The Motorola 68k processor line was used for Macintosh from the first 128k in 1984 to the last Quadra, Performa, and LC models were discontinued in 1996. There’s a ton of information on the web about 68k processors, but it is ubiquitously unsourced and often inaccurate.

While this information applies to any 68k machine, this page focuses on those used in Macs, using only what I could source from the original suppliers: Motorola, Freescale, NXP, Rochester Electronics, Thomson, and Atmel, excepting the product names which are approximated from believable product images.

Currently, this page focuses on 68020, 68030, and 68040 processors.

This is a best effort, cross-referencing multiple fragmented sources to provide as complete a picture as possible. More exact (but unsourced) information exists in some cases, which may be useful to provide additional data. I have refrained from using those sources here in order to provide only provably accurate information.

Branding

Until 2004-03-22, primary source processors were printed with the Motorola logo. After this time Freescale was spun off from Motorola and started the process of transitioning branding. This transition was unbounded, so it is expected to see newer processors with Motorola branding.

There was no known transition to NXP or Rochester Electronics branding after the NXP purchase of Freescale and the discontinuation of the 68k line in 2015.

Sources

• Motorola General Announcements #9722

Product Numbering

Motorola uses the following prefixes to their product numbers to represent the product lifecycle:

• PC: “Product Engineering” or “Engineering Sample” - A prototype or sample part.
• XC: “Partial Qual” or “Enginering Product” - A production process part which has not been completely qualified.
• MC: “Fully Qualified” or “Full Spec. Product” - A full production part.

Masks below are listed by their highest state. In other words, a mask that shipped as MC is labeled as such. However, it’s possible that PC or XC devices also exist with this mask revision as mask qualification was being completed. This is not a sign of a fake chip.

Sources

• 32-bit Microcontrollers and Processors - Quarter 2, 2006

Reading Chip Markings

Later Parts (Late 80s+)

Motorola 68k chips generally contain 6-7 markings:

1. Logo
2. Product number including revision
3. Mask identifier
4. Serial number including manufacture date
5. Final assembly location
6. An unknown mask or package-related identifier
7. An unknown identifier

For example, a 68040 usually has the first 6, and might look like:

M⃝ (logo)

• This chip was made by Motorola.

XC68040RC25M (product number)

• This is a 68040, XC-type (not fully qualified), in a PGA package at 25MHz with revision M.

02E31F (mask)

• This is mask 02E31F or E31F (in documentation the leading digits are often dropped when referring to the mask).

QEKC9328B (serial)

• This was made the 28th week of 1993. The 4-digit code in the middle indicates the date. The leading code is unknown but possibly a lot code. The trailing letter is unknown.

MALAYSIA (location)

• Final assembly of this chip was in Malaysia. This does not indicate fab location, which can be determined by the mask.

S23159-001 (unknown mask or package-related identifier)

• While serving an unknown purpose, it is known these correspond closely with mask revisions. If listed in a table below, the mask and this identifier must match or the chip may be counterfeit.

Early Parts (1980s)

Earlier 68020 and 68030 units may have only the following:

1. Logo
2. Product name and revision
3. Mask identifier and manufacture date

Items 1 and 2 are the same as above. As an example, item 3 may look like:

2A70N8705

• This is a 2A70N mask made the 5th week of 1987.

Sources

• Motorola NCSD/PCSD Product Information - First Quarter 2000

Legend

All charts below use the following legend.

• 𝒙𝒙 — Package type (see package tables)
• 𝒚𝒚 — Speed grade in MHz
• ? — Unknown data
• † — Unclear revision suffixes – for unknown reasons the suffixes do not always align with the Motorola listed Revision. These are guessed based on CPU-World images listed in sources below.
• ‡ — Unclear package identifiers – these are guessed based on CPU-World images listed in sources below.

68020

The “full” version with a 32-bit bus; MMU and FPU functionality require co-processors. It was only used for the Macintosh II and original LC, from 1987 to 1992.

The 68020 was produced in 12.5MHz, 16.67MHz, 20MHz, 25MHz, and 33MHz speed grades.

Mac Packages

Packages used in Macintosh machines. Varies per machine.

Which packages were produced for each mask has not been verified.

Masks

Sorted by mask revision.

Notes

Additionally, these sources/clones were produced:

• Thomson-CSF TS68020 - Military grade version to MIL-STD-883 spec
• Atmel TS68020 - Likely a rebrand of the Thomson
• Tekmos TK68020 - Reverse engineered 68020 clone. Interestingly Tekmos indicates the Motorola/Freescale 68020 was discontinued after the Tohoku facility was destroyed in the Tōhoku earthquake. This accelerated the already announced factory closure and caused a loss of the remaining 68020 masks.

They are not covered further in this document as information is significantly more sparse.

Key Dates

• 1984-05 - First silicon was produced.
• 1985-Q2 - Full qualification was completed. No MC devices would be produced before this date.
• ~2000-08-13 - 68020RC markings were changed from ink to laser printing.
• 2012-05-31 - Discontinued.

Sources

• 68K and ColdFire® Product Portfolio Overview 3Q97: Page 10, 11, 80, 81
• High-Performance Internal Product Portfolio Overview Issue 10 Fourth Quarter, 1995: Page 15
• Thomson-CSF Microprocessors & Memories 1996-1997: Page 377
• HCMOS 32-bit Virtual Memory Microprocessor TS68020
• Motorola Product Bulletin 5826
• Product Discontinuance Update #13644D
• Reliability and Quality Report - 4th Quarter 1998
• Tekmos - The TK68020 Works!
• Tekmos - Blog - 20th Anniversary
• Product names where noted (only): CPU-World 68020 Family

68030

68030 was the “full” version with MMU, a co-processor was still required for FPU functionality. Used in a very wide variety of Macs from 1988 to 1995.

The 68030 was produced in 16MHz, 20MHz, 25MHz, 33MHz, 40MHz, and 50 MHz speed grades.

Mac Packages

Packages used in Macintosh machines. Varies per machine.

Which packages were produced for each mask has not been verified.

Masks

Sorted by approximate introduction, where not known, by mask.

Notes

Key Dates

• 1987-04 - First silicon was produced.
• 1987-Q4 - Full qualification (MC parts available).
• ~2000-08-13 - 68030RC markings were changed from ink to laser printing.
• 2012-05-31 - Discontinued.

Sources

• 68K and ColdFire® Product Portfolio Overview 3Q97: Page 16, 80, 81
• High-Performance Internal Product Portfolio Overview Issue 10 Fourth Quarter, 1995: Page 19
• Freescale Product Discontinuance Update Notification #13644B
• Freescale Product Discontinuance Update Notification #13644D
• High-Performance Internal Product Portfolio Overview Q4 1993: Page 10
• Motorola Product Change Notice #R00321
• Motorola Product Bulletin 5826
• Motorola Product Change Notification #R00268
• Motorola Technical Data MC68EC030
• Motorola Product Change Notice #R000282
• Product names where noted (only): CPU-World 68030 Family

68040

68040 was the “full” version including MMU and FPU functionality. Used in a wide variety of Macs from 1991 to 1996.

The 68040 was produced in 25MHz, 33MHz, and 40MHz speed grades.

Mac Packages

Packages used in Macintosh machines. Varies per machine, RC and HRC are mechanically and electrically compatible.

Which packages were produced for each mask has not been verified.

Masks

Sorted by approximate introduction, where not known, by mask.

Notes

Additionally, these sources/clones were produced:

• Thomson-CSF TS68040 - Military grade version to MIL-STD-883 spec
• Atmel TS68040 (possibly a rebrand of the Thomson)

They are not covered further in this document as information is significantly more sparse.

Key Dates

• 1995-Q2 - Full qualification (MC parts available).
• 2015-11-21 - Discontinued.

Sources

• 68K and ColdFire® Product Portfolio Overview 3Q97: Page 22, 80, 81
• High-Performance Internal Product Portfolio Overview Issue 10 Fourth Quarter, 1995: Page 23
• Motorola Product and Process Change Notification #5606
• Freescale Product Discontinuance Notification #15939
• 68040 Device Errata for (2E42K & 2E71M)
• Motorola Product Change Notice #R00274
• Motorola Product Bulletin #8219
• High-Performance Internal Product Portfolio Overview Q4 1993: Page 15
• Thomson-CSF Microprocessors & Memories 1996-1997: Page 409
• Thomson-CSF TS 68040 Third-Generation 32-bit Microprocessor
• Atmel Third-Generation 32-bit Microprocessor TS68040
• M68040 User’s Manual: Page 6-15
• Product and Process Change Notification 7258
• Motorola Chip Finally in Production - Chicago Tribune
• Product names and package identifiers where noted (only): CPU-World 68040 Family

68LC040

A 68040 without built-in FPU. Used in Macs from 1993 to 1996. The 68EC040 shares the same mask history, though incompatible with and unused in the Macintosh line.

The 68LC040 was produced in 25MHz, 33MHz, and 40MHz speed grades.

The first two masks contain a critical errata which prevents their use with software FPU emulators. A later mask or full 68040 is required to use FPU-based software.

Mac Packages

Packages used in Macintosh machines. Varies per machine.

Which packages were produced for each mask has not been verified.

Masks

Sorted by introduction.

Notes

Key Dates

• 1995-Q4 - Full qualification (MC parts available).
• 2014-10-11 - Discontinued.

Sources

• High-Performance Internal Product Portfolio Overview Issue 10 Fourth Quarter, 1995: Page 27
• 68040 Device Errata for (2E42K & 2E71M)
• Motorola Product Change Notice #R00274
• Motorola Product and Process Change Notification #4939
• Motorola Product Bulletin 7995
• Product Discontinuance Update 15389A