ATSAMA5D33-EK - SAMA5D33 ARM Cortex-A5 MPU Evaluation Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D33-EK ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $645 | $645.00 |
| 10 | $612.75 | $6,127.50 |
| 25 | $580.5 | $14,512.50 |
| 50 | $548.25 | $27,412.50 |
| 100 | $516 | $51,600.00 |
ATSAMA5D33-EK Overview
An evaluation kit (EK) in the embedded development board category is a ready-to-run PCB that integrates a target MPU/MCU, power regulation, debug probe interface, and a full complement of I/O connectors, allowing engineers to write firmware, run benchmarks, and verify peripherals without designing custom hardware. The ATSAMA5D33-EK belongs to the Development Boards & Kits > ARM Cortex-A MPU Evaluation Kits hierarchy, which sits under the broader embedded development tools category.
Key features of the underlying SAMA5D33 MPU include a Cortex-A5 core running up to 536 MHz, 32 KB each of instruction and data cache, 128 KB of internal SRAM, a hardware floating-point unit, and ultra-low-power modes with deep-sleep current below 0.5 mW. The board includes a hardware cryptographic accelerator supporting AES, DES, 3DES, and SHA, plus secure boot and tamper-detection pins.
On the architecture side, the SAMA5D33 integrates an LCD controller with TFT support up to WXGA, an embedded image sensor interface (ISI), a 12-bit ADC, two Ethernet MACs (one Gigabit-capable), three HS USB ports, and a rich set of serial interfaces including UART, SPI, TWI, and CAN. The kit ships with on-board Linux and Qt-based GUI demos plus the SAMA5D3 Softpack C example set to accelerate software bring-up.
Typical applications include industrial control HMI panels, IoT edge gateways with secure communications, smart energy / smart metering terminals, barcode scanners, medical patient monitors, and low-power graphical terminals. The wide peripheral set makes it well-suited for designs that need rich connectivity and graphics on a single MPU.
When designing with this kit, plan power sequencing early; the SAMA5D33 requires specific rail rise times and decoupling on each domain. Verify your final BOM against the latest Microchip errata sheet before committing to production silicon.
This page synthesizes distributor inventory, datasheet specifications, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in a single source on the Microchip product page.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D33-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 ATSAMA5D33-EK (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Product Type, Display Interface, Connectivity, Core Architecture, Ethernet.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D36-EK
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$479.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D4-XULT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$224.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D2-XULT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$72 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D27B-SOM1-EK
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4S-EK2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$260 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D33-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Embedded Evaluation Board |
| Target MPU | SAMA5D33 (ATSAMA5D33) |
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-A5 (32-bit) |
| Core Frequency | Up to 536 MHz |
| L1 Cache | 32 KB I-cache + 32 KB D-cache |
| Internal SRAM | 128 KB |
| Floating Point Unit | Yes (VFPv4) |
| Hardware Crypto Accelerator | AES, DES, 3DES, SHA (ATSAMA5D33 crypto variant) |
| LCD Controller | Yes, TFT up to WXGA |
| Ethernet | 2x MAC (one Gigabit-capable) |
| USB Ports | 3x High-Speed USB (Host + Device) |
| External Memory Interface | DDR2/LPDDR, NAND/NOR flash, SD/MMC |
| Image Sensor Interface | Yes (ISI) |
| ADC | 12-bit |
| Serial Interfaces | UART, SPI, TWI/I2C, CAN, I2S |
| Low-Power Mode | < 0.5 mW in deep sleep |
| Kit Contents | Board, Cables, Power Supply |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMA5D33-EK Interfaces & Connectors
ATSAMA5D33-EK exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Ethernet, USB, Expansion / Buses. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Ethernet | 2x MAC (one Gigabit-capable) |
| USB | 3x High-Speed USB (Host + Device) |
| Expansion / Buses | 12-bit |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D33-EK is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial HMI and Operator Panels, IoT Edge Gateways, Smart Energy and Metering Terminals, Medical Patient Monitoring, Barcode Scanners and Imaging Terminals, Low-Power Graphical Consoles.
Industrial HMI and Operator Panels
The ATSAMA5D33-EK is purpose-built for industrial HMI prototyping thanks to the SAMA5D33's integrated TFT LCD controller capable of driving displays up to WXGA resolution, plus its 12-bit ADC for touch and analog sensing. The Cortex-A5 core running at 536 MHz provides ample headroom for Qt-based or LVDS-style graphical stacks, while the dual Ethernet MAC and CAN bus let engineers wire the panel into factory networks (Profinet, EtherCAT, CANopen) directly. Unlike microcontrollers that require an external graphics controller, the SAMA5D33 places the display pipeline, 2D acceleration, and image-sensor interface (ISI) on-chip, reducing BOM and PCB area for HMI mainboards.
Recommended
IoT Edge Gateways
Engineers building IoT edge gateways leverage the ATSAMA5D33-EK's dual Ethernet MAC, three high-speed USB ports, and hardware cryptographic accelerator (AES/DES/SHA on the crypto-variant SAMA5D33) to terminate TLS, run local analytics, and bridge industrial protocols. The 128 KB of on-chip SRAM plus DDR2/LPDDR expansion supports buffering of sensor bursts before cloud upload, while the sub-0.5 mW deep-sleep mode suits battery-backed installations. Compared with Raspberry-Pi-class SBCs, the SAMA5D33 offers industrial temperature range support and longer-lifecycle silicon, making the EK a credible prototype base for production gateways.
Recommended
Smart Energy and Metering Terminals
The ATSAMA5D33-EK is well suited for smart metering prototypes because the SAMA5D33 integrates a 12-bit ADC for power-quality measurements, hardware AES for secure communications, and CAN/UART for legacy metering buses. The 536 MHz Cortex-A5 runs Linux with mainline power-line communication stacks, while the LCD controller drives local display readouts. The kit's industrial temp-grade components and tamper-detection pins let engineers prototype meters that comply with utility security requirements without a separate secure MCU.
Recommended
Medical Patient Monitoring
Medical patient monitors require deterministic real-time response plus secure data handling, both of which the ATSAMA5D33-EK supports via the SAMA5D33's Cortex-A5 core with FPU, hardware AES for HIPAA-grade encryption, and rich serial interfaces for sensors (SPI, I2C, UART). The integrated image-sensor interface (ISI) accepts camera input for vision-assisted monitoring, while the LCD controller drives bedside displays. Unlike general-purpose SBCs, the EK exposes medical-relevant test points and isolation-aware power domains so engineers can validate IEC 60601-style grounding schemes.
Recommended
Barcode Scanners and Imaging Terminals
The SAMA5D33's image-sensor interface (ISI) directly accepts CMOS sensor data, which makes the ATSAMA5D33-EK an ideal prototyping base for barcode scanners and handheld imaging terminals. The Cortex-A5 with FPU decodes 1D/2D barcodes locally without offloading to a host, while the LCD pipeline drives the operator display. Hardware AES secures scan logs before transmission, and the deep-sleep mode extends battery life between scans - critical for warehouse and retail terminals that operate on shift-long duty cycles.
Recommended
Low-Power Graphical Consoles
Low-power graphical consoles benefit from the ATSAMA5D33-EK's sub-0.5 mW deep-sleep current and integrated LCD pipeline. The SAMA5D33 suspends to backup memory while keeping RTC and tamper logic active, then resumes within milliseconds on user input. Compared with discrete CPU-plus-GPU designs, the SAMA5D33 reduces component count and quiescent current, which is valuable for battery-powered consoles such as portable instrumentation, e-paper info terminals, and field-service tools.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D33-EK — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D36-EK | ATSAMA5D4-XULT | ATSAMA5D2-XULT | ATSAMA5D27B-SOM1-EK | ATSAM4S-EK2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | Evaluation Board | Evaluation Board | Evaluation Board | Evaluation Board | Evaluation Board (SoM baseboard) | Evaluation Board |
| Target MPU | SAMA5D33 (Cortex-A5) | SAMA5D31/33/34/36 | SAMA5D4 family | SAMA5D2 family | SAMA5D27 SoM | SAM4S Cortex-M4 |
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-A5 32-bit | ARM Cortex-A5 32-bit | ARM Cortex-A5 32-bit | ARM Cortex-A5 32-bit | ARM Cortex-A5 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Active (NRND in some channels) | Active | Active | Active |
| Hardware Crypto Accelerator | Yes (AES/DES/SHA) | Yes | Yes | Yes (SAMA5D2x variants) | Yes | No |
| LCD Controller | Yes (TFT up to WXGA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No external LCD controller |
Key Differentiators
- Hardware cryptographic accelerator on the MPU silicon (vs ATSAM4S-EK2)
- Integrated TFT LCD controller up to WXGA (vs ATSAM4S-EK2)
- Broader MPU target coverage on a single board (vs ATSAMA5D36-EK)
Design Notes
Estimated: The ATSAMA5D33-EK accepts an external DC input through its on-board regulator chain. When adapting the reference design for a custom board, sequence the SAMA5D33 power rails per the datasheet - core (VDDCORE), DDR I/O (VDDDIODDR), and peripheral I/O (VDDIO) must rise within the documented window or the MPU may latch up. Place bulk decoupling (10 uF ceramic + 22 uF tantalum) within 5 mm of each rail pin and add 100 nF X7R bypass capacitors at every power pin.
Estimated: The SAMA5D33 at 536 MHz with full peripheral activity dissipates approximately 0.5-1.0 W depending on DDR traffic. The EK PCB provides a copper pour that is sufficient for room-temperature evaluation, but a production board in a sealed enclosure should compute junction-to-ambient thermal resistance from the SAMA5D33 datasheet package section. Add a thermal relief pattern around the BGA if the application runs sustained heavy workloads.
The SAMA5D33-EK is flagged obsolete by Microchip; do not start new production designs against this kit. Use the EK for code migration only and target the ATSAMA5D2-XULT or ATSAMA5D27B-SOM1-EK for new development. Also note that the SAMA5D3 Softpack is frozen - new Linux kernel work targets the SAMA5D2 family, so OS support will erode over time.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance derived from Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable for an evaluation board. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified web data.