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TQFP-100 · ATMEGA2560-16AU
Active8-bit AVR MCU
ATMEGA2560-16AU
Microchip Technology · TQFP-100 · 8-bit AVR MCU
Price on Request
Get a competitive quote within 24 hours. Volume discounts available. Shenzhen stock ships in 1-2 business days.
Overview
The ATMEGA2560-16AU is the biggest member of the megaAVR 2560 family and the microcontroller at the centre of the Arduino Mega 2560, RAMPS-based 3D-printer electronics and a decade of industrial I/O boards. It packs 256 KB of self-programmable Flash, 8 KB of SRAM and 4 KB of EEPROM behind 86 programmable I/O lines in a 100-lead TQFP (14 x 14 mm), and its RISC core executes 135 mostly single-cycle instructions at up to 16 MHz for roughly 16 MIPS. The -16AU ordering code is the 16 MHz grade, specified by Microchip at 4.5 V to 5.5 V; the ATmega2560V-8AU sibling covers 1.8 V to 5.5 V at 8 MHz, which matters if your board is 3.3 V.
Peripheral depth is the reason designs stay on this part. There are two 8-bit and four 16-bit timer/counters, a real-time counter with its own oscillator, four 8-bit PWM channels plus up to twelve programmable-resolution PWM outputs (2 to 16 bits), a 16-channel 10-bit ADC, four USARTs, a master/slave SPI port, a 2-wire (I2C) interface, an analog comparator, JTAG with full on-chip debug and an external memory interface that can address up to 64 KB of external SRAM. Four hardware serial ports alone eliminate most external UART expansion in CNC, printer and telemetry designs.
Supply chain notes: Microchip lists the ATmega2560 as Active with a longevity commitment, and demand is anchored by Arduino-compatible boards, so pricing is stable but the 100-lead TQFP has periodically been allocated during MCU shortages. Counterfeit risk is real and specific: remarked ATmega2560V-8AU parts sold as -16AU (they glitch above 8 MHz), relabelled ATmega1280 dies with half the flash, and pulled chips from e-waste with re-plated leads. Verify with the signature bytes (1E 98 01 for a genuine ATmega2560) plus a flash-size readback, and check laser etching and date-code consistency. MOQ is one tray (90 pcs) or 100 pcs on cut tape for prototyping; Shenzhen stock typically covers 5,000-20,000 pcs with 1-2 day dispatch.
Key Features
- 256 KB Flash, 8 KB SRAM and 4 KB EEPROM with 86 programmable I/O
- Four hardware USARTs plus SPI, 2-wire, JTAG and 64 KB external memory bus
- 16-channel 10-bit ADC and up to twelve programmable-resolution PWM channels
- 100-lead TQFP footprint shared with ATmega1280 and ATmega640 for easy migration
- Proven Arduino Mega 2560 / RAMPS ecosystem and bootloader support
Typical Applications
- 3D-printer and CNC control boards (RAMPS, Marlin, GRBL derivatives)
- Multi-axis motion control, robotics and pick-and-place machines
- Industrial data acquisition racks needing many digital I/O and four serial links
- Prototyping platforms and teaching labs built on the Arduino Mega form factor
- Legacy equipment repair where the original 2560 failed and firmware must not change
Specifications
- Core
- AVR 8-bit RISC
- Max Clock
- 16 MHz
- Flash
- 256 KB
- SRAM
- 8 KB
- EEPROM
- 4 KB
- I/O Lines
- 86
- Supply Voltage
- 4.5 to 5.5 V
- ADC
- 16-channel, 10-bit
- Pins
- 100
- RoHS
- Compliant
Procurement Tips
Put the exact ordering code (ATMEGA2560-16AU or ATMEGA2560-16AUR for tape and reel) on the BOM line rather than the generic part number, and require a signature-byte test report - that single clause removes almost all remarked-part risk on this device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ATMEGA2560-16AU and ATMEGA2560V-8AU?
Identical die and pinout. The 16AU is rated 0-16 MHz with a 4.5-5.5 V supply; the V-8AU is rated 0-8 MHz but works from 1.8-5.5 V. For 3.3 V or battery boards buy the V-8AU. A remarked V-8AU sold as 16AU will run at 5 V but crash or corrupt flash when clocked at 16 MHz, which is the most common counterfeit failure we see.
Can I upgrade an ATmega1280 board to the ATmega2560?
Yes, in most cases. The ATmega1280, ATmega640 and ATmega2560 share the 100-lead TQFP pinout and peripheral map; the 2560 quadruples flash to 256 KB and keeps 8 KB SRAM. You must re-burn the bootloader because the memory map and fuse settings differ, and firmware has to be recompiled for the larger address space (the 2560 uses 3-byte program counters).
Why do 3D-printer boards fail on this chip, and how do I prevent it?
Almost always thermal or supply related. The 2560 draws tens of milliamps itself, but boards pair it with stepper drivers and heaters; a sagging 5 V rail or a linear regulator running hot causes brown-out resets mid-print. Use a proper switching 5 V rail with bulk capacitance, enable the brown-out detector fuse, and keep the TQFP away from stepper driver heat. Also verify the 16 MHz crystal load capacitors match the crystal specification.
How does the ATmega2560 compare with a 32-bit MCU such as the STM32F407?
The 2560 is an 8-bit core at 16 MHz with 8 KB RAM - roughly 16 MIPS and no hardware divide, FPU or DMA. An STM32F407 at 168 MHz with 192 KB RAM and an FPU is an order of magnitude faster and has Ethernet, USB OTG and far more timers. Choose the 2560 for 5 V tolerant I/O, existing Arduino firmware and simple motion control; choose the STM32 when you need closed-loop math, large buffers or networking.
How do I verify that a reel of ATMEGA2560-16AU is genuine?
Read the signature bytes with an ISP programmer (1E 98 01), read back the device ID and flash size, and run a memory walk test across all 256 KB - remarked 1280 dies fail above 128 KB. Physically inspect for laser-etched Microchip/Atmel marking, correct font, matte-tin leads and consistent date codes within the reel. We can supply the lot with a Certificate of Conformance and X-ray inspection on request.
What is the MOQ and lead time?
Prototype MOQ is one tray (90 pcs) or 100 pcs on cut tape. Production orders run 500-2,000 pcs. Authorised Microchip lead time has been 12-26 weeks during allocation; our Shenzhen stock normally ships same or next day for up to 10,000 pcs.
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