ATSAMA5D21B-CU - ARM Cortex-A5 500MHz MPU, 196-TFBGA | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D21B-CU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14.5 | $14.50 |
| 10 | $13.2 | $132.00 |
| 100 | $11.95 | $1,195.00 |
| 500 | $10.85 | $5,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.8 | $9,800.00 |
ATSAMA5D21B-CU Overview
An MPU (Microprocessor Unit) is a processor-class device that requires external memory and is intended to run a full operating system such as Linux, in contrast to a microcontroller (MCU) which integrates Flash/RAM and runs bare-metal or RTOS. Within the Microchip portfolio, the SAMA5D2 series occupies the low-power, Cortex-A5 MPU tier above Cortex-M microcontrollers and below higher-end Cortex-A7/A53 application processors. The ATSAMA5D21B-CU supports DDR2/DDR3L/LPDDR2/LPDDR3 external SDRAM, plus QSPI and e.MMC flash interfaces, allowing flexible memory architectures for cost-sensitive designs.
Key differentiating features include 5 µA backup-mode current for battery-backed applications, an embedded audio subsystem with Class-D amplifier support, hardware crypto accelerators (AES, SHA, TRNG), secure boot, and tamper detection. The 196-TFBGA package reduces PCB routing complexity versus larger BGA options while still exposing the full peripheral set including dual Ethernet GMAC, dual CAN-FD, USB host/device, and TFT LCD controller.
The architecture is built on a low-power process with extensive clock gating, targeting extended battery life in always-connected edge nodes. The integrated Cortex-A5 core with NEON/FPU accelerates multimedia workloads such as image processing, audio codecs, and HMI rendering, while the deeply integrated peripherals eliminate the need for external components.
Typical applications include industrial HMI panels, smart energy gateways, building automation controllers, IoT edge nodes, low-power Linux gateways, and secure connected devices. The wide memory and peripheral support makes the ATSAMA5D21B-CU a versatile platform for industrial-grade Linux deployments.
When designing with this MPU, ensure the 0.8 mm-pitch BGA is manufactured with via-in-pad or dog-bone fan-out, and that the DDR routing meets JEDEC signal-integrity requirements for the selected SDRAM type. Plan power-rail sequencing per the SAMA5D2 hardware design guide.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in SAMA5D2 alternatives, and practical hardware design notes not collected in a single location by the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D21B-CU — 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 ATSAMA5D21B-CU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Ethernet, USB, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D22B-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D23B-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D27B-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D28A-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$14.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D21B-CUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.56 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D21B-CU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Series | SAMA5D2 |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-A5 |
| Core Count | 1 |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 500 MHz |
| Package | 196-TFBGA (11x11 mm) |
| Ball Pitch | 0.8 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| External Memory Support | DDR2/DDR3L/LPDDR2/LPDDR3, QSPI, e.MMC |
| Co-processors | NEON MPE, FPU |
| Backup Mode Current | 5 uA (typical) |
| Security Features | AES, SHA, TRNG, Secure Boot, Tamper Detection |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 |
ATSAMA5D21B-CU 196-tfbga (11x11 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAMA5D21B-CU (196-tfbga (11x11 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 ATSAMA5D21B-CU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D21B-CU is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial HMI Panels, Smart Energy Gateways, Building Automation Controllers, IoT Edge Gateways, Medical Patient Monitoring, Connected Security Panels, Smart-Lighting and LED Controllers.
Industrial HMI Panels
The ATSAMA5D21B-CU is well suited to industrial HMI panels, where its 500 MHz ARM Cortex-A5 with NEON/FPU runs a Linux framebuffer or Qt/Quick UI smoothly while keeping cost and power low. Its integrated TFT LCD controller drives WVGA panels without an external bridge, and the embedded audio subsystem provides Class-D amplifier support for beep feedback. The 5 µA backup mode keeps RTC and tamper logic alive during power-down, which is critical for factory-automation equipment that must retain time-stamped alarm logs across outages. Industrial grade -40 °C to +85 °C operation matches cabinet temperatures, and the 196-TFBGA allows compact back-of-panel PCBAs with standard 4-layer stack-ups.
Recommended
Smart Energy Gateways
For smart energy and metering gateways, the ATSAMA5D21B-CU delivers the Linux-capable compute required for protocol translation (Modbus, DLMS/COSEM, MQTT) while its dual Ethernet GMACs with IEEE 1588 timestamping provide accurate time synchronisation across HAN/LAN segments. Hardware AES/SHA accelerators offload TLS and encrypted metering data without CPU bottleneck, and the 5 µA backup mode extends battery hold-over during outages. The 196-TFBGA footprint fits within the 70 mm x 70 mm gateway form factor typical of DIN-rail products, and the DDR3L controller supports low-cost commodity memory for cost-sensitive deployments.
Recommended
Building Automation Controllers
The ATSAMA5D21B-CU powers building-automation controllers by consolidating BACnet, KNX, Modbus, and emerging IoT protocols into a single Linux-managed processor. Dual CAN-FD blocks drive building-automation fieldbus expansions, while the Cortex-A5 NEON engine handles audio processing for intercom and public-address subsystems without an external DSP. The integrated crypto and secure-boot blocks satisfy BACnet Secure Communication requirements, and the 196-TFBGA fits inside compact DIN-rail enclosures. Operating range to +85 °C tolerates unventilated electrical closet thermal loads.
Recommended
IoT Edge Gateways
IoT edge gateways leverage the ATSAMA5D21B-CU's Linux capability to aggregate sensor data, run lightweight inference, and forward filtered streams to cloud backends. The Cortex-A5 NEON/FPU accelerates TensorFlow Lite Micro models, while the dual Ethernet and USB 2.0 ports handle broadband uplinks and local sensor mesh. Hardware crypto accelerators secure TLS sessions without overloading the main CPU, preserving headroom for data preprocessing. The 196-TFBGA package integrates into fanless gateway designs where reliability and low BOM cost are both priorities.
Recommended
Medical Patient Monitoring
In patient monitoring peripherals, the ATSAMA5D21B-CU provides Linux-class processing for waveform rendering and alarm logic while keeping power consumption low enough for battery-backed bedside carts. Its embedded audio subsystem enables clear intercom audio between patient rooms and nurse stations, and the integrated TFT LCD controller drives bedside displays directly. Secure boot and tamper pins address HIPAA-aligned equipment-integrity requirements. Designers should perform additional IEC 60601-1 qualification on the end system; this MPU supports the architecture but does not by itself certify the medical device.
Recommended
Connected Security Panels
Security and intrusion-detection panels benefit from the ATSAMA5D21B-CU's low backup-mode current of 5 µA, which keeps the panel alive on backup battery for months without mains power. The tamper-detection pins and secure-boot chain protect against physical and firmware attacks, while hardware AES/SHA secures radio-link encryption for wireless sensors. Dual CAN-FD blocks provide upgrade paths for future expansion modules, and the 196-TFBGA package supports compact wall-mounted enclosures. The -40 °C to +85 °C operating range handles unheated garages and outdoor cabinets.
Recommended
Smart-Lighting and LED Controllers
Architectural LED lighting controllers use the ATSAMA5D21B-CU to drive DALI, DMX512, and emerging Matter-over-Wi-Fi lighting protocols from a single Linux-managed platform. The NEON engine computes colour-mixing matrices and gamma correction at low CPU load, while the embedded audio subsystem synchronises lighting with background music in retail and hospitality deployments. Integrated dual Ethernet supports daisy-chained Art-Net installations over standard Cat5 cabling. The 196-TFBGA fits within the slim 25 mm-wide DIN-rail module footprint common in lighting-control cabinets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D21B-CU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D22B-CU | ATSAMA5D23B-CU | ATSAMA5D27B-CU | ATSAMA5D28A-CU | ATSAMA5D21B-CUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 196-TFBGA (11x11 mm) | 196-TFBGA (11x11 mm) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11 mm) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11 mm) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11 mm) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-A5 | ARM Cortex-A5 - same | ARM Cortex-A5 - same | ARM Cortex-A5 - same | ARM Cortex-A5 - same | ARM Cortex-A5 - same |
| Max CPU Clock | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz |
| CAN-FD Controllers | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2D Graphics LCD | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Image Sensor Interface | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Backup Mode Current | 5 uA | 5 uA | 5 uA | 5 uA | 5 uA | 5 uA |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost SAMA5D2 variant with full Cortex-A5 500 MHz core (vs ATSAMA5D23B-CU)
- 5 uA backup current for battery-backed designs (vs ATSAMA5D28A-CU)
- Pin-compatible family upgrade path (vs ATSAMA5D27B-CU)
Design Notes
The 196-TFBGA package uses a 0.8 mm ball pitch, which requires either via-in-pad (VIPPO) or microvia dog-bone fan-out on a 4-layer stack-up with HDI capability. Estimated: a 1.0 mm finished-via diameter with 0.5 mm capture pad and 0.6 mm solder-mask-defined (SMD) BGA pad is a typical starting point. Per the Microchip SAMA5D2 hardware design guide, escape routing through Row A columns must maintain 50 ohm controlled impedance to the DDR controller.
Estimated: at full 500 MHz CPU load with 1.0 V core and 200 mA core current, the die dissipates approximately 0.2 W; adding typical DDR and I/O power, total board power dissipation is around 1.0-1.5 W. The 196-TFBGA 11x11 mm exposes a thermal pad array; for hot industrial enclosures above 60 °C ambient, provide a copper pour with thermal vias tied to a small heatsink or chassis spreader.
The SAMA5D2 PMIC companion (MIC2800 or similar) must power the MPU rails in the correct sequence: VDD_1V0 (core) first, then VDD_3V3 (I/O), then VDD_DDR (memory). Reverse sequencing can latch the MPU in an undefined state. Backup-battery rail (VBU) feeds the 5 uA RTC domain and must remain present when main rails are off for RTC retention. Refer to the SAMA5D2 hardware design guide for the full power map.
Do not confuse the ATSAMA5D21B-CU (industrial -40 to +85 °C) with the C-variant commercial grade ordering suffix. Boot mode strapping pins must be pulled at the correct logic levels at NRST release, or the MPU may enter USB recovery or JTAG mode instead of normal boot. Always validate boot from QSPI, SD card, and e.MMC paths during bring-up; secure boot mode locks the device to signed images only.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable for industrial-grade MPU; operating temperature -40 °C to +85 °C supports industrial but not automotive qualification.
