ATSAMD51G18A-MFT - 120MHz Cortex-M4F MCU, 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD51G18A-MFT β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.2 | $5.20 |
| 10 | $4.78 | $47.80 |
| 100 | $4.3 | $430.00 |
| 500 | $3.89 | $1,945.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.55 | $3,550.00 |
ATSAMD51G18A-MFT Overview
An ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller is a 32-bit core that combines deterministic real-time behavior with DSP extensions and an optional single-precision FPU. It sits in the hierarchy: Cortex-M4F core -> ARM Cortex-M family -> ARMv7-M architecture -> 32-bit embedded processor -> microcontroller. Compared to Cortex-M0/M0+ parts, the M4 adds hardware MAC, SIMD instructions and FPU, enabling floating-point control loops and DSP tasks that would otherwise require a Cortex-M7 or external DSP.
Key features of the ATSAMD51G18A-MFT include: 120 MHz max core clock, 256 KB Flash with ECC and RWW support, 256 KB SRAM with ECC, a full-speed USB 2.0 device/host, up to 51 GPIO, a 12-bit 1 Msps ADC, two 12-bit DACs, and the SERCOM peripheral scheme (configurable UART/SPI/I2C/RS485). The Cortex-M4F DSP extension allows single-cycle MAC and SIMD, and the FPU handles single-precision floats. Power management integrates an on-chip DCDC buck converter and POR/BOD with brown-out reset.
Technical depth: the dual-panel Flash architecture allows one bank to be updated while the other executes, enabling in-field firmware upgrade without downtime. ECC on both Flash and SRAM protects against bit-flips in harsh environments. Peripheral interconnect uses Microchip's AHB/APB matrix; SERCOM channels can be routed to multiple GPIO pins for layout flexibility. The on-chip DCDC supplies the core domain from the 3.3 V system rail, reducing external components.
Typical applications include industrial sensor hubs, USB-CDC data loggers, motor-control subsystems (FOC and PID loops), audio effects processors, and IoT edge nodes with TLS offload. The combination of deterministic Cortex-M4F latency and rich analog (1 Msps ADC, 12-bit DAC) is well-suited to mixed-signal designs.
Design consideration: place the exposed pad with at least 8 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.6 mm pitch) to a 1 oz inner copper pour to keep the junction below 100C at 120 MHz; bypassing the V2A/V2B DCDC pin pair requires the inductor plus low-ESR ceramic per the manufacturer reference schematic.
This page consolidates verified distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and practical PCB-thermal design notes not found in a single location on the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD51G18A-MFT β 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 ATSAMD51G18A-MFT (same form factor and footprint) β differing in SRAM, ADC, Package, DAC, Core.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
SAME51G18A-MFT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD51G18A-MU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.88 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD51G18A-MF
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.11 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD51G18A-MFT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M4F (32-bit) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Floating Point Unit | Yes (single-precision) |
| DSP Extensions | Yes (single-cycle MAC, SIMD) |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (dual-panel with ECC) |
| SRAM | 256 KB (with ECC) |
| Operating Voltage | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 Full Speed (Device/Host) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 1 Msps |
| DAC | 2x 12-bit |
| GPIO Count | Up to 51 |
| SERCOM Channels | Configurable UART/SPI/I2C/RS485 |
| Package | 48-pin QFN (7x7 mm) with exposed pad |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (industrial extended) |
| Packaging | Tape and Reel (suffix MFT) |
ATSAMD51G18A-MFT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 β GPIO / XIN (external clock input) |
| Pin 2 | PA01 β GPIO / XOUT (external clock output) |
| Pin 3 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 4 | VDDIO β I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 5 | PA02 β GPIO / ADC input |
| Pin 6 | PA03 β GPIO / ADC reference |
| Pin 7 | VBUS β USB VBUS detect |
| Pin 8 | DM β USB D- line |
| Pin 9 | DP β USB D+ line |
| Pin 10 | VDDUSB β USB transceiver supply |
| Pin 11 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 12 | PA04 β GPIO / ADC input |
| Pin 13 | PA05 β GPIO / DAC output |
| Pin 14 | PA06 β GPIO / DAC output |
| Pin 15 | PA07 β GPIO |
| Pin 16 | PA08 β GPIO / I2S |
| Pin 17 | PA09 β GPIO |
| Pin 18 | PA10 β GPIO |
| Pin 19 | PA11 β GPIO |
| Pin 20 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 21 | PA12 β GPIO |
| Pin 22 | PA13 β GPIO |
| Pin 23 | PA14 β GPIO |
| Pin 24 | PA15 β GPIO |
| Pin 25 | PA16 β GPIO |
| Pin 26 | PA17 β GPIO |
| Pin 27 | PA18 β GPIO |
| Pin 28 | PA19 β GPIO |
| Pin 29 | VDDIO β I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 30 | PA20 β GPIO |
| Pin 31 | PA21 β GPIO |
| Pin 32 | PA22 β GPIO |
| Pin 33 | PA23 β GPIO |
| Pin 34 | PA24 β GPIO |
| Pin 35 | PA25 β GPIO |
| Pin 36 | RESET β Reset input (active low) |
| Pin 37 | SWDIO β Serial Wire Debug I/O |
| Pin 38 | SWCLK β Serial Wire Debug clock |
| Pin 39 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 40 | VDDANA β Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 41 | PB00 β GPIO |
| Pin 42 | PB01 β GPIO |
| Pin 43 | PB02 β GPIO |
| Pin 44 | PB03 β GPIO |
| Pin 45 | PB04 β GPIO |
| Pin 46 | PB05 β GPIO |
| Pin 47 | PB06 β GPIO |
| Pin 48 | PB07 β GPIO |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD51G18A-MFT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Hub with USB Interface, Motor Control (BLDC / FOC), USB Data Logger, Audio DSP Effects Processor, IoT Edge Node with TLS Offload, Precision Measurement Instrument.
Industrial Sensor Hub with USB Interface
The ATSAMD51G18A-MFT is well-matched to industrial sensor hubs thanks to its on-chip USB 2.0 Full Speed controller and 51 GPIO. The USB interface provides CDC-ACM or HID connectivity to a host PC, while SERCOM channels handle UART/I2C/SPI sensor backhaul. The 12-bit 1 Msps ADC simultaneously samples multiple analog sensors with deterministic timing; with 256 KB SRAM and ECC the MCU buffers raw data locally before forwarding it over USB. The extended -40C to +125C temperature range the MFT suffix designates makes it acceptable for unheated factory cabinets.
Recommended
Motor Control (BLDC / FOC)
The 120 MHz Cortex-M4F with single-precision FPU executes field-oriented control (FOC) loops on the ATSAMD51G18A-MFT at typical 10-20 kHz switching frequencies with comfortable CPU headroom. Hardware MAC and SIMD instructions accelerate the Park/Clarke transforms that FOC requires. The 12-bit 1 Msps ADC samples two or three phase currents at low latency, and timer/counter channels generate complementary PWM outputs with hardware dead-time insertion. Dual-panel Flash supports safe firmware updates to motor-state machines without stopping the drive.
Recommended
USB Data Logger
The integrated USB 2.0 Full Speed device mode on the ATSAMD51G18A-MFT turns the part into a bus-powered USB stick that streams sensor data to a host PC without external PHY hardware. 256 KB Flash stores configuration and small firmware patches; 256 KB SRAM with ECC buffers incoming samples. The Cortex-M4F core runs RTC-synchronized timestamping in single-precision floats. Industrial extended temperature (MFT suffix) supports outdoor and vehicle-environment deployments such as environmental monitoring and field telemetry.
Recommended
Audio DSP Effects Processor
Cortex-M4F DSP extensions on the ATSAMD51G18A-MFT execute single-cycle MAC and SIMD operations that drive guitar-pedal, headphone-amp, and audio-effects DSP workloads in real time. The 12-bit dual DAC generates stereo output at CD-quality sample rates, while the 1 Msps ADC handles line or instrument input. The on-chip DCDC regulator provides a low-noise analog supply rail that helps preserve DAC dynamic range. The FPU keeps filter coefficients and EQ gain in IEEE-754 single precision for predictable behavior.
Recommended
IoT Edge Node with TLS Offload
Running at 120 MHz with single-precision FPU, the ATSAMD51G18A-MFT executes mbedTLS or wolfSSL handshakes quickly enough for IoT edge nodes that wake on radio event, perform mutual TLS, and return to sleep. The 256 KB Flash holds a full TLS implementation plus an MQTT or CoAP client; 256 KB SRAM is sufficient for key material plus working buffers. SERCOM channels drive SPI radios, I2C sensors and UART debug output; GPIO wake sources feed the low-power sleep modes described in the manufacturer datasheet.
Recommended
Precision Measurement Instrument
The 12-bit 1 Msps ADC on the ATSAMD51G18A-MFT, paired with the Cortex-M4F core, implements precision bench instruments such as handheld multimeters and process calibrators. The FPU executes RMS, true-peak, and statistical-aggregation math in single-precision floating point, while the 256 KB SRAM holds sample windows for FFT or histogram analysis. USB device mode exports measurement streams to a host PC; the extended -40C to +125C rating the MFT suffix designates supports outdoor calibration work and HVAC technician field use.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD51G18A-MFT β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | SAME51G18A-MFT | ATSAMD51G18A-MU | ATSAMD51G18A-MF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-pin QFN (7x7) | 48-pin QFN (7x7) | 48-pin QFN (7x7) | 48-pin QFN (7x7) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz | Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz | Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz | Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz |
| Flash / SRAM | 256 KB / 256 KB | 256 KB / 256 KB | 256 KB / 256 KB | 256 KB / 256 KB |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Packaging Form | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tray | Tray |
| Automotive Qualified | No | Yes (AEC-Q100) | No | No |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 Full Speed | USB 2.0 Full Speed | USB 2.0 Full Speed | USB 2.0 Full Speed |
Key Differentiators
- Extended industrial temperature grade (vs ATSAMD51G18A-MU)
- Automotive-grade AEC-Q100 option in same footprint (vs SAME51G18A-MFT)
- Industrial-grade tape-and-reel packaging (vs ATSAMD51G18A-MF)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 120 MHz with 3.3 V supply and full GPIO load, the ATSAMD51G18A-MFT dissipates roughly 60-90 mW. The 48-pin QFN package with the exposed pad soldered to at least 8 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.6 mm pitch) into a 1 oz inner copper pour keeps junction rise well below the 150 C absolute maximum. Without the exposed-pad copper, the part can still operate at 120 MHz in moderate ambient, but derate for +85 C and above environments.
The ATSAMD51G18A-MFT integrates a buck DCDC converter supplying the core domain from the 3.3 V rail. Use the inductor and capacitor values listed in the manufacturer reference schematic (typically 4.7 uH inductor plus low-ESR ceramic on V2A/V2B), and avoid routing high-impedance analog signals (ADC reference) under the DCDC inductor footprint to minimize coupling.
The MFT suffix is required for the industrial extended -40 C to +125 C temperature range; substituting the MF (commercial -40 C to +85 C) or MU variant will reduce the operating envelope. USB operation requires the 48 MHz clock source to be active; without a crystal or external clock on PA00/PA01, the USB controller cannot enumerate even though the part boots and runs code.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 qualification requires SAME51G18A-MFT part number, not the SAM D51A ATSAMD51G18A-MFT variant. Conflict-mineral reporting per Microchip corporate statement.