ATSAM4N-XSTK - SAM4N Xplained Pro Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4N-XSTK β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $217.05 | $217.05 |
| 10 | $210 | $2,100.00 |
| 25 | $205 | $5,125.00 |
| 50 | $200 | $10,000.00 |
| 100 | $195 | $19,500.00 |
ATSAM4N-XSTK Overview
An MCU evaluation kit is a hardware development platform that exposes the target microcontroller's peripherals, GPIO, and debugging interfaces so engineers can prototype firmware before committing to custom PCB hardware. Within the embedded development hierarchy, the ATSAM4N-XSTK belongs to Microchip's Xplained Pro series of evaluation boards, which sits under the broader categories of development boards, embedded evaluation boards, and ARM development tools.
Key features include an embedded ATSAM4N series ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit core, Xplained Pro extension connectors for standardized add-on boards, an onboard Embedded Debugger (EDBG) for programming and debugging without external tools, and USB connectivity for both power and data. The Xplained Pro ecosystem gives instant access to 20-pin extension headers that support a wide range of Xplained Pro expansion boards for sensors, displays, and connectivity.
Technically, the kit leverages the SAM4N family's Cortex-M4 processor core with ARM's standard CoreSight debug architecture, and it is fully supported by Microchip's Atmel Studio / Microchip Studio IDE and Atmel START configuration tool, providing one-click example projects, HAL drivers, and register-level debugging.
Typical applications include firmware prototyping for industrial control, low-power embedded sensing nodes, and general-purpose 32-bit MCU evaluation where engineers must benchmark the SAM4N's performance, peripherals, and power consumption before production design.
A key design consideration: the kit is an evaluation tool, not a production part - final products should use the corresponding ATSAM4N MCU and reuse the reference schematics available from Microchip.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from DigiKey, Mouser, LCSC and Octopart, evaluation-kit alternatives, and practical usage notes not found in the manufacturer listing.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4N-XSTK 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 ATSAM4N-XSTK (same form factor and footprint).
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAML21-XPRO-B
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMG55-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMA5D4-XULT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD10-XMINI
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4N-XSTK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product | Starter Kit / Evaluation Board |
| Series | SAM4N (Xplained Pro) |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Architecture | 32-Bit |
| Target MCU Family | ATSAM4N |
| Board Type | MCU 32-Bit Embedded Evaluation Board |
| Onboard Debugger | Embedded Debugger (EDBG) |
| Extension Interface | Xplained Pro extension connectors |
| Connectivity | USB (power and data) |
| Supported IDE | Microchip Studio / Atmel Studio, Atmel START |
| Packaging | Box |
| Product Status | Active |
| RoHS Status | RoHS Compliant |
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Unit Price (qty 1) | 217.05 USD (as of 2026-09-20) |
ATSAM4N-XSTK Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATSAM4N-XSTK. 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
ATSAM4N-XSTK is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Firmware Prototyping, Embedded Sensing Nodes, 32-Bit MCU Performance Benchmarking, Education and Embedded Training, Proof-of-Concept for Product Development, Communication Stack Validation.
Industrial Firmware Prototyping
The ATSAM4N-XSTK fits industrial control prototyping because the SAM4N family pairs an ARM Cortex-M4 core with peripherals oriented to motor control sensing, industrial communications, and deterministic interrupt handling. Engineers load control-loop firmware onto the kit's target MCU and validate timing with breakpoints and the onboard EDBG debugger, measuring worst-case ISR latency in Microchip Studio before committing to hardware. The Xplained Pro extension connectors let sensor and communication expansion boards attach without custom wiring, and the virtual COM port streams real-time telemetry to a host PC. Because the SAM4N targets cost-sensitive industrial nodes, benchmarking on this kit directly predicts production performance, and Microchip's reference schematics accelerate migration to a custom PCB.
Recommended
Embedded Sensing Nodes
The ATSAM4N-XSTK accelerates sensor-node development by combining the SAM4N Cortex-M4 target with the Xplained Pro extension ecosystem, where I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO and analog signals are exposed on standardized 20-pin headers. A sensor extension board plugs in and Microchip Studio auto-detects it, loading example drivers so data-path firmware can be validated within minutes of unboxing. The onboard debugger permits non-intrusive sampling of sensor-processing code, while the virtual COM port forwards processed readings to a host for analysis. Because the kit consumes USB power only, bench characterization of signal-chain firmware is simple and repeatable, and validated algorithms port directly to the production ATSAM4N MCU.
Recommended
32-Bit MCU Performance Benchmarking
Teams choosing between 32-bit MCU families use the ATSAM4N-XSTK to benchmark the ARM Cortex-M4 core against alternatives such as the SAM L21 Cortex-M0+ or SAM G55 Cortex-M4F on identical Xplained Pro hardware conventions. Because all these Microchip kits share the same debugger architecture, IDE, and toolchain, migration of benchmark code between kits takes minutes rather than days, giving apples-to-apples cycle counts, interrupt latency, and peripheral throughput measurements. CoreMark and DSP-style kernels run from flash on the SAM4N target while the EDBG reports real execution timing. This makes the kit an efficient procurement-decision tool before design-in commitment.
Recommended
Education and Embedded Training
The ATSAM4N-XSTK serves embedded-systems education because it is self-contained: one USB cable supplies power, programming, debugging, and a virtual COM port, so students need no separate programmer. The ARM Cortex-M4 core is the industry-standard teaching architecture, and Microchip Studio plus Atmel START generate starter projects and peripheral HAL code that lowers the entry barrier while still permitting register-level study. Xplained Pro extensions let courses add displays, sensors, or connectivity modules progressively across a semester. The kit's RoHS compliance and Box packaging also make it straightforward for institutions to procure and deploy in teaching laboratories at roughly $217 per seat (as of 2026-09-20).
Recommended
Proof-of-Concept for Product Development
Product teams use the ATSAM4N-XSTK as the fastest route from concept to working proof of concept for SAM4N-based products. Standard peripherals such as UART, SPI, I2C, timers, and ADC are exercised through Microchip Studio examples on the kit, while the Xplained Pro extension headers accept off-the-shelf expansion boards that stand in for custom circuitry. Because the onboard EDBG exposes full CoreSight debugging, hard-to-find timing defects surface during proof-of-concept rather than during production bring-up. Once the concept is validated, the published board schematics and the ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR production MCU allow a low-risk transition to custom hardware with the same firmware base.
Recommended
Communication Stack Validation
The ATSAM4N-XSTK is well suited to validating UART, I2C, and SPI communication stacks for the SAM4N family. The virtual COM port of the onboard EDBG provides a direct UART channel to a host PC for protocol-level testing, and the Xplained Pro extension headers expose additional serial peripherals for multi-drop or sensor-bus experiments. Developers exercise error handling, DMA-driven transfers, and timing margins on the actual Cortex-M4 silicon while the debugger watches peripheral registers in real time. Since the SAM4N targets cost-sensitive nodes with standard serial connectivity, validated stacks transfer unchanged to the production ATSAM4N MCU, shortening the integration phase of the product schedule.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4N-XSTK β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAML21-XPRO-B | ATSAMG55-XPRO | ATSAMD10-XMINI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Xplained Pro board (Box) | Xplained Pro board (Box) | Xplained Pro board (Box) | Xplained Mini board (Box) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Target Core | ARM Cortex-M4 (SAM4N) | ARM Cortex-M0+ (SAM L21) | ARM Cortex-M4 (SAM G55) | ARM Cortex-M0+ (SAM D10) |
| Onboard Debugger | Embedded Debugger (EDBG) | EDBG | EDBG | Embedded Debugger (Xplained Mini) |
| Extension Ecosystem | Xplained Pro connectors | Xplained Pro connectors | Xplained Pro connectors | Xplained Mini headers (reduced) |
| Product Status | Active | Active | Active | Active |
| Typical Use Case | Cost-sensitive 32-bit industrial evaluation | Ultra-low-power battery designs | M4F + USB intensive designs | Low-pin-count budget development |
Key Differentiators
- Cortex-M4 performance at mainstream cost (vs ATSAML21-XPRO-B)
- Full Xplained Pro expansion ecosystem (vs ATSAMD10-XMINI)
- Same-footprint upgrade path within family (vs ATSAMG55-XPRO)
Design Notes
Remember the ATSAM4N-XSTK is an evaluation tool, not a production component. Firmware developed on the kit is portable to the ATSAM4N MCU, but board-level behavior (decoupling, crystal layout, EMI) must be revalidated on custom hardware. Use the kit's published schematics as the reference design basis and copy the EDBG and power-tree sections where possible. Budget schedule time for first-article bring-up since peripheral timing measured on the kit assumes the kit's clock configuration.
The kit is powered over USB, which limits available current for attached Xplained Pro extension boards. When stacking multiple extensions that drive LEDs, displays, or radios, estimate total consumption against the USB budget or use an externally powered USB hub. For low-power measurements of the target MCU itself, follow the Xplained Pro user guide procedure for isolating the target supply, otherwise USB quiescent loads corrupt current readings.
Xplained Pro extension headers carry I2C, SPI, and high-speed GPIO over ribbon-scale traces; keep wire-wrap or jumper connections short when probing, and add appropriate series resistance or level checks when interfacing 5V lab equipment, since not all target pins are 5V tolerant. Verify logic levels in the SAM4N datasheet before connecting external boards to avoid stressing the target MCU I/O.
Compliance Information
Listed as RoHS Compliant in distributor data (onlinecomponents.com). Other compliance attributes not stated in the provided data.