ATMEGA8515-16PI - 8KB Flash 16MHz AVR MCU 40-DIP | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA8515-16PI ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.42 | $6.42 |
| 10 | $5.78 | $57.80 |
| 100 | $5.14 | $514.00 |
| 500 | $4.62 | $2,310.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.18 | $4,180.00 |
ATMEGA8515-16PI Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is an integrated circuit that executes program code, controls peripherals, and interfaces with sensors and actuators on a single chip. The AVR family uses an enhanced RISC architecture in which most of its 130 powerful instructions execute in a single clock cycle, sitting within the broader hierarchy of microcontrollers under embedded processors and power-management-adjacent system ICs.
Key features include the fully static core operating from 4.5 V to 5.5 V, 32 general-purpose working registers, on-chip SRAM plus an external memory interface for address and data bus expansion, In-System Programming (ISP) of the Flash, and a peripheral set covering SPI, USART, timers, and analog comparator. These attributes make the part well suited to designs needing through-hole mounting and straightforward manual assembly or prototyping.
Technically, the Harvard-architecture AVR core fetches instructions from Flash and data from SRAM simultaneously, sustaining one MIPS per MHz. The external memory interface latches the high address byte via port A/C, enabling 64 KB linear addressing for data logging or graphics buffers. The suffix -16PI denotes 16 MHz maximum clock, industrial temperature range, and PDIP package.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, legacy equipment maintenance and repair, educational and hobbyist embedded systems, and test fixtures where DIP sockets allow easy firmware updates or chip swaps.
When designing with this part, reserve port A for the external memory bus only if expansion is required, since those pins double as general-purpose I/O otherwise. Decouple VCC with 100 nF ceramics close to each supply pin and keep the reset line short for reliable ISP operation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from manufacturer migration application notes, and practical design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA8515-16PI — 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 ATMEGA8515-16PI (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, SRAM, Throughput, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA8515-16PU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8515L-8PU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162-16PU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8515-16PI Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR enhanced RISC |
| Flash Program Memory | 8 KB (4K x 16), In-System Programmable |
| SRAM | 544 bytes internal + up to 64 KB external |
| EEPROM | 512 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 16 MHz |
| Throughput | 16 MIPS at 16 MHz |
| Instruction Set | 130 instructions, most single-cycle |
| General Purpose Registers | 32 x 8-bit |
| Operating Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, I suffix) |
| Package | 40-PDIP (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| External Memory Interface | Yes, up to 64 KB |
| Communication Interfaces | SPI, USART |
| In-System Programming | Yes (ISP via SPI) |
ATMEGA8515-16PI 40-pdip (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA8515-16PI (40-pdip (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) 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 ATMEGA8515-16PI.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA8515-16PI is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Equipment Repair and Maintenance, Educational and University Embedded Labs, Industrial Control Panels, External Memory Expansion Systems, Serial Communication Gateways, Analog Measurement and Comparator Systems.
Legacy Equipment Repair and Maintenance
The ATMEGA8515-16PI is a primary choice for keeping legacy industrial equipment in service because its 40-pin PDIP package fits standard DIP-40 sockets, allowing a technician to swap the MCU in minutes without hot-air rework. Its 8 KB self-programming Flash supports In-System Programming via SPI, so firmware patches can be loaded on the bench with a simple ISP cable. The 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply range matches the 5 V rails of 1980s-2000s control boards, and the industrial -40C to +85C rating covers plant-floor temperature extremes. The 544-byte internal SRAM plus 64 KB external memory interface preserves compatibility with designs that used external SRAM for buffers. Performance consideration: at 16 MHz the part delivers 16 MIPS, matching the throughput assumptions of most original firmware compiled with older AVR toolchains.
Recommended
Educational and University Embedded Labs
Universities and technical colleges favor the ATMEGA8515-16PI for teaching AVR architecture because the through-hole 40-PDIP package survives repeated insertion in breadboards and training sockets, unlike fragile QFP leadframes. The AVR enhanced RISC core with 130 mostly single-cycle instructions and 32 working registers gives students a clean model of pipelined Harvard architecture, while 16 MIPS at 16 MHz makes timing experiments directly observable. The 512-byte EEPROM demonstrates nonvolatile storage, and the SPI/USART peripherals support hands-on serial protocol labs. The external memory bus lets instructors expand address-space exercises up to 64 KB. Design consideration: supply the chip from a regulated 5 V lab bench supply within 4.5 V to 5.5 V and wire RESET with a 10 k pull-up to avoid spurious ISP entry during class sessions.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panels
In industrial control panels, the ATMEGA8515-16PI acts as the central logic controller driving relays, reading limit switches, and sequencing machinery. The industrial temperature rating of -40C to +85C handles unheated enclosures, and the 5 V operation interfaces directly with optocoupler-isolated I/O cards without level shifting. Its 8 KB Flash is sufficient for state-machine control code, and the 512-byte EEPROM stores setpoints and fault counters across power cycles. The external memory interface provides 64 KB expansion headroom for event logging when the 544-byte internal SRAM falls short. Performance benefit: 16 MIPS throughput leaves ample cycles for UART telemetry alongside the main control loop, but designers must budget interrupt latency on time-critical outputs since most AVR peripherals share a two-level interrupt priority scheme.
Recommended
External Memory Expansion Systems
The ATMEGA8515-16PI stands out among 8 KB AVRs for its dedicated external memory interface supporting up to 64 KB of external SRAM. Port A serves as the multiplexed address/data bus while port C provides the high address byte, enabling linear data addressing far beyond internal 544-byte SRAM. This makes the part ideal for data acquisition front-ends that buffer ADC samples, early graphics terminals driving character LCDs with frame buffers, and protocol analyzers capturing long serial streams before upload. Configuration is fuse-controlled, letting designers trade port A I/O for bus capability at compile time. Performance consideration: external bus accesses consume multiple cycles versus internal SRAM, so place timing-critical variables in internal SRAM and use external memory for bulk buffers; wait-state control in the MCU registers handles slower SRAM devices.
Recommended
Serial Communication Gateways
With a hardware USART and SPI port, the ATMEGA8515-16PI serves as a protocol gateway converting between field buses and host systems - for example RS-485 sensor networks bridging to a PC via an external transceiver, or SPI-attached peripherals reporting over UART telemetry. The 16 MHz clock supports standard baud rates up to 1 Mbps class with low error from the AVR USART divider, and the hardware SPI sustains multi-Mbps transfers to Flash or ADC chips. The 512-byte EEPROM holds node addresses and calibration constants through power loss. In industrial deployments the -40C to +85C rating and 5 V logic match RS-485 transceiver families without level conversion. Trade-off: the part has a single USART, so applications needing two independent serial channels should consider the dual-USART ATMEGA162-16PU migration part instead.
Recommended
Analog Measurement and Comparator Systems
The ATMEGA8515-16PI integrates an on-chip analog comparator that makes it practical for threshold-detection instruments - battery supervisors, zero-cross detectors, and simple sensor trip-points - without an external comparator IC. Combined with an external ADC over SPI, the MCU can build a compact data logger: comparator events trigger timestamped captures stored to the 512-byte EEPROM or streamed over USART. Its 16 MIPS at 16 MHz provides fast response between threshold event and interrupt service, and the industrial temperature rating keeps comparator offset drift predictable across -40C to +85C. The 5 V rail simplifies interfacing with rail-to-rail analog front ends. Design tip: route the comparator inputs (AIN0/AIN1) away from the XTAL lines and add 100 nF decoupling at AVCC to keep switching noise out of the analog domain.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA8515-16PI — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA8515-16PU | ATMEGA8515L-8PU | ATMEGA162-16PU | ATMEGA8515-16AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-PDIP (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) - same | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) - same | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) - same | TQFP-44 - different (not DIP) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel AVR) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB ISP Flash | 8 KB ISP Flash | 8 KB ISP Flash | 16 KB ISP Flash | 8 KB ISP Flash |
| Max Clock / Throughput | 16 MHz / 16 MIPS | 16 MHz / 16 MIPS | 8 MHz / 8 MIPS | 16 MHz / 16 MIPS | 16 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| Operating Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| SRAM | 544 bytes + up to 64 KB external | 544 bytes + 64 KB external | 544 bytes + 64 KB external | 1 KB + 64 KB external | 544 bytes + 64 KB external |
| USART Count | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Drop-in on DIP-40 Footprint | Reference | Yes - pin-to-pin | Yes - pin-to-pin (speed derate) | Near - verify per AVR087 | No - SMD package |
Key Differentiators
- External memory interface up to 64 KB (vs ATMEGA8-16PI)
- Industrial temperature rating in DIP-40 (vs ATMEGA8515-16PU)
- Through-hole serviceability versus SMD variant (vs ATMEGA8515-16AUR)
Design Notes
Supply the ATMEGA8515-16PI from a regulated 5 V source within its 4.5 V to 5.5 V window; note that the 16 MHz speed grade is only guaranteed across this voltage band, and brown-out behavior should be enabled via fuse bits to prevent Flash corruption during supply sag. Estimated: at 16 MHz with typical active current on the order of tens of milliamps per AVR family norms, power dissipation stays well under 0.5 W, so no heatsinking is required - but verify exact ICC figures against the electrical characteristics table in the Microchip datasheet for your specific clock configuration.
Place 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors directly across VCC-GND and AVCC-GND pin pairs, with the shortest possible traces to the DIP socket. Keep the XTAL1/XTAL2 crystal traces under about 2 cm and guard them with ground. When the external memory bus is enabled, port A carries a multiplexed address/data bus: route these traces together with controlled length matching to a 74x573 latch for the low address byte, and add series termination if bus wires exceed a few centimeters.
Three frequent mistakes with this part: (1) enabling the external memory interface inadvertently occupies port A and C, breaking I/O code written for those pins; (2) leaving RESET floating causes sporadic ISP entry and Flash corruption - always fit a 10 k pull-up; (3) assuming L-variant parts (e.g., ATMEGA8515L-8PU) run at 16 MHz - they are limited to 8 MHz, so substituting them into a 16 MHz board halves execution speed. Confirm fuse settings (clock source, brown-out, JTAG-free 8515 map) after every chip swap.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the provided verified web data; confirm on the Microchip ATmega8515 product page compliance documents before production export.
