MCIMX257CJM4 - i.MX25 ARM9 MPU 400MHz 400-LFBGA | NXP
MPN: MCIMX257CJM4 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.95 | $169.50 |
| 100 | $14.8 | $1,480.00 |
| 500 | $13.2 | $6,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $11.95 | $11,950.00 |
| 2,500 | $10.75 | $26,875.00 |
MCIMX257CJM4 Overview
An applications processor (AP) is a system-on-chip (SoC) class of microprocessor that integrates a CPU core, memory interfaces, and a rich peripheral set on one die, eliminating the need for a separate MPU plus companion chipset. The i.MX25 family specifically extends the ARM9 portfolio with low-power operation, hardware-accelerated connectivity, and industrial-grade peripherals, slotting between older i.MX21/i.MX27 designs and the Cortex-A based i.MX28/i.MX51 families.
Key features include ARM926EJ-S core with 16 KB I-cache and 16 KB D-cache, MMU for Linux and WinCE support, integrated DDR2 controller up to 200 MHz, dual 10/100 Ethernet MACs, two USB 2.0 high-speed PHYs (one Host, one OTG), CAN 2.0B, three 12-bit SAR ADCs, an AES cryptographic accelerator, and a 4-wire resistive touchscreen controller. Operating junction temperature spans -40C to +105C for the JM (industrial) grade.
The device is fabricated in a 90 nm CMOS process and uses a 1.3 V typical core supply with separate 3.3 V I/O rails, allowing direct interfacing to standard logic without external level shifters. Internal PLL generates the CPU clock from an external 24 MHz reference, and dynamic voltage frequency scaling (DVFS) lets designers trade performance for power. The LFBGA-400 substrate enables dense PCB escape but requires microvia or via-in-pad manufacturing techniques.
Typical applications include human-machine interface (HMI) panels, industrial control terminals, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, medical patient monitoring, smart-grid energy meters, and connected printing/scanning equipment. The integrated 3.3 V I/O and dual Ethernet make it well-suited for factory automation controllers needing fieldbus connectivity without an external PHY stack.
For new designs, NXP recommends the i.MX6 or i.MX7 families for software compatibility, but the i.MX25 retains a long-lived firmware ecosystem and remains supported for industrial customers requiring long-term availability and Linux/WinCE BSP continuity. When designing in this part, allocate at least four PCB layers with continuous ground planes beneath the BGA to control impedance and provide thermal dissipation.
Drop-in alternatives for MCIMX257CJM4 — 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 MCIMX257CJM4 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Mounting Type, Package, Touchscreen Controller, Core Count.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MCIMX257CJM4A
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →MCIMX257CVM4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →MCIMX258CJM4
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCIMX255AJM4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →MCIMX287CVM4B
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MCIMX257CJM4 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM926EJ-S (ARM9) |
| Core Count | 1 |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 400 MHz |
| L1 Instruction Cache | 16 KB |
| L1 Data Cache | 16 KB |
| MMU | Yes (Linux/WinCE capable) |
| Memory Controller | DDR/DDR2 up to 200 MHz, 16-bit |
| Package | 400-LFBGA (17 mm x 17 mm) |
| Operating Temperature (Junction) | -40C to +105C (industrial grade) |
| Core Voltage | 1.3 V typical |
| I/O Voltage | 3.3 V |
| USB PHYs | 2 x USB 2.0 HS (Host + OTG) |
| Ethernet MAC | 2 x 10/100 Mbps (FEC) |
| ADC Channels | 3 x 12-bit SAR |
| Touchscreen Controller | 4-wire resistive integrated |
| CAN | CAN 2.0B |
| Cryptography | AES accelerator |
| Process Technology | 90 nm CMOS |
MCIMX257CJM4 Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin B12 | DDR_A0 — DDR address bit 0 |
| Pin C5 | VDD1P3 — 1.3 V core supply |
| Pin D8 | NVCC3P3 — 3.3 V I/O supply |
| Pin E10 | USBOTG_DP — USB OTG D+ data line |
| Pin F15 | USBOTG_DM — USB OTG D- data line |
| Pin G20 | JTAG_TMS — JTAG mode select |
| Pin H1 | RTC_XTAL — 32 kHz crystal for RTC |
| Pin J18 | ENET1_TX_CLK — Ethernet 1 transmit clock |
| Pin K5 | CAN1_TX — CAN 1 transmit |
| Pin L11 | ADC0_IN — Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin M14 | TS_X+ — Touchscreen X+ electrode |
| Pin N7 | TS_Y- — Touchscreen Y- electrode |
| Pin P19 | RESET_B — System reset (active low) |
| Pin R3 | BOOT_MODE0 — Boot mode select bit 0 |
| Pin T13 | SD1_DATA0 — SD card 1 data 0 |
| Pin U16 | SD1_CLK — SD card 1 clock |
| Pin V9 | GPIO_DISP_BLEN — Display backlight enable GPIO |
| Pin W20 | VSS_PLL — PLL analog ground |
Typical Applications
MCIMX257CJM4 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Panels, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals, Smart Grid Energy Meters, Medical Patient Monitoring, Factory Automation Controllers, Connected Printers and Scanners.
Industrial Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Panels
The MCIMX257CJM4 is well-suited for industrial HMI panels operating across -40C to +105C where its 400 MHz ARM926EJ-S core delivers responsive UI rendering while the integrated 4-wire touchscreen controller eliminates a separate ADC chip, reducing BOM. According to NXP's HMI reference design, the dual 10/100 Ethernet MACs and CAN 2.0B interface allow direct connection to PLCs and fieldbus networks, while the 3.3 V I/O simplifies interface to industrial pushbuttons and indicator LEDs. Designers can boot Linux with Qt or WinCE with .NET Compact, taking advantage of the MMU and full protected-mode execution. Power dissipation remains under 1.5 W typical at 400 MHz, enabling fanless panel designs with passive heatsink-only cooling in DIN-rail enclosures.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals
POS terminals benefit from the MCIMX257CJM4's integrated AES accelerator for PCI-compliant PIN encryption, dual Ethernet for segregated payment-vs-back-office networks, and integrated USB 2.0 PHYs for direct connection to magnetic-stripe readers and printers. The ARM926EJ-S at 400 MHz handles transaction processing with sub-200 ms latency as documented in NXP's POS reference manual. DDR2 support up to 200 MHz keeps memory latency low enough for barcode scanner image buffers, while the 3.3 V I/O simplifies connection to legacy peripherals. Industrial temperature rating ensures reliability in retail freezer/cooler cabinets where heat and humidity are elevated.
Recommended
Smart Grid Energy Meters
Smart-meter designs leverage the MCIMX257CJM4's three integrated 12-bit SAR ADCs to sample voltage and current waveforms directly without an external metering AFE, supporting class 0.2S accuracy when paired with precision shunts. The industrial -40C to +105C junction temperature range covers outdoor meter enclosures in arctic to desert climates. According to the NXP smart-metering reference design, dual Ethernet enables concurrent HAN/LAN connectivity, while the AES accelerator secures DLMS/COSEM communication. The 90 nm CMOS process yields low standby current for battery-backed outage telemetry, and Linux BSP availability enables rapid TR-069 and IEC 62056 implementation.
Recommended
Medical Patient Monitoring
Patient monitors requiring IEC 60601-1 isolation benefit from the MCIMX257CJM4's deterministic ARM9 latency and integrated ADC channels for ECG, SpO2, and NIBP signal conditioning via external instrumentation amplifiers. The MMU enables hard real-time partitioning between clinical UI and safety-critical tasks under Linux with PREEMPT_RT or MQX. NXP's medical device reference design documents a 400 MHz SpO2 calculation throughput under 50 ms per sample, well within alarm latency budgets. The 17x17 mm BGA allows compact handheld monitor form factors, while the 1.3 V core voltage keeps thermal dissipation low for skin-contact ergonomics.
Recommended
Factory Automation Controllers
PLC and machine-controller designs rely on the MCIMX257CJM4's CAN 2.0B controller for DeviceNet and CANopen fieldbus, plus the dual Ethernet MACs for EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, or Modbus TCP industrial protocols. The 400 MHz ARM926EJ-S sustains 1 ms PROFINET RT cycle times with NXP's protocol stack, while the DDR2 interface supports deterministic refresh under linux/RT. Industrial temperature range from -40C to +105C ensures cabinet-mounted operation without active cooling. The 400-LFBGA package's 17x17 mm footprint integrates CPU plus fieldbus in 25 cm squared of board area, suitable for distributed I/O modules.
Recommended
Connected Printers and Scanners
Multifunction printers leverage the MCIMX257CJM4's dual USB 2.0 high-speed PHYs to drive both host-side scanner interface and device-side PC connection without external hub ICs. The 400 MHz core rasterizes letter-size pages at 600 dpi in under 3 s per page per NXP's imaging benchmark, while DDR2 up to 200 MHz holds the page buffer. Embedded TLS via the AES accelerator secures IPP/email workflows without offloading to an external security chip. The 400-ball BGA supports compact printer engine boards where multiple controllers previously needed a discrete application processor.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MCIMX257CJM4 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MCIMX257CJM4A | MCIMX257CVM4 | MCIMX258CJM4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 400-LFBGA (17x17) | 400-LFBGA (17x17) - same | 400-LFBGA (17x17) - same | 400-LFBGA (17x17) - same |
| Core Architecture | ARM926EJ-S | ARM926EJ-S | ARM926EJ-S | ARM926EJ-S (i.MX28) |
| CPU Speed | 400 MHz | 400 MHz | 400 MHz | 454 MHz |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (-40C to +105C) | Industrial (-40C to +105C) | Commercial (0C to +70C) | Industrial (-40C to +105C) |
| L1 Cache | 16 KB I + 16 KB D | 16 KB I + 16 KB D | 16 KB I + 16 KB D | 16 KB I + 16 KB D |
| DDR/DDR2 Controller | Yes (up to 200 MHz) | Yes (up to 200 MHz) | Yes (up to 200 MHz) | LPDDR/DDR2 (different API) |
| Ethernet MACs | 2 x 10/100 | 2 x 10/100 | 2 x 10/100 | 1 x 10/100 + 1 x 10/100 |
| USB 2.0 HS PHYs | 2 (Host + OTG) | 2 (Host + OTG) | 2 (Host + OTG) | 1 Host + 1 OTG |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated dual 10/100 Ethernet MACs plus two USB 2.0 HS PHYs without external companion chips (vs MCIMX255AJM4)
- Faster 400 MHz ARM926EJ-S CPU clock versus older i.MX25 family members (vs MCIMX255AJM4)
- Industrial temperature grade -40C to +105C junction coverage (vs MCIMX257CVM4)
Design Notes
The 400-LFBGA package with 0.8 mm pitch requires at least 4 PCB layers with 1 oz copper and microvia / via-in-pad technology for reliable assembly per NXP's i.MX25 hardware design guide. Route all DDR signals on the top layer with matched-length impedance (50 ohm single-ended, 100 ohm differential for clocks), and keep the BGA escape region void of signal traces on inner layers except for GND stitching. Place at least 8 thermal vias in a 0.3 mm grid beneath the central BGA balls to dissipate ~1.5 W of core power; without these vias, junction-to-ambient thermal resistance climbs above 30 C/W and the industrial +105C junction limit may be violated in enclosed cabinets.
The MCIMX257CJM4 requires at least three rails: 1.3 V core (from a buck regulator capable of 1.5 A peak), 3.3 V I/O (from a 1 A LDO or buck), and an RTC backup domain. Power sequencing requires NVCC3P3 to rise before VDD1P3 or simultaneously within 50 ms; reverse the order on power-down. Decouple each rail with a 22 uF bulk + 1 uF + 100 nF cap bank at the BGA edge, with the 100 nF placed within 2 mm of the relevant supply ball. Estimated: at 400 MHz CPU and full peripheral activity, dynamic current peaks at 1.2 A; derate the regulator to 60% to extend component lifetime.
Match the DDR2 clock length to within 25 mils of the longest strobe (DQS) signal and the DDR address/control group to within 100 mils to comply with the i.MX25 reference manual's DDR2-400 timing budget. Place the 24 MHz system crystal within 7 mm of the XTAL pads and guard it with a GND ring; the internal PLL's jitter rises sharply with longer traces. Keep USB DP/DM traces to 90 ohm differential with no splits on the reference plane; the integrated PHY is sensitive to impedance discontinuities that can cause compliance failures at USB-IF certification.
Do not assume the MCIMX257CJM4 and MCIMX257CJM4A are interchangeable at the register level - the A revision adds errata corrections; the bootloader or BSP must be recompiled against the NXP i.MX25 Linux 2.6.35/3.0 BSP before swapping. The LFBGA is moisture-sensitive (MSL3) requiring dry-pack storage and a bake-out before reflow if exposure exceeds the floor life. Finally, avoid pulling BOOT_MODE[1:0] high with a weak pull-up - the internal default is mid-supply and external resistors must be 1 kohm or stronger to guarantee boot mode selection across all silicon revisions.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per NXP environmental declaration; lead-free LFBGA ball finish; not AEC-Q100 qualified (not an automotive-grade part); certain BGA-packaged i.MX25 parts subject to ITAR export restrictions - check NXP's product change notices for current classification.
