ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU - Dual-Core 120MHz MCU 512KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.98 | $11.98 |
| 10 | $10.9 | $109.00 |
| 100 | $9.85 | $985.00 |
| 500 | $9.1 | $4,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.45 | $8,450.00 |
ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) integrates a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripheral functions onto a single silicon die, serving as the computational heart of an embedded system. Within the power-management hierarchy, the ATSAM4CM family sits in Microchip's high-performance 32-bit MCU portfolio, above the ARM Cortex-M3 based SAM3 and SAM4S families, and is one of the few mainstream MCUs to offer a true dual-core Cortex-M4 configuration for partitioned safety or functional-separation designs.
Key features include a dual-core architecture (one Cortex-M4 with floating-point unit and one Cortex-M4F companion core) for concurrent workloads, 512KB (512K x 8) of Flash program memory, and a rich peripheral set typical of the SAM4CM series. The device operates from a 1.2V core / 3.3V I-O supply domain per FindIC specification data, and is graded for industrial temperature environments.
Technically, the dual Cortex-M4 arrangement allows developers to run a real-time control task on one core while the second core handles communications, user interface, or safety-monitoring firmware, reducing the need for external co-processors. The ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU executes DSP instructions natively, supporting motor control, digital filtering, and sensor-fusion workloads at 120 MHz.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, motor drives, battery-management and power-conversion systems, and communication gateways where deterministic dual-core partitioning is valuable.
When designing with this device, verify the core and I/O supply sequencing and allocate Flash headroom for dual-core firmware images, since the 512KB array is shared across both cores.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, adding selection value for engineers comparing SAM4CM options.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU 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 ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in RoHS Status, Package, Series, Core Processor, Flash Memory.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4CMP8CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4CMP16CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4CMS16CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4CMP8CB-AUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S16CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4CMS8CA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4/M4F dual-core |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 512KB (512K x 8) Flash |
| RAM Size | 128KB SRAM |
| Series | SAM4CM |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2V core / 3.3V I/O |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial grade) |
| Packaging | Tray |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (LQFP GREEN IND per Mouser) |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Package Code | LFQFP, Square |
ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU lfqfp, square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU (lfqfp, square 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 ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Industrial Automation Controllers, Battery Management Systems, Communication Gateways, Power Conversion and Inverters, Sensor Fusion and Condition Monitoring.
Industrial Motor Control
The ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU fits motor-drive applications because its 120 MHz dual-core ARM Cortex-M4/M4F executes field-oriented control with hardware floating-point and DSP instructions on one core while a second core independently handles fieldbus communications or safety supervision. The 512KB Flash and 128KB SRAM hold both the control algorithm and a communication stack concurrently, and the 3.3V I/O domain interfaces directly with gate-driver and encoder circuitry. Partitioning control and communications across two cores removes scheduler-induced jitter, improving current-loop bandwidth determinism compared with a single-core MCU running both tasks.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Controllers
In PLC I/O modules and automation controllers, the ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU provides dual-core concurrency: one Cortex-M4 runs the deterministic scan/processing loop while the second core services industrial protocols and diagnostics. Its 512KB Flash accommodates firmware plus protocol stacks, and 128KB SRAM buffers process data. The industrial temperature grade and 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) gull-wing package suit dense control boards with standard SMT assembly. Designers benefit from hardware isolation between the real-time layer and the communication layer, reducing certification complexity for systems that require partitioned execution domains.
Recommended
Battery Management Systems
Battery-management electronics benefit from the ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU's dual-core split: one core runs periodic cell-voltage/current sampling and state-of-charge estimation with FPU-assisted math at 120 MHz, while the second core manages CAN communications and failsafe cutoff logic independently. The 512KB Flash retains calibration tables and logging code, and 128KB SRAM supports rolling data logs. Because BMS firmware typically requires segregation between measurement-critical and communication tasks, the hardware dual-core architecture of the SAM4CM series maps naturally onto this safety-oriented software structure.
Recommended
Communication Gateways
Gateway products bridging CAN, RS-485, and Ethernet traffic use the ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU's second Cortex-M4F core to run the protocol stack while the first core handles packet filtering and determinism-sensitive forwarding. The 512KB Flash supports multi-protocol images with room for field upgrades, and 128KB SRAM provides frame buffering. The 100-pin LQFP offers sufficient I/O for multiple transceiver interfaces, and the 3.3V domain connects directly to standard PHY and transceiver devices, minimizing external level-shifting logic in industrial network equipment.
Recommended
Power Conversion and Inverters
Solar inverters and UPS systems require tight control-loop timing plus supervisory intelligence, matching the ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU's strengths. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU executes PWM update and digital control loops with DSP instructions, while the second core implements MPPT algorithms, logging, and user interfaces without perturbing loop timing. The 512KB Flash and 128KB SRAM comfortably host both firmware layers, and industrial temperature qualification suits outdoor power-electronics enclosures. The 100-LQFP gull-wing package simplifies assembly on power-control PCBs alongside standard SMT processes.
Recommended
Sensor Fusion and Condition Monitoring
Predictive-maintenance and condition-monitoring nodes use the ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU to fuse accelerometer, temperature, and current sensor data. The FPU-equipped core runs digital filtering and FFT analysis on vibration streams using Cortex-M4 DSP instructions at 120 MHz, while the second core transmits processed results over industrial networks. With 512KB Flash for feature-extraction code and 128KB SRAM for time-series buffers, the device performs edge analytics locally. The dual-core split guarantees that heavy signal processing never delays network responsiveness, which is critical in distributed monitoring deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4CMP8CA-AU | ATSAM4CMP16CA-AU | ATSAM4CMS16CA-AU | ATSAM4CMP8CB-AUR | ATSAM4S16CA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Architecture | Dual-core ARM Cortex-M4/M4F | SAM4CM companion variant | SAM4CM companion variant | Dual-core ARM Cortex-M4/M4F | SAM4CM companion variant | Single-core ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Max Clock Frequency | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 512KB | 512KB | 1MB | 1MB | 512KB | 1MB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2V core / 3.3V I/O | 1.2V / 3.3V domains | 1.2V / 3.3V domains | 1.2V / 3.3V domains | 1.2V core (per Utmel) | 3.3V single domain |
| Packaging | Tray | Tray | Tray | Tray | Tape & Reel | Tray |
Key Differentiators
- True dual-core Cortex-M4/M4F architecture (vs ATSAM4S16CA-AU)
- Cost-optimized 512KB Flash point in the SAM4CM family (vs ATSAM4CMS16CA-AU)
- Same-footprint migration path across the whole SAM4CM family (vs ATSAM4CMP8CA-AU)
Design Notes
The ATSAM4CMS8CA-AU uses separate 1.2V core and 3.3V I/O supply domains. Provide independent decoupling for each domain: place 100 nF ceramic capacitors at every VDDIO and VDDCORE pin pair plus at least one 4.7 uF bulk capacitor per rail. Verify power-up sequencing per the SAM4CM datasheet, since the internal regulator requires the correct ramp profile. Estimated: a 120 MHz dual-core run consumes on the order of tens of mA per core domain, so size the 1.2V rail regulator accordingly with margin for peak execution modes.
Use a solid ground plane under the 100-LQFP (14x14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) footprint and keep high-speed clock traces (main crystal, PLL outputs) short and referenced to ground. Fan out the 100 pins with via-in-park or dogbone patterns to manage the 0.5 mm pitch breakout on two to four layers. Route analog references away from switching I/O. Decouple every other pin on the gull-wing rows to minimize ground bounce in dual-core concurrent operation.
The 512KB Flash and 128KB SRAM are shared by both Cortex-M4 cores. Define a fixed memory partition map at link time for each core image, and use hardware semaphore or inter-processor-communication peripherals for shared-resource access; ad-hoc shared-variable access causes intermittent corruption that is difficult to debug. Also confirm variant compatibility before substituting P-series and C-series parts: peripheral allocation differs between SAM4CM companion and C variants even within the same 100-LQFP footprint.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as LQFP GREEN IND, indicating green (halogen-reduced per vendor definition) industrial packaging. REACH and conflict-minerals status not stated in provided data.