ATSAM4CP16B-EK - Dual-Core Cortex-M4 SAM4CP Evaluation Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4CP16B-EK β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATSAM4CP16B-EK Overview
An MCU evaluation kit is a hardware development platform that exposes all key peripherals of a target microcontroller so firmware engineers can prototype, debug, and validate designs before committing to custom PCB layouts. Within the embedded development hierarchy, evaluation boards sit above bare MCU ICs and below full application-specific reference designs, serving as the first physical touchpoint in the microcontroller development lifecycle.
Key features of the underlying ATSAM4CP16B include a high-performance 32-bit dual-core ARM Cortex-M4 RISC processor providing a maximum speed of 120 MHz each, on-chip cache for improved real-time execution, an advanced cryptographic engine for secure communications, and an embedded modem for PRIME PLC (Power Line Communication). The combination of dual-core processing and hardware crypto makes this kit particularly suited to smart-metering and secure industrial connectivity work.
Architecturally, the SAM4CP family pairs two symmetric Cortex-M4 cores with shared memory resources, allowing one core to run the PRIME PLC modem protocol stack while the other handles application logic and metering computations. The hardware cryptographic engine offloads AES-class security operations from software, reducing CPU load and improving deterministic response times in security-sensitive nodes.
Typical applications include PRIME power line communication development, smart energy meter prototyping, secure industrial gateways, and general dual-core embedded system evaluation for the SAM4 series. The evaluation kit format accelerates time-to-market by providing ready-made access to MCU peripherals without custom hardware.
When designing with this kit, plan to migrate to the ATSAM4CP16B chip-level design once evaluation is complete; the board is a development platform, not a production component, and final layouts must follow the Microchip datasheet PCB guidance.
This page synthesizes distributor availability data, cross-reference comparisons with related Microchip evaluation kits, and practical selection notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet. Pricing is not published by distributors and is quote-based as of 2026-09-20.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4CP16B-EK β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMV71-XULT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAME70-XPLD
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAME54-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4CP16B-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Utilized IC / Part | ATSAM4CP16B |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 (dual-core) |
| Core Architecture | 32-bit RISC |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 120 MHz per core (dual-core) |
| Embedded Flash | 1 MB |
| SRAM | 128 KB |
| Cache | On-chip cache |
| Security | Advanced cryptographic engine |
| Communication Modem | Embedded PRIME PLC modem |
| Board Type | MCU 32-Bit Embedded Evaluation Board |
| Series | SAM4CP |
| Mounting Type | Fixed |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Product Status | Active |
ATSAM4CP16B-EK Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATSAM4CP16B-EK. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for connector and header details.
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4CP16B-EK is suitable for 6 applications: PRIME Power Line Communication Development, Smart Energy Meter Prototyping, Secure Industrial Gateway Evaluation, Dual-Core Embedded Firmware Development, AMI Network Node Validation, Academic and Embedded Systems Teaching.
PRIME Power Line Communication Development
The ATSAM4CP16B-EK is the reference evaluation platform for PRIME PLC development because the ATSAM4CP16B embeds a dedicated PRIME PLC modem alongside its dual-core 120 MHz Cortex-M4 processor. Firmware teams run the PRIME protocol stack on one core while reserving the second core for application logic, and the on-chip cache sustains real-time communication deadlines. The 1 MB Flash accommodates both the stack and application images, and the 128 KB SRAM buffers PLC frames. Using this kit, engineers validate modem coupling, channel performance, and protocol conformance before designing custom PLC front-end hardware, reducing risk in AMI meter deployments.
Recommended
Smart Energy Meter Prototyping
Smart metering platforms demand secure, standards-based communication with metering computation running concurrently - exactly the split the SAM4CP dual-core architecture provides. The advanced cryptographic engine offloads authenticated encryption required by PRIME security profiles, protecting billing and load-profile data on the power line channel. With the ATSAM4CP16B-EK, meter developers prototype tariff processing, DLMS/COSEM-class application layers, and PLC connectivity on one board, exploiting 1 MB Flash for combined protocol and application code. The kit shortens the path from proof-of-concept to production silicon, since the same MCU evaluated on the board is designed into the final meter PCB.
Recommended
Secure Industrial Gateway Evaluation
Industrial gateways increasingly require hardware-rooted security for device authentication and encrypted telemetry. The ATSAM4CP16B-EK allows gateway architects to evaluate the SAM4CP advanced cryptographic engine in realistic workloads, measuring how hardware acceleration preserves deterministic response while both 120 MHz Cortex-M4 cores handle protocol translation. The dual-core design cleanly isolates security-critical code from general connectivity tasks, simplifying security audits. Although production gateways often add Ethernet via external controllers, the kit demonstrates the SAM4CP's secure compute capabilities and helps teams decide between the dual-core PLC-focused SAM4CP and connectivity-focused families such as SAME70 for their specific gateway requirements.
Recommended
Dual-Core Embedded Firmware Development
Teams migrating from single-core MCUs to dual-core architectures use the ATSAM4CP16B-EK to learn inter-processor communication, shared-memory arbitration, and cache-coherent programming on the 120 MHz dual Cortex-M4 substrate. The 128 KB SRAM with on-chip cache provides a realistic memory model for workload partitioning experiments. Because the two cores are symmetric, developers can benchmark task allocation strategies - communication stack on one core, control loop on the other - and quantify gains versus a single-core part. The evaluation kit's fixed MCU mounting removes hardware bring-up friction, letting firmware teams focus exclusively on architecture and concurrency decisions before committing to a custom dual-core PCB.
Recommended
AMI Network Node Validation
Advanced Metering Infrastructure deployments combine millions of nodes communicating over PRIME PLC with strict interoperability requirements. The ATSAM4CP16B-EK serves as the node-side validation platform: engineers verify PRIME compliance, measure noise immunity on representative power line channels, and tune the modem parameters exposed by the embedded PRIME PLC modem. The dual-core 120 MHz architecture runs the full node stack while margin remains for data logging, and the cryptographic engine enforces the security profiles mandated by metering standards bodies. Validating on this Microchip evaluation kit before field trials substantially de-risks large-scale AMI rollouts built on the SAM4CP family.
Recommended
Academic and Embedded Systems Teaching
The ATSAM4CP16B-EK is well suited to embedded systems coursework covering ARM Cortex-M4 architecture, real-time operating systems, and secure communication. Students program a genuine dual-core 120 MHz Cortex-M4 system with 1 MB Flash and 128 KB SRAM - enough resources to run RTOS demonstrations, cryptography labs using the hardware engine, and communication exercises built around the embedded PRIME PLC modem. The fixed-mount evaluation board format survives repeated handling in teaching laboratories, and bulk packaging supports institutional procurement. Course designers value that one board spans concurrency, security, and power line communication topics that typically require multiple specialized platforms.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4CP16B-EK β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMV71-XULT | ATSAME70-XPLD | ATSAME54-XPRO | ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | Embedded Evaluation Board, Bulk | Evaluation Board, Box | Evaluation Board | Evaluation Board | Evaluation Board |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Processor | Dual-core ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz each | Single-core ARM Cortex-M7 | Single-core ARM Cortex-M7 | Single-core ARM Cortex-M4 | Single-core ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| PRIME PLC Modem | Embedded in ATSAM4CP16B | No | No | No | No |
| Series | SAM4CP | SAM V71 | SAM E70 | SAM E54 | SAM HA1 |
| Product Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Only evaluated kit with embedded PRIME PLC modem (vs ATSAMV71-XULT)
- Dual-core symmetric Cortex-M4 processing (vs ATSAME70-XPLD)
- Hardware cryptographic engine integrated with PLC stack (vs ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO)
Design Notes
Remember that the ATSAM4CP16B-EK is a development platform, not a production component. Designs validated on this kit must be migrated to the ATSAM4CP16B chip-level part with a custom PCB. Board-specific debug circuitry, level shifters, and connectors on the evaluation kit will not exist in your production design, so re-verify peripheral timing and power consumption on your own layout before release.
The dual-core architecture means current consumption depends on how workload is partitioned between the two Cortex-M4 cores. When profiling power on the evaluation kit, measure both cores active, one core active with the second in sleep, and PRIME PLC modem transmit phases separately - PLC transmit bursts can dominate the energy budget in metering applications. Use the measurement methodology from Microchip's SAM4 family power estimation guidance rather than extrapolating single-core figures.
For PRIME PLC experiments, ensure the evaluation setup reproduces realistic power line channel impedance. The embedded PLC modem performance depends heavily on coupling network design; bench testing with short, clean lab wiring will overstate field performance. Microchip application material for SAM4CP PLC designs provides reference coupling circuits - replicate those conditions on the kit before drawing conclusions about protocol robustness or data rate.
Compliance Information
Compliance data was not stated in the provided web sources for this evaluation kit; consult the Microchip product page for environmental declarations.