ATSAM3X-EK - SAM3X/SAM3A Cortex-M3 Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM3X-EK β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $92.5 | $92.50 |
| 10 | $88 | $880.00 |
| 100 | $84 | $8,400.00 |
| 500 | $79.8 | $39,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $75.9 | $75,900.00 |
ATSAM3X-EK Overview
An MCU evaluation board is a hardware development platform within the broader hierarchy of development tools: evaluation board -> development kit -> embedded development ecosystem. It packages an MCU (here the SAM3X/SAM3A Cortex-M3 family), power regulation, debug connectivity, and peripheral access onto one PCB so engineers can validate firmware and peripheral behavior before committing to custom hardware.
Key features include support for the SAM3X/SAM3A device family with an integrated high-speed USB transceiver for fast data up/downloading, robust EMI tolerance, and plug-and-play high-speed serial interconnectivity as described in Atmel/Microchip SAM3X documentation. The kit targets 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 based designs where USB connectivity and deterministic interrupt handling are important.
The SAM3X series is notable as the MCU family used on the Arduino Due, giving the ATSAM3X-EK a large body of community documentation, libraries, and reference projects. Software support includes Atmel Studio 7 (now Microchip Studio) and the ASF3 software framework, which provides a large collection of embedded software drivers for SAM flash MCUs.
Typical applications include embedded systems prototyping, motor control and industrial control evaluation (the SAM3A variant targets automotive and motor-control use), USB device/host peripheral development, and education in 32-bit ARM programming.
A key design consideration is lifecycle: Octopart lists the ATSAM3X-EK status as Obsolete, so new designs should evaluate current-generation alternatives while existing users can still source boards through surplus and secondary distributors.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, lifecycle data, drop-in board alternatives, and practical sourcing notes not found in the manufacturer product page.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3X-EK 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 ATSAM3X-EK (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Product Type.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM3X-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4S-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAML22-XPRO-B
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD21-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3X8E
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3X-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | MCU 32-Bit Embedded Evaluation Board |
| Target Family | ATSAM3A, ATSAM3X Series |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Core Architecture | 32-Bit |
| Contents | Board |
| Series | SAM3X |
| Packaging | Box |
| USB | High-speed USB with integrated transceiver |
| Family Category | General Embedded Dev Boards and Kits (MCU, DSP, FPGA, CPLD) |
| Evaluation Kit For | SAM3X & SAM3A |
| Software Support | Atmel/Microchip Studio, ASF3 |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete (per Octopart) |
ATSAM3X-EK Interfaces & Connectors
ATSAM3X-EK exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: USB. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| USB | High-speed USB with integrated transceiver |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3X-EK is suitable for 6 applications: Embedded Systems Prototyping, Motor Control and Industrial Control Evaluation, USB Device and Host Development, 32-Bit ARM Education and Training, Legacy Firmware Validation and Maintenance, IoT and Connected Device Feasibility Studies.
Embedded Systems Prototyping
The ATSAM3X-EK gives firmware teams a working SAM3X/SAM3A platform on day one: the ARM Cortex-M3 core runs at the family's 84-96 MHz class performance with the kit's high-speed USB transceiver enabling rapid code up/downloading, exactly the workflow Atmel's kit documentation describes for fast iteration. Engineers use the board to validate peripheral drivers written against ASF3 in Atmel Studio 7 before porting to custom hardware, reducing board respins. Because SAM3X is the Arduino Due silicon, the large community library base shortens bring-up time for UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, and PWM routines. The main consideration is supply: Octopart lists the kit as Obsolete, so teams should secure at least one spare unit for continuing legacy prototyping work.
Recommended
Motor Control and Industrial Control Evaluation
The SAM3A variant evaluated by the ATSAM3X-EK targets industrial applications, and the kit lets engineers exercise PWM generation, ADC sampling, and CAN-class communications on real silicon before designing an inverter or industrial controller. DigiKey's listing explicitly names ATSAM3A alongside ATSAM3X as the kit's supported families, making this board the reference platform for SAM3A motor-control code. Development typically proceeds with ASF3 drivers under Atmel Studio 7, measuring PWM dead-time behavior and ADC conversion timing with the same codebase that ships to production hardware. Teams should confirm required PWM channel counts and dead-time generators against the SAM3A datasheet, since kit-level peripherals differ from a final motor-drive board's gate-driver and current-sense stages.
Recommended
USB Device and Host Development
A defining feature of the SAM3X/SAM3A family, highlighted in the kit's own datasheet summary, is high-speed USB with an integrated transceiver for fast up/downloading of data plus robust EMI tolerance. The ATSAM3X-EK therefore serves as the reference platform for developing USB device, host, and dual-role firmware - mass-storage, CDC, and HID classes are standard ASF3 examples. Because the transceiver is integrated on-chip, engineers avoid external PHY layout risk while validating enumeration timing and EMI behavior. A practical benefit is throughput: high-speed USB at 480 Mbps allows firmware images and log data to move far faster than full-speed parts, shortening debug cycles. Teams must still replicate the kit's USB termination network on custom PCBs to preserve signal integrity.
Recommended
32-Bit ARM Education and Training
Universities and training programs use the ATSAM3X-EK to teach 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 programming because it exposes real peripherals - USART, SPI, I2C, ADC, PWM, and high-speed USB - on an accessible board with official Atmel getting-started material. The kit documentation's structured progression, from out-of-the-box experience through hello-world builds to BeRTOS examples and custom message definitions, maps directly onto a semester lab sequence. Students gain register-level understanding using Atmel Studio 7 and ASF3, then transition naturally to the Arduino Due ecosystem since SAM3X is that platform's silicon. The caveat for education buyers is lifecycle status: with Octopart listing the kit as Obsolete, institutions should plan curricula around newer active Microchip XPRO boards for future cohorts while using existing EK stock for legacy labs.
Recommended
Legacy Firmware Validation and Maintenance
Teams maintaining shipped products built on SAM3X or SAM3A silicon need a validated bench reference to reproduce field failures and regression-test firmware updates, and the ATSAM3X-EK remains the manufacturer's official kit for that purpose. DigiKey's continued listing ('Buy now, ships today') plus secondary-stock channels such as Jotrin and Hotenda let support teams source kits even after Microchip moved the part to obsolete status. Typical workflows include flashing production firmware over high-speed USB, attaching debuggers to the board's programming header, and comparing peripheral behavior against golden traces. Because the board is no longer in production, support organizations should treat each acquired unit as a strategic asset and document equivalent test setups on newer active boards in parallel.
Recommended
IoT and Connected Device Feasibility Studies
The ATSAM3X-EK supports early feasibility work for connected devices that need substantial Cortex-M3 headroom plus high-speed USB for configuration or data export. Engineers can prototype sensor acquisition, local processing, and USB/Ethernet-adjacent communication paths on the kit before selecting a final production MCU, using ASF3 middleware to cut integration time. The SAM3X's 84-96 MHz class performance and generous flash/RAM configurations allow running protocol stacks that smaller Cortex-M0 parts struggle with, making it useful for gateway-style feasibility studies. However, since Octopart marks the kit Obsolete and modern IoT designs usually favor lower-power parts with integrated wireless, feasibility teams should concurrently benchmark newer active boards such as the ATSAML22-XPRO-B to keep the eventual BOM on current supply.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3X-EK β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3X-XPRO | ATSAML22-XPRO-B | ATSAMD21-XPRO | ATSAM3X8E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Board (Box) | Board (Box) | Board (Box) | Board (Box) | Board (Arduino Due class hardware) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Target MCU Family | SAM3X / SAM3A (Cortex-M3) | SAM3X (Cortex-M3) | SAM L22 (Cortex-M0+) | SAM D21 (Cortex-M0+) | SAM3X (Cortex-M3) |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-Bit | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-Bit | ARM Cortex-M0+, 32-Bit | ARM Cortex-M0+, 32-Bit | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-Bit |
| High-Speed USB | Yes (integrated transceiver) | Yes | Full-speed USB | Full-speed USB | Yes (integrated transceiver) |
| Primary Use Case | SAM3X/SAM3A evaluation, legacy support | SAM3X evaluation on XPRO ecosystem | Low-power new designs | Low-cost 32-bit prototyping | Continued SAM3X silicon development |
Key Differentiators
- Only official Microchip kit for both SAM3X and SAM3A families (vs ATSAML22-XPRO-B)
- High-speed USB with integrated transceiver (vs ATSAMD21-XPRO)
- Legacy SAM3X silicon fidelity (vs ATSAM3X-XPRO)
Design Notes
The ATSAM3X-EK is an evaluation board, not a component - do not place it in a production BOM. Its Octopart status is Obsolete, so availability depends on remaining distributor and excess stock. For new designs, migrate to an active Microchip evaluation platform (XPRO series) or design custom hardware around the ATSAM3X8E MCU, which remains the silicon of record for SAM3X-class products such as the Arduino Due.
Code written for the ATSAM3X-EK is register-compatible with the ATSAM3X8E on Arduino Due-class hardware at the MCU level, but board-level mappings (clock crystal, LED pins, button pins, external memory) differ between the EK and Due boards. Treat board-support files and pin mux configurations as board-specific; only the ASF3 peripheral driver layer ports cleanly between them.
Evaluation kits are typically powered from USB or an external DC supply selected by a jumper; verify the ATSAM3X-EK user guide's power-source jumper setting before first power-up to avoid dual-source contention. When measuring current consumption for a power budget, remember that kit-level regulators, LEDs, and debug circuitry add consumption that will not exist on your custom SAM3X PCB - use the MCU datasheet figures, not whole-board measurements, for production estimates.
Compliance Information
Compliance data for this evaluation kit was not present in the provided web data.