2Kbit I²C EEPROM in 8-MSOP — what the specs mean for your BOM
The 24FC02-E/MS is a 2Kbit serial EEPROM organized as 256 x 8 bits, communicating over an I²C bus at up to 1 MHz. That clock rate is the fast-mode plus ceiling — the bus master and any other slaves on the line must also support 1 MHz to take advantage of it, but the part itself will clock-stretch if the master runs slower. The 450 ns access time is the time from address match to the first data bit appearing on the bus — fast enough for most microcontroller polling loops, but if you are bit-banging the I²C driver, budget the full 5 ms write-cycle time (word or page) before the next start condition. The -40°C to +125°C operating range is the extended industrial-plus grade — it covers under-hood automotive and hot-side industrial enclosures where a standard 85°C part would derate. The 8-MSOP package (3.00 mm width) is a compact surface-mount footprint; the Tube delivery means it ships in a stick, not on a reel, so factor in pick-and-place feeder changeover if your line is reel-only.
Active lifecycle — no last-time-buy pressure
Microchip lists the 24FC02-E/MS as Active (current production). There is no NRND flag, no EOL notice, and no official successor — this part is still the recommended choice for new designs using a 2Kbit I²C EEPROM in this package.
How the 24FC02-E/MS compares to the AT24C08D-SSHM-B
The AT24C08D-SSHM-B is a higher-density 8Kbit part (1K x 8) in the same I²C family, but its operating temperature range stops at 85°C, compared to the 24FC02-E/MS's 125°C. The access time is also slower — 4.5 µs vs 450 ns — so the 24FC02-E/MS is the faster read part for a 2Kbit footprint. If your BOM needs the extra density and can tolerate the narrower temperature range, the AT24C08D-SSHM-B is a functional alternative; otherwise the 24FC02-E/MS is the better fit for hot environments.