NXP Semiconductors MIMXRT1021CAG4A

Overview

MIMXRT1021CAG4A from NXP Semiconductors is an Arm® Cortex®-M7-based crossover processor operating at 396 MHz, featuring 256 KB on-chip RAM (configurable as TCM or OCRAM), dual FlexCAN interfaces, 10/100 Ethernet with IEEE 1588 support, and 96 GPIOs in a 144-pin LQFP package. It targets industrial motor control, IoT edge nodes, and home appliance HMI systems requiring real-time responsiveness and integrated power management.

For engineers reviewing the MIMXRT1021CAG4A datasheet, MIMXRT1021CAG4A pinout, MIMXRT1021CAG4A application, or MIMXRT1021CAG4A equivalent, key selection criteria include its 396 MHz deterministic execution, dual eMMC/SD 3.0 host controllers, SAI ×3 audio subsystem, and industrial −40°C to +105°C temperature grade with integrated DCDC/LDO power regulation.

Technical Context

The MIMXRT1021CAG4A implements a single Arm Cortex-M7 core with 16 KB I-cache, 16 KB D-cache, and full VFPv5 FPU for deterministic real-time processing. Its memory subsystem includes 96 KB boot ROM and 256 KB flexible on-chip RAM, partitionable into I-TCM, D-TCM, and OCRAM at 32 KB granularity.

Peripherals are organized via IOMUXC for pin multiplexing and XBAR crossbar switching. It integrates two FlexPWM modules (24 total channels), two Quad Timers, two Quadrature Encoders, and security accelerators including HAB, DCP (AES-128/SHA-256), BEE, and TRNG - all operating within the same silicon die without external co-processors.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 144-pin LQFP, 20 × 20 mm, 0.5 mm pitch, exposed pad (EP) for thermal dissipation. Pin assignments follow NXP's i.MX RT1020 Reference Manual (IMXRT1020RM) Section 6.1 and Table 6-1.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar crossover processor applications.

Compared with MIMXRT1021CAF4A, MIMXRT1021CAG4A delivers 69 additional GPIOs, dual uSDHC, and SEMC for SDRAM expansion - making it optimal for industrial gateways needing local storage and memory-mapped peripherals. Against MIMXRT1052CVL5B, it trades display/AI capability for lower cost, smaller LQFP packaging, and reduced thermal design complexity.

Availability

MIMXRT1021CAG4A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial motor control, smart home gateway development, and IoT edge node production requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges and long lifecycle commitments.

Supply support for MIMXRT1021CAG4A includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

NXP Semiconductors is a global semiconductor company headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets.

The i.MX RT series is NXP's family of crossover processors designed to bridge the gap between microcontrollers and application processors - delivering MCU-level ease-of-use with application-processor-class performance for real-time industrial and edge computing.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MIMXRT1021CAG4A?

The MIMXRT1021CAG4A operates at a maximum frequency of 396 MHz. This is a fixed target frequency defined in the datasheet and validated across the industrial temperature range (−40°C to +105°C). The core achieves this speed using the internal PLL with stable power delivery and proper decoupling; no overclocking or binning is supported. All timing-critical peripherals - including FlexPWM, Quad Timers, and uSDHC - are specified to function correctly at this frequency.

Does the MIMXRT1021CAG4A support external SDRAM?

Yes, the MIMXRT1021CAG4A supports external SDRAM through its Smart External Memory Controller (SEMC). It is capable of interfacing with 8/16-bit SDRAM up to SDRAM-133 speeds. This capability is enabled in the 144-pin LQFP package (MIMXRT1021CAG4A) but omitted in the 100-pin variant (MIMXRT1021CAF4A), as confirmed in Table 1 of the i.MX RT1020 datasheet. SEMC also supports NOR Flash, NAND Flash, and PSRAM.

What security features are integrated into the MIMXRT1021CAG4A?

The MIMXRT1021CAG4A integrates multiple hardware-accelerated security features: High Assurance Boot (HAB) for authenticated firmware loading, Data Co-Processor (DCP) supporting AES-128 and SHA-256, Bus Encryption Engine (BEE) for on-the-fly QSPI flash decryption, True Random Number Generator (TRNG), and Secure Non-Volatile Storage (SNVS) with secure RTC and zeroizable master key. These functions operate independently of the Cortex-M7 core and are documented in the i.MX RT1020 Reference Manual.

How many UART interfaces does the MIMXRT1021CAG4A provide?

The MIMXRT1021CAG4A provides eight LPUART modules (LPUART1–LPUART8), each supporting programmable baud rates up to 20 Mbps, 7- or 8-bit data words, 1 or 2 stop bits, and configurable parity. All eight UARTs are accessible in the 144-pin LQFP package, with pin assignments detailed in Section 6.1 of the i.MX RT1020 datasheet. This count matches the full feature set described for MIMXRT1021CAG4A in Table 2.

Is the MIMXRT1021CAG4A pin-compatible with other i.MX RT102x variants?

No, the MIMXRT1021CAG4A is not pin-compatible with other i.MX RT102x variants outside its own package family. While MIMXRT1021CAG4A and MIMXRT1021CAG4B share identical 144-pin LQFP pinouts, they differ in fuse configuration and silicon revision - not physical layout. It is not pin-compatible with the 100-pin LQFP (e.g., MIMXRT1021CAF4A) or any BGA-packaged RT102x parts due to differing pin counts, signal allocations, and power domain routing.