NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 - 20MHz 3225 SMD Crystal | NDK
MPN: NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.28 | $0.28 |
| 10 | $0.25 | $2.50 |
| 100 | $0.19 | $19.00 |
| 500 | $0.15 | $75.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.124 | $124.00 |
NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 Overview
A quartz crystal unit is a passive frequency-control component that uses the piezoelectric resonance of an AT-cut quartz blank to generate a highly stable reference frequency. Within the system hierarchy, it sits at the base of every clock chain: the crystal feeds the oscillator circuit inside a microcontroller, SoC, or real-time clock, which in turn clocks the digital system. Crystals are preferred over ceramic resonators and silicon oscillators where frequency accuracy and low phase jitter matter, because the quartz resonator's Q is orders of magnitude higher.
Key features of the NX3225GA series include its compact and thin 3.2 x 2.5 x 0.75 mm typ. footprint suited to size-constrained boards, excellent environmental characteristics including heat and shock resistance, and excellent electrical performance for OA (office automation) and AV (audiovisual) applications, according to the NDK NX3225GA datasheet. The STD-CRG-2 specification number covers the standard 9.8 to 50 MHz frequency range with -40C to +85C operation.
Technically, the NX3225GA is an AT-cut fundamental-mode crystal. The 8 pF rated load capacitance means the oscillator circuit must present approximately 8 pF of effective load (including PCB parasitics) for the crystal to oscillate exactly at 20 MHz; typical designs use two shunt capacitors calculated from the load capacitance equation. Note that the frequency tolerance of +/-30 ppm applies across the operating temperature range for this specification number.
Typical applications include microcontroller clock references for industrial and office-automation equipment, audio/video SoC reference clocks, USB and network-adjacent MCU systems, and IoT node boards where the 3225 footprint is standard.
Design consideration: always verify the negative resistance margin of the oscillator loop (at least 5x the crystal ESR) and keep crystal traces short and guarded by ground to avoid stray capacitance shifts.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-footprint alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 β 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 NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Frequency Tolerance, Nominal Frequency, Mounting Type, Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR), Frequency Stability.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRA-1
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.145 / Unit
View Datasheet βNX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 Specifications
| Nominal Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Load Capacitance | 8 pF |
| Frequency Tolerance | +/-30 ppm |
| Frequency Stability | +/-30 ppm |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Oscillation Mode | Fundamental (AT-cut) |
| Package Dimensions | 3.2 x 2.5 x 0.75 mm (typ.) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (SMD3225-4P) |
| Number of Terminals | 4 (2 crystal terminals, 2 case terminals) |
| Soldering Condition | Reflow profile with lead-free solder |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| NDK Specification Number | STD-CRG-2 |
NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | XOUT1 β Crystal terminal 1 - connect to oscillator inverting input / drive line |
| Pin 2 | GND β Case terminal - connect to PCB ground plane |
| Pin 3 | XOUT2 β Crystal terminal 2 - connect to oscillator input via load capacitor |
| Pin 4 | GND β Case terminal - connect to PCB ground plane |
Typical Applications
NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 is suitable for 6 applications: Microcontroller Clock Reference, AV / Audiovisual Equipment, IoT and Smart Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control and PLC I/O, USB and Communication Interfaces, Test and Measurement Instruments.
Microcontroller Clock Reference
The NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 provides the 20 MHz reference for MCU oscillators in industrial and office-automation controllers, where the crystal feeds the on-chip pierce oscillator and internal PLLs generate higher core and peripheral clocks. Its 8 pF load capacitance is the most common MCU oscillator specification, so a simple two-capacitor network (about 12 pF each including 2 pF stray) centers the frequency. The +/-30 ppm tolerance over -40C to +85C keeps UART and CAN bit-rate errors within budget for most industrial links. Because the part is passive, it adds no power draw; the 3.2 x 2.5 x 0.75 mm footprint keeps the clock network compact and the short traces reduce stray capacitance that would pull the frequency off 20 MHz.
Recommended
AV / Audiovisual Equipment
NDK explicitly targets the NX3225GA standard grade at OA (office automation) and AV (audiovisual) applications, citing excellent electrical performance in these domains. In AV boards, the 20 MHz crystal clocks video SoCs, HDMI-adjacent MCUs, and display controllers whose PLLs derive pixel and serial clocks; a stable quartz reference prevents visible frame tearing or audio pitch drift that ceramic resonators can cause. The crystal's heat and shock resistance tolerates the thermal cycling of consumer AV enclosures. Layout-wise, keep the two crystal pads within a few millimeters of the SoC oscillator input and use a ground guard ring - the 8 pF load means even 1-2 pF of excess trace capacitance shifts output frequency noticeably.
Recommended
IoT and Smart Sensor Nodes
For battery-powered IoT nodes, the NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 acts as the main MCU clock source while the radio subsystem derives its reference from the same 20 MHz via PLL. The passive crystal draws zero quiescent current, and the ultra-thin 0.75 mm profile suits coin-cell and sensor-puck enclosures. The -40C to +85C range covers unheated outdoor enclosures. Two design considerations matter: first, keep the crystal drive level within the datasheet rating to minimize oscillator current during active periods; second, verify startup reliability at low temperature by checking the oscillator negative-resistance margin against the crystal ESR (at least 5x margin recommended) before mass production.
Recommended
Industrial Control and PLC I/O
In factory automation hardware - PLC I/O modules, motor-control boards, and sensor hubs - the 20 MHz crystal clocks the supervisory MCU that sequences drives and communicates over fieldbus. The NX3225GA's rated shock and vibration resistance plus lead-free reflow compliance suit the solder-joint reliability demands of industrial environments. The +/-30 ppm tolerance is generally adequate because fieldbus protocols (e.g., RS-485-based) tolerate several percent of clock error. Place the crystal away from switching-inductor hotspots, since sustained temperatures above the +85C rating degrade the AT-cut blank's stability. For boards that must carry automotive qualification documentation, substitute the AEC-Q200 CRA-1 variant on the identical footprint.
Recommended
USB and Communication Interfaces
Many MCU families use a 20 MHz crystal as the primary reference for full-speed USB device ports; the internal PLL multiplies 20 MHz to the 48 MHz USB clock. The NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2's +/-30 ppm accuracy comfortably meets the USB full-speed total-clock-accuracy budget, which the crystal portion of the budget must support alongside PLL error. Layout discipline is critical here: route the crystal traces short and symmetric, ground-guard pads 2 and 4, and avoid routing USB diffpairs beneath the crystal. A common pitfall is excess PCB capacitance pulling the load above 8 pF and shifting the 48 MHz output out of spec - verify on hardware and trim capacitor values accordingly.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instruments
Bench instruments, handheld meters, and data-acquisition modules use the 20 MHz crystal to clock their main processors and time-stamp sample streams. While the Β±30 ppm standard grade is insufficient for the instrument's precision timebase (those use TCXO/OCXO references), it is entirely adequate for the MCU housekeeping clock. The NX3225GA's compact footprint and reflow compatibility enable dense mixed-signal layouts, and its shock resistance survives portable-instrument handling. In these designs, isolate the crystal physically from fans and transformer vibration sources, and specify the AEC-Q200 CRA-1 variant where the instrument must meet extended vibration or automotive-adjacent environmental requirements on the same PCB land pattern.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRG-2 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRA-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Package | SMD3225-4P (3.2 x 2.5 x 0.75 mm) | SMD3225-4P (3.2 x 2.5 x 0.75 mm) - same |
| Brand | NDK | NDK |
| Nominal Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Load Capacitance | 8 pF | 8 pF |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Automotive Qualification | No (standard OA/AV grade) | Yes (AEC-Q200 conformant) |
Key Differentiators
- Standard-grade cost advantage for OA/AV use (vs NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRA-1)
- Industry-standard 3225 footprint with thin 0.75 mm profile (vs NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRA-1)
- 8 pF load capacitance matches mainstream MCU oscillator circuits (vs NX3225GA-20MHZ-STD-CRA-1)
Design Notes
Place the crystal within a few millimeters of the MCU oscillator pins and route the two crystal traces short, direct, and roughly symmetric. Use a 1.4 mm x 2.2 mm typ. land pattern per the NDK datasheet. Tie case pads 2 and 4 solidly to ground and surround the crystal area with a ground guard ring to prevent digital aggressor signals from coupling jitter into the oscillator loop.
Estimated: the 8 pF rated load capacitance requires approximately 12 pF external capacitors per side assuming ~2 pF of stray capacitance, since CL = (C1 x C2)/(C1+C2) + Cstray = 6 + 2 = 8 pF. Actual stray capacitance varies with board stack-up; measure the oscillation frequency on the first prototype and adjust C1/C2 to trim toward exactly 20 MHz. Using too-large capacitors also raises oscillator startup time and drive current.
Verify oscillator negative-resistance margin before production: the circuit's negative resistance should be at least 5x the crystal's maximum ESR at 20 MHz (see the NDK NX3225GA datasheet ESR table), especially for low-temperature startup at -40C. Also confirm the mounted-conditions limits in the datasheet - NDK warns that exceeding them may cause characteristic deterioration or destruction of the product. Avoid more than the rated number of reflow cycles and never wash the part with ultrasonic energy.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per LCSC listing. Meets requirements for reflow profiling using lead-free solder per NDK datasheet. AEC-Q200 conformance applies to the CRA-1 automotive variant, not this CRG-2 standard grade.
