ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP - 120MHz Cortex-M4F MCU, 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.92 | $6.92 |
| 10 | $6.23 | $62.30 |
| 100 | $5.54 | $554.00 |
| 500 | $4.98 | $2,490.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.42 | $4,420.00 |
ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP Overview
An ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller is a 32-bit MCU core based on the ARMv7-M architecture that adds single-precision floating-point and SIMD DSP instructions to the standard Thumb-2 instruction set. It sits in the MCU taxonomy between Cortex-M0+ (lowest power) and Cortex-M7 (highest performance); Cortex-M4F specifically targets mixed control + DSP applications such as motor control, audio processing, and sensor fusion. The Cortex-M4 family is widely adopted across consumer, industrial, and IoT designs because it balances deterministic interrupt response, strong code density, and a mature toolchain (GCC, IAR, Keil, MPLAB X).
Key features of the ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP include 256 KB of dual-bank Flash with ECC, 128 KB SRAM with ECC, a 12-bit 1 MSPS ADC, two 12-bit DACs, a high-speed USB 2.0 Full-Speed PHY, up to six SERCOM serial interfaces (each configurable as UART/SPI/I2C), an I2S interface, an on-chip FPU, and a hardware cryptographic accelerator supporting AES and True Random Number Generator (TRNG). The integrated Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) supports capacitive touch sensing, and the Event System enables inter-peripheral signaling without CPU intervention. A 32-bit Real-Time Clock (RTC) and a comprehensive sleep-wake controller with multiple low-power modes (Idle, Standby, Backup, Hibernate, Off) optimize battery life.
Architecturally, the SAM D51 family combines an M-class Harvard bus with a multi-layer AHB/APB matrix, allowing simultaneous DMA-driven transfers on SERCOM, ADC, and DAC peripherals. The dual-panel flash supports live field updates without CPU stall, and ECC on both Flash and SRAM targets industrial and IEC 60730 Class B safety applications. The 120 MHz core plus hardware FPU delivers 150 DMIPS and 273 CoreMark scores, ranking the part among the highest-performance Cortex-M4F MCUs available.
Typical applications include industrial sensor hubs, USB Human Interface Devices (HID), audio playback devices with I2S codecs, low-latency motor-control loops, IoT edge nodes with secure boot, capacitive touch user interfaces, and battery-powered wearables. Designers often pair the device with external SPI NOR Flash for data logging or with a crypto-authentication IC for secure firmware updates.
When designing with this MCU, allocate the integrated PTC channels carefully because they share pins with GPIO and ADC inputs; a pinout conflict between touch sensors and analog measurements is a common prototype-stage pitfall. Also ensure that VDDIO and VDDCORE decoupling follow the SAM D51 datasheet reference layout - poor decoupling is the most frequent cause of USB enumeration failure and brown-out resets at the 120 MHz operating point.
This page synthesizes distributor stock levels, drop-in alternatives, application examples, and practical design notes not collected in any single source - including a side-by-side pin-compatibility matrix for engineers evaluating SAM D51 vs SAM D21 or competing STM32 families.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP 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-MUT-EFP (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Flash Memory, Package, SRAM, DAC.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD51G19A-MUT-EFP
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD51G18A-MF
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.11 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD51G18A-MUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD51G18A-MFT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD51G18A-MZ
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F (32-bit, single-precision FPU, DSP extensions) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (dual-bank, ECC) |
| SRAM | 128 KB (ECC) |
| Package | 48-pin VQFN (7x7 mm) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.71 V to 3.63 V |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 1 MSPS, 16 channels |
| DAC | 2x 12-bit, 1 MSPS |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed PHY (device/host) |
| SERCOM | 6 (each configurable as UART/SPI/I2C) |
| I2S | 1 peripheral |
| Cryptographic Accelerator | AES, TRNG |
| Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) | Yes |
| Event System | Yes (inter-peripheral signaling) |
| RTC | 32-bit with calendar mode |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA02 β GPIO PA02 / AIN0 (ADC input channel 0) |
| Pin 2 | PA03 β GPIO PA03 / AIN1 (ADC input channel 1) |
| Pin 3 | PA04 β GPIO PA04 / VREF / AIN4 (ADC reference) |
| Pin 4 | PA05 β GPIO PA05 / AIN5 |
| Pin 5 | PA06 β GPIO PA06 / AIN6 |
| Pin 6 | PA07 β GPIO PA07 / AIN7 |
| Pin 7 | PA08 β GPIO PA08 / I2S MCK0 |
| Pin 8 | PA09 β GPIO PA09 / I2S FS0 |
| Pin 9 | PA10 β GPIO PA10 / I2S SCK0 |
| Pin 10 | PA11 β GPIO PA11 / I2S SDO0 |
| Pin 11 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply (1.71-3.63 V) |
| Pin 12 | GND β Common ground |
| Pin 13 | PA12 β GPIO PA12 / SDO |
| Pin 14 | PA13 β GPIO PA13 / SDI |
| Pin 15 | PA14 β GPIO PA14 / SCK |
| Pin 16 | PA15 β GPIO PA15 / CS |
| Pin 17 | PA16 β GPIO PA16 / I2C SDA |
| Pin 18 | PA17 β GPIO PA17 / I2C SCL |
| Pin 19 | PA18 β GPIO PA18 / TC0 WO0 |
| Pin 20 | PA19 β GPIO PA19 / TC0 WO1 |
| Pin 21 | PA20 β GPIO PA20 / TC1 WO0 |
| Pin 22 | PA21 β GPIO PA21 / TC1 WO1 |
| Pin 23 | PA22 β GPIO PA22 / TC2 WO0 |
| Pin 24 | PA23 β GPIO PA23 / TC2 WO1 |
| Pin 25 | PA24 β GPIO PA24 / USB D- |
| Pin 26 | PA25 β GPIO PA25 / USB D+ |
| Pin 27 | PA26 β GPIO PA26 / DAC0 |
| Pin 28 | PA27 β GPIO PA27 / DAC1 |
| Pin 29 | PA28 β GPIO PA28 |
| Pin 30 | PA29 β GPIO PA29 |
| Pin 31 | PA30 β GPIO PA30 / SWCLK |
| Pin 32 | PA31 β GPIO PA31 / SWDIO |
| Pin 33 | PB02 β GPIO PB02 / AIN10 |
| Pin 34 | PB03 β GPIO PB03 / AIN11 |
| Pin 35 | PB04 β GPIO PB04 / AIN12 |
| Pin 36 | PB05 β GPIO PB05 / AIN13 |
| Pin 37 | PB06 β GPIO PB06 / AIN14 |
| Pin 38 | PB07 β GPIO PB07 / AIN15 |
| Pin 39 | PB08 β GPIO PB08 |
| Pin 40 | PB09 β GPIO PB09 |
| Pin 41 | PB10 β GPIO PB10 |
| Pin 42 | PB11 β GPIO PB11 |
| Pin 43 | PB12 β GPIO PB12 / XIN32K |
| Pin 44 | PB13 β GPIO PB13 / XOUT32K |
| Pin 45 | PB14 β GPIO PB14 |
| Pin 46 | PB15 β GPIO PB15 |
| Pin 47 | GND β Common ground (analog) |
| Pin 48 | VDDCORE β Internal core voltage regulator output (decouple 1 uF) |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Sensor Hubs, USB Human Interface Devices (HID), Audio Playback with I2S Codecs, Low-Latency Motor Control, IoT Edge Nodes with Secure Boot, Capacitive Touch User Interfaces, Battery-Powered Wearables.
Industrial Sensor Hubs
The ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP is well-suited to industrial multi-sensor hub designs that aggregate data from analog front ends and digital sensors over SPI or I2C. Its 12-bit 1 MSPS ADC handles multiple analog transducers concurrently through the ADC's hardware sequencer, while the six SERCOM peripherals provide independent UART/SPI/I2C channels for sensors such as temperature, pressure, and flow meters. At 120 MHz the Cortex-M4F executes sensor-fusion and digital-filtering algorithms (Kalman, FIR) with cycle-budget to spare, and the 256 KB dual-bank Flash enables secure over-the-air firmware updates without service interruption.
Recommended
USB Human Interface Devices (HID)
The integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed PHY makes the ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP an excellent host for USB keyboards, mice, game controllers, and custom HID peripherals. Microchip's MPLAB Harmony USB stack supports HID, CDC, MSD, and composite classes with ready-to-use examples, dramatically shortening firmware development cycles. The device's 120 MHz headroom leaves CPU bandwidth for descriptor handling, debounce algorithms, and LED animations while maintaining sub-1 ms interrupt latency for HID-compliant devices.
Recommended
Audio Playback with I2S Codecs
The on-chip I2S peripheral combined with the Cortex-M4F's hardware FPU lets the ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP decode and stream compressed audio (MP3, FLAC, AAC) without taxing the CPU. Paired with an external I2S DAC like the TI PCM5102A or AKM AK4554, the design supports 16-24 bit audio at 44.1-96 kHz sample rates. The dual 12-bit internal DACs also support simple beep or alert tones in cost-sensitive designs, eliminating an external codec.
Recommended
Low-Latency Motor Control
Fast deterministic loops are essential for FOC (field-oriented control) of BLDC and PMSM motors, and the ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP's Cortex-M4F core at 120 MHz completes the inner current loop in under 5 us. The 12-bit ADC's 1 MSPS throughput with hardware oversampling delivers the sensing precision needed for sinusoidal commutation, and the six SERCOM channels handle encoder feedback, SPI sensor telemetry, and UART command interfaces simultaneously. The Event System enables deterministic ADC-to-PWM triggering without CPU intervention, critical for smooth torque output.
Recommended
IoT Edge Nodes with Secure Boot
The AES hardware accelerator and True Random Number Generator (TRNG) integrated into the ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP support secure boot, encrypted firmware storage, and authenticated communication at the network edge. Combined with an external ATECC608B crypto-authentication IC, the design provides tamper-resistant firmware verification, key storage, and TLS handshakes. The six SERCOM channels connect Wi-Fi, LoRa, or BLE modules, while the low-power Hibernate mode with RTC wake-up enables years of battery life on intermittent reporting nodes.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interfaces
The integrated Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) lets the ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP drive up to several dozen capacitive touch electrodes without external scan ICs. Mutual-capacitance and self-capacitance sensing modes support sliders, wheels, and matrix keypads with sub-millimeter accuracy, and hardware-driven scan + baseline tracking frees the CPU from constant servicing. Wake-on-touch via Hibernate mode enables <2 uA standby current on battery-powered remote controls and white-goods user panels.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wearables
With multiple low-power modes and an RTC that maintains timekeeping down to a few microamperes, the ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP can power fitness bands, smart watches, and medical wearables on a single coin cell for weeks. The Cortex-M4F DSP extensions accelerate on-sensor motion processing (step counting, gesture recognition) without an external DSP, while the Peripheral Touch Controller handles button + slider input through the same PCB. Industrial -40 to +85 C operating range supports outdoor wearable applications.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD51G19A-MUT-EFP | ATSAMD51G18A-MF | ATSAMD51G18A-MUT | ATSAMD51G18A-MFT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 48-pin VQFN (7x7) | 48-pin VQFN (7x7) - same | 48-pin VQFN (7x7) - same | 48-pin VQFN (7x7) - same | 48-pin VQFN (7x7) - same |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 512 KB (+100%) | 256 KB (same) | 256 KB (same) | 256 KB (same) |
| SRAM | 128 KB | 192 KB (+50%) | 128 KB (same) | 128 KB (same) | 128 KB (same) |
| USB PHY | USB 2.0 Full-Speed integrated | USB 2.0 Full-Speed integrated | USB 2.0 Full-Speed integrated | USB 2.0 Full-Speed integrated | USB 2.0 Full-Speed integrated |
| EFP Flash Process | Yes (industrial grade) | Yes | No (non-EFP) | No (non-EFP) | No (non-EFP) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C (non-industrial) | 0 C to +70 C (non-industrial) | 0 C to +70 C (non-industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended Flash Performance (EFP) industrial-grade flash process (vs ATSAMD51G18A-MF)
- Doubles Flash + 50% more SRAM when scaling up (vs ATSAMD51G19A-MUT-EFP)
- Integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed PHY with host + device modes (vs ATSAMD21G18A-MF (Cortex-M0+ family))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 120 MHz with all peripherals active, the ATSAMD51G18A-MUT-EFP draws roughly 25 mA from VDDIO (3.3 V) plus the internal VDDCORE current drawn through the LDO. Add a 4.7 uF ceramic + 100 nF decoupling pair near each VDDIO pin and a 1 uF X7R on the VDDCORE pin. Insufficient decoupling is the most common cause of USB enumeration failure and brown-out resets at the 120 MHz operating point - follow the SAM D51 reference layout with at least 4 vias per decoupling pad.
Route the USB DP/DM traces as a 90 ohm differential pair with continuous reference ground on layer 2, length-matched to within 150 mil. Place the 27 ohm series termination resistors within 4 mm of the MCU pins and add a TVS diode (USBLC6-2SC6 or similar) close to the USB connector. The exposed thermal pad on the VQFN-48 must be soldered to a ground plane with at least 9 thermal vias for proper heat dissipation.
The Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) and the ADC share several GPIO pins - a common prototype-stage pitfall is to route both touch electrodes and analog signals to the same pin, then later discover they cannot operate simultaneously. Plan the pinout early to separate analog measurements from touch electrodes, or budget a multiplexer for shared pins. Also note that SERCOM instances are software-mapped to specific pin groups; a SERCOM0 channel can use multiple pin sets, so always check the SAM D51 pinout-multiplexing table before finalizing the schematic.
Place the 32.768 kHz crystal within 5 mm of the XIN32K/XOUT32K pins (PB12/PB13), with short traces and a guard ring tied to analog ground. Add the recommended 6-10 pF load capacitors to GND (consult the crystal datasheet for the exact value). For high-speed 120 MHz operation, keep all clock traces short, and avoid routing GPIO lines under the crystal to prevent capacitive loading.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (automotive applications require ATSAMx51 part numbers with explicit automotive grade marking).
