MK20DX64VMC7 - 72MHz Cortex-M4 MCU, 64KB Flash | NXP
MPN: MK20DX64VMC7 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.6 | $2.60 |
| 10 | $2.34 | $23.40 |
| 100 | $2.09 | $209.00 |
| 500 | $1.92 | $960.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.78 | $1,780.00 |
MK20DX64VMC7 Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory, and peripherals into one chip, forming the lowest programmable layer of an embedded system hierarchy: MCU -> embedded processor -> system-on-chip -> computing system. The Kinetis K20 sub-family sits in NXP's mid-performance 32-bit MCU portfolio, positioned between the entry-level Kinetis L (Cortex-M0+) series and the high-performance Kinetis K60/K70 families.
Key features include the Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions and single-cycle MAC for digital signal processing, 12-bit DAC and high-precision 16-bit ADC analog integration, and connectivity spanning CAN bus, I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, EBI/EMI, and USB OTG. On-chip peripherals include DMA, I2S, PWM, LVD, POR, and watchdog timer, with 70 general-purpose I/O pins.
The device operates from 1.8V, 2.5V, or 3.3V supply rails and carries the flexible low-power architecture characteristic of the Kinetis family, with multiple run, wait, stop, and very-low-power modes that suit battery-operated designs. The 121-MAPBGA ball-grid package minimizes board area at 8x8 mm while supporting industrial temperature ranges.
Typical applications include industrial control and automation, consumer electronics with USB connectivity, portable and battery-powered instruments, and embedded signal processing where the Cortex-M4 DSP capability accelerates filtering and FFT workloads.
When designing with this part, plan ball-out usage early: the 121-ball MAPBGA footprint is fixed, and the 64 KB flash budget must accommodate USB stack plus application code.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, parametric comparison, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MK20DX64VMC7 — 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 MK20DX64VMC7 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Maximum Clock Frequency, Low-Power Modes, SRAM, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MK20DX256VMC7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →MK40DX64VMC7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →MK20DX128VMC7
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MK21DN512VMC5
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MK52DN512CMD10
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MK20DX64VMC7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 72 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 64 KB (64K x 8) FLASH |
| SRAM Size | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Number of I/O | 70 |
| Connectivity | CANbus, EBI/EMI, I2C, IrDA, SPI, UART/USART, USB, USB OTG |
| Peripherals | DMA, I2S, LVD, POR, PWM, WDT |
| ADC Resolution | 16-bit |
| DAC Resolution | 12-bit |
| Package / Case | 121-MAPBGA (8x8 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
| Product Series | Kinetis K20 |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Part Status | Active |
MK20DX64VMC7 121-mapbga (8x8 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MK20DX64VMC7 (121-mapbga (8x8 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 MK20DX64VMC7.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MK20DX64VMC7 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, USB Peripherals and HID Devices, Portable and Battery-Powered Instruments, Embedded Signal Processing and DSP, IoT Sensor Nodes and Gateways, Automotive Body and Comfort Electronics.
Industrial Control and Automation
The MK20DX64VMC7 fits industrial control nodes because its CAN bus controller integrates directly with factory fieldbus networks while the 72 MHz Cortex-M4 core executes PID loops and protocol stacks with headroom. The 16-bit ADC supports precise sensor acquisition from pressure, temperature, and current transducers, and the 12-bit DAC can drive analog actuator setpoints. DMA offloads peripheral transfers so the CPU remains available for control logic. Operating from a standard 3.3V rail with industrial temperature rating, it suits PLC I/O modules, motor control front-ends, and distributed sensors, though the 64 KB flash budget requires careful firmware sizing when combining CANopen stacks with application code.
Recommended
USB Peripherals and HID Devices
With an integrated full-speed USB 2.0 controller supporting OTG, the MK20DX64VMC7 is a strong fit for USB HID devices, CDC virtual COM ports, and USB audio peripherals. The 72 MHz Cortex-M4 core with single-cycle MAC handles endpoint servicing and audio sample processing, while DMA and I2S support streaming data paths without CPU saturation. The device was widely adopted in the Teensy 3.x ecosystem, so community-provided USB stacks and bootloaders shorten development time. Designs must budget the 64 KB flash between the USB stack and application firmware; if code space is tight, the pin-compatible MK20DX256VMC7 doubles down as a no-PCB-change upgrade with 256 KB flash.
Recommended
Portable and Battery-Powered Instruments
The K20 family's flexible low-power architecture gives the MK20DX64VMC7 multiple run, wait, stop, and very-low-power modes, making it suitable for handheld meters, data loggers, and portable test instruments. Its 1.8V capability allows operation directly from low-voltage rails, and the 16-bit ADC performs high-resolution battery-voltage and sensor measurements. The 72 MHz core can execute burst computations - FFTs, filtering, calibration math - and then drop to a low-power stop mode between samples. Designers should verify wake-up latency and peripheral availability in each power mode against the reference manual, and size decoupling for the 121-ball BGA's multiple power domains to minimize rail bounce during mode transitions.
Recommended
Embedded Signal Processing and DSP
The ARM Cortex-M4 core in the MK20DX64VMC7 includes DSP instructions and a single-cycle multiply-accumulate unit, enabling digital filters, FFTs, and control algorithms at 72 MHz. Combined with the 16-bit ADC for signal capture and the 12-bit DAC for analog reconstruction, the device forms a compact single-chip signal chain for audio effects, vibration analysis, and sensor conditioning. DMA channels move ADC samples to SRAM without CPU intervention, preserving cycles for computation. With 16 KB SRAM, buffer sizes for FFT workloads are modest - a 1024-point complex FFT fits comfortably - but larger block processing favors the SRAM-rich MK20DX256VMC7 drop-in variant on the same PCB footprint.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Nodes and Gateways
For IoT edge nodes, the MK20DX64VMC7 offers the communication breadth - UART, SPI, I2C, CAN - needed to aggregate sensors and interface with wireless modules such as Wi-Fi, BLE, or LoRa radios over SPI/UART. The 70 GPIO lines support rich local sensing, and the 16-bit ADC digitizes analog sensors with resolution sufficient for environmental monitoring. Low-power stop modes extend battery life in duty-cycled designs. The 64 KB flash accommodates an application plus a lightweight network stack; designs needing TLS-based secure MQTT or OTA update capability should consider the pin-compatible MK21DN512VMC5 with 512 KB flash on the identical 121-ball footprint, avoiding any PCB respin.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Comfort Electronics
The integrated CAN bus controller makes the MK20DX64VMC7 applicable to non-safety-critical automotive body electronics such as seat controllers, lighting modules, and sensor hubs that communicate on CAN networks. The 72 MHz Cortex-M4 processes LIN/CAN protocol stacks and local control logic, while PWM peripherals drive lamps, motors, and actuators directly. Note that the standard K20 part is not AEC-Q100 qualified; automotive programs should verify qualification requirements and consider NXP automotive-grade MCU alternatives where mandatory. The industrial temperature range of -40C to +85C covers many under-dash environments, and the 121-ball MAPBGA withstands automotive vibration profiles better than fine-pitch leaded packages.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MK20DX64VMC7 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MK20DX256VMC7 | MK40DX64VMC7 | MK20DX128VMC7 | MK21DN512VMC5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 121-MAPBGA (8x8) | 121-MAPBGA (8x8) - same | 121-MAPBGA (8x8) - same | 121-MAPBGA (8x8) - same | 121-MAPBGA (8x8) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core / Frequency | Cortex-M4 / 72 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 72 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 72 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 72 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB | 512 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 64 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 128 KB |
| USB | Full-speed USB OTG | Full-speed USB OTG | USB with crystal-less option | Full-speed USB OTG | Full-speed USB OTG |
| Segment LCD Controller | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Sub-Family | Kinetis K20 | Kinetis K20 | Kinetis K40 | Kinetis K20 | Kinetis K21 |
Key Differentiators
- Cost-optimized entry into 121-MAPBGA Kinetis footprint (vs MK20DX256VMC7)
- Same footprint upgrade path to 256 KB flash (vs MK20DX256VMC7)
- Lowest-cost option when no LCD is needed (vs MK40DX64VMC7)
- Lower clock keeps EMI and power budget simple (vs MK21DN512VMC5)
Design Notes
The MK20DX64VMC7 supports 1.8V, 2.5V, and 3.3V nominal operation, but on a 121-ball BGA the VDD and VDDA domains are supplied through separate balls. Decouple each power ball with 100 nF placed within 2 mm on the opposite side of the board, plus bulk 10 uF per domain. Isolate VDDA with an RC filter (for example 10 ohm plus 1 uF) when the 16-bit ADC is used, because digital switching noise on a shared analog rail directly degrades ADC effective resolution. Estimated: with roughly 30 mA core current at 3.3V, a 0.1 ohm shared rail impedance causes about 3 mV of rail droop - measurable by the 16-bit ADC whose LSB is approximately 50 uV at 3.3V full scale.
The 121-MAPBGA (8x8 mm) uses a 0.8 mm ball pitch; route escape traces at 4/4 mil minimum and plan via-in-pad or dog-bone escapes on the two outer ball rows. Dedicated inner balls for power and ground should fan out to a local ground plane through multiple vias to reduce ball-level current density. Since all drop-in alternatives (MK20DX256VMC7, MK40DX64VMC7) share this exact footprint, lock the land pattern to the NXP recommended footprint so memory upgrades require no PCB respin. Keep USB D+/D- as a 90-ohm differential pair routed together without stubs to the connector.
Two frequent pitfalls: first, firmware outgrowing 64 KB flash - the USB device stack alone consumes a significant fraction of the flash budget, so size the application early and prefer the pin-compatible MK20DX256VMC7 if in-field upgrade capability is required. Second, not all drop-in candidates are peripheral-identical: the MK40DX64VMC7 adds LCD functions while the MK21/K52 parts run at higher clocks with different peripheral mux maps - always verify the signal multiplexing table in the respective reference manual before swapping parts on an existing board. Configure unused balls as outputs-low or inputs with pull to avoid floating leakage.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH status is listed on the official NXP product page under Environmental Quality but exact values were not captured in the retrieved data; verify on nxp.com/part/MK20DX64VMC7. Standard industrial part, not marketed as AEC-Q100 automotive qualified.
