as the field-side port, and an external PHY on the second MAC-like interface (or via USB-to-Ethernet) provides the uplink. The MMU enables process isolation between the field-protocol stack and the cloud client, hardening security. The 132 I/Os and FlexBus ease the connection of legacy parallel sensors.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Panel
Operator-interface panels combine a graphics LCD/touchscreen with fieldbus connectivity - the MCF54451VM240 fits as the host MPU. The ColdFire V4 core at 240 MHz drives LVDS or RGB LCDs via FlexBus, while the EMAC accelerates JPEG decoding for splash screens and icons. The 10/100 Ethernet MAC and USB OTG handle programming uploads from engineering workstations and external keyboard/mouse/USB-stick inputs. The DDR controller keeps the framebuffer responsive under multi-tasking, and the 16+16-KByte caches accelerate Qt/Embedded GUI rendering. The 256-MAPBGA 17x17 mm package fits behind the LCD carrier PCB.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MCF54451VM240 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MCF54455VM240 | MCF54450VM240 | MCF54451CVM180 | MCF54453VM240 | MCF54452VM240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 256-MAPBGA (17x17 mm) | 256-MAPBGA (17x17 mm) - same | 256-MAPBGA (17x17 mm) - same | 256-MAPBGA (17x17 mm) - same | 256-MAPBGA (17x17 mm) - same | 256-MAPBGA (17x17 mm) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core | ColdFire V4 | ColdFire V4 | ColdFire V4 | ColdFire V4 | ColdFire V4 | ColdFire V4 |
| Operating Frequency | 240 MHz | 240 MHz | 240 MHz | 180 MHz | 240 MHz | 240 MHz |
| PCI Bus | Yes | Yes | No (reduced peripheral set) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USB OTG | Yes | Yes | No (reduced peripheral set) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet MAC | 10/100 | 10/100 | 10/100 | 10/100 | 10/100 | 10/100 |
| DMIPS | up to 410 | up to 410 | up to 410 | ~308 (180 MHz) | up to 410 | up to 410 |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- Full ColdFire V4 with MMU plus Enhanced MAC (vs MCF54450VM240)
- Highest clock grade 240 MHz in MCF5445x family (vs MCF54451CVM180)
- Complete peripheral integration (PCI, USB OTG, Ethernet) (vs MCF54453VM240)
Design Notes
The 256-MAPBGA package at 17x17 mm requires via-in-pad (VIP) or microvia PCB technology for reliable assembly. Standard 0.1 mm via stubs in pad generate voiding; specify VIP with filled-and-capped via plating. Route DDR/DDR2 traces with matched lengths per byte lane (delta <= 25 mil) and a 50 ohm single-ended controlled impedance to the SDRAM. The DDR clock pair requires 100 ohm differential routing with length matching to the byte-lane strobes.
Decouple the MCF54451VM240's core and I/O rails with bulk ceramic capacitors (10 uF X5R) and high-frequency 100 nF X7R caps within 5 mm of each BGA ball. The ColdFire V4 core current at 240 MHz with EMAC active can exceed 800 mA; place at least four 10 uF ceramics around the die plus a bulk tantalum/polymer cap on the regulator output. Sequence the rails to meet the dataset's power-on-reset timing.
Estimated: at 240 MHz full peripheral utilisation with EMAC active, the 256-MAPBGA junction-to-ambient thermal resistance (theta_JA) is approximately 25 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC JESD51 test board. Continuous core activity can dissipate 1.5-2.0 W, yielding a die temperature rise of 38-50 C above ambient. At 70 C ambient the junction stays within the 100 C industrial limit; above this, copper pours under the BGA or forced airflow become necessary.
Do not assume any BGA position is a simple GPIO - the MCF5445x SIM module multiplexes most peripheral functions onto shared balls. Always reconfigure the SIM pad-control registers before bringing a peripheral out of reset, or pins will not respond to peripheral activity. Also note that PCI and certain FlexBus signals share ball positions; verifying your pinout against the datasheet before PCB layout prevents costly respins.
Keep the 50 MHz Ethernet PHY reference clock trace shorter than 25 mm and shield it with a ground guard trace or via fence. The USB OTG data pair (DP/DM) requires 90 ohm differential impedance and a common-mode choke within 5 mm of the connector. JTAG signals should be routed to a 14-pin ARM-style or 8-pin header with 10 kohm pull-ups on TCK/TMS/TDI for reliable Boundary-Scan operation.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per NXP product page. Halogen-free status not explicitly listed in retrieved web data. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is an industrial/consumer MPU, not automotive grade.
