N25Q256A13EF8A0F - 256Mb SPI NOR Flash 108MHz | Micron
MPN: N25Q256A13EF8A0F β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.36 | $5.36 |
| 10 | $4.82 | $48.20 |
| 100 | $4.29 | $429.00 |
| 500 | $3.86 | $1,930.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.43 | $3,430.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for N25Q256A13EF8A0F β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
N25Q128A13EF8A0F
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
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View Datasheet βN25Q064A13EF8A0F
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet βMT25QL256ABA1EF8-0AIT
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
N25Q256A13EF8A0E
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
N25Q256A13EF8A0F Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Memory Type | NOR Flash - Serial SPI |
| Density | 256 Mbit (32 MB) |
| Organization | 32M x 8 |
| Interface | SPI / Dual SPI / Quad SPI |
| I/O Width | x1 / x2 / x4 |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 108 MHz |
| Access Time | 8 ns |
| Supply Voltage | 3 V (2.7 V to 3.6 V) |
| Sector Erase Size | 4 KB |
| Program/Erase Endurance | 100K cycles per sector |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Package | 8-VDFPN (MLP8), 8x6 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Technology | 65 nm NOR |
| Write Protect | Hardware W#/VPP_DQ2 pin |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (TR) |
N25Q256A13EF8A0F Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | S# β Chip select (active low) |
| Pin 2 | VCC β Power supply (2.7 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 3 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 4 | DQ0 β Serial data input/output (SI) |
| Pin 5 | DQ1 β Serial data output (SO) |
| Pin 6 | W#/VPP_DQ2 β Write protect / VPP / DQ2 in quad mode |
| Pin 7 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 8 | DQ3 β HOLD function / DQ3 in quad mode |
Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics
No official SOA curve available for this digital IC. Always operate within absolute maximum ratings specified in the datasheet. Ensure adequate cooling and derate as needed.
Typical Applications
N25Q256A13EF8A0F is suitable for 6 applications: FPGA Configuration Storage, Embedded Processor Boot Code, Industrial Automation Controllers, Networking Equipment Line Cards, Automotive Instrument Clusters and Displays, Consumer IoT and Smart Home Hubs.
FPGA Configuration Storage
The N25Q256A13EF8A0F is a standard configuration memory for mid-range FPGAs such as Intel/Altera Cyclone and Arria devices, whose compressed bitstreams typically occupy 2-8 MB. Its 32 MB density holds a primary bitstream plus a golden fallback image in separate 4KB-granular sectors, and quad-SPI read mode at 108 MHz shortens configuration time compared with x1 SPI. Placed on the dedicated passive-serial/quad configuration bus with 10K pull-up on S# and DQ3/HOLD deasserted, the device loads the fabric within milliseconds of power-up. The hardware write-protect pin can lock the golden-image sectors against field corruption, an essential reliability feature for remote-deployed systems.
Recommended
Embedded Processor Boot Code
Embedded MPUs and SoCs boot from XIP (execute-in-place) or shadowed SPI NOR, and the N25Q256A13EF8A0F's 8 ns access time and 108 MHz quad output make it well suited to first-stage bootloader storage. Its 32 MB capacity stores bootloader, kernel, and root-filesystem images for Linux-class processors, while 4KB sector erase supports fine-grained update of U-Boot environment variables without erasing the whole image. On 3.3V rails the device connects directly to the QSPI controller with 22-33 ohm series resistors on DQ lines for signal integrity at 108 MHz. Wear-aware firmware should rotate parameter sectors to respect the 100K program/erase endurance limit per sector.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Controllers
Industrial PLCs, motor drives, and IIoT edge nodes require firmware storage that survives -40C cold starts and electrical noise on the factory floor. The N25Q256A13EF8A0F operates from -40C to +85C and its 3V SPI interface tolerates typical industrial 3.3V rail tolerances (2.7V to 3.6V). The 32 MB array accommodates dual firmware banks for fail-safe OTA updates, recipe tables, and diagnostic logs, with 4KB sectors enabling incremental log writes. The exposed-pad VDFPN package provides solid ground return, and the W# pin locks calibration constants against accidental overwrite. Designers should add TVS protection on QSPI lines routed near power electronics.
Recommended
Networking Equipment Line Cards
Switch, router, and base-station line cards use SPI NOR for boot code, FPGA images, and MAC/PHY configuration. The N25Q256A13EF8A0F's quad-SPI 108 MHz read bandwidth accelerates multi-image validation during fast reboot cycles, and its 256 Mbit array stores multiple firmware slots plus PTP/sync profiles on a single 8-pin device, saving board area versus parallel NOR. Micron's 65nm NOR technology provides the high reliability expected in telecom infrastructure with 100K cycle endurance per sector. Designers should verify that the CPU QSPI controller supports the N25Q extended address commands (4-byte addressing) required above 16 MB and set dummy-cycle counts per datasheet timing tables.
Recommended
Automotive Instrument Clusters and Displays
Digital instrument clusters and center-stack displays store graphics assets, boot code, and calibration data in SPI NOR. The N25Q256A13EF8A0F's -40C to +85C operating range covers under-dash and greenhouse temperature environments, and 32 MB holds bitmap/font assets for mid-resolution clusters. Quad-SPI at 108 MHz lets the graphics SoC stream assets directly, while 4KB sector erase supports incremental font or theme updates in service. Although this commercial-grade ordering code is not AEC-Q100 qualified, the same die is offered in Micron automotive ordering codes; automotive programs should select the qualified variant and validate PPAP documentation before release.
Recommended
Consumer IoT and Smart Home Hubs
Smart home hubs, voice assistants, and connected appliances boot Linux-based stacks from SPI NOR and store wireless stack images for Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Thread co-processors. The N25Q256A13EF8A0F provides 32 MB in a compact 8x6 mm VDFPN footprint, leaving PCB area for radios, while 108 MHz quad-SPI read cuts boot latency noticeable to end users. Dual-bank OTA update schemes fit comfortably with 4KB sector granularity for small delta patches. The 2.7V to 3.6V supply range tolerates battery-backed rail droop, and the hardware write-protect pin secures the immutable bootloader against malformed OTA payloads. Designers should budget deep-power-down usage to minimize standby current in always-on nodes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for N25Q256A13EF8A0F β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | N25Q128A13EF8A0F | N25Q064A13EF8A0F | MT25QL256ABA1EF8-0AIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-VDFPN (MLP8) 8x6 mm | 8-VDFPN (MLP8) 8x6 mm - same | 8-VDFPN (MLP8) 8x6 mm - same | 8-VDFPN (MLP8) 8x6 mm - same |
| Brand | Micron Technology | Micron Technology | Micron Technology | Micron Technology |
| Density | 256 Mbit (32 MB) | 128 Mbit (16 MB) | 64 Mbit (8 MB) | 256 Mbit (32 MB) |
| Max Clock Frequency | 108 MHz | 108 MHz | 108 MHz | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Sector Erase Size | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Supply Voltage | 2.7 V to 3.6 V | 2.7 V to 3.6 V | 2.7 V to 3.6 V | 2.7 V to 3.6 V |
| Longevity / Generation | N25Q family (65 nm) | N25Q family (65 nm) | N25Q family (65 nm) | MT25QL successor generation |
Key Differentiators
- Double the density in the identical footprint (vs N25Q128A13EF8A0F)
- Longevity-programmed successor available (vs MT25QL256ABA1EF8-0AIT)
- 4KB fine-grained sector erase (vs N25Q064A13EF8A0F)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of pin 2 (VCC) plus one bulk 4.7-10uF per rail. For 108 MHz quad-SPI operation, keep DQ0-DQ3 traces length-matched within 5 mm and add 22-33 ohm series termination near the host controller to damp reflections. Route QSPI as a group over an unbroken ground plane; avoid crossing plane splits under the Flash. The exposed pad of the VDFPN should be soldered to a grounded pad array for thermal and EMI performance even though electrical ground is taken from pin 7.
Above 16 MB, the 24-bit address space is exhausted; the N25Q requires 4-byte addressing (extended address register or 4-byte address commands) to access the upper 16 MB. Host controllers hardcoded to 3-byte addressing will wrap around and silently corrupt data in the upper half. Also ensure DQ3/HOLD is pulled high at all times; a floating DQ3 can place the device in hold mode mid-transaction during quad reads. Finally, verify JEDEC ID reads the expected 256Mb device code after layout changes to catch solder opens on DQ lines.
Estimated: at 108 MHz quad read, program/erase currents are the dominant rail loads; sector erase and program pulses draw peak currents in the tens of mA range (per datasheet ICC tables). Size the 3.3V rail regulator for worst-case program current plus margin, and never share a heavily loaded rail with sensitive analog circuitry without local bulk capacitance. During erase, brief supply droop below 2.7V can abort or corrupt the operation - use power-fail detection with the write-protect pin deasserted only during intentional writes.
Compliance Information
The 'F' ordering-code suffix indicates Micron lead-free finish. RoHS and lead-free status inferred from Micron ordering-code convention; REACH and halogen-free declarations should be confirmed via Micron's material declaration documents for this exact part number.
