ATmega328P-PU microcontroller​ Introduction

ATmega328P-PU is an 8-bit microcontroller manufactured by Microchip Technology (formerly Atmel). It is widely used in embedded systems and development boards, especially on the Arduino platform. It is very popular and suitable for entry-level and intermediate developers.

ATmega328P-PU package

DIP-28: through-hole package, suitable for manual soldering

Also available in other package forms, such as TQFP and MLF

ATmega328P-PU development environment

Development platform: ATmega328P-PU is commonly used in Arduino development boards (such as Arduino Uno) and can be programmed in the Arduino IDE.

Programming language: Supports C and C++ programming languages

Bootloader: Built-in Bootloader simplifies the program upload process (via serial interface)

ATmega328P-PU application scenarios

Embedded system development

Arduino projects (such as sensor control, robotics, LED light control, etc.)

Home automation equipment

Portable electronic devices

ATmega328P-PU I/O Pins

Total number of pins: 28 (for DIP-28 package, PU is a through-hole package)

Digital input/output pins: 23, of which 6 support PWM output (in some configurations)

Analog input pins: 6, maximum input voltage is 5V, precision is 10 bits

Serial communication: 1 USART, for UART communication

SPI and I2C: support SPI and I2C communication

ATmega328P-PU Datasheet

ATMEGE328P-PU PDF Datasheet

LIS3DHTR Similar or Alternative

Product comparison

ATmega328P-PU vs ATmega48A-PU vs ATmega88PA-PU vs ATmega88A-PU Comparison

Feature	ATmega328P-PU	ATmega48A-PU	ATmega88PA-PU	ATmega88A-PU
Image
Manufacturer	Microchip Technology	Microchip Technology	Microchip Technology	Microchip Technology
Core	AVR 8-bit	AVR 8-bit	AVR 8-bit	AVR 8-bit
Flash Memory	32 KB	4 KB	8 KB	8 KB
SRAM	2 KB	512 B	1 KB	1 KB
EEPROM	1 KB	256 B	512 B	512 B
Clock Speed	20 MHz	8 MHz	20 MHz	20 MHz
GPIO Pins	23 (6 PWM, 6 Analog Inputs)	23 (6 PWM, 6 Analog Inputs)	23 (6 PWM, 8 Analog Inputs)	23 (6 PWM, 8 Analog Inputs)
Package Options	DIP-28, TQFP-32, MLF-32	DIP-28, TQFP-32, MLF-32	DIP-28, TQFP-32, MLF-32	DIP-28, TQFP-32, MLF-32
Timer/Counter	3 (2x 8-bit, 1x 16-bit)	2 (1x 8-bit, 1x 16-bit)	(2x 8-bit, 1x 16-bit)	(2x 8-bit, 1x 16-bit)
USART	1 (Serial)	1 (Serial)	1 (Serial)	1 (Serial)
SPI	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
I2C (TWI)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
External Interrupts	2	2	2	2
Operating Voltage	1.8V to 5.5V	1.8V to 5.5V	1.8V to 5.5V	1.8V to 5.5V
Internal Oscillator	8 MHz (default)	8 MHz (default)	8 MHz (default)	8 MHz (default)
Low Power Modes	Yes (Idle, Power-save, Standby)	Yes (Idle, Power-save, Standby)	Yes (Idle, Power-save, Standby)	Yes (Idle, Power-save, Standby)
ADC Channels	6 (10-bit resolution)	6 (10-bit resolution)	8 (10-bit resolution)	8 (10-bit resolution)
Temperature Range	-40°C to 85°C	-40°C to 85°C	-40°C to 85°C	-40°C to 85°C

Main differences:

Memory size:

ATmega328P-PU has the largest flash memory (32 KB), making it more suitable for applications that require larger program memory.

ATmega48A-PU has the smallest flash memory (4 KB), which is more suitable for simple applications with limited program size.

The ATmega88PA-PU and ATmega88A-PU offer a balanced 8 KB of flash and 1 KB of SRAM, which is slightly better than the ATmega48A-PU for more complex tasks.

SRAM:

The ATmega328P-PU has 2 KB of SRAM, the highest of all models.

The ATmega48A-PU has only 512 B of SRAM, which may limit the complexity of data processing in the application.

Analog Inputs:

The ATmega328P-PU has 6 analog input channels, while the ATmega88PA-PU and ATmega88A-PU have 8 analog inputs, making them more suitable for projects with multiple analog sensors.

Package and Features:

All variants offer similar package options (DIP-28, TQFP-32, MLF-32) and support standard peripheral features such as SPI, I2C, and UART, but the ATmega88PA-PU and ATmega88A-PU have slightly more analog input pins.

Conclusion:

The ATmega328P-PU is a good fit for general-purpose applications that require higher flash, SRAM, and peripheral support.

The ATmega48A-PU is better suited for very simple, cost-sensitive designs.

The ATmega88PA-PU and ATmega88A-PU are good middle-of-the-road options, offering more analog inputs and slightly more memory than the ATmega48A-PU, with similar features to the ATmega328P-PU, but at a lower cost.

If you develop with Arduino, the ATmega328P-PU is the most commonly used. Other variants are more niche, but may fit the memory and peripheral requirements of your project.

ATmega328P-PU FAQs

1. What is the difference between the ATmega328P-PU and the ATmega328P?

ATmega328P-PU refers to the PDIP (Plastic Dual In-line Package) version of the ATmega328P microcontroller, which is suitable for breadboarding and through-hole soldering. The ATmega328P is also available in other package types, such as TQFP (Thin Quad Flat Package) and MLF (Micro Lead Frame), which are suitable for surface mount applications.

2. What programming languages ​​can I use to program the ATmega328P-PU?

The ATmega328P-PU is usually programmed using the C and C++ languages. The Arduino IDE also supports this microcontroller, allowing you to use the Arduino language, which is a simplified subset of C++.

3. What is the clock speed of the ATmega328P-PU?

The ATmega328P-PU typically runs at 16 MHz using an external crystal oscillator, or 8 MHz if the internal clock is used.

4. What is the maximum operating voltage of the ATmega328P-PU?

The operating voltage range of the ATmega328P-PU is 1.8V to 5.5V, but 5V is typically used in most applications.

5. How do I program the ATmega328P-PU?

You can program the ATmega328P-PU using a USB to serial adapter such as the FTDI adapter, or you can upload code to the microcontroller using a dedicated ISP (In-System Programming) tool such as AVRISP, USBasp, or Arduino as ISP.

6. Can I use the ATmega328P-PU with an Arduino?

Yes, the ATmega328P-PU is commonly used with Arduino boards, especially the Arduino Uno. The chip comes pre-installed with the Arduino bootloader, which makes it very easy to upload code through the serial interface.

7. Does the ATmega328P-PU have a built-in analog-to-digital conversion (ADC)?

Yes, the ATmega328P-PU has a 10-bit ADC and 6 analog input pins that allow you to convert analog signals into digital values ​​for processing.

8. What is the power consumption of the ATmega328P-PU?

The power consumption of the ATmega328P-PU depends on the clock speed and the operating voltage. In normal mode at 5V, it typically consumes about 8-10 mA at 16 MHz. In sleep mode (such as idle or power saving), the current consumption drops to 0.1 mA.

9. How to connect the ATmega328P-PU with sensors or other devices?

The ATmega328P-PU can interface with sensors or devices using digital signals (high/low) or analog signals (using ADC) through its I/O pins. You can also use communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, and UART to implement more advanced sensor interfaces.

10. What are the limitations of the ATmega328P-PU?

While the ATmega328P-PU is a versatile microcontroller, it does have some limitations:

Limited RAM (2 KB), which may limit memory-intensive applications.

Limited number of I/O pins (23), which may not be enough for projects that connect many devices.

Flash memory (32 KB) may not be enough for large applications, especially those with a lot of code or libraries.

There is no hardware floating point unit (FPU), so floating point operations may be slower than more advanced microcontrollers.

11. Can I overclock the ATmega328P-PU to 20 MHz?

While the ATmega328P-PU can theoretically run up to 20 MHz, it is usually used with a 16 MHz clock for reliable operation. Overclocking may cause instability or exceed the rated specifications of the chip, so it is not recommended unless you are using it in a specific design where reliability is not important.

12. Can the ATmega328P-PU be used in battery-powered applications?

Yes, the ATmega328P-PU can be used in low-power applications, especially when running in sleep mode or using a low-frequency crystal to perform time-sensitive tasks. It is often used in battery-powered devices such as remote sensors and portable electronics.