NXP Semiconductors MIMXRT1021DAG5B

Overview

MIMXRT1021DAG5B from NXP Semiconductors is a 500 MHz Arm® Cortex®-M7 crossover processor in 144-pin LQFP (20 × 20 mm, 0.5 mm pitch), featuring 256 KB on-chip RAM, dual FlexCAN interfaces, 10/100 Ethernet with IEEE 1588 support, and dual uSDHC controllers for eMMC 4.5/SD 3.0 - deployed in industrial motor control and IoT gateway designs.

For engineers reviewing the MIMXRT1021DAG5B datasheet, MIMXRT1021DAG5B pinout, MIMXRT1021DAG5B application, or MIMXRT1021DAG5B equivalent, key selection criteria include GPIO count (96), SDRAM interface support, SEMC integration, dual uSDHC capability, and 144-LQFP thermal/power layout constraints.

Technical Context

The MIMXRT1021DAG5B implements a single Arm Cortex-M7 core with 16 KB I-cache, 16 KB D-cache, and VFPv5 FPU, operating at 500 MHz with configurable TCM/OCRAM allocation. Its memory subsystem includes boot ROM (96 KB) and flexible 256 KB on-chip RAM mapped across I-TCM, D-TCM, and OCRAM.

It integrates dual uSDHC controllers supporting SDXC (2 TB), eMMC HS200 (100 MB/s), and SDIO 3.0; dual FlexCAN 2.0B modules; one 10/100 ENET MAC with IEEE 1588 hardware timestamping; and SEMC for SDRAM/NOR/NAND interfacing - all accessible via 144-LQFP I/O with 96 GPIOs and full IOMUXC pin multiplexing.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

144-pin LQFP, 20 × 20 mm, 0.5 mm pitch - RoHS-compliant plastic package with exposed thermal pad (not electrically connected); compatible with standard PCB assembly processes and IPC-7351B footprint.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MIMXRT1021DAF5B, the MIMXRT1021DAG5B delivers 68% more GPIOs and dual uSDHC for redundancy, while MIMXRT1052CVL5B trades clock speed and integrated power for embedded flash - making MIMXRT1021DAG5B optimal for expandable, power-managed industrial gateways.

Availability

MIMXRT1021DAG5B is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial motor control, IoT edge gateways, and smart home HMI applications requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and full technical documentation support.

Supply support for MIMXRT1021DAG5B 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 leader headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets.

The i.MX RT series targets high-performance, real-time embedded applications where MCU simplicity meets application-processor capability - with MIMXRT1021DAG5B optimized for cost-sensitive industrial gateways needing rich peripheral integration and robust power management.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MIMXRT1021DAG5B?

The MIMXRT1021DAG5B operates at a maximum CPU frequency of 500 MHz. This is achieved using the Arm Cortex-M7 core with integrated L1 cache and FPU. The device is rated for consumer-grade temperature range (0 °C to +95 °C junction), and sustained 500 MHz operation requires proper thermal management and stable 1.0–1.25 V VDD_SOC supply per the IMXRT1020CEC datasheet Section 4.2.

Does the MIMXRT1021DAG5B support external SDRAM, and if so, what interface is used?

Yes, the MIMXRT1021DAG5B supports external SDRAM via its Smart External Memory Controller (SEMC). The SEMC provides an 8/16-bit SDRAM interface compliant with SDRAM-133 timing, enabling boot-from-SDRAM and execution-in-place configurations. This capability is confirmed in Table 1 and Section 4.5 of the IMXRT1020CEC datasheet and is exclusive to the 144-pin LQFP variants like the MIMXRT1021DAG5B.

How many UART interfaces does the MIMXRT1021DAG5B provide, and what are their key capabilities?

The MIMXRT1021DAG5B 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 parity options. These UARTs are fully independent, pin-multiplexed, and support DMA and low-power operation - critical for industrial serial communication and debug console isolation.

Is the MIMXRT1021DAG5B pin-compatible with other i.MX RT102x variants in the same package?

No - the MIMXRT1021DAG5B is not guaranteed pin-compatible with other i.MX RT102x variants even within the 144-pin LQFP package. Pin assignments are defined per variant in Section 6 of the IMXRT1020CEC datasheet, and functional differences (e.g., SEMC presence, uSDHC count) result in distinct I/O mappings. Always verify pinout against the specific part's "Contact Assignments" table before PCB layout.

What security features are implemented in hardware on the MIMXRT1021DAG5B?

The MIMXRT1021DAG5B includes hardware-accelerated security features: High Assurance Boot (HAB) for signed image verification, Data Co-Processor (DCP) supporting AES-128 and SHA-256, Bus Encryption Engine (BEE) for on-the-fly QSPI decryption, Secure Non-Volatile Storage (SNVS) with RTC and TRNG, and Secure JTAG Controller (SJC) with eFuse-configurable access modes - all documented in Sections 1.1 and 3 of the IMXRT1020CEC datasheet.