ATMEGA324P-15MZ - 8-Bit AVR MCU 16MHz 32KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA324P-15MZ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.95 | $39.50 |
| 100 | $3.6 | $360.00 |
| 500 | $3.25 | $1,625.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.9 | $2,900.00 |
ATMEGA324P-15MZ Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory, data memory and peripherals into one chip, forming the heart of embedded systems. The AVR ATmega family sits within the broader hierarchy of 8-bit MCUs, embedded processors, and semiconductors. AVR cores execute most instructions in a single clock cycle through a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, delivering high code efficiency for C and assembly programming.
Key features of this part include 32KB of ISP Flash with read-while-write capability for in-system firmware updates, 1KB of on-chip EEPROM for non-volatile parameter storage, and in-circuit debugging plus In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) support via just two I/O pins and the reset line. According to Microchip, the picoPower technology on the ATmega324P platform reduces power consumption in sleep and standby modes, extending battery life in portable designs.
Technical depth: the AVR RISC core pairs a rich instruction set with fast single-cycle execution, while the peripheral set typical of the ATmega324P family includes USART, SPI, I2C-compatible TWI, timers, and a 10-bit ADC, allowing one chip to handle communications, timing and analog sensing simultaneously. Firmware is developed in Microchip's MPLAB X ecosystem; the MPLAB SNAP programmer connects through an 8-pin SIL connector and implements ICSP and on-chip debugging.
Typical applications include industrial control and automation nodes, battery-powered instruments, sensor interfaces and consumer appliances where 32KB of flash, 2KB of RAM and 16MHz throughput are sufficient.
Design consideration: the 44-VQFN exposed-pad package requires a well-defined ground plane on the PCB; verify the 16MHz speed grade against your supply voltage before finalizing the design, and reserve programming pads for the two ICSP pins during layout.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, so engineers can evaluate sourcing risk and second sources in one place. Pricing and stock refresh as of 2026-09-17.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA324P-15MZ — 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 ATMEGA324P-15MZ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Processor, EEPROM, Flash Memory, Number of I/O, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA324P-B15MZ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA324PA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA644P-15MZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA164P-15MZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$8.83 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA32M1-15MZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA324P-15MZ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Speed | 16MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 32KB (16K x 16) FLASH |
| EEPROM Size | 1KB |
| RAM Size | 2KB |
| Number of I/O | 32 |
| General Purpose Working Registers | 32 |
| Package / Case | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm), Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Programming Method | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| Debugging | On-chip debug via MPLAB SNAP |
| Technology | picoPower low-power platform |
| Grade | Automotive-grade variant family (per Microchip USA) |
ATMEGA324P-15MZ 44-vqfn (7x7 mm), exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA324P-15MZ (44-vqfn (7x7 mm), exposed pad package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for ATMEGA324P-15MZ.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA324P-15MZ is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, Battery-Powered Portable Instruments, Sensor Interface and Data Acquisition, Automotive Body and Comfort Electronics, Home Appliance and Consumer Control Boards, Embedded Development and Education.
Industrial Control and Automation
Factory automation nodes, motor controllers and PLC I/O modules benefit from the ATMEGA324P-15MZ's combination of 32KB ISP Flash with read-while-write capability and 2KB SRAM, enough headroom for communication stacks plus control logic at 16MHz. The 32 general purpose I/O lines drive relays, optocouplers and status LEDs directly, while the in-system programmable flash permits firmware field updates without removing the 44-VQFN (7x7) device from the board. ICSP programming needs only two I/O pins and reset, so a production test fixture can flash boards during end-of-line testing. For designs that later require LIN or CAN interfaces, the same-footprint ATMEGA32M1-15MZ provides a migration path without PCB respin.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Instruments
Handheld meters, data loggers and remote sensors exploit the picoPower platform of the ATmega324P family to stretch battery life. According to Microchip, picoPower ATmega devices cut consumption in sleep and standby modes, allowing designs to idle between measurements while the 1KB EEPROM preserves calibration and logging parameters through power cycles. The 16MHz single-cycle AVR core completes sampling and computation bursts quickly, so the duty cycle keeps the MCU asleep most of the time. Designers should size sleep-mode current from the ATmega324A/P/PA datasheet and consider the ATMEGA324PA-MU, the enhanced picoPower variant in the same 44-VQFN (7x7) package, when every microamp matters in the power budget.
Recommended
Sensor Interface and Data Acquisition
Sensor front-ends use the ATMEGA324P-15MZ to digitize, filter and forward analog readings. The ATmega324P platform integrates a 10-bit ADC, USART, SPI and TWI (I2C-compatible) peripherals, letting one 44-VQFN (7x7) chip talk to analog sensors on one side and a host or radio module on the other. With 32KB of flash there is room for linearization tables and small protocol stacks, and the 2KB SRAM buffers sample windows. Because the AVR executes most instructions in a single 16MHz cycle, oversampling and averaging routines stay responsive. For higher-accuracy conversion chains, pair the MCU with an external precision ADC on the SPI bus while keeping the same code base and footprint.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Comfort Electronics
For automotive programs, the ATMEGA324P-B15MZ - the AEC-Q100 qualified member of the same AVR Automotive line - shares the identical 44-VQFN (7x7) footprint and 32KB/2KB/1KB memory configuration with the ATMEGA324P-15MZ, so engineers can prototype on the standard part and release on the qualified one. Typical uses include mirror controls, lighting modules and pump controllers, where 32 GPIO lines drive loads and the 16MHz core handles switch debouncing and diagnostics. Per Utmel's family comparison, the M1 variants add LIN and CAN peripherals in the same package for networked body modules. Verify qualification and temperature range against the -B datasheet before production release.
Recommended
Home Appliance and Consumer Control Boards
Appliance control boards - coffee machines, climate controls, small pumps - fit comfortably within the ATMEGA324P-15MZ's envelope: 16MHz throughput for UI scanning and heater PWM loops, 32 I/O lines for keys, displays and relays, and 32KB flash for menu logic plus firmware reserves. The on-chip EEPROM stores user settings across power failures, and the single-cycle AVR core keeps interrupt latency predictable for safety interlocks. The 44-VQFN (7x7) exposed-pad package suits high-volume SMT assembly while remaining small enough for compact panels. Same-family drop-ins (ATMEGA324PA-MU for power savings, ATMEGA164P-15MZ for cost-down with 16KB flash) let procurement balance BOM cost against memory needs on the same PCB.
Recommended
Embedded Development and Education
The ATmega324P is a classic teaching and prototyping platform because Microchip's MPLAB X toolchain and MPLAB SNAP programmer support on-chip debugging and In-Circuit Serial Programming using only two I/O pins plus reset, per the official product page. Universities and makers leverage the large AVR ecosystem of compilers, bootloaders and reference designs; the 32 general purpose working registers and single-cycle Harvard architecture make C code efficient and predictable. The 44-VQFN (7x7) package suits professional-style dev boards, while the read-while-write flash supports bootloader exercises. When a course project outgrows 32KB, the pin-compatible ATMEGA644P-15MZ doubles program memory with no board changes.
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Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA324P-15MZ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA324P-B15MZ | ATMEGA324PA-MU | ATMEGA644P-15MZ | ATMEGA32M1-15MZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-VQFN (7x7), exposed pad | 44-VQFN (7x7) - same | 44-VQFN (7x7) - same | 44-VQFN (7x7) - same | 44-VQFN (7x7) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32KB (16K x 16) | 32KB (16K x 16) | 32KB (16K x 16) | 64KB | 32KB |
| SRAM | 2KB | 2KB | 2KB | 4KB | 2KB |
| Max Speed | 16MHz | 16MHz | 20MHz class | 16MHz | 16MHz |
| Qualification | Standard (industrial/consumer) | AEC-Q100 automotive | Standard | Standard | Automotive AVR family |
| Special Peripherals | Standard ATmega peripheral set | Standard ATmega peripheral set | Enhanced picoPower low-power | Standard, larger memory | Integrated LIN controller, motor control |
| EEPROM | 1KB | 1KB | 1KB | 2KB | 1KB |
Key Differentiators
- Automotive-qualified drop-in available on identical silicon (vs ATMEGA324P-B15MZ)
- Lower power option without redesign (vs ATMEGA324PA-MU)
- Same-footprint memory scaling both directions (vs ATMEGA644P-15MZ / ATMEGA164P-15MZ)
- Standard ATmega peripherals vs automotive networked variant (vs ATMEGA32M1-15MZ)
Design Notes
The 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) package has an exposed pad that must be soldered to a grounded copper area for reliable grounding and heat dissipation. Define a via-fanout array under the pad, open the stencil window to about 60-70% coverage to avoid solder voiding, and follow the IPC-recommended MLF land-pattern guidelines. Reserve the two ICSP I/O pins plus reset as accessible test points during layout; retrofitting programming access to an assembled 44-VQFN board is practically impossible, and Microchip's MPLAB SNAP flow depends on those three signals for debug and production flashing.
Decouple VCC and AVCC independently with 100nF ceramic capacitors placed within a few millimeters of the pins, plus bulk 4.7uF-10uF per rail. AVCC powers the ADC and should be filtered (ferrite bead plus capacitor) when analog accuracy matters. The 16MHz speed grade is voltage-dependent on ATmega parts, so confirm the minimum supply voltage for full-speed operation from the ATmega324A/P/PA datasheet before finalizing the power tree; derating clock frequency at low VCC is a common cause of marginal, temperature-dependent field failures.
Do not confuse speed-grade suffixes: the '-15' marking denotes the 16MHz class, and exceeding it or running it below the datasheet minimum voltage can cause timing violations. The 32 general purpose I/O lines are shared with peripheral functions; verify pin multiplexing conflicts before routing, because remapping a timer output after layout forces respins. EEPROM endurance is limited per cell, so avoid writing calibration or counters every loop - wear-level by writing on parameter change only. Finally, when sourcing from brokers, authenticate parts (perforated/ground markings are common) given the limited two-distributor supply base.
Compliance Information
Compliance data for this exact ordering code was not present in the verified web data. The family includes an AEC-Q100 automotive variant (ATMEGA324P-B15MZ); the standard part itself is not automotive-qualified. Obtain the part-specific material declaration from Microchip's compliance portal.
