ATSAM3S-EK - SAM3S4C ARM Cortex-M3 Evaluation Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM3S-EK ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATSAM3S-EK Overview
An evaluation kit (EVK) is a hardware development platform that exposes all key peripherals of a target microcontroller so engineers can prototype firmware, validate analog and digital interfaces, and benchmark performance before committing to a custom PCB. Evaluation kits sit within the embedded development tools hierarchy: MCU -> microcontroller family (SAM3S) -> development board -> evaluation kit.
Key features of the ATSAM3S-EK center on the SAM3S4C device: the ARM Cortex-M3 core delivers deterministic 32-bit performance with a nested vectored interrupt controller, while the 256 KB embedded Flash and 48 KB SRAM are sized for mid-range embedded applications. The SAM3S family features up to 256 KB Flash and up to 48 KB SRAM, operating from a 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply at a maximum speed of 64 MHz, with DMA offloading data transfers from the CPU.
Technically, the kit provides access to the SAM3S4C peripheral set, including USB device, USART/UART serial links, and analog peripherals, enabling full-chain evaluation of the device against Atmel (now Microchip) software frameworks and example projects. The board form factor supports pluggable connector access for rapid signal probing and peripheral attachment.
Typical applications include evaluating the SAM3S family for industrial control, consumer appliances, metering, and USB-connected embedded products where cost-sensitive 32-bit performance is required.
Design consideration: because the ATSAM3S-EK is listed as obsolete by distributor data, new designs should target the SAM3S device family directly on custom hardware and evaluate with successor kits.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, cross-reference data, and lifecycle status not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3S-EK — 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 ATSAM3S-EK (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Product Type, RoHS Status, Debug Interface, Core, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM3S-EK2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$210 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4L-XPRO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$71.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAML21-XPRO-B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMA5D35-EK
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$629 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3S8BA-MUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3S-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Tool Type | Evaluation Kit |
| Processor To Be Evaluated | SAM3S4C |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Core Architecture | 32-bit |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz |
| Embedded Flash | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 48 KB |
| NAND Flash Support | Yes |
| Clock Sources On Board | 32.768 kHz / 12 MHz |
| Product Category | Development Boards Kits - ARM |
| Brand (Original Manufacturer) | Atmel (now Microchip Technology) |
| Supply Voltage Range (SAM3S family) | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per distributor listing) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete (per distributor data) |
ATSAM3S-EK Interfaces & Connectors
ATSAM3S-EK exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for ATSAM3S-EK as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3S-EK is suitable for 6 applications: SAM3S Firmware Prototyping, USB Device Peripheral Evaluation, Industrial Control and Metering Prototypes, Analog and Data Acquisition Testing, Embedded Training and Education Labs, Legacy Hardware Maintenance and Fixture Support.
SAM3S Firmware Prototyping
The ATSAM3S-EK exists primarily to let firmware engineers exercise the SAM3S4C ARM Cortex-M3 core, its 256 KB Flash and 48 KB SRAM, and its peripheral set before any custom hardware exists. The SAM3S series operates at up to 64 MHz from a 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply, so code validated on the kit transfers directly to a production PCB using the same device. The onboard 32.768 kHz and 12 MHz clock sources allow realistic timing validation, and DMA-based examples demonstrate offloading data transfers from the CPU. Developers debug over the board's debug interface using Atmel (now Microchip) toolchains, iterating firmware against real silicon rather than simulation. The main consideration is that the kit is obsolete - teams should capture any needed validation early and migrate bench setups to the ATSAM3S-EK2 revision.
Recommended
USB Device Peripheral Evaluation
The SAM3S family integrates a USB device peripheral, and the ATSAM3S-EK exposes it for evaluation, letting engineers benchmark USB connectivity for products such as handheld instruments, PC peripherals, and data loggers. With the Cortex-M3 core at 64 MHz and 48 KB SRAM, the device comfortably sustains USB full-speed endpoints while DMA moves packet payloads to memory without CPU intervention - a key architecture benefit of the SAM3S series documented by Atmel. Firmware developers can validate enumeration, class drivers, and suspend/resume behavior on real hardware. Performance consideration: USB peripheral current and the 3.3 V rail domain should be measured on the board before replicating the power tree in a custom design, since evaluation boards often have different regulator margins than a production power budget.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Metering Prototypes
Industrial control nodes and energy/water meters require a 32-bit MCU with deterministic interrupt behavior, adequate Flash for protocol stacks, and robust serial links - exactly the profile of the SAM3S4C on this kit. The ARM Cortex-M3 nested vectored interrupt controller provides low-latency, deterministic response for control loops, while 256 KB embedded Flash accommodates metrology firmware and communication stacks, and the 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range suits industrially regulated 3.3 V rails. The ATSAM3S-EK lets engineers validate ADC sampling, USART communication, and DMA throughput on real silicon before layout. Because the kit is obsolete, teams building metering prototypes should plan the migration path to in-house SAM3S hardware early and reserve kit stock accordingly, sourcing remaining units via RFQ channels.
Recommended
Analog and Data Acquisition Testing
The SAM3S4C integrates analog peripherals, and the ATSAM3S-EK provides direct board-level access to evaluate acquisition chains - sensor front ends, filtering, and conversion timing - against the 64 MHz Cortex-M3 core. Engineers can verify sampling schedules, DMA buffering into the 48 KB SRAM, and the effect of the onboard 32.768 kHz/12 MHz clocks on timing accuracy. This matters for products such as portable instrumentation and sensor nodes where acquisition determinism drives measurement quality. A practical consideration: evaluation-board trace routing and decoupling differ from a production PCB, so analog noise floor results from the kit should be treated as an upper bound; replicate critical analog sections on a small custom test board before finalizing specs. Atmel's SAM3S documentation details the peripheral set used in these tests.
Recommended
Embedded Training and Education Labs
University labs and corporate training programs use ARM Cortex-M3 evaluation boards like the ATSAM3S-EK to teach 32-bit embedded fundamentals: interrupt handling, DMA, peripheral configuration, and C firmware structure on a real MCU with 256 KB Flash - large enough for RTOS-based coursework. The SAM3S4C's straightforward clocking from onboard 32.768 kHz and 12 MHz sources keeps setup simple for students, and Atmel's established software examples lower the entry barrier. Because the original kit is obsolete per distributor data, educators should either source remaining stock via RFQ or standardize on the ATSAM3S-EK2 revision, which preserves the same teaching flow. Budget consideration: used and surplus units trade below new-kit pricing, but warranty and consistency across a lab fleet should be verified before volume purchase.
Recommended
Legacy Hardware Maintenance and Fixture Support
Production test fixtures and engineering benches built around the ATSAM3S-EK continue to need the physical board even though it is obsolete. Maintenance teams source replacement units through surplus channels - Octopart-listed sources reported thousands of units available as of 2026-09-19 - to keep legacy SAM3S validation lines running. Since the board evaluates the SAM3S4C (Cortex-M3, 64 MHz, 256 KB Flash), any replacement unit must be the genuine Atmel/Microchip part to preserve fixture calibration assumptions. Risk mitigation: qualify the ATSAM3S-EK2 revision as the fixture's forward-compatible substitute, and archive the SAM3S family datasheet (published 2011-03-30 per FindIC) and toolchain installs now, because vendor hosting of legacy tool assets is not guaranteed indefinitely.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3S-EK — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3S-EK2 | ATSAM4L-XPRO | ATSAML21-XPRO-B | ATSAMA5D35-EK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology (originally Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package / Form Factor | Evaluation board (development tool) | Evaluation board (same platform revision) | Evaluation board (XPRO form factor) | Evaluation board (XPRO form factor) | Evaluation board (MPU platform) |
| Target Device | SAM3S4C (Cortex-M3) | SAM3S family (Cortex-M3) | SAM4L family (Cortex-M4) | SAML21 family (Cortex-M0+) | SAMA5D35 (Cortex-A5 MPU) |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-A5 |
Key Differentiators
- Only revision-neutral match for legacy SAM3S benches (vs ATSAM3S-EK2)
- Direct SAM3S4C silicon evaluation (vs ATSAM4L-XPRO)
- Established low-cost 32-bit training platform (vs ATSAMA5D35-EK)
Design Notes
The ATSAM3S-EK is listed as obsolete in distributor data, so do not design it into any new test procedure or BOM without a sourcing plan. Verify any offered unit is a genuine Atmel/Microchip board (counterfeit development tools exist in surplus channels). Before the kit becomes unavailable, archive the SAM3S family datasheet (published 2011-03-30 per FindIC) and freeze the toolchain installation used by your validation scripts.
Evaluation boards route MCU I/O through headers and long traces, so measured signal edges and analog noise floors are pessimistic versus a tight custom PCB layout. Treat high-speed interface and analog measurements taken on the ATSAM3S-EK as upper-bound estimates: when porting to production hardware, re-verify USB eye diagrams, USART timing margins, and ADC noise with the SAM3S4C placed close to its decoupling network as in the Atmel SAM3S layout guidance.
The SAM3S target family operates from 1.62 V to 3.6 V with the CPU clocked up to 64 MHz; when extrapolating current-consumption results from the evaluation board to your product, subtract board-level overhead (regulators, LEDs, expansion logic) that the kit carries but a minimal design will not. Characterize SAM3S4C core current separately using firmware that gates unused peripherals, since measured board current overstates the MCU budget and can mislead battery-life estimates by a substantial factor.
Compliance Information
Distributor listings indicate RoHS compliance for the ATSAM3S-EK evaluation board. Other compliance attributes not stated in provided data.