ATMEGA163-8AC - AVR 8-Bit MCU 16KB Flash 8MHz TQFP-44 | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA163-8AC ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.2 | $5.20 |
| 10 | $4.68 | $46.80 |
| 100 | $4.16 | $416.00 |
| 500 | $3.74 | $1,870.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.33 | $3,330.00 |
ATMEGA163-8AC Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is an integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals on a single die, sitting at the low end of the embedded-system hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded processor -> system-on-chip. The AVR architecture uses a Harvard design with a two-stage pipeline, executing most instructions in a single clock cycle, which yields up to 8 MIPS throughput at the 8MHz rating of this device.
Key features of the ATMEGA163-8AC include the 16KB self-programmable FLASH that supports field firmware updates, 1KB of on-chip SRAM for data and stack, and a rich peripheral set typical of the ATmega family, including an 8-channel 10-bit ADC, UART serial port, SPI interface, and timer/PWM units.
Architecturally, the AVR core operates from 32 general-purpose 8-bit working registers directly connected to the ALU, allowing single-cycle arithmetic between any two registers. This register-file-first design is the reason AVR devices achieve near one MIPS per MHz efficiency without expensive pipeline complexity, making them predictable for real-time firmware.
Typical applications include industrial control boards, HVAC and appliance controllers, legacy equipment maintenance, and embedded instrumentation where a 5V-compatible 8-bit MCU in a 44-pin TQFP footprint is required.
A key design consideration: the ATMEGA163 is an older ATmega generation (superseded by the pin-compatible ATmega16), so new designs should verify long-term availability and consider the ATmega16 as the forward-compatible successor in the same 44-TQFP footprint.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative options, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA163-8AC — 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 ATMEGA163-8AC (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, SRAM, Core Architecture, EEPROM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA163-8AI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.22 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA16-16AJ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$2.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA16-16AU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$4.41 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8535L-8MI
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA162V-8AUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$6.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA163-8AC Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB (8K x 16) FLASH |
| Program Memory Type | In-System Programmable FLASH |
| SRAM Size | 1 KB |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial, AC suffix) |
| Package | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Number of Pins | 44 |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
| Series | AVR ATmega |
| Interface Type | UART, SPI |
| Mfr | Atmel (now Microchip Technology) |
ATMEGA163-8AC Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA3 — Port A bit 3 / ADC channel 3 |
| Pin 2 | PA2 — Port A bit 2 / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 3 | PA1 — Port A bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | PA0 — Port A bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 5 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 6 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 7 | PA4 — Port A bit 4 / ADC channel 4 |
| Pin 8 | PA5 — Port A bit 5 / ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 9 | PA6 — Port A bit 6 / ADC channel 6 |
| Pin 10 | PA7 — Port A bit 7 / ADC channel 7 |
| Pin 11 | PB5 — Port B bit 5 (SPI MOSI) |
| Pin 12 | PB6 — Port B bit 6 (SPI MISO) |
| Pin 13 | PB7 — Port B bit 7 (SPI SCK) |
| Pin 14 | RESET — Reset input, active low |
| Pin 15 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 16 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 17 | XTAL2 — Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 18 | XTAL1 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock |
| Pin 19 | PD0 — Port D bit 0 (UART RXD) |
| Pin 20 | PD1 — Port D bit 1 (UART TXD) |
| Pin 21 | PD2 — Port D bit 2 (INT0 external interrupt) |
| Pin 22 | PD3 — Port D bit 3 (INT1 external interrupt) |
| Pin 23 | PD4 — Port D bit 4 (OC1B PWM output) |
| Pin 24 | PD5 — Port D bit 5 (OC1A PWM output) |
| Pin 25 | PD6 — Port D bit 6 (ICP1 input capture) |
| Pin 26 | PD7 — Port D bit 7 (OC2 PWM output) |
| Pin 27 | PC0 — Port C bit 0 (SCL, 2-wire serial) |
| Pin 28 | PC1 — Port C bit 1 (SDA, 2-wire serial) |
| Pin 29 | PC2 — Port C bit 2 (TCK, JTAG test clock) |
| Pin 30 | PC3 — Port C bit 3 (TMS, JTAG test mode select) |
| Pin 31 | PC4 — Port C bit 4 (TDO, JTAG test data out) |
| Pin 32 | PC5 — Port C bit 5 (TDI, JTAG test data in) |
| Pin 33 | PC6 — Port C bit 6 (TOSC1, timer oscillator) |
| Pin 34 | PC7 — Port C bit 7 (TOSC2, timer oscillator) |
| Pin 35 | PB4 — Port B bit 4 (OC0 PWM output) |
| Pin 36 | PB3 — Port B bit 3 (AIN1 analog comparator) |
| Pin 37 | PB2 — Port B bit 2 (INT2 / AIN0 analog comparator) |
| Pin 38 | PB1 — Port B bit 1 (T1 timer counter external clock) |
| Pin 39 | PB0 — Port B bit 0 (T0 / XCK) |
| Pin 40 | AREF — ADC analog reference |
| Pin 41 | GND — Analog ground |
| Pin 42 | AVCC — ADC supply voltage |
| Pin 43 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 44 | GND — Ground |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA163-8AC is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, Legacy Board Repair and Maintenance, Appliance and HVAC Controllers, Embedded Instrumentation and Data Loggers, Automotive Aftermarket Retrofit Modules, Educational and Hobby Embedded Platforms.
Industrial Control and Automation
The ATMEGA163-8AC fits industrial control boards that need a 5V-tolerant 8-bit MCU with sufficient I/O in a compact surface-mount footprint: the 44-pin TQFP exposes four 8-bit I/O ports (32 lines) for driving relays, reading sensors, and interfacing with HMI modules. Its single-cycle AVR core delivers about 8 MIPS at the 8MHz rating, adequate for deterministic polling loops and PID control at kHz rates. The UART supports Modbus-RTU style communication with PLCs while SPI connects to ADCs or EEPROMs. Designers should account for the commercial 0C to +70C rating; industrial deployments requiring -40C operation should use the pin-compatible ATMEGA163-8AI or ATMEGA16 variants instead.
Recommended
Legacy Board Repair and Maintenance
For repairing or re-manufacturing equipment designed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the ATMEGA163-8AC is a direct-fit replacement because it matches the original 44-TQFP land pattern exactly, requiring no PCB rework. Firmware in the 16KB In-System Programmable FLASH can be reloaded via SPI ISP using standard AVR programmers such as the Atmel ICE or USBasp, enabling field firmware updates during servicing. The 1KB SRAM supports the original application's data structures, and the 8MHz speed grade keeps timing identical to the original design, avoiding UART baud-rate or PWM-frequency drift. Buyers should verify date codes since this EOL part circulates on the secondary market.
Recommended
Appliance and HVAC Controllers
White-goods and HVAC controllers benefit from the ATMEGA163-8AC's combination of 32 I/O lines, UART, SPI, and timer/PWM units in one low-cost 44-TQFP package. Timer/PWM outputs drive triac or relay-based heater and compressor control, while the ADC channel inputs (per datasheet) accept NTC thermistor dividers for temperature feedback. The 16KB FLASH accommodates menu logic, fault logging, and communication stacks, and the 1KB SRAM supports state machines with adequate stack headroom. Because room controllers may see cold storage or unheated spaces, designs targeting 0C to -40C environments must specify the ATMEGA163-8AI industrial-grade variant rather than the AC commercial grade.
Recommended
Embedded Instrumentation and Data Loggers
Low-cost measurement instruments use the ATMEGA163-8AC to read sensors, run conversion math on its single-cycle AVR core, and stream results over UART to a PC or over SPI to display and storage peripherals. The on-chip ADC (per the Atmel datasheet) converts analog sensor inputs without an external converter, and the 16KB FLASH stores calibration tables and logging firmware. At 8MHz the device consumes only a few milliamps, suiting battery-powered loggers, and sleep modes extend battery life further. Loggers deployed outdoors should migrate to the industrial-grade ATMEGA163-8AI, and designers needing more speed can use the pin-compatible 16MHz ATMEGA16-16AJ with the same footprint.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Retrofit Modules
Retrofit and accessory modules such as alarm systems, gauge adapters, and lighting controllers historically used the ATMEGA163-8AC for its blend of I/O count, timers, and low cost in a hand-assemblable surface-mount package. The UART enables communication with K-line style diagnostics links, while timer/PWM outputs handle servo or lamp intensity control. Firmware stored in the 16KB ISP FLASH can be updated in the field. Important caveat: this commercial-grade AC part is rated 0C to +70C and is not AEC-Q100 qualified; cabin-electronics retrofits exposed to -40C cold starts must use the ATMEGA163-8AI or a qualified successor such as ATMEGA16 automotive variants.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Embedded Platforms
University labs and maker projects still teach on AVR ATmega-class devices because the architecture is simple, fully documented, and supported by free toolchains (AVR-GCC) and the Arduino ecosystem's MightyCore support for ATmega16/8535-class parts. The ATMEGA163-8AC provides 32 GPIO lines for LED arrays, keypads, and LCD interfaces, plus UART for serial consoles, all on one 8MHz core that is slow enough to observe but fast enough to be useful. For new educational boards, we recommend the ATMEGA16-16AJ: it is electrically similar in the same 44-TQFP footprint, remains an active part, doubles the clock headroom, and is stocked by mainstream distributors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA163-8AC — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA163-8AI | ATMEGA16-16AJ | ATMEGA16-16AU | ATMEGA8535L-8MI | ATMEGA162V-8AUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-TQFP (10x10) | 44-TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Core / Clock | 8-bit AVR, 8 MHz | 8-bit AVR, 8 MHz | 8-bit AVR, 16 MHz | 8-bit AVR, 16 MHz | 8-bit AVR, 8 MHz | 8-bit AVR, 8 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 1 KB |
| Temperature Range | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Key Feature Difference | Original ATmega163 die | Same die, industrial temp | Successor family, errata fixed, 2x clock | Successor family, industrial temp | Half flash memory, low-voltage grade | Dual USART, wide VCC 1.8-5.5V |
Key Differentiators
- Faster successor with identical footprint (vs ATMEGA16-16AJ)
- Extended temperature coverage (vs ATMEGA163-8AI)
- More program memory than same-footprint budget parts (vs ATMEGA8535L-8MI)
- Wide supply voltage operation (vs ATMEGA162V-8AUR)
Design Notes
Decouple each VCC pin (pins 5 and 15) with a 100nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5mm of the pin, plus a 10uF bulk capacitor near the package. AVCC (pin 42) must be connected to VCC through a low-pass RC filter (10 ohm resistor + 100nF) when the ADC is used, to keep ADC reference noise low. Estimated: with ~10mA typical AVR core current at 8MHz and 5V, a 10-ohm AVCC filter drops only ~0.1V, well within ADC supply tolerance.
The ATMEGA163-8AC is commercial-temperature grade (0C to +70C): do not deploy it in unheated outdoor or automotive cabin environments where -40C cold starts occur - use the ATMEGA163-8AI instead. Also note this part is EOL: fuse-bit maps and some peripheral register behaviors differ slightly from the ATmega16 successor, so firmware written for ATmega16 must be re-validated (and fuse settings rechecked) when migrating in either direction.
The 44-TQFP 10x10 footprint has 0.8mm pin pitch, which is reworkable with hot air but not friendly to hand soldering for prototypes - order stencil-printed boards for assembly. Route the crystal traces between XTAL1/XTAL2 (pins 18/17) short and symmetrical, guard them with ground, and keep them away from the UART/SPI lines to avoid clock jitter. Expose a solid ground plane under the package for the five ground pins (6, 16, 41, 43, 44).
SPI (PB4-PB7) and UART (PD0/PD1) should be length-matched loosely; at 8MHz SPI the edge rates are benign, but keep series resistors (22-100 ohm) on long ribbon or cable runs to suppress ringing and EMI. For ISP programming access, include a 6-pin ISP header wired directly to PB5-PB7, RESET, VCC, and GND so firmware can be updated in-circuit after board assembly.
Compliance Information
The ATMEGA163-8AC predates RoHS-era product data; the original Atmel part was offered in both leaded and lead-free variants depending on suffix/date code. Compliance status must be confirmed with the distributor certificate of conformance.
