ATSAMA5D31-EK - SAMA5D31 ARM Cortex-A5 Evaluation Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D31-EK ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $549 | $549.00 |
| 10 | $499 | $4,990.00 |
| 50 | $459 | $22,950.00 |
| 100 | $419 | $41,900.00 |
| 500 | $389 | $194,500.00 |
ATSAMA5D31-EK Overview
An ARM Cortex-A5 based microprocessor unit (MPU) is a high-performance 32-bit application processor that executes a full operating system (typically Linux) with memory management, in contrast to a microcontroller (MCU) which typically runs a bare-metal or RTOS workload. The SAMA5D3 family sits at the top of Microchip's Cortex-A5 portfolio, above Cortex-M4 microcontrollers, offering DMIPS-class performance with sub-mW low-power modes, making it suited for battery-powered graphical terminals as well as line-powered HMI panels.
Key features of the target SAMA5D31 silicon (datasheet Doc ID 11224c) include the ARM Cortex-A5 core at 536 MHz, hardware floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache per way, 128 KB SRAM, 16-bit DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 controller, 24-bit LCD controller up to 1024x768, 10/100 EMAC with IEEE 1588, two high-speed USB 2.0 hosts plus one USB device, two HSIC ports, two CAN-FD, three SSC/I2S, two SPI, two TWI (I2C), a 12-bit ADC, and a hardware crypto accelerator supporting AES, SHA, and TRNG. The evaluation kit exposes all these through headers, the on-module DDR2 memory, NAND/eMMC footprint, audio codec, Ethernet PHY, and capacitive-touch daughter-board connectors.
Typical applications for the ATSAMA5D31-EK include industrial HMI panels, smart-home gateways, point-of-sale terminals, medical patient-monitors, building-automation controllers, low-cost Linux thin clients, and graphical IoT edge nodes. Engineers use the kit to evaluate Linux bring-up, validate LCD + touch + Ethernet throughput, prototype CAN-FD automotive-cluster nodes, and benchmark power modes before committing to a custom PCB design.
When using this EVK, ensure the supplied 5 V adapter is used; higher voltage can damage the on-module regulators. For production migration, footprint-compatible SOM carriers such as the ATSAMA5D2-XULT or ATSAMA5D2B-XULT share pin assignments but use a different SoC variant. Pin-compatibility therefore requires SoC-level matching, not just board-mechanical matching.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D31-EK — 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 ATSAMA5D31-EK (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Ethernet, Core Architecture, Maximum CPU Clock, CAN, Floating Point Unit.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D2-XULT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$72 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D2B-XULT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$142.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D31A-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D31A-CUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$12.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D31A-CFUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S-EK2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$260 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D31-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology (formerly Atmel) |
| Series | AT91SAMA5 / SAMA5D3 |
| Target MPU | ATSAMA5D31 |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-A5 |
| Core Speed | 536 MHz |
| Bit Width | 32-bit |
| L1 Cache | 32 KB instruction + 32 KB data |
| Internal SRAM | 128 KB |
| Floating Point Unit | Yes (hardware) |
| Form Factor | Main board + detachable SAMA5D3 module |
| Operating System Support | Linux (free of charge buildroot / Yocto) |
| Memory Interface | 16-bit DDR2 / LPDDR / LPDDR2 |
| LCD Controller | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 |
| Ethernet | 10/100 EMAC with IEEE 1588, on-board PHY |
| USB | 2x USB 2.0 Host + 1x USB Device |
| CAN | 2x CAN-FD |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead Free | Yes |
| Input Voltage | 5 V DC adapter |
ATSAMA5D31-EK Interfaces & Connectors
ATSAMA5D31-EK exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Ethernet, USB, Expansion / Buses, Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Ethernet | 10/100 EMAC with IEEE 1588, on-board PHY |
| USB | 2x USB 2.0 Host + 1x USB Device |
| Expansion / Buses | 2x CAN-FD |
| Power Input | 5 V DC adapter |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 5 V DC adapter |
Power input and thermal parameters for ATSAMA5D31-EK as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D31-EK is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Human-Machine Interface (HMI), Smart Home and Building Automation Gateway, Point-of-Sale (POS) and Kiosk Terminal, Medical Patient Monitor and Infusion Pump Controller, Low-Cost Linux Thin Client and Edge Node, Automotive Cluster and CAN-FD Telematics Prototype, Graphical IoT Sensor Hub with Local Display.
Industrial Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
The ATSAMA5D31-EK is well suited to industrial HMI prototyping because the SAMA5D31 silicon integrates a 24-bit LCD controller (up to 1024x768), capacitive-touch I/O via SSC/I2S and TWI, and 10/100 Ethernet for plant-floor connectivity. Running mainline Linux (via the Linux4SAM Buildroot or Yocto layer) means engineers can validate QT5 or LVDS GUI stacks on real hardware before committing to a custom carrier. The kit exposes expansion headers for RS-485, CAN-FD, and isolated GPIO that match typical HMI backplane pinouts, shortening the path from prototype to pilot production. Compared with a Cortex-M4 + external display controller, the Cortex-A5 core at 536 MHz leaves ample headroom for fluid touch response and modern web-based operator UIs.
Recommended
Smart Home and Building Automation Gateway
The ATSAMA5D31-EK evaluates a Linux-based gateway that bridges Wi-Fi / Ethernet / RS-485 / KNX-style field buses to a cloud back-end. The SAMA5D31 silicon provides two CAN-FD channels, two TWI (I2C), two SPI, and three SSC/I2S ports, which together aggregate enough sensor and actuator traffic for a typical building-automation controller. The 128 KB on-chip SRAM plus on-board DDR2 allow MQTT, Modbus, and BACnet stacks to run concurrently without external memory pressure. Engineers use the kit's Ethernet PHY and the exposed USB 2.0 host headers to plug in a Wi-Fi/BLE dongle during bring-up, validating the full network stack end to end.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) and Kiosk Terminal
The ATSAMA5D31-EK supports POS / kiosk prototype development because the MPU runs full Linux, supports a touchscreen LCD, a barcode scanner over USB, and a thermal receipt printer over UART or USB, all of which the kit exposes via standard headers. The hardware floating-point unit accelerates encryption for PCI-style secure transaction flows, and the AES/SHA/TRNG crypto accelerator (on the related SAMA5D31-CFU variant) provides tamper-resistant key storage. Sub-mW low-power modes let the terminal drop into deep sleep between customer interactions, satisfying retail energy-budget targets. The free Linux4SAM BSP removes per-seat royalty costs that Android-based POS stacks typically carry.
Recommended
Medical Patient Monitor and Infusion Pump Controller
The ATSAMA5D31-EK validates the SAMA5D31 silicon for medical patient-monitors, infusion pumps, and bedside terminals. The Cortex-A5 deterministic interrupt response combined with mainline Linux means a real-time safety task can run in a PREEMPT_RT kernel alongside a graphical UI. The on-chip 12-bit ADC, plus the SSC/I2S audio interface, captures vital-sign analog front-ends and drives audio prompts simultaneously, while the EMAC delivers HL7 data to a hospital network. The kit's documented EMC and ESD behaviors in the Microchip SAMA5D3 errata document help engineers pre-qualify for IEC 60601-1-2. Production migration uses the same silicon on a custom carrier with reinforced isolation.
Recommended
Low-Cost Linux Thin Client and Edge Node
The ATSAMA5D31-EK serves as a low-cost development platform for thin clients, edge gateways, and on-premises visualization nodes where a full Cortex-A5 Linux stack is overkill for a microcontroller but cheaper than a Cortex-A53 design. With the kit's two USB 2.0 host ports, an HDMI-capable LCD interface, and 10/100 Ethernet, engineers can prototype a Citrix / RDP-style thin client that consumes only a few watts. Edge analytics workloads like TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers run within Linux user-space, and the floating-point unit accelerates light CNN inference at the edge. The sub-mW deep-sleep retention lets idle terminals drop into an always-on wake-on-LAN state.
Recommended
Automotive Cluster and CAN-FD Telematics Prototype
The ATSAMA5D31-EK's two on-chip CAN-FD channels and 24-bit LCD controller make it a useful prototype board for instrument-cluster and telematics designs in non-safety-critical automotive niches. Engineers can run a Linux cluster GUI, ingest CAN-FD vehicle bus traffic at 5 Mbit/s, and overlay vehicle speed / RPM widgets on a 1024x768 LCD, all from one evaluation board. The kit's GPIO fan-out and PWM timers drive backlight brightness and gauge stepper motors without an external MCU. For production migration, the automotive-grade SAMA5D3 automotive variants (with extended temperature screening) carry forward the same BSP and pinout, simplifying certification.
Recommended
Graphical IoT Sensor Hub with Local Display
The ATSAMA5D31-EK is a strong fit for an IoT sensor hub that aggregates Modbus, I2C, SPI, and CAN-FD sensors and renders a local dashboard on an integrated LCD. With the SAMA5D31 silicon's wide peripheral mix and 536 MHz Cortex-A5 throughput, the kit can run Node-RED or a custom Qt dashboard while ingesting thousands of sensor samples per second into on-board DDR2. The kit's 10/100 Ethernet PHY plus USB-Wi-Fi dongle support lets the hub ship data to the cloud while keeping the local UI responsive. Low-power modes reduce standby current to sub-mW, suitable for solar-powered remote telemetry.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D31-EK — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D2-XULT | ATSAMA5D2B-XULT | ATSAMA5D31A-CU | ATSAMA5D31A-CUR | ATSAMA5D31A-CFUR | ATSAM4S-EK2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package / Form Factor | Evaluation Kit (main board + SAMA5D3 module) | Evaluation Kit (SAMA5D2) | Evaluation Kit (SAMA5D2B) | LFBGA-324 silicon | LFBGA-324 silicon | LFBGA-324 silicon | Evaluation Kit (Cortex-M4) |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-A5 (SAMA5D31) | ARM Cortex-A5 (SAMA5D2) | ARM Cortex-A5 (SAMA5D2B) | ARM Cortex-A5 (SAMA5D31A) | ARM Cortex-A5 (SAMA5D31A) | ARM Cortex-A5 (SAMA5D31A) | ARM Cortex-M4 (SAM4S) |
| Core Speed | 536 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 536 MHz | 536 MHz | 536 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Memory Interface | 16-bit DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 | On-package LPDDR2 | On-package LPDDR2 | 16-bit DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 | 16-bit DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 | 16-bit DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 | On-chip Flash + SRAM only |
| LCD Controller | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | Yes | Yes | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | None (no LCD) |
| Operating System | Linux (Linux4SAM / Yocto) | Linux (Linux4SAM) | Linux (Linux4SAM) | Linux (silicon-level) | Linux (silicon-level) | Linux (silicon-level) | Bare-metal / RTOS only |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Obsolete | Active | Active | Active | Active |
| Hardware Crypto Accelerator | Optional (SAMA5D31-CFU variant) | Yes (on-package crypto) | Yes | No | No | Yes (crypto fuse) | No |
Key Differentiators
- Production-migration silicon option in the same SAMA5D31 die family (vs ATSAMA5D2-XULT)
- Active lifecycle vs obsolete (vs ATSAMA5D2B-XULT)
- Full MPU vs MCU class (vs ATSAM4S-EK2)
Design Notes
Use only the supplied 5 V DC adapter; higher voltage can damage the on-module regulators and corrupt the DDR2 memory. The SAMA5D31 silicon's deep-retention mode drops quiescent consumption below 1 mW, but the EVK baseboard has additional always-on peripherals; design custom carriers with a load switch on the USB-VBUS rail to fully realize low-power targets.
The SAMA5D31 silicon dissipates modest power (under 1 W typical) at 536 MHz, so no heatsink is needed for normal evaluation. Estimated: junction rise above ambient is well below 20 C at room temperature on the default EVK. For high-ambient (above 60 C) enclosures, validate with a thermocouple on the LFBGA top-side during sustained Linux benchmarking.
Keep DDR2 traces short and matched within 50 mils on a custom carrier; the EVK reference design uses 50 ohm controlled-impedance routing with length matching on the 16-bit data byte lanes and differential clock pair. Place a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor within 5 mm of the SAMA5D31 power balls, plus 100 nF decoupling on every VDD pin.
Do not confuse the ATSAMA5D31 silicon with the older AT91SAM9 family: the SAMA5D3 uses a different memory controller (DDR2/LPDDR2, not DDR) and a different LCD pipeline. Verify that your Yocto / Buildroot BSP targets the at91sam9 vs sama5d3 machine tree correctly; mismatched device trees are the #1 reason for no-display issues during bring-up.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a development / evaluation board, not an automotive-qualified module. Production users should source the automotive-grade SAMA5D3 variants separately.