ATSAM4E-XPRO - SAM4E Xplained Pro Cortex-M4 Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4E-XPRO ✓ Active| 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 |
ATSAM4E-XPRO Overview
An MCU evaluation board is a hardware development platform that exposes a microcontroller's peripherals - GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, CAN, Ethernet MAC and USB - to the engineer through headers, LEDs, push buttons and debug circuitry. In the tooling hierarchy, evaluation boards sit above bare MCUs and below full application-specific reference designs, enabling firmware bring-up, peripheral benchmarking and prototype validation before committing to custom PCB layout.
Key features of the ATSAM4E-XPRO include the ATSAM4E16E Cortex-M4 target MCU, an onboard Embedded Debugger with CDC and Data Gateway Interface (DGI) for virtual COM port and data streaming, Xplained Pro extension headers compatible with the broader Xplained Pro ecosystem (QT7 touch, OLED1 display, IO1 sensor and other extension boards, sold separately), and a 12 MHz crystal plus 32.768 kHz crystal clock source on the kit. The SAM4E family differentiates itself with an integrated Ethernet MAC and CAN controller, making the kit well suited for wired connectivity prototyping.
Technical depth: the EDBG chip provides zero-configuration debugging in Atmel Studio 7 (now Microchip Studio) and is supported by third-party tools such as PlatformIO and OpenOCD-based flows, per the PlatformIO Atmel SAM documentation. Software support includes ASF3, the Atmel Software Framework library for SAM flash MCUs.
Typical applications include industrial Ethernet node development, CAN-bus automation prototyping, motor-control firmware evaluation, and embedded IoT teaching labs.
Design consideration: the evaluation kit does not include Xplained Pro extension boards; budget for IO1/QT7/OLED1 add-ons if your project requires touch or sensing evaluation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing and availability from DigiKey, Mouser, Octopart and Arrow, plus drop-in alternative kits and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer user guide.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4E-XPRO — 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 ATSAM4E-XPRO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Product Type, Target MCU.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4L-XPRO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$71.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4E-EK
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$393.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMHA1E16A-XPRO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4E-XPRO Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | MCU 32-Bit Evaluation Board (Xplained Pro) |
| Target MCU | ATSAM4E16E |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Architecture | 32-Bit |
| Series | SAM4E (AT91SAM4) |
| Onboard Debugger | Embedded Debugger (EDBG) with CDC and DGI |
| Extension Interface | Xplained Pro extension headers |
| Extension Boards Included | No (purchased separately) |
| Crystal Clock Sources | 12 MHz and 32.768 kHz |
| Target Flash Memory | 1 MB (ATSAM4E16E embedded flash) |
| Board Family | Xplained Pro |
| Software Support | Atmel Studio 7 / Microchip Studio, ASF3, Data Visualizer |
| Third-Party Toolchain | PlatformIO (Atmel SAM platform), OpenOCD-based debug |
| Mounting Type | Benchtop / header based |
| Packaging | Box |
| Product Status | Active |
ATSAM4E-XPRO Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATSAM4E-XPRO. 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
ATSAM4E-XPRO is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Ethernet Node Development, CAN Bus and Vehicle Network Prototyping, Motor Control Firmware Evaluation, Embedded Systems Education and Training Labs, IoT Gateway and Wired Sensor Hub Prototyping, USB Device Firmware Development.
Industrial Ethernet Node Development
The ATSAM4E-XPRO fits industrial Ethernet node development because its ATSAM4E16E target is one of the few Microchip flash MCUs in this class integrating a 10/100 Ethernet MAC alongside a Cortex-M4 core with 1 MB flash. Engineers use the kit to validate lwIP or ASF3 network stacks before designing custom PHY-attached hardware. The EDBG Data Gateway Interface streams network statistics into Atmel Data Visualizer, letting developers correlate stack behavior with traffic in real time. Because the MAC requires an external PHY, prototype the magnetics and PHY section on an extension or daughter board; the kit itself covers MCU-side bring-up, interrupt latency measurement and DMA buffer tuning. This reduces risk in factory automation and building-control node designs where deterministic wired connectivity is mandatory.
Recommended
CAN Bus and Vehicle Network Prototyping
The ATSAM4E-XPRO supports CAN controller prototyping because the ATSAM4E16E embeds a CAN peripheral, making the kit a practical bench for CAN 2.0 firmware stacks on a Cortex-M4. Developers bring up message filtering, mailbox configuration and bus-off recovery in ASF3 before committing hardware, using the EDBG virtual COM port to log frames. Typical use cases include industrial CANopen-style nodes, agricultural equipment controllers and building automation segments. Note that the board requires an external CAN transceiver for physical bus attachment, commonly added via prototype extension wiring. The 120 MHz-class M4 core with FPU leaves headroom for gateways bridging CAN to Ethernet or USB, an increasingly common requirement in telematics and machine-monitoring retrofits where both protocols must coexist in a single MCU.
Recommended
Motor Control Firmware Evaluation
The ATSAM4E-XPRO serves motor-control evaluation because the Cortex-M4 core includes hardware floating point and the SAM4E peripherals include PWM, timers and a 12-bit ADC suitable for closed-loop control algorithm development at 1 MB flash capacity. Engineers prototype field-oriented control (FOC) mathematics, current-loop tuning and fault handling on the kit before porting to a custom power stage. The EDBG DGI channel streams ADC sample buffers to Data Visualizer for real-time current waveform inspection, which is far faster than print-based debugging. Since the kit lacks an on-board gate driver, motor prototypes pair it with external inverter hardware. This flow is typical for pump, fan and conveyor applications where Ethernet-linked motor nodes report status over industrial networks, leveraging the SAM4E family's connectivity differentiation.
Recommended
Embedded Systems Education and Training Labs
The ATSAM4E-XPRO is widely used in university embedded-systems courses because it combines a professional-grade 32-bit Cortex-M4 target with a zero-configuration EDBG debugger, removing tool friction for students. The Xplained Pro extension connector system allows incremental labs: base GPIO and UART exercises on the bare kit, then sensor exercises with the IO1 extension and display work with OLED1 boards purchased separately. Atmel Studio 7, Data Visualizer and PlatformIO are all free, keeping lab licensing costs at zero. The Data Gateway Interface teaches students proper trace-based debugging habits rather than printf-style development. Because the SAM4E family also exposes Ethernet and CAN, the same kit supports advanced coursework on networked embedded systems, giving one board a multi-semester service life in academic budgets.
Recommended
IoT Gateway and Wired Sensor Hub Prototyping
The ATSAM4E-XPRO fits IoT sensor-hub prototyping where devices aggregate sensor data and backhaul it over wired Ethernet. The Cortex-M4 with FPU handles local filtering and protocol translation, while 1 MB flash accommodates lwIP, TLS-lite stacks and application logic. The Xplained Pro extension headers accept IO1 sensor boards (light, temperature) for rapid input development, and the DGI streams sensor data into Data Visualizer for pipeline validation. Compared with Linux-based gateway SBCs, this MCU-class approach offers deterministic latency, kilobyte-scale power budgets and lower BOM cost for high-volume deployments. Typical end products include energy-monitoring hubs, access-control controllers and HVAC network nodes where Power-over-Ethernet deployment and the SAM4E's integrated MAC simplify the final production design.
Recommended
USB Device Firmware Development
The ATSAM4E-XPRO supports USB device and host firmware development because the ATSAM4E16E integrates a USB peripheral and the EDBG provides a separate debug USB channel, so target USB traffic never conflicts with the debug link - a common pitfall on single-USB boards. Developers validate CDC, MSC and HID class stacks from ASF3, using the virtual COM port for logging while the target enumerates independently on a host PC. The 1 MB flash and hardware FPU also support mass-storage or audio-class experiments. Typical applications include industrial USB sensors, custom programming pods and handheld instruments that need both USB and Ethernet connectivity. Porting from the kit to production is straightforward using the same SAM4E MCU family available in LQFP packages for custom board designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4E-XPRO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4L-XPRO | ATSAM4E-EK | ATSAMHA1E16A-XPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | Xplained Pro evaluation board | Xplained Pro evaluation board - same family form factor | Legacy EK evaluation kit form factor | Xplained Pro evaluation board - same family form factor |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) | Microchip Technology |
| Target MCU Family | SAM4E (AT91SAM4), ARM Cortex-M4 | SAM4L, ARM Cortex-M4 (low power) | SAM4E, ARM Cortex-M4 (same family) | SAM HA1, 32-bit MCU |
| On-Board Debugger | EDBG (CDC + DGI) | EDBG (CDC + DGI) | Legacy EK debug solution | EDBG (Xplained Pro standard) |
| Extension Board Ecosystem | Xplained Pro extensions (not included) | Xplained Pro extensions (shared) | EK-specific peripherals, no XPRO extensions | Xplained Pro extensions (shared) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated Ethernet MAC in the target MCU (vs ATSAM4L-XPRO)
- Current-generation Xplained Pro platform (vs ATSAM4E-EK)
- Cortex-M4 with Ethernet AND CAN in one kit (vs ATSAMHA1E16A-XPRO)
Design Notes
The ATSAM4E-XPRO kit does not include Xplained Pro extension boards - Microchip explicitly states these are purchased individually from the Related Tools tab. If your evaluation plan depends on QT7 capacitive touch, OLED1 display or IO1 sensor boards, order them at the same time as the kit. Also remember that the Ethernet MAC needs an external PHY and the CAN controller needs an external transceiver; neither is on the board.
Power the kit from the EDBG/debug USB connector rather than back-feeding target power through extension headers during initial bring-up. The board provides 12 MHz and 32.768 kHz crystal sources per the kit documentation; when prototyping custom SAM4E hardware, replicate both crystals because the 32.768 kHz source supports RTC and low-power timing modes used by ASF3 startup code.
When porting from the ATSAM4E-XPRO to a production PCB with the ATSAM4E16CB or similar SAM4E device, follow the Microchip SAM4E hardware design guidance for decoupling: one 100 nF capacitor per VDD pin pair plus bulk capacitance at the supply entry, and keep the Ethernet RMII/RGMII traces length-matched to the PHY. Reuse the EDBG circuit pattern from the Xplained Pro schematic, which Microchip publishes for reference designs.
Compliance Information
Compliance data for evaluation boards is not typically listed on distributor pages; verify with Microchip product compliance documentation.