ATSAM4E8EA-AU - 120MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 512KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4E8EA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $13.32 | $13.32 |
| 10 | $12.66 | $126.60 |
| 100 | $11.9 | $1,190.00 |
| 500 | $11.42 | $5,710.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.98 | $10,980.00 |
ATSAM4E8EA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals into one chip, forming the lowest tier of the embedded processing hierarchy that spans from MCUs up to application processors and SoCs. The SAM4E family belongs to Microchip (formerly Atmel) SMART ARM-based MCU portfolio, positioned for applications that need both compute performance and rich communication peripherals.
Key features of the ATSAM4E8EA-AU include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with Thumb-2 instruction set, DSP and single-cycle MAC instructions for signal processing, an FPU for efficient floating-point math, and a 2 KB cache that sustains near-zero-wait-state execution at 120 MHz. Peripheral richness includes Ethernet MAC with IEEE 1588 support, dual CAN controllers, USB device port, multiple USART/SPI/TWI serial channels, a 12-bit ADC with 2 MspS conversion capability, PWM channels, and an on-chip temperature sensor, enabling industrial networked designs with a single IC.
Architecturally, the device uses a high data bandwidth multi-layer bus matrix connecting the Cortex-M4 core to Flash, SRAM, and DMA channels, allowing peripherals to transfer data without CPU intervention. The Flash accelerator and cache mitigate flash wait-state penalties at 120 MHz operation. Green industrial-grade (TEMPMRL) qualification supports extended industrial ambient temperatures.
Typical applications include industrial automation gateways and PLC I/O modules using the Ethernet and dual CAN interfaces, motor control and power conversion leveraging the FPU and PWM peripherals, and embedded networking equipment, POS terminals, and building automation nodes requiring USB and Ethernet connectivity.
When designing with this MCU, budget Flash wait states and use the cache-friendly code layout, and decouple all VDDIO/VDDCORE supply domains per the manufacturer datasheet layout guidance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with pricing as of 2026-09-20.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4E8EA-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 ATSAM4E8EA-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in FPU, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4E16EA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4E16EA-ANR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4E8EB-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4E8EA-AUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$7.45 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4E8EA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory Size | 512 KB (512K x 8) |
| Cache | 2 KB |
| FPU | Yes (Floating Point Unit) |
| DSP Instructions | Yes |
| Memory Protection Unit | Yes (MPU) |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2 V / 3.3 V |
| Package | 144-LQFP (20 x 20 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (TEMPMRL, green) |
| Peripherals | Ethernet MAC, dual CAN, USB device, 12-bit ADC, PWM, DMA, temperature sensor |
| Series | SAM4E |
| RoHS Status | Green / RoHS compliant |
ATSAM4E8EA-AU 144-lqfp (20 x 20 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4E8EA-AU (144-lqfp (20 x 20 mm) 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 ATSAM4E8EA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4E8EA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Gateways, Motor Control and Digital Power, Embedded Networking Equipment, Building Automation Nodes, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Security and Access Control Systems.
Industrial Automation Gateways
The ATSAM4E8EA-AU fits protocol-gateway designs because it combines a 10/100 Ethernet MAC with IEEE 1588 support and dual CAN controllers in one 120 MHz Cortex-M4 chip, allowing Modbus-TCP to CAN bridging without external network ICs. The 2 KB cache and multi-layer bus matrix sustain deterministic peripheral throughput while DMA moves Ethernet frames independently of the CPU. Placed on an industrial PCB with 3.3 V I/O rails, the MCU handles real-time fieldbus timing while the FPU offloads any floating-point conversion or filtering in the protocol stack, reducing firmware complexity and BOM cost versus discrete Ethernet-plus-CAN controller approaches.
Recommended
Motor Control and Digital Power
For field-oriented control of BLDC/PMSM motors, the ATSAM4E8EA-AU provides the combination engineers need: a hardware FPU for real-time Clarke/Park transforms, DSP MAC instructions for filtering, a 12-bit ADC for current sampling, and PWM outputs for inverter drive. The 120 MHz core executes control loops with margin to spare at switching frequencies typical of industrial drives. DMA transfers ADC results directly to memory so loop latency stays deterministic. Compared to fixed-point MCUs, the floating-point pipeline shortens development time and improves control accuracy, making this device a strong fit for servo drives, robotics actuators, and digitally controlled power converters.
Recommended
Embedded Networking Equipment
Networked embedded systems such as print servers, point-of-sale terminals, and access-control panels benefit from the ATSAM4E8EA-AU integrated USB device port alongside its Ethernet MAC, letting one MCU serve both a host link and a network uplink. The 512 KB Flash accommodates a TCP/IP stack with TLS, and the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with cache provides the processing headroom for encryption routines. Because peripherals are memory-mapped through a bus matrix with DMA channels, serial and USB traffic flows without CPU stalls, sustaining line-rate communication in compact fanless enclosures typical of retail and building-infrastructure hardware.
Recommended
Building Automation Nodes
HVAC controllers, lighting gateways, and energy-metering nodes use the ATSAM4E8EA-AU dual CAN interfaces to sit on CANopen or DeviceNet fieldbuses while the Ethernet MAC reports upstream to building-management systems. The on-chip 12-bit ADC and temperature sensor support direct analog sensing of actuators and ambient conditions, and industrial temperature qualification ensures reliability in rooftop and mechanical-room environments. The 512 KB Flash holds protocol stacks for multiple standards concurrently, and the MPU allows task isolation in multi-protocol firmware, improving robustness for always-on building infrastructure where field service visits are costly.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Portable and bench instruments use the ATSAM4E8EA-AU to acquire, process, and communicate measurement data: the 12-bit ADC digitizes sensor inputs, the DSP instructions and FPU perform calibration math and FFT-based analysis in real time, and USB/Ethernet links stream results to a PC or LAN. The 2 KB cache keeps tight acquisition loops running from Flash at 120 MHz with minimal jitter. DMA-driven ADC buffering sustains continuous sampling without CPU intervention, allowing the same core to drive the display, user interface, and network reporting concurrently in a single-chip instrument architecture with a compact 144-pin LQFP footprint.
Recommended
Security and Access Control Systems
Access-control panels and surveillance interface units leverage the ATSAM4E8EA-AU Ethernet MAC to connect to IP-based security backends while GPIO, USART, and CAN links manage card readers, locks, and sensors locally. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4 handles AES-based transport encryption with acceptable latency for door-control response budgets, and the MPU helps isolate credential-handling code from general firmware. Industrial qualification and a green RoHS-compliant package suit installation in walls, turnstiles, and outdoor pedestals, while 512 KB Flash leaves room for firmware updates and logged-event storage management over multi-year deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4E8EA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4E16EA-AU | ATSAM4E8EB-AU | ATSAM4E8EA-AUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-LQFP (20 x 20 mm) | 144-LQFP - same | 144-LQFP - same | 144-LQFP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Speed | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 512 KB | 1024 KB | 512 KB | 512 KB |
| FPU / DSP | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2 V / 3.3 V | 1.2 V / 3.3 V | 1.2 V / 3.3 V | 1.2 V / 3.3 V |
Key Differentiators
- Ethernet MAC with IEEE 1588 integrated on-chip (vs ATSAM4S8BA-AU)
- Cost-optimized 512 KB Flash point in the SAM4E line (vs ATSAM4E16EA-AU)
- Hardware FPU and DSP instructions at 120 MHz (vs ATSAM3N0AA-AU)
Design Notes
The ATSAM4E8EA-AU uses separate supply domains (VDDCORE at 1.2 V class and VDDIO at 3.3 V). Provide independent decoupling capacitors (typically 100 nF ceramic plus bulk) at each VDD/VDDIO pin pair placed within 2 mm of the pin, and sequence supplies per the datasheet power-up requirements. Estimated: at 120 MHz full-speed operation, core current is in the tens-of-mA class, so a low-noise LDO or buck for the core rail is sufficient; verify exact figures in the manufacturer datasheet electrical characteristics table.
For the 144-pin LQFP, fan out with via-in-pad avoidance and route the Ethernet RMII/MII traces as a controlled-impedance group matched to the external PHY (e.g., KSZ8081 series). Keep crystal traces short and guarded with a ground ring. Use a solid ground plane under the MCU and place the 12-bit ADC reference decoupling away from switching loads. A 4-layer stack (signal-ground-power-signal) is recommended for boards using Ethernet and CAN simultaneously.
Do not assume zero-wait-state Flash execution at 120 MHz: the 2 KB cache and Flash accelerator mitigate, but hot loops larger than cache benefit from SRAM placement of critical functions. Also verify the silicon die revision when ordering - Microchip explicitly recommends Revision B for new prototypes and production per the official product page. Finally, confirm exact ordering-code suffixes (-AU tray vs -AUR reel) on purchase orders, since buyers frequently mix them up and reel quantities differ from tray quantities.
Compliance Information
Distributor listings describe the part as a green LQFP package (Mouser: 'LQFP GREEN IND TEMPMRL'), indicating green/RoHS-compliant molding and industrial temperature grade. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status not stated in provided data.