ATSAM4E8EB-AN - 120MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 512KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4E8EB-AN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.98 | $11.98 |
| 10 | $11.4 | $114.00 |
| 100 | $10.98 | $1,098.00 |
| 500 | $10.2 | $5,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.6 | $9,600.00 |
ATSAM4E8EB-AN 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 heart of an embedded system. Within the MCU hierarchy, the SAM4E family sits in the high-performance 32-bit segment, above 8-bit AVR parts and below application processors, targeting industrial and connectivity-driven designs.
Key features include the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core with FPU, 2 KB of cache memory for predictable Flash execution, 512 KB of program Flash, and a rich peripheral set highlighted by an integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC for networked nodes. Advanced connectivity peripherals reduce external component count and BOM cost in communication-centric products.
Technically, the SAM4E architecture pairs the Cortex-M4 pipeline with a multi-layer bus matrix and 2 KB cache, sustaining near-zero-wait-state execution and deterministic interrupt latency. The on-chip Ethernet MAC with DMA offloads frame handling from the CPU, while serial peripherals (USART, SPI, I2C) and timers support industrial protocols and control loops. Extended-temperature, green (halogen-free, RoHS-oriented) packaging supports harsh industrial environments.
Typical applications include industrial automation gateways and networked sensor nodes using the 10/100 Ethernet MAC, building automation and HVAC controllers, and test/measurement or data-logging systems that need the FPU for signal processing at 120 MHz.
For design, budget the 512 KB Flash and 128 KB SRAM early - the cache mitigates but does not eliminate wait states, and Ethernet applications should reserve SRAM for DMA descriptors and frame buffers. Verify pin multiplexing on the 144-LQFP before finalizing the PCB, since many pins serve multiple peripheral functions.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with pricing as of 2026-09-20.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4E8EB-AN — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4E16EB-AN
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$8.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4E8EB-AN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Floating Point Unit | Yes (single precision FPU) |
| Flash Memory Size | 512 KB (512K x 8) |
| SRAM Size | 128 KB |
| Cache Memory | 2 KB |
| Product Series | SAM4E (Atmel | SMART) |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Ethernet MAC |
| Package | 144-LQFP (20 x 20 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging Option | MRL (Mouser reference, green LQFP) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (green package) |
| Connectivity Peripherals | USART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet MAC |
ATSAM4E8EB-AN 144-lqfp (20 x 20 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4E8EB-AN (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 ATSAM4E8EB-AN.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4E8EB-AN is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Gateways, Building Automation and HVAC Controllers, Networked Sensor and IoT Edge Nodes, Test and Measurement Instruments, Data Logging and Remote Monitoring Systems, Motor Control and Power Conversion.
Industrial Automation Gateways
The ATSAM4E8EB-AN fits industrial automation gateways because its integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC provides direct network attachment without an external Ethernet controller, while the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core with hardware FPU executes protocol conversion between field buses and TCP/IP in real time. The 512 KB Flash accommodates a full TCP/IP stack, web server, and OTA-capable firmware image, and the 128 KB SRAM leaves headroom for Ethernet DMA descriptors and frame buffers. Deployed between a 24V industrial rail and the network, the MCU's 2 KB cache sustains near-zero-wait-state execution during interrupt-heavy packet handling, making it a single-chip alternative to MCU-plus-Ethernet-chip designs that saves board area and BOM cost.
Recommended
Building Automation and HVAC Controllers
The ATSAM4E8EB-AN suits building automation and HVAC controllers by combining the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with an FPU for PID control loops, multiple USART/SPI/I2C peripherals for sensor and damper actuator interfacing, and the 10/100 Ethernet MAC for BMS network integration. Mouser lists the part as extended-temperature, green LQFP, supporting the wide ambient conditions of rooftop units and mechanical rooms. The 512 KB Flash stores control schedules, protocol stacks (such as BACnet-style field logic), and logging routines, while 128 KB SRAM buffers trend data. Ethernet DMA offloads network traffic from the CPU, keeping deterministic timing on control loops even during concurrent network communication.
Recommended
Networked Sensor and IoT Edge Nodes
The ATSAM4E8EB-AN is a strong fit for networked sensor and IoT edge nodes that require wired connectivity. The integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC eliminates an external MAC chip, and the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with single-precision FPU performs local filtering, FFT, or calibration math on sensor data before transmission, reducing upstream bandwidth. The 2 KB cache improves Flash execution efficiency for stack-heavy network code, and 512 KB Flash holds TLS-enabled firmware. In a typical node, the MCU reads sensors over I2C or SPI, processes samples with the FPU, and streams results over Ethernet using DMA descriptors in the 128 KB SRAM, achieving single-chip wired-IoT integration.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instruments
The ATSAM4E8EB-AN serves benchtop and portable test instruments where the hardware FPU accelerates signal-processing algorithms such as windowing, averaging, and single-precision arithmetic on ADC data at 120 MHz. The 512 KB Flash retains calibration tables, UI assets, and measurement routines, and the 128 KB SRAM buffers acquisition records. Multiple USARTs and SPI ports interface with front-end ADCs, DACs, and display modules, while the Ethernet MAC enables remote instrument control and SCPI-style command handling over LAN without an additional controller. The 2 KB cache stabilizes execution timing from Flash, improving measurement repeatability in interrupt-driven acquisition loops typical of instrumentation firmware.
Recommended
Data Logging and Remote Monitoring Systems
The ATSAM4E8EB-AN fits data-logging and remote monitoring systems that must collect, timestamp, and upload measurements over a network. Its 10/100 Ethernet MAC provides reliable wired backhaul, while the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core manages multiple sensor interfaces (USART, SPI, I2C) concurrently. The 512 KB Flash stores logging firmware, ring-buffer code, and configuration data; the 128 KB SRAM buffers samples between upload cycles, and the 2 KB cache keeps Flash execution efficient as logging code grows. Extended-temperature, green LQFP packaging supports deployment in uncontrolled environments such as utility cabinets and outdoor enclosures, and the FPU enables on-node scaling and unit conversion of raw sensor readings.
Recommended
Motor Control and Power Conversion
The ATSAM4E8EB-AN supports digital motor control and power conversion where the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with single-precision FPU executes field-oriented control (FOC) loops with math-intensive transforms. General-purpose timers generate PWM for three-phase inverters, and the deterministic Cortex-M4 interrupt latency keeps control-loop jitter low. The 512 KB Flash stores multiple motor profiles and firmware-update images, and the Ethernet MAC allows drives to report diagnostics to supervisory SCADA systems directly. In a typical drive, current-sense samples arrive over SPI or parallel interfaces, the FPU computes Clarke/Park transforms in single precision, and PWM duty updates occur within the loop budget, all on a single 144-LQFP chip.
Recommended
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4E8EB-AN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4E16EB-AN |
|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-LQFP (20 x 20 mm) | 144-LQFP (20 x 20 mm) - same footprint |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Max Clock Frequency | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 512 KB | 1024 KB |
| Ethernet MAC | 10/100 | 10/100 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated 10/100 Ethernet MAC (vs ATSAM4E16EB-AN)
- Hardware FPU with 2 KB cache (vs Generic Cortex-M3 MCUs)
- Memory scalability within the same footprint (vs ATSAM4E16EB-AN)
Design Notes
Carefully plan pin multiplexing on the 144-LQFP before schematic capture: on the SAM4E, many pins serve GPIO, USART, SPI, I2C, timer, and Ethernet RMII/MII functions through the peripheral multiplexer, and conflicting assignments are a leading cause of board respins. Download the signal multiplexing table from the SAM4E datasheet on the Microchip product page and lock each net's function early. The 10/100 Ethernet MAC requires dedicated RMII/MII pins plus reference clocks, so reserve those first in dense layouts.
Budget SRAM for the Ethernet MAC DMA descriptor rings and frame buffers before committing the full 128 KB to application data. A practical allocation reserves descriptor arrays and at least a few full-size frame buffers so that transmit and receive run concurrently without starving the application heap. Because the 2 KB cache mitigates but does not eliminate Flash wait states at 120 MHz, place performance-critical ISRs and control loops to minimize cache thrashing, and verify timing with the Microchip-provided tools rather than assuming zero-wait-state execution.
For the 20 x 20 mm 144-LQFP, use a footprint matching the manufacturer land-pattern recommendation and fan out fine-pitch (0.5 mm class) leads with via-in-pad or dogbone escape routing as appropriate for your fabricator's capability. Decouple each supply pin group with 100 nF ceramics placed close to the package, and route the Ethernet RMII/MII clock and PHY-related traces with controlled length matching when an external PHY is used. Follow the SAM4E hardware design application guidance in the Microchip documentation set for exact decoupling and stackup recommendations.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as 'LQFP,GREEN,EXT TEMP,MRL B' indicating green (halogen-free) packaging. Full RoHS/REACH declarations should be confirmed from Microchip's official environmental documentation.