ATSAMA5D23A-CN - 500MHz Cortex-A5 MPU, 196-TFBGA | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D23A-CN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14.5 | $14.50 |
| 10 | $13.2 | $132.00 |
| 100 | $11.85 | $1,185.00 |
| 500 | $10.4 | $5,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.15 | $9,150.00 |
ATSAMA5D23A-CN Overview
A microprocessor unit (MPU) such as the ATSAMA5D23A-CN is a system-on-chip (SoC) class processor that executes an operating system (typically Linux) and orchestrates all system peripherals, in contrast to a microcontroller (MCU) that usually runs bare-metal or RTOS firmware. The SAMA5D2 family sits at the mid-range of Microchip's Cortex-A5 portfolio, positioned between low-cost ARM9 SAM9 parts and the higher-end SAMA7 A7 series. Within the family, the ATSAMA5D23A variants add 1x EMAC (Gigabit), 1x CAN-FD, and a richer peripheral set versus the smaller SAMA5D21/22 siblings.
Key features include ARM Cortex-A5 core with NEON and FPU, 32 KB instruction cache + 32 KB data cache, dual 16-bit DDR2/DDR3/LPDDR/LPDDR2 controller with 16-bit bus, hardware crypto accelerator (AES, SHA, TRNG), and a Low Power modes architecture that supports <1 mA retention current. The chip supports industrial temperature range -40C to +85C and operates from a 1.2V core / 1.8V DDR / 3.3V I/O supply triple-rail.
Typical applications include industrial HMI panels, smart-building gateways, barcode scanners, medical patient monitors, point-of-sale terminals, IoT edge gateways, and Linux-based display terminals. The integrated LCD controller (up to WXGA 1280x768) and 24-bit digital video parallel interface make it a strong fit for graphical HMIs requiring LVDS/RGB bridges.
Design consideration: this part is supplied in a fine-pitch 196-TFBGA package requiring 4-layer PCB with controlled-impedance routing for the DDR2/DDR3 interface, plus careful decoupling strategy (per datasheet - typically 100nF + 4.7uF + 47uF across all rails). The 1.2V core rail must ramp before the 1.8V DDR rail per power-on sequencing specification.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing snapshots, parametric comparison with same-family SAMA5D2 siblings, and PCB-level design notes not always captured in the standalone datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D23A-CN — 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 ATSAMA5D23A-CN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Ethernet, USB, CAN.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D23B-CN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D22A-CN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D22A-CNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D21C-CUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D21B-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D27C-D5M-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$30.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D23A-CN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-A5 (32-bit) with NEON and FPU |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 500 MHz |
| Instruction Cache | 32 KB |
| Data Cache | 32 KB |
| Internal SRAM | 128 KB |
| Internal ROM | 160 KB (bootloader/at91bootstrap) |
| External Memory Bus | 16-bit DDR2/DDR3/LPDDR/LPDDR2 |
| Package | 196-ball TFBGA (CN suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (SMD/SMT) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Supply Voltage - Core | 1.2 V |
| Supply Voltage - I/O | 3.3 V |
| Supply Voltage - DDR | 1.8 V |
| LCD Controller | Yes (up to 1280x768 WXGA, 24-bit RGB/LVDS bridge) |
| Ethernet | 1x Gigabit EMAC |
| USB | USB 2.0 Host + Device + HSIC |
| CAN | 1x CAN-FD |
| Cryptography | AES, SHA-256, TRNG |
| RoHS | Compliant |
| Series | SAMA5D2 |
ATSAMA5D23A-CN 196-ball tfbga (cn suffix) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAMA5D23A-CN (196-ball tfbga (cn suffix) 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 ATSAMA5D23A-CN.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D23A-CN is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial HMI Panels, Smart-Building Edge Gateways, Medical Patient Monitoring Terminals, Barcode and 2D Scanner Terminals, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals, Linux-Based Display Terminals.
Industrial HMI Panels
The ATSAMA5D23A-CN fits industrial HMI panels because its integrated LCD controller drives up to 1280x768 WXGA at 24-bit RGB, and the 500 MHz Cortex-A5 with NEON+FPU handles Qt/GTK Linux graphical stacks smoothly. The Gigabit EMAC enables fast PLC communication over EtherCAT or PROFINET slave interfaces, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature range supports factory-floor deployment. Its 128 KB on-chip SRAM keeps bootloader latency low while the DDR2/DDR3 controller supports up to 1 GB of external RAM for complex UI assets.
Recommended
Smart-Building Edge Gateways
The ATSAMA5D23A-CN is well suited for smart-building edge gateways because the Gigabit EMAC supports high-throughput uplinks, the 1x CAN-FD integrates with building-automation buses (BACnet, KNX/TP), and the hardware AES/SHA/TRNG accelerate secure MQTT/TLS sessions to cloud brokers. The Cortex-A5 with NEON handles JSON/XML/HTTP protocol parsing efficiently, and the rich USB 2.0 + HSIC host port accepts Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Zigbee module dongles. Industrial temperature rating allows mounting in unheated electrical closets.
Recommended
Medical Patient Monitoring Terminals
The ATSAMA5D23A-CN suits medical patient monitoring terminals because the Cortex-A5 with hardware crypto ensures HIPAA-compliant encrypted data at rest, the LCD controller drives high-resolution clinical displays, and the Gigabit EMAC streams waveform data to central stations with low latency. The integrated LCD up to 1280x768 is sufficient for multi-parameter displays (ECG/SpO2/BP). The industrial temperature range covers typical clinical environments; for IEC 60601-1 compliance, add isolation barriers on USB and Ethernet ports.
Recommended
Barcode and 2D Scanner Terminals
The ATSAMA5D23A-CN fits 1D/2D barcode scanner terminals because the 500 MHz Cortex-A5 with NEON executes image-processing pipelines for code decoding (ZBar, custom OpenCV-based decoders) in real time, the camera interface accepts MIPI-CSI or parallel image sensors, and the USB 2.0 host port attaches handheld scanner sleds. The hardware TRNG enables cryptographic signing of scanned asset tags, and the industrial temperature rating supports warehouse and cold-storage environments down to -40C.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals
The ATSAMA5D23A-CN is appropriate for POS terminals because the ARM Cortex-A5 with NEON handles EMV contactless transaction stacks and TLS encryption, the integrated LCD controller drives the cashier touchscreen, and the hardware AES engine accelerates PCI-PTS point-to-point encryption for card readers. Gigabit Ethernet provides fast backend synchronization, while USB 2.0 + HSIC accepts receipt printers, cash drawers, and NFC readers. Industrial temperature range supports outdoor and kiosk deployments.
Recommended
Linux-Based Display Terminals
The ATSAMA5D23A-CN supports Linux-based display terminals because it runs mainline Linux4sam kernel with mature Yocto and Buildroot BSPs, the 500 MHz Cortex-A5 with FPU provides sufficient performance for Qt Quick and WebKitGTK rendering, and the integrated LCD controller eliminates the need for an external display bridge chip. The DDR2/DDR3 interface supports up to 1 GB of RAM, sufficient for browser-based terminals and digital signage. Industrial temperature rating suits factory and outdoor kiosks.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D23A-CN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D23B-CN | ATSAMA5D22A-CN | ATSAMA5D22A-CNR | ATSAMA5D21C-CUR | ATSAMA5D21B-CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 196-TFBGA (CN) | 196-TFBGA (same) | 196-TFBGA (same) | 196-TFBGA (same) | 196-TFBGA (same) | 196-TFBGA (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz |
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-A5 + NEON + FPU | ARM Cortex-A5 + NEON + FPU | ARM Cortex-A5 + NEON + FPU | ARM Cortex-A5 + NEON + FPU | ARM Cortex-A5 + NEON + FPU | ARM Cortex-A5 + NEON + FPU |
| Internal SRAM | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| Ethernet MAC | 1x Gigabit EMAC | 1x Gigabit EMAC | 1x 10/100 EMAC | 1x 10/100 EMAC | 1x 10/100 EMAC | 1x 10/100 EMAC |
| CAN Interface | 1x CAN-FD | 1x CAN-FD | None | None | None | None |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Unit Price (qty 100) | $11.85 | $11.85 (similar) | Lower (-15%) | Lower (-15%) | Lower (-25%) | Lower (-30%) |
Key Differentiators
- Gigabit EMAC + CAN-FD combination (vs ATSAMA5D22A-CN)
- B silicon revision drop-in upgrade (vs ATSAMA5D23B-CN)
- Higher peripheral integration than D21 series (vs ATSAMA5D21C-CUR)
Design Notes
The ATSAMA5D23A-CN requires three supply rails: 1.2V (core), 1.8V (DDR2/LPDDR interface) or 1.5V/1.35V for DDR3L, and 3.3V (I/O). Power-on sequencing per Microchip datasheet DS60001476 requires the 1.2V core rail to ramp first or simultaneously with the 1.8V DDR rail; reverse sequencing can latch-up the part. Estimated: a 500 MHz Linux workload draws approximately 250 mA on the 1.2V core rail (300 mW), so design the LDO/DC-DC for at least 500 mA peak capability to account for startup inrush and Cortex-A5 peak loads.
The 196-ball TFBGA package (0.65 mm ball pitch) requires a 4-layer PCB minimum with 0.4 mm microvia technology for fan-out. Place decoupling capacitors on the bottom side directly under the BGA ball rows; per the SAMA5D2 datasheet, use 100nF X7R on every VDDCDCx ball, plus 4.7uF X5R bulk caps on VDDCORE, and a 47uF tantalum/polymer on the 3.3V rail. Route the DDR2/DDR3 byte lanes with length-matching within 25 mils and 90 ohm differential impedance for clock.
Route the DDR2/DDR3 interface with controlled impedance: 50-ohm single-ended for data/address/control, 100-ohm differential for clock (CK/CK#). Match the DQ byte-lane lengths within 50 mils and the CK-to-DQS skew within 100 mils. Keep the DDR PHY region free of digital switching signals to avoid crosstalk. Estimated: DDR3-1066 operation at 533 MHz clock requires length matching tighter than what generic routing tools provide; use the SAMA5D2 Xplained reference PCB layout as a starting point.
Do not omit the external 32.768 kHz low-frequency crystal on the SAMA5D23A-CN; the slow-clock oscillator is required for RTC and low-power modes. Boot from QSPI flash requires the boot configuration fuses to be programmed via the Secure Fuse Controller; misconfiguration can brick the part. Avoid running the Cortex-A5 above 500 MHz without ensuring the SoC thermal envelope stays below 85C junction - the part has no internal thermal sensor for automatic throttling. Always design a watchdog supervisor to recover from Linux kernel hangs.
The 500 MHz Cortex-A5 core and DDR2/DDR3 interface generate significant EMI in the 100-800 MHz range. Use spread-spectrum clocking on the DDR clock source (most DDR3 PHY clock generators support this) to reduce peak emissions by 5-10 dB. Place a common-mode choke on the Gigabit EMAC lines and the USB 2.0 differential pairs. For CE/FCC Class B compliance, add ferrite beads on power rails entering the SoC and consider a shield can over the DDR region.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this part targets industrial-grade applications; AEC-Q100 variants are not offered in the SAMA5D2 family.
