ATSAM3S-EK2 - SAM3SD8 Cortex-M3 Evaluation Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM3S-EK2 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $210 | $210.00 |
| 10 | $210 | $2,100.00 |
| 100 | $210 | $21,000.00 |
| 500 | $210 | $105,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $210 | $210,000.00 |
ATSAM3S-EK2 Overview
An MCU evaluation kit is a hardware development platform that exposes all key microcontroller peripherals - USB, USART, SPI, TWI, ADC, and PWM - through headers, connectors, and onboard peripherals, allowing engineers to prototype firmware before committing to a custom PCB. Within the development-tools hierarchy, the ATSAM3S-EK2 sits at the evaluation-board level: semiconductor -> 32-bit MCU -> ARM Cortex-M3 core -> SAM3S/SAM3SD8 family -> ATSAM3S-EK2 evaluation kit.
Key features include the SAM3SD8 Cortex-M3 target running at up to 96 MHz-class performance with 512 KB embedded flash and 64 KB SRAM, an onboard NAND flash interface for storage expansion, an embedded debugger for programming and debugging without external tools, and QTouch library support for capacitive buttons, sliders, and wheels. The kit also benefits from the Atmel BitCloud (ZigBee PRO) stack ecosystem for wireless designs.
The board is aimed at ultra-low-power, power-constrained applications; Microchip's SAM3S portfolio is positioned for optimal power consumption with high levels of functionality, making the kit well suited to battery-powered industrial sensing, consumer devices, and metering front-ends.
Typical applications include prototyping USB-connected industrial sensors, developing capacitive-touch human-machine interfaces using the QTouch library, and validating NAND-flash data-logging firmware.
For design consideration, budget for the kit's debug interface and peripheral headers early - the board layout demonstrates recommended decoupling and crystal placement for the 32.768 kHz and 12 MHz sources, which should be mirrored on your production PCB.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, kit-family alternatives, and practical development notes not found in the manufacturer flyer.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3S-EK2 β 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-EK2 (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Embedded Flash, SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM3S-EK
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βATSAM3S-EK1
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3S-EK3
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3S-EK2 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | MCU Evaluation Kit (Development Board) |
| Target MCU Family | SAM3SD8 (ARM Cortex-M3, 32-bit) |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| CPU Bit Width | 32-bit |
| SRAM | 64 KB |
| Embedded Flash | 512 KB |
| ROM | 16 KB |
| External Memory Support | NAND Flash |
| Crystals / Oscillators | 32.768 kHz and 12 MHz |
| Touch Support | QTouch library (buttons, sliders, wheels) |
| Wireless Stack Support | Atmel BitCloud (ZigBee PRO) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
ATSAM3S-EK2 Interfaces & Connectors
ATSAM3S-EK2 exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Wireless. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Wireless | Atmel BitCloud (ZigBee PRO) |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3S-EK2 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Node Prototyping, Capacitive Touch HMI Development, USB-Connected Instrumentation Front Ends, Data Logging with NAND Flash, Metering and Battery-Powered Devices, ZigBee PRO Wireless Firmware Development.
Industrial Sensor Node Prototyping
The ATSAM3S-EK2 fits industrial sensor-node prototyping because the SAM3SD8 target combines an ARM Cortex-M3 core with 512 KB embedded flash and 64 KB SRAM, giving ample room for communication stacks and sensor-fusion firmware, while the SAM3S family is explicitly positioned by Microchip for ultra-low-power, power-constrained applications. The kit's 32.768 kHz crystal supports RTC-based wake scheduling, and its NAND flash support allows local data logging between transmissions. Engineers use the kit's peripheral headers to wire SPI or TWI sensors and validate acquisition timing before moving to a custom PCB, reducing redesign cycles and de-risking the power budget early in the project.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch HMI Development
The kit is well suited to capacitive-touch human-machine-interface development because the SAM3S ecosystem includes the QTouch library for buttons, sliders, and wheels, as documented in the Microchip SAM3S flyer that names the ATSAM3S-EK2 as a kit ordering code. With the Cortex-M3 running acquisition routines and 64 KB SRAM available for touch-tuning buffers, engineers can iterate sensitivity parameters on real hardware and observe behavior across humidity and glove conditions. Validating QTouch tuning on the evaluation kit before production layout avoids costly respins, and the same firmware ports directly to a SAM3SD8-based production board with minimal changes to the touch channel mapping.
Recommended
USB-Connected Instrumentation Front Ends
For USB-connected measurement and instrumentation front ends, the ATSAM3S-EK2 provides a SAM3SD8 target with USB device connectivity and sufficient embedded flash (512 KB) for CDC/HID class firmware plus data-processing code. The 12 MHz main oscillator and 32.768 kHz source support accurate USB timing and low-power standby between host commands. Because the kit exposes ADC and communication peripherals on accessible headers, engineers can prototype analog acquisition chains and stream results to a PC, verifying transfer throughput and command latency on hardware identical to the intended production MCU before PCB commitment.
Recommended
Data Logging with NAND Flash
The ATSAM3S-EK2 supports data-logger development through its NAND flash memory support on the SAM3SD8 platform, letting engineers validate ECC handling, bad-block management, and wear-leveling firmware on real hardware. The Cortex-M3 core with 64 KB SRAM buffers acquisition samples before block writes, while the 512 KB embedded flash holds application and file-system code. Because power-constrained operation is a core SAM3S design goal, wake-from-RTC logging intervals can be tuned using the 32.768 kHz source. Prototyping the storage stack on this kit reveals timing and reliability issues early, before they surface in custom production hardware.
Recommended
Metering and Battery-Powered Devices
Smart metering and battery-powered device development benefit from the SAM3S family's ultra-low-power positioning, which Microchip markets specifically for power-constrained applications seeking high functionality. The ATSAM3S-EK2 allows measurement of real sleep-mode and active-mode currents on the SAM3SD8 target, calibration of RTC wake intervals via the 32.768 kHz crystal, and validation of metering front-end firmware within 512 KB flash. Developers can profile battery life estimates directly on the kit, compare sleep states, and tune peripheral gating. The QTouch library support also enables touch-based user interfaces typical of modern meter and thermostat products without additional ICs.
Recommended
ZigBee PRO Wireless Firmware Development
The kit supports wireless firmware development because the Atmel BitCloud (ZigBee PRO) stack is available for the SAM3S platform per the Microchip flyer, which lists the ATSAM3S-EK2 as a kit ordering code. Engineers can develop and unit-test application-layer ZigBee logic on the SAM3SD8 target, using the Cortex-M3's 512 KB flash for stack plus application code. While the kit lacks an onboard radio, the validated application code ports directly to hardware pairing the SAM3S MCU with an AT86RF-series IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver, shortening the wireless bring-up cycle and isolating RF issues from application bugs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3S-EK2 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3S-EK | ATSAM3S-EK1 | ATSAM3S-EK3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | Evaluation Board (SAM3SD8 kit) | Evaluation Board (SAM3S kit) | Evaluation Board (SAM3S kit variant) | Evaluation Board (SAM3S kit variant) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Target MCU Family | SAM3SD8 (Cortex-M3) | SAM3S (Cortex-M3) | SAM3S (Cortex-M3) | SAM3S (Cortex-M3) |
| QTouch Support | Yes (SAM3S ecosystem) | Yes (SAM3S ecosystem) | Yes (SAM3S ecosystem) | Yes (SAM3S ecosystem) |
Key Differentiators
- SAM3SD8-specific evaluation coverage (vs ATSAM3S-EK)
- NAND flash interface validation on hardware (vs ATSAM3S-EK1)
- Trade-off: newer SAM kit generations may be preferable for new designs (vs ATSAM3S-EK3)
Design Notes
Remember that an evaluation kit is not a drop-in component: the ATSAM3S-EK2 evaluates the SAM3SD8, so before committing to this kit, confirm your production target is the SAM3SD8 or a SAM3S-family part whose peripheral map matches your firmware. Firmware written against the EK2's SAM3SD8 may require target-device changes to run on other SAM3 kits such as the ATSAM3S-EK. Always verify kit contents and target device silkscreen on receipt, since listings date back to the Atmel era (datasheet published 2015-12-22).
Use the ATSAM3S-EK2 layout as a reference for your production PCB: mirror the placement of the 32.768 kHz crystal close to the RTC pins with short traces and guard ground, and follow the kit's 12 MHz oscillator routing practices for the main clock. SAM3S-family supply decoupling on the kit demonstrates the recommended per-pin capacitor arrangement. Reproducing these practices avoids startup failures and clock jitter problems that commonly appear when production boards deviate from evaluation-board crystal layout.
Because the SAM3S family is marketed for ultra-low-power, power-constrained applications, use the EK2 kit to build an empirical power profile early: measure active, sleep, and wait-mode currents of the SAM3SD8 target under your actual firmware, including RTC wakeups driven by the 32.768 kHz source. Do not rely solely on datasheet typical values - peripheral usage, NAND flash access patterns, and QTouch acquisition frequency significantly change the budget. These measured numbers drive realistic battery-life estimates for metering and sensor-node designs.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not stated in provided web results; refer to the official Microchip product page for the kit's environmental compliance declarations.