ATSAMA5D43B-CUR - ARM Cortex-A5 MPU 600MHz 289-LFBGA | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D43B-CUR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15.62 | $15.62 |
| 10 | $14.2 | $142.00 |
| 100 | $12.85 | $1,285.00 |
| 500 | $11.6 | $5,800.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.45 | $10,450.00 |
ATSAMA5D43B-CUR Overview
What is an ARM Cortex-A5 MPU? An MPU (Microprocessor Unit) is a high-integration processor IC that requires external memory and runs an operating system or a complex firmware stack, in contrast to a microcontroller (MCU) which embeds flash and RAM. The Cortex-A5 core is an ARMv7-A application-class processor, positioned above MCU-class Cortex-M cores and below Cortex-A7/A9 in performance, and it powers the broader category of embedded application processors that sit inside industrial HMIs, gateways, and consumer multimedia devices. The SAMA5D4 family extends this concept with integrated multimedia peripherals (LCD controller, image sensor interface, audio, AES/SHA crypto), placing it in the power-management and application-processor hierarchy above simpler Cortex-M microcontrollers.
Key features of the ATSAMA5D43B-CUR include 600 MHz core speed, a 32-bit DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 memory controller, integrated 2D graphics accelerator, an LCD TFT controller with touch-screen support, 10/100 Ethernet MAC, three USB 2.0 ports, one SATA port, hardware cryptographic accelerators (AES, SHA, TDES, TRNG), and selectable 1.2 V / 1.8 V / 3.3 V I/O voltages. The 128 KB on-chip ROM supports secure boot, and the 128 KB L2 cache accelerates memory-intensive code paths.
Architecturally, the ATSAMA5D43B leverages the Cortex-A5 superscalar in-order pipeline paired with NEON SIMD and a VFPv4-D16 floating-point unit, delivering ~1.56 DMIPS/MHz while keeping power dissipation low enough for fanless embedded enclosures. The integrated 2D graphics engine and dedicated LCD controller enable direct drive of WVGA panels without an external graphics companion IC.
Typical applications include industrial human-machine interfaces (HMIs), building automation panels, point-of-sale terminals, smart-grid gateways, medical patient monitors, and low-power multimedia consoles. The integrated cryptographic block also suits secure connected devices that need TLS offload and secure boot.
When designing with this part, allocate four PCB layers for the LFBGA-289 break-out, route the DDR2/LPDDR2 memory interface with length-matched 50 ohm impedance traces, and provide a low-noise 3.3 V analog supply for the PLL and PHY rails; an external watchdog and supervisor IC are recommended for industrial safety certifications.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D43B-CUR — 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 ATSAMA5D43B-CUR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in USB, Package, Ethernet, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D43B-CU
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View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D43B-CUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-A5 |
| Number of Cores / Bus Width | 1 Core, 32-Bit |
| Maximum Core Frequency | 600 MHz |
| Co-Processors / DSP | Multimedia; NEON SIMD |
| RAM Controllers | LPDDR, LPDDR2, DDR2 |
| Graphics Acceleration | Yes (2D) |
| Display & Interface Controllers | LCD, Touchscreen |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Mbps (1 port) |
| SATA | 1 port |
| USB | USB 2.0 (3 ports) |
| Voltage - I/O | 1.2 V, 1.8 V, 3.3 V |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Security Features | AES, SHA, TDES, TRNG |
| On-chip ROM | 128 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | 289-LFBGA (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel |
ATSAMA5D43B-CUR 289-lfbga (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAMA5D43B-CUR (289-lfbga (14x14 mm) 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 ATSAMA5D43B-CUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D43B-CUR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Human-Machine Interface (HMI), Building Automation & HVAC Gateways, Medical Patient Monitor / Diagnostic Display, Smart-Grid Energy & Metering Concentrator, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals, Connected IoT Edge Gateway.
Industrial Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
The ATSAMA5D43B-CUR drives WVGA LCD panels directly through its integrated 2D graphics accelerator and TFT controller with 4-wire resistive or capacitive touch support. Its 600 MHz Cortex-A5 with NEON SIMD renders LVGL/Qt graphics at 60 fps while running Linux for rich UI animations. The 128 KB secure-boot ROM and hardware AES/SHA accelerators let panel vendors implement signed firmware, which is critical for industrial IP protection and IEC 62443 cybersecurity compliance on factory-floor touchscreens.
Recommended
Building Automation & HVAC Gateways
The 10/100 Ethernet MAC, three USB 2.0 ports, and DDR2/LPDDR2 controller on the ATSAMA5D43B-CUR enable it to bridge BACnet, Modbus, KNX, and Wi-Fi/Zigbee subnets in a single compact design. The 600 MHz core runs open-source building-automation stacks (e.g., openHAB, Home Assistant) while the hardware TRNG and AES engine secure OTA firmware updates. Industrial -40C to +85C rating lets the gateway sit unheated in mechanical rooms.
Recommended
Medical Patient Monitor / Diagnostic Display
The 2D graphics accelerator, high-contrast LCD controller, and -40C to +85C industrial temperature range make the ATSAMA5D43B-CUR a strong fit for medical display panels showing ECG, SpO2, and vital-sign waveforms. Hardware AES/SHA/TRNG accelerators let vendors meet FDA cybersecurity guidance for connected medical devices. The Cortex-A5 NEON engine can run DSP-style filtering on bio-signals directly, reducing the need for a separate DSP chip in compact bedside monitors.
Recommended
Smart-Grid Energy & Metering Concentrator
The ATSAMA5D43B-CUR's hardware cryptographic block (AES/SHA/TDES/TRNG) plus secure boot make it suitable for concentrator nodes that aggregate DLMS/COSEM or IEC 61850 smart-meter traffic. Its DDR2 controller handles large data buffers for sub-metering, while the 600 MHz Cortex-A5 runs a full TLS stack with mutual authentication. Industrial temperature rating and long-term Microchip supply continuity (10+ year longevity) suit utility-grade deployments.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals
The Cortex-A5 at 600 MHz runs Android or Linux POS stacks while the integrated LCD controller drives the cashier display and the second LCD/USB interface drives a customer-facing display. Hardware AES and TRNG support PCI-PTS certified payment flows, and three USB 2.0 ports connect magnetic-stripe readers, NFC readers, and printers without an external hub. The 289-LFBGA package keeps the BOM compact enough for small countertop terminals.
Recommended
Connected IoT Edge Gateway
The ATSAMA5D43B-CUR combines Cortex-A5 processing, hardware crypto, Ethernet, USB, and SATA in a single BGA, making it a complete edge gateway SoC for IoT aggregators. Its NEON engine accelerates on-device machine-learning inference (e.g., TensorFlow Lite Micro), while secure boot and TRNG protect device identities in MQTT-over-TLS fleets. The SATA port enables direct attachment of a 2.5-inch SSD for video buffering or local analytics storage in remote sites.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D43B-CUR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D43B-CU | ATSAMA5D43A-CUR | ATSAMA5D44B-CUR | ATSAMA5D42B-CUR | ATSAMA5D41B-CUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 289-LFBGA (14x14 mm) | 289-LFBGA (14x14 mm) - same | 289-LFBGA (14x14 mm) - same | 289-LFBGA (14x14 mm) - same | 289-LFBGA (14x14 mm) - same | 289-LFBGA (14x14 mm) - same |
| 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-A5 32-bit |
| Max Core Speed | 600 MHz | 600 MHz | 600 MHz | 600 MHz | 600 MHz | 600 MHz |
| Memory Controller | DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 32-bit | DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 32-bit | DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 32-bit | DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 32-bit | DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 32-bit | DDR2/LPDDR/LPDDR2 32-bit |
| Hardware Video Codec | No | No | No | Yes (H.264 / MPEG-4) | No | No |
| Graphics Accelerator | Yes (2D) | Yes (2D) | Yes (2D) | Yes (2D) | Yes (2D) | Yes (2D, reduced) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated 2D graphics accelerator + LCD controller (vs ATSAMA5D2-XULT reference platform)
- Hardware cryptographic accelerators (AES/SHA/TDES/TRNG) (vs ATSAMA5D27B-CUR)
- DDR2/LPDDR2 support for higher memory bandwidth (vs ATSAM4S-EK2 (Cortex-M4 MCU))
Design Notes
The 289-LFBGA at 0.8 mm ball pitch requires a 4-layer PCB minimum with 50 ohm single-ended impedance control on the DDR2/LPDDR2 traces. Use Microchip's SAMA5D4 Xplained Ultra reference design (ATSAMA5D4-XULT) as the layout starting point. Microvia (HDI) construction is strongly recommended; through-hole vias on the BGA fan-out will degrade signal integrity for DDR2 at 200 MHz+ clock rates.
Estimated: at 600 MHz full load with 1.2 V core, the ATSAMA5D43B-CUR dissipates approximately 1.5 W (input values: VDD core 1.2 V, Icore ~1.25 A per datasheet typical). The 289-LFBGA package has a theta_JA around 25-30 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board, giving a ~45 C temperature rise at full load. For fanless industrial enclosures, ensure ambient stays below 60 C; for sealed enclosures add a copper lid or thermal pad to spread heat.
Provide four separate power rails: 3.3 V (VDDANA/VDDPLL analog), 1.8 V (VDD peripheral), 1.2 V (VDDCORE), and 3.3 V backup (VDDBU for RTC). Use Microchip's recommended power-sequence controller (MIC2800 or equivalent) to enforce the VDD12 before VDD18/V33 ramp. Place 100 nF decoupling caps within 2 mm of every VDD pin pair, plus bulk 10 uF + 47 uF near the IC.
Do not skip the external 24 MHz main oscillator load capacitors - the on-chip PLL multiplies this to 600 MHz core, so frequency accuracy and jitter directly affect USB and Ethernet compliance. Also ensure the boot mode pins (BMS, JTAG_SEL) are pulled to valid logic levels at power-up; floating boot pins are a leading cause of 'bricked' boards. For secure boot, program the on-chip ROM fuses before deployment using a signed firmware image.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade -40C to +85C. Not AEC-Q100 automotive qualified - for automotive designs use the SAMA5D2 series with PPAP documentation. 'CUR' suffix denotes Tape & Reel packaging; 'CU' denotes tray packaging.