ATSAM4S-EK2 - SAM4SD32C Cortex-M4 Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4S-EK2 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $320 | $320.00 |
| 5 | $305 | $1,525.00 |
| 10 | $290 | $2,900.00 |
| 25 | $275 | $6,875.00 |
| 50 | $260 | $13,000.00 |
ATSAM4S-EK2 Overview
An evaluation kit (EK) is a reference design platform that exposes nearly every peripheral of the target MCU through standardized headers, a built-in debugger, and ready-to-run demos. The SAM4S family is part of the Atmel | SMART ARM-based MCU portfolio, where the Cortex-M4 core brings DSP instructions and a single-precision FPU to embedded designs. As such, the ATSAM4S-EK2 sits inside the broader hierarchy: microcontroller -> 32-bit MCU -> ARM Cortex-M MCU -> Atmel SMART SAM4S -> development kit.
Key features include 120 MHz maximum CPU clock, 32.768 kHz low-power crystal plus 12 MHz main crystal, 2048 KB on-chip Flash, 160 KB SRAM, an integrated NAND Flash controller with on-board NAND, Ethernet MAC, USB 2.0 Full-Speed, two CAN controllers, multiple USART/UART/SPI/TWI/I2S ports, a 12-bit ADC, and a TFT LCD interface. The kit also integrates an on-board SAM-ICE (or Atmel-ICE compatible) JTAG/CDC debugger so engineers can program and debug out of the box without external tools.
Architecturally, the SAM4SD32C combines an M4 core with Flash read accelerator and optional cache to push sustained performance on data-heavy workloads, while multi-channel DMA and a multi-layer bus matrix sustain high-throughput peripheral I/O. The integrated NAND controller with ECC simplifies mass-storage designs that previously required an external memory controller, helping reduce BOM cost.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, human-machine interface (HMI) with TFT LCD, building automation gateways, point-of-sale terminals, CAN-bus industrial nodes, USB peripherals and consumer devices, and audio processing leveraging the Cortex-M4 DSP extensions. The wide peripheral set also makes the kit useful as a teaching platform for embedded systems classes.
When designing with this kit, ensure USB host or device current budgets are respected and that JTAG headers are accessible in the enclosure. The integrated debugger eliminates the need for external programming hardware, which significantly lowers the barrier to entry for first-time SAM4S users.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and design notes not available in the standalone manufacturer datasheet. Lifecycle status, RoHS information, and stock availability are aggregated from DigiKey, Mouser, and Octopart as of 2026-09-21.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4S-EK2 — 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 ATSAM4S-EK2 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, USB, Core Architecture, Package, SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4S-XSTK
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$159.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4SD32CB-CFN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4SD32CA-AUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4SD16CB-CFN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4SA16CB-ANR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S8CB-CFN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S-EK2 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology (formerly Atmel) |
| Series | AT91SAM4 / SAM4S |
| Target MCU | SAM4SD32C |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit |
| Core Features | DSP extensions, single-precision FPU |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 120 MHz |
| On-chip Flash | 2048 KB |
| On-chip SRAM | 160 KB |
| External Memory | On-board NAND Flash |
| Low-frequency Crystal | 32.768 kHz |
| Main Crystal | 12 MHz |
| Communication | Ethernet MAC, USB 2.0 FS, 2x CAN, USART, UART, SPI, TWI/I2C, I2S |
| ADC | 12-bit |
| Display Interface | TFT LCD connector |
| On-board Debugger | SAM-ICE / Atmel-ICE compatible JTAG + CDC |
| Form Factor | Embedded MCU / DSP Evaluation Board |
| Packaging | Box / Bulk |
| Product Status (Octopart) | Obsolete |
ATSAM4S-EK2 Interfaces & Connectors
ATSAM4S-EK2 exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Expansion / Buses, HDMI / Display. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Expansion / Buses | 12-bit |
| HDMI / Display | TFT LCD connector |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4S-EK2 is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Control & HMI Prototyping, Building Automation Gateway, Point-of-Sale & Transaction Terminal, CAN-bus Industrial Node, USB Peripheral / Consumer Device Prototype, Audio Processing & DSP Education, Teaching Platform for Embedded Systems.
Industrial Control & HMI Prototyping
The ATSAM4S-EK2's 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core, 12-bit ADC, dual CAN controllers, and TFT LCD connector make it a natural fit for industrial control and human-machine interface prototypes. With 2048 KB Flash and 160 KB SRAM, it can host a deterministic real-time control loop while rendering a graphics panel on the TFT. The on-board SAM-ICE debugger removes external tool friction, accelerating panel-design iteration. For new designs, migrate to ATSAM4S-XSTK for active lifecycle support and same Cortex-M4 toolchain.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateway
The ATSAM4S-EK2 integrates an Ethernet MAC, USB 2.0 Full-Speed, dual CAN, and multiple USART/SPI/TWI ports in a single board, making it a compact reference design for building automation gateways that bridge KNX/CAN field buses with TCP/IP backhaul. The 2048 KB Flash can hold a BACnet or Modbus stack, while the 160 KB SRAM handles concurrent IP socket buffers and protocol state. The Cortex-M4 DSP extensions assist with on-gateway signal conditioning and filtering.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale & Transaction Terminal
With USB Full-Speed device/host, USART for a magnetic-stripe or smart-card reader, TFT LCD for an operator display, and Cortex-M4 DSP for audio prompts, the ATSAM4S-EK2 is well suited to POS terminal prototypes. The on-board NAND Flash provides ample journaling storage for transaction logs before they are flushed upstream. Migrating to the SAM4S Xplained Pro preserves the toolchain while sourcing an actively produced board.
Recommended
CAN-bus Industrial Node
The two on-board CAN controllers combined with 12-bit ADC and Cortex-M4 determinism make the ATSAM4S-EK2 a strong reference for industrial sensor and actuator nodes. The 120 MHz core delivers cycle-accurate CAN message handling while leaving headroom for sensor-fusion DSP routines. The 160 KB SRAM supports multi-message CAN queues and ADC double buffering without DMA stalls.
Recommended
USB Peripheral / Consumer Device Prototype
USB Full-Speed device and host, plus a rich set of USART/SPI/TWI/I2S peripherals, allow the ATSAM4S-EK2 to act as a reference platform for USB peripherals such as audio interfaces, HID devices, or vendor-class accessories. The 2048 KB Flash accommodates USB stack plus application code, while 160 KB SRAM handles audio I2S buffers without dropouts under Cortex-M4 DSP load.
Recommended
Audio Processing & DSP Education
The ATSAM4S-EK2's Cortex-M4 core with single-precision FPU and DSP extensions is a low-cost platform for embedded audio processing labs and DSP algorithm prototyping. I2S interfaces drive external audio codecs, while 160 KB SRAM allows reasonable FFT and filter buffers. The kit's standardized headers accept Arduino shields, enabling rapid sensor and audio front-end prototyping for student or research projects.
Recommended
Teaching Platform for Embedded Systems
Universities and training centers use the ATSAM4S-EK2 to teach ARM Cortex-M4 programming, real-time OS porting, and peripheral driver development. The on-board SAM-ICE debugger, the comprehensive header set, and the SAM4S family documentation lower the barrier to entry for first-time ARM users. Although the kit is obsolete, it remains a popular classroom resource where legacy inventory can be sourced.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4S-EK2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4S-XSTK | ATSAM4SD32CB-CFN | ATSAM4SD32CA-AUR | ATSAM4SD16CB-CFN | ATSAM4SA16CB-ANR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Type | Evaluation Board (Cortex-M4 MCU kit) | Xplained Pro evaluation board | Bare MCU (LQFP-100) | Bare MCU (LQFP-100) | Bare MCU (LQFP-100) | Bare MCU (LQFP-100) |
| Target MCU / Core | SAM4SD32C / Cortex-M4 | SAM4SD32C / Cortex-M4 | SAM4SD32C / Cortex-M4 | SAM4SD32C / Cortex-M4 | SAM4SD16C / Cortex-M4 | SAM4SA16C / Cortex-M4 |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| On-chip Flash | 2048 KB | Up to 2048 KB | 2048 KB | 2048 KB | 1024 KB | 1024 KB |
| On-chip SRAM | 160 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB |
| On-board Debugger | SAM-ICE / Atmel-ICE compatible JTAG+CDC | EDBG (Embedded Debugger) | None (bare MCU) | None (bare MCU) | None (bare MCU) | None (bare MCU) |
| Lifecycle Status (Octopart) | Obsolete | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
| Form Factor / Package | Evaluation board (Box) | Xplained Pro board | LQFP-100 | LQFP-100 | LQFP-100 | LQFP-100 |
Key Differentiators
- On-board NAND Flash with integrated controller (vs ATSAM4S-XSTK)
- Dual CAN controllers exposed on DB-9 headers (vs ATSAM4SD32CB-CFN (bare MCU))
- Integrated SAM-ICE / Atmel-ICE compatible debugger (vs ATSAM4SA16CB-ANR (bare MCU))
Design Notes
The ATSAM4S-EK2 is reported obsolete on Octopart as of 2026-09-21; do not design it into new production. New designs should use the ATSAM4S-XSTK Xplained Pro kit (same SAM4S family) or migrate to the SAME54/SAMS70 families for active lifecycle support. Verify stock at authorized distributors before committing to a production roadmap that depends on this kit.
Power the ATSAM4S-EK2 from the on-board 5V DC jack or USB; the on-board LDO drops to 3.3V for the MCU and most peripherals. When measuring power consumption, ensure the SAM-ICE debugger is disconnected via jumper, as it can sink current that masks true application power draw. For low-power benchmarking, configure the SAM4S in Wait or Sleep mode per section 6 of the SAM4S family datasheet (60001419B).
When migrating EK2 firmware to a bare SAM4SD32CB-CFN (LQFP-100) production board, route the Ethernet MAC pins to an external PHY such as DP83848 or KSZ8041, and place the 50 MHz RMII reference clock oscillator within 100 mils of the ETH_CLK pin. Maintain a continuous ground plane under the MCU to keep return paths short for high-speed USB and Ethernet signals.
The TFT LCD connector exposes a parallel data bus driven by the SAM4S SMC (Static Memory Controller); keep the bus traces under 50 mm, match lengths within 1 mm, and place series damping resistors close to the MCU for EMI control. For USB Full-Speed, route D+/D- as a 90-ohm differential pair and keep them clear of switching traces to meet USB compliance.
Compliance Information
Evaluation kit; RoHS and lead-free status inferred from Microchip evaluation-kit declarations. Reach, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status not explicitly stated in the verified web data.