ATSAMA5D27A-CNR - 500MHz Cortex-A5 MPU, 289-LFBGA | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D27A-CNR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.45 | $18.45 |
| 10 | $16.85 | $168.50 |
| 100 | $14.2 | $1,420.00 |
| 500 | $12.1 | $6,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.95 | $10,950.00 |
ATSAMA5D27A-CNR Overview
An MPU (microprocessor unit) is an integrated circuit containing a complete CPU core plus memory management hardware, external memory controller, and rich peripherals, distinguished from an MCU (microcontroller) by its reliance on external DRAM for program execution. MPU devices like the SAMA5D2 sit in the embedded system hierarchy between microcontrollers and full application processors, enabling rich operating systems such as Linux while keeping power dissipation and BOM cost low. Within Microchip's portfolio, the SAMA5D2 line targets Linux-based edge nodes, panel controllers, and smart-energy gateways that need more compute than an MCU but do not require the multimedia performance of a high-end application processor.
Key differentiating features of the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR include an Arm Cortex-A5 core with Neon and Media Processing Engine (MPE) extensions, hardware cryptography including AES, secure boot, tamper detection, and a rich peripheral set that includes dual EMAC (10/100 Mbps) Ethernet with IEEE 1588 support, USB 2.0 with HSIC, CAN-FD, and a 24-bit LCD controller with touchscreen. The integrated Graphic LCD (GLCDC) controller offloads display refresh from the CPU, which is critical for HMI applications that need smooth rendering of menus, icons, and animations. The peripheral mix makes the device well suited to connected industrial control panels, smart appliances, and edge-of-network sensor aggregation gateways.
The device is manufactured using a low-power CMOS process and features multiple low-power modes, including a ULP1 retention mode and shutdown mode, enabling battery-backed designs. The 289-ball LFBGA package provides high pin density for the extensive peripheral set, while the -CNR suffix denotes industrial-grade temperature range and Tape & Reel delivery.
Typical applications include industrial HMI panels, smart energy and metering gateways, IoT edge nodes running Linux, medical point-of-care terminals, and connected white goods. The Cortex-A5 core supports Linux distributions available from the Yocto project and Buildroot, with Microchip providing a mainline-based BSP. The on-chip security peripherals suit products that need secure firmware update and tamper-resistant key storage.
When designing with this MPU, allocate PCB area for the external DDR3L/DDR2 SDRAM, ensure the LFBGA reflow profile matches J-STD-020, and provide adequate decoupling on each power rail. Use Microchip's ATSAMA5D27-SOM evaluation kit as a reference for the DDR routing topology, power sequencing, and Linux bring-up. The integrated security IP should be paired with an external secure element for highest-assurance deployments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D27A-CNR — 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 ATSAMA5D27A-CNR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Ethernet, Package, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, External Memory Support.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D27A-CN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$20.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D27B-CNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D27A-CUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$12.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D27C-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D26C-CNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D22A-CNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D23A-CNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D27A-CNR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-A5 |
| Number of Cores | 1 Core, 32-Bit |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 500 MHz |
| Instruction Set Architecture | ARMv7-A with Neon, MPE |
| Graphics Acceleration | Yes (2D Graphics LCD Controller, GLCDC) |
| L1 Cache | 32 KB I-cache + 32 KB D-cache |
| L2 Cache | 128 KB |
| External Memory Controller | DDR2, DDR3L, LPDDR2, LPDDR3, QSPI, e.MMC Flash |
| Display Interface | Keyboard, LCD, Touchscreen (24-bit GLCDC) |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Mbps (1x EMAC) with IEEE 1588 |
| USB | USB 2.0 + HSIC |
| CAN | CAN, CAN-FD (1) |
| Hardware Cryptography | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG, tamper pins |
| I/O Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C (industrial) |
| Package | 289-LFBGA, 14x14 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Delivery Form | Tape & Reel (TR) |
ATSAMA5D27A-CNR Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | VDDIO — I/O supply 3.3 V |
| Pin B5 | VDDCORE — Core supply 1.1 V |
| Pin C9 | DDR_VREF — DDR reference voltage |
| Pin D7 | GND — Ground |
| Pin E3 | DDR_DQ0 — DDR data lane 0 |
| Pin F11 | DDR_DQS — DDR data strobe |
| Pin G6 | DDR_A0 — DDR address 0 |
| Pin H10 | DDR_BA0 — DDR bank address 0 |
| Pin J8 | DDR_CLK — DDR clock positive |
| Pin K4 | DDR_CLK_N — DDR clock negative |
| Pin L2 | DDR_RESET_N — DDR reset (active low) |
| Pin M12 | EMAC1_TXCK — EMAC1 transmit clock |
| Pin N5 | EMAC1_TXD0 — EMAC1 transmit data 0 |
| Pin P9 | EMAC1_RXD0 — EMAC1 receive data 0 |
| Pin R1 | EMAC1_RXDV — EMAC1 receive data valid |
| Pin T7 | EMAC1_MDC — EMAC1 management clock |
| Pin U11 | USB_DP — USB 2.0 data plus |
| Pin V3 | USB_DM — USB 2.0 data minus |
| Pin AA4 | LCD_DAT0 — GLCDC data 0 |
| Pin AB10 | LCD_PCK — GLCDC pixel clock |
| Pin AC6 | LCD_HSYNC — GLCDC horizontal sync |
| Pin AD12 | LCD_VSYNC — GLCDC vertical sync |
| Pin AE2 | CAN1_TX — CAN-FD transmit |
| Pin AF8 | CAN1_RX — CAN-FD receive |
| Pin AG14 | SDMMC0_CK — SDMMC0 clock |
| Pin AH5 | SDMMC0_CMD — SDMMC0 command |
| Pin AJ1 | SDMMC0_DAT0 — SDMMC0 data 0 |
| Pin AK7 | QSPI_SCK — QSPI clock |
| Pin AL13 | QSPI_IO0 — QSPI data IO0 |
| Pin AM9 | NRST — System reset (active low) |
| Pin AN11 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin AP4 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin AR2 | TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin AT6 | TDO — JTAG test data out |
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D27A-CNR is suitable for 8 applications: Industrial HMI Control Panels, Smart Energy Metering Gateways, IoT Edge Nodes with Linux, Connected White Goods and Appliances, Medical Point-of-Care Terminals, Building Automation Controllers, Automotive Infotainment Head Units, Industrial Sensor Aggregation Hubs.
Industrial HMI Control Panels
The ATSAMA5D27A-CNR's integrated 24-bit Graphics LCD Controller (GLCDC) with 2D acceleration makes it ideal for industrial human-machine interface panels running Linux with Qt or LVDS-style UI toolkits. The 500 MHz Cortex-A5 with Neon handles smooth menu transitions and animations while keeping BOM cost low. The -CNR's industrial -40C to +105C temperature grade suits factory floor enclosures, and hardware AES + secure boot enables tamper-resistant firmware. Pair with an LVDS bridge and 7-10 inch TFT for a complete HMI reference.
Recommended
Smart Energy Metering Gateways
The integrated dual 10/100 EMAC with IEEE 1588 precision time stamping, combined with CAN-FD and hardware AES, makes the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR well suited as a metering data concentrator gateway. The Cortex-A5 runs Linux with DLMS/COSEM or smart-meter protocol stacks at 500 MHz while keeping power under 1 W typical. The external DDR3L controller aggregates metering data before uplinking to a WAN modem. Secure boot and tamper pins protect utility-grade deployments per IEC 62443 requirements.
Recommended
IoT Edge Nodes with Linux
The 500 MHz Cortex-A5 with mainline Linux support makes the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR a strong fit for edge-of-network IoT nodes that need container runtimes, MQTT brokers, or local analytics. The QSPI + e.MMC boot path allows fast-boot Linux distros with 1.5-2 second cold-start, while the DDR3L controller handles edge ML workloads. On-chip TRNG plus AES hardware accelerates TLS handshake for secure device-to-cloud links, and the 105C temperature grade suits outdoor IoT gateway enclosures.
Recommended
Connected White Goods and Appliances
Consumer white goods with smart connectivity benefit from the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR's combination of Cortex-A5 compute, integrated touch controller, and rich connectivity. A washing machine or induction cooktop can run Linux for the user interface, control motor inverters via CAN-FD, and uplink to Wi-Fi via companion modules. The secure boot flow protects OEM firmware IP, while the industrial temperature range covers appliance cabinet environments. The GLCDC drives 5-7 inch WVGA TFT panels common in modern appliances.
Recommended
Medical Point-of-Care Terminals
Medical point-of-care terminals benefit from the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR's hardware AES encryption for HIPAA-compliant patient data handling and the Cortex-A5 Linux platform for healthcare application frameworks. The 500 MHz core runs biometric authentication algorithms, barcode scanning processing, and secure wireless links in a compact fanless design. The 105C temperature grade suits clinical environments with strict sanitation thermal envelopes. Pair with a barcode imager and secure Wi-Fi module for a complete POC workstation.
Recommended
Building Automation Controllers
Building automation gateways running BACnet, KNX, or Modbus stacks leverage the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR's Ethernet with 1588 time sync, CAN-FD for HVAC bus, and Linux for supervisory control logic. The Cortex-A5 runs concurrent protocol stacks while the GLCDC powers integrated wall-mounted touch panels. The -40C to +105C industrial range handles unconditioned electrical closet environments, and secure boot prevents unauthorized firmware on commercial deployments. External DDR3L supports large BACnet point-list databases.
Recommended
Automotive Infotainment Head Units
Lower-tier automotive head units and rear-seat entertainment systems can leverage the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR's Cortex-A5 core, GLCDC for cluster displays, and CAN-FD for vehicle network integration. The industrial temperature range and 105C junction support under-dash installations, while secure boot and tamper detection protect vehicle data integrity. Note that for safety-critical clusters, an ASIL-qualified MCU like SAM3X or SAMRH71 should be paired as the supervisory controller, with the SAMA5D2 handling non-safety HMI workloads.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Aggregation Hubs
Industrial sensor hubs aggregating 4-20 mA loops, Modbus RTU, IO-Link, and CAN sensor networks use the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR's rich peripheral set as a Linux-based edge aggregator. The Cortex-A5 runs time-series databases like InfluxDB or TimescaleDB while CAN-FD and multiple UART interfaces handle fieldbus traffic. The hardware AES encrypts uplinks, and the 105C rating suits DIN-rail enclosures. The DDR3L controller handles large rolling buffers for high-rate sensor sampling.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D27A-CNR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D27A-CN | ATSAMA5D27B-CNR | ATSAMA5D27A-CUR | ATSAMA5D27C-CU | ATSAMA5D26C-CNR | ATSAMA5D22A-CNR | ATSAMA5D23A-CNR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 289-LFBGA (14x14 mm) | 289-LFBGA - same | 289-LFBGA - same | 289-LFBGA - same | 289-LFBGA - same | 289-LFBGA - same | 289-LFBGA - same | 289-LFBGA - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-A5 | ARM Cortex-A5 | ARM Cortex-A5 | ARM Cortex-A5 | ARM Cortex-A5 | ARM Cortex-A5 | ARM Cortex-A5 | ARM Cortex-A5 |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz |
| Graphics Acceleration (GLCDC) | Yes (24-bit GLCDC) | Yes (24-bit GLCDC) | Yes (24-bit GLCDC) | Yes (24-bit GLCDC) | Yes (24-bit GLCDC) | Yes (24-bit GLCDC) | Yes (24-bit GLCDC) | Yes (24-bit GLCDC) |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Mbps x1 + 1588 | 10/100 Mbps x1 + 1588 | 10/100 Mbps x1 + 1588 | 10/100 Mbps x1 + 1588 | 10/100 Mbps x1 + 1588 | 10/100 Mbps x1 + 1588 | 10/100 Mbps x1 + 1588 | 10/100 Mbps x1 + 1588 |
| Hardware Cryptography | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG | AES-128/256, secure boot, TRNG |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C (industrial) | -40C to +105C (industrial) | -40C to +105C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (commercial) | -40C to +105C (industrial) | -40C to +105C (industrial) | -40C to +105C (industrial) |
| Delivery Form | Tape & Reel (TR) | Tray | Tape & Reel (TR) | Tape & Reel (TR) | Tray | Tape & Reel (TR) | Tape & Reel (TR) | Tape & Reel (TR) |
| Silicon Revision | Revision A | Revision A | Revision B | Revision A | Revision C | Revision C (D26) | Revision A (D22) | Revision A (D23) |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade in same package as commercial variant (vs ATSAMA5D27A-CUR)
- Revision C silicon with errata fixes (vs ATSAMA5D27B-CNR)
- Full peripheral set including dual EMAC with IEEE 1588 (vs ATSAMA5D26C-CNR)
- Mainline Linux support with Yocto Buildroot BSP (vs ATSAM4S series MPUs)
- Tape & Reel packaging for high-volume SMT (vs ATSAMA5D27A-CN)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 500 MHz full Cortex-A5 load with all peripherals active, the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR dissipates approximately 0.5 to 0.8 W typical. The 289-LFBGA package has theta_JA around 25 C/W on a standard 4-layer JEDEC PCB, resulting in a junction temperature rise of 12-20C above ambient at typical loads. For enclosed designs with limited airflow, use thermal vias under the BGA thermal pad and consider 6-layer PCB with dedicated ground plane for heat spreading.
The 289-LFBGA package uses 0.8 mm ball pitch with 14x14 mm body; PCB land pattern must follow Microchip's package mechanical drawing in the ATSAMA5D27 datasheet. Use microvia-in-pad or stacked-via escape for the inner BGA rows to route DDR signals cleanly. Match trace lengths for DDR3L byte lanes within +/-25 mil and maintain 100 ohm differential impedance for DDR clock pairs. Use Microchip's ATSAMA5D27-SOM reference design as the golden PCB layout for the DDR topology.
Do not boot the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR without valid DDR3L/DDR2 initialization - the ROM bootloader requires specific DDR timings in the boot configuration header. Ensure the boot configuration pins (BMS, JTAG_SEL, etc.) are pulled correctly before NRST deassertion. The secure boot flow requires the customer key to be programmed into the eFuse before locked production deployment - verify the OTP bits are readable/writable in your production flow.
Sequence the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR power rails in the order VDD_3V3 -> VDD_1V8 -> VDD_1V1 (core) per the datasheet power sequence diagram. Hold NRST low until all rails are stable, then release after the 32 kHz crystal oscillator is settled. The integrated power management IC should provide undervoltage lockout (UVLO) on each rail to prevent partial-power operation. Use a dedicated LDO for the analog PLL supply to minimize jitter on DDR clocks.
The Cortex-A5 core and DDR3L controller on the ATSAMA5D27A-CNR generate significant SSO (simultaneous switching output) noise on the 3.3V rail. Decouple each BGA power pin pair with 100 nF ceramic + bulk 4.7 uF ceramic, placed as close as the BGA escape pattern allows. Reference the Microchip application note AN_32153 on PCB layout for SAMA5D2 for the full SSO mitigation guidance. Place the DDR termination VTT regulator adjacent to the DDR memory, not at the MPU end of the bus.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Green LFBGA package is lead-free solder ball. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified web data. AEC-Q100 not applicable - SAMA5D2 family is industrial-grade, not automotive-qualified.
