ATSAMA5D34-EK - SAMA5D34 Cortex-A5 536MHz Evaluation Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D34-EK ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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ATSAMA5D34-EK Overview
An evaluation board in this category is a complete hardware reference design that integrates a target processor, memory, power, debug, and peripheral interfaces so engineers can validate firmware and bring up board support packages without producing a custom PCB. The ATSAMA5D34-EK specifically targets the ultra-low-power SAMA5D3 MPU family, which is positioned between microcontrollers and application processors for connected and graphical embedded products requiring deterministic real-time behavior plus high-level operating systems.
Key features of the platform include 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0 device and host, LCD support, image sensor interface, CAN, SD card, audio, JTAG, and a SODIMM-200 CPU module (CM) socket that allows the SAMA5D34 module to be swapped for SAMA5D31, D33, D35, or D36 variants. The kit ships with cables, a power supply, and a display module, reducing time-to-first-boot for Linux and bare-metal developers.
The reference design follows Atmel's SODIMM-200 interposer convention, isolating the processor, DDR2, and boot media on a small CM board connected to a feature-rich main board through a standard 200-pin edge. This separation lets teams reuse the same baseboard across the SAMA5D3 family and shortens hardware iteration when migrating between SKUs.
Typical applications include Linux-based HMI prototypes, IoT gateways, industrial control panels, medical device touchscreens, and smart energy terminals. The Cortex-A5 with floating-point unit accelerates graphical stacks such as Qt and Weston, while the wide peripheral set reduces external component count.
When selecting this kit, verify that your target volume production part is the ATSAMA5D34 (324-BGA) and that the SODIMM-200 carrier accommodates signal integrity for DDR2 at the chosen frequency. The kit is intended for software evaluation rather than as a reference for high-volume layout.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D34-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 ATSAMA5D34-EK (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Ethernet, Series, RoHS Status, Maximum CPU Clock, CAN.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D34A-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D34A-CUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D2-XULT
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View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D2B-XULT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →ATSAM4S-EK2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D34-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Target Processor | SAMA5D34 (AT91SAMA5) ARM Cortex-A5 |
| CPU Core | ARM Cortex-A5 32-bit |
| CPU Maximum Frequency | 536 MHz |
| Internal SRAM | 128 KB |
| L1 Cache | 32 KB instruction + 32 KB data |
| Floating Point Unit | Yes |
| On-board RAM | 512 MB DDR2 |
| On-board Storage | 64 KB EEPROM + 4 MB/16 MB/256 MB Flash (Serial DataFlash/NAND/NOR) |
| CPU Module Interface | SODIMM-200 socket |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Mbps |
| USB | USB 2.0 Host and Device |
| Display Support | LCD interface via main board |
| Image Sensor Interface | Yes |
| CAN | Yes |
| Audio | Yes (on-board codec) |
| Debug Interface | JTAG |
| Kit Contents | Main board, CPU module with SAMA5D34, display module, cables, power supply |
| Board Type | Embedded Evaluation Board (32-bit MCU) |
| Series | AT91SAMA5 / SAMA5D3 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMA5D34-EK Interfaces & Connectors
ATSAMA5D34-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 | 10/100 Mbps |
| USB | USB 2.0 Host and Device |
| Expansion / Buses | Yes |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D34-EK is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial HMI Prototype, IoT Gateway Reference Design, Smart Energy Terminal Development, Medical Touchscreen Bring-Up, POS and Retail Terminal Prototype, Connected Home Gateway / Wearable Hub, Linux Driver and BSP Development.
Industrial HMI Prototype
The ATSAMA5D34-EK's 536 MHz Cortex-A5 with FPU and integrated LCD controller makes it ideal for industrial HMI prototyping on Qt or Weston. The on-board 512 MB DDR2 holds a typical Linux rootfs plus a modest graphical stack, while the SODIMM-200 CM interface lets engineers swap in a SAMA5D36 module for more demanding graphics without reworking the carrier. Compared to an MCU-only platform like SAM4S, the kit can run a full graphical environment and decode video streams.
Recommended
IoT Gateway Reference Design
For IoT gateway prototyping, the ATSAMA5D34-EK provides 10/100 Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, multiple Flash options, and CAN for industrial upstream connections. Running Linux on the Cortex-A5 lets developers implement MQTT brokers, TLS stacks, and edge analytics without resorting to an external SOM, while still benefiting from the kit's regulated power and JTAG debug. Engineers porting to production can migrate to the ATSAMA5D34A-CU BGA part for the same on-chip peripherals.
Recommended
Smart Energy Terminal Development
Smart energy terminals require deterministic behavior, secure boot, and a Linux-capable processor, all of which the ATSAMA5D34-EK supplies. The 536 MHz Cortex-A5 runs metering firmware and TLS alongside a real-time event handler, while CAN and 10/100 Ethernet carry metering bus and backhaul traffic. Migrating from this kit to a SAMA5D34A-CU in volume preserves the on-chip crypto and watchdog peripherals used in DLMS/COSEM stacks.
Recommended
Medical Touchscreen Bring-Up
The ATSAMA5D34-EK is used by medical OEMs to bring up touchscreen UI prototypes with capacitive overlays and image sensor inputs. Its LCD and image sensor interfaces eliminate the need for separate graphics boards, and the Cortex-A5's NEON-equivalent SIMD path accelerates medical imaging preprocessing in software. Production teams can later transfer validated firmware to the ATSAMA5D34A-CU processor while reusing the CM board schematic.
Recommended
POS and Retail Terminal Prototype
Retail POS prototypes leverage the ATSAMA5D34-EK for its LCD, audio codec, and USB host ports that drive printers, scanners, and payment peripherals. Running Linux on the Cortex-A5 with 512 MB DDR2 is sufficient for OpenSSL-secured payment flows, and the kit's JTAG simplifies kernel debugging for PCI-PTS validation cycles. For higher-volume POS designs the SAMA5D2-XULT evaluation kit or SAMA5D24A-CU BGA part offers a logical migration path.
Recommended
Connected Home Gateway / Wearable Hub
Wearable computing and home hubs benefit from the SAMA5D3 family's ultra-low-power modes plus the ATSAMA5D34-EK's peripheral diversity. The kit's SPI Serial DataFlash provides a trusted boot anchor, while the Ethernet and USB controllers offload connectivity tasks from the application. Lab engineers evaluating wearability can use this kit to measure power states before finalizing on a SAMA5D2B-based custom board.
Recommended
Linux Driver and BSP Development
The ATSAMA5D34-EK is widely used as a Linux driver and BSP validation platform because all SAMA5D3x CM boards share the same carrier. Engineers developing NAND, USB, or display drivers can build once and validate across SAMA5D31, D33, D34, D35, and D36 modules without modifying the baseboard, dramatically reducing QA scope. Microchip's linux4sam kernel tree and ATSAMA5D2-XULT derivative kits keep driver code re-usable for newer SoCs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D34-EK — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D34A-CU | ATSAMA5D34A-CUR | ATSAMA5D2-XULT | ATSAMA5D2B-XULT | ATSAM4S-EK2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | Evaluation Kit (Main board + SODIMM-200 CM board) | 324-BGA (production silicon) | 324-BGA (production silicon, T&R) | Evaluation Kit (XULT form factor) | Evaluation Kit (XULT form factor) | Evaluation Kit (EK2 form factor) |
| Target Processor | SAMA5D34 Cortex-A5 | SAMA5D34A Cortex-A5 | SAMA5D34A Cortex-A5 | SAMA5D2 Cortex-A5 | SAMA5D2B Cortex-A5 | SAM4S Cortex-M4 |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 536 MHz | 536 MHz | 536 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Floating Point Unit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (single-precision FPU optional on some parts) |
| On-board RAM | 512 MB DDR2 | External DDR2/LPDDR (designer-dependent) | External DDR2/LPDDR (designer-dependent) | DDR3/LPDDR2 on board | DDR3/LPDDR2 on board | External SRAM (smaller footprint) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
| Linux BSP Available | Yes (linux4sam) | Yes (linux4sam) | Yes (linux4sam) | Yes (linux4sam) | Yes (linux4sam) | No (bare-metal / RTOS) |
Key Differentiators
- SODIMM-200 CM socket shared across the entire SAMA5D3 family (vs ATSAMA5D2-XULT)
- Bundled display module and audio codec for ready-to-run HMI evaluation (vs ATSAM4S-EK2)
- On-board DDR2 plus multiple Flash footprints (EEPROM, Serial DataFlash, NAND, NOR) (vs ATSAMA5D2B-XULT)
Design Notes
Because the ATSAMA5D34-EK is Obsolete per Octopart as of 2026-09-21, do not commit it as a long-term reference for new programs. Use it only for short-term lab bring-up, BSP validation, or sustaining engineering, and migrate production designs to the ATSAMA5D34A-CU 324-BGA silicon or to the SAMA5D2-XULT evaluation kit for active firmware work.
Estimated: The SODIMM-200 CPU module socket isolates the processor and DDR2 memories from the carrier, so length-matching for DDR2 is fully contained on the CM board. For custom baseboards targeting the ATSAMA5D34A-CU, follow Microchip's DDR2 routing guidelines (50 ohm single-ended, matched 0.5 mm trace pitch, 4-layer stack-up) to maintain signal integrity at 200 MHz clock.
The kit ships with a regulated 5 V supply feeding on-board DC-DC converters; downstream rails (1.8 V, 3.3 V, VDDANA) come from the carrier. When designing a production SAMA5D34A-CU board, allocate at least 1.5 W of headroom on the 1.0 V core supply for worst-case load transients, and add bulk capacitance on the VDDIO rail to handle CM module plug events without rail droop.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance carried over from Microchip's SAMA5D3 family part pages. AEC-Q100 is not applicable for evaluation kits. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations are not present in the verified data and are marked unknown.