ATSAM4N8CA-AU - 100MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 512KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4N8CA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.9 | $5.90 |
| 10 | $5.31 | $53.10 |
| 100 | $4.72 | $472.00 |
| 500 | $4.25 | $2,125.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.83 | $3,830.00 |
ATSAM4N8CA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer integrating a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals on one die. Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, an MCU sits at the application layer, replacing multi-chip processor-plus-peripheral designs. The SAM4N family belongs to Microchip's (formerly Atmel's) ARM-based 32-bit Flash MCU portfolio, positioned as the reduced-BOM-cost entry point to the Cortex-M4 line.
Key features include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions and Thumb-2 instruction set, a Memory Protection Unit (MPU), and pin-to-pin compatibility with the SAM4S, SAM3S, SAM3N, and SAM7S families for easy migration. According to the SAM4N family datasheet, this pin-compatibility makes ATSAM4N8CA-AU an ideal migration path from SAM4S designs that require lower cost.
Technically, the device combines a Harvard-architecture Cortex-M4 running Thumb-2 code with single-cycle DSP multiply-accumulate instructions, delivering DSP-class throughput without a separate DSP. Embedded Flash allows in-system reprogramming, while the MPU supports robust, partitioned firmware. The 100-LQFP package provides generous GPIO and peripheral access for industrial designs.
Typical applications include industrial automation, consumer and appliance control, and energy metering, markets explicitly targeted by the SAM4N series because of its low power consumption and peripheral integration.
Design consideration: the device operates from 2.5 V to 3.3 V supply; verify supply rails and decoupling against the SAM4N datasheet electrical characteristics before layout.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4N8CA-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 ATSAM4N8CA-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, RoHS Status, SRAM, Instruction Set, Temperature Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4N16CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.15 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4N8CA-CU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.02 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S8CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.74 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM3S8CA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N8CA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM7S64-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4N8CA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 100 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 512 KB (512K x 8) Flash |
| SRAM Size | 64 KB |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| DSP Instructions | Yes |
| Memory Protection Unit (MPU) | Yes |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
| Packaging Attribute | Tray (AU suffix) |
| Pin-to-Pin Compatibility | SAM4S, SAM3S, SAM3N, SAM7S families |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (GREEN package per Mouser) |
ATSAM4N8CA-AU 100-lqfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4N8CA-AU (100-lqfp (14x14 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 ATSAM4N8CA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4N8CA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation, Energy Metering, Consumer Appliance Control, Data Acquisition and Sensor Processing, Embedded System Migration / BOM Cost Reduction, IoT Node and Smart Devices.
Industrial Automation
The ATSAM4N8CA-AU fits industrial automation nodes because its 100 MHz ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions handles control loops, protocol stacks, and sensor fusion in a single chip, while 512 KB Flash and 64 KB SRAM host both application logic and communication firmware. In a PLC I/O module or motor-control supervisor, the MCU executes PID algorithms using single-cycle multiply-accumulate operations, and the Memory Protection Unit partitions safety-critical code from user logic. Its 100-pin LQFP package exposes abundant GPIO for relay, optocoupler, and encoder interfacing. Because the SAM4N series offers pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM4S and SAM3S devices, boards can be cost-optimized or upgraded without PCB respins, protecting long-lifetime industrial product roadmaps.
Recommended
Energy Metering
Energy meters require sustained signal processing for metrology and communication, exactly the workload Microchip cites for the SAM4N series in its family datasheet. The ATSAM4N8CA-AU's Cortex-M4 DSP instructions perform single-cycle MACs for FFT-based harmonic analysis and RMS computation on sampled current and voltage channels, while the 100 MHz clock provides headroom for protocol stacks such as DLMS/COSEM. The 512 KB Flash stores calibration tables, tariff engines, and firmware-update images with room to spare. Low power consumption suits meters that must meet standby-energy limits, and industrial temperature operation (-40C to +85C) covers outdoor and panel installations across global climates.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
Appliance controllers - washing machines, air conditioners, cooktops - need motor control, user-interface management, and safety supervision at consumer price points. The ATSAM4N8CA-AU meets this with a 100 MHz Cortex-M4 core that runs field-oriented motor-control mathematics using hardware DSP instructions, reducing interrupt latency compared with software-emulated multiplication. The 512 KB Flash accommodates growing feature sets such as Wi-Fi module drivers and OTA update loaders, and the MPU helps isolate safety-interlock code. Pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM4S, SAM3S, SAM3N, and SAM7S devices lets appliance OEMs scale memory and cost across a single PCB platform, amortizing layout and certification work across product families.
Recommended
Data Acquisition and Sensor Processing
The ATSAM4N8CA-AU serves data-acquisition front ends where sampled sensor data must be filtered and reduced on-chip before transmission. The Cortex-M4's Thumb-2 instruction set keeps code density high, and DSP single-cycle MACs implement FIR and IIR filtering, RMS, and windowing without a companion DSP. With 64 KB of SRAM, the device buffers multi-channel samples from external ADCs over SPI or parallel interfaces, and 512 KB Flash retains calibration and logging structures. The 100-pin LQFP supplies the parallel buses and analog-friendly GPIO needed around the converter. The Memory Protection Unit allows firmware partitioning so acquisition tasks cannot corrupt the communication stack, improving robustness in unattended measurement installations.
Recommended
Embedded System Migration / BOM Cost Reduction
A primary application of the ATSAM4N8CA-AU is platform migration: Microchip explicitly positions the SAM4N series as the ideal migration path from the SAM4S for applications that require a reduced BOM cost, and confirms pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM4S, SAM3S, SAM3N, and SAM7S devices. A legacy board built on ATSAM3N8CA-AU or ATSAM7S can be upgraded to the 100 MHz Cortex-M4 with DSP capability by soldering the new part on the same footprint and re-flashing firmware - no PCB respin, no re-certification of the layout. This makes the part a strategic fit for long-lifecycle products facing end-of-life notices on older Atmel MCUs.
Recommended
IoT Node and Smart Devices
Connected smart devices need local intelligence for sensor interpretation plus a serial link to a wireless module. The ATSAM4N8CA-AU provides the local processing: 100 MHz Cortex-M4 performance handles protocol parsing and filtering, while the 512 KB Flash holds the application and a buffered communication stack bridging to external Wi-Fi, BLE, or Sub-GHz modules over UART/SPI. The 64 KB SRAM supports message queuing for intermittent connectivity, and low power consumption extends battery budgets in duty-cycled nodes. Industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) permits outdoor and rooftop deployments, and the 100-pin LQFP leaves GPIO headroom for button, LED, and display interfaces around the radio module.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4N8CA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4N16CA-AU | ATSAM4N8CA-CU | ATSAM4S8CA-AU | ATSAM3S8CA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 512 KB | 1 MB | 512 KB | 512 KB | 512 KB |
| DSP Instructions | Yes (Cortex-M4) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (Cortex-M3) |
| Pin Compatibility | SAM4S/SAM3S/SAM3N/SAM7S pin-to-pin | Pin-to-pin with ATSAM4N8CA-AU | Pin-to-pin with ATSAM4N8CA-AU | Pin-to-pin per SAM4N datasheet | Pin-to-pin per SAM4N datasheet |
Key Differentiators
- Cortex-M4 with DSP instructions at lower BOM cost (vs ATSAM4S8CA-AU)
- Same footprint but double the Flash available (vs ATSAM4N16CA-AU)
- Modern core over legacy ARM7 (vs ATSAM7S64-AU)
Design Notes
The ATSAM4N8CA-AU operates from a 2.5 V / 3.3 V supply per distributor and family documentation. Design the 3.3 V rail with local decoupling - typically one 100 nF ceramic capacitor per VDD pin pair plus bulk capacitance - placed within a few millimeters of the pins. Verify exact VDD/VDDIO pin positions and acceptable ripple in the SAM4N family datasheet (60001422B) electrical characteristics chapter before finalizing the power tree, and confirm the core LDO capacitor requirements specified there.
The 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) footprint has 0.5 mm pin pitch; use solder-mask-defined pads per the Microchip LQFP land-pattern recommendation and allow a 3x3 via fanout grid under the package for breakout. Because the SAM4N is pin-to-pin compatible with SAM4S/SAM3S/SAM3N/SAM7S devices, lay out the footprint once and reserve population options for alternate family members - this enables second-sourcing and memory upgrades without respin.
Migrating firmware from SAM3N/SAM7S (Cortex-M3/ARM7) to this Cortex-M4 device requires toolchain retargeting and a review of flash wait-state settings at 100 MHz - do not assume legacy clock configuration carries over. The AU suffix ships in trays (not tape-and-reel); confirm packaging with your CM before high-volume SMT scheduling. Industrial temperature (-40C to +85C) applies - the CU suffix exists for extended requirements.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as GREEN, industrial temp, MRL; Abacus Technologies lists EU RoHS Compliant and REACH Compliant for the ATSAM4N8CA family suffixes.