EmbeddedRelated.com
The 2026 Embedded Online Conference
    Parts   Microcontrollers  AVR    ATmega Family    ATMEGA8A    ATMEGA8A-PU
ATMEGA8A-PU

MCHPATMEGA8A-PU

Microchip Technology
Older and widely available 28-pin DIP AVR that fits legacy designs and supplies a similar low-cost option in a familiar package.
NRND12,633 in stock
Datasheet Digi-Key Mouser Compare Prices

Overview

The ATMEGA8A-PU is an 8-bit AVR RISC-based microcontroller featuring 8KB of ISP Flash memory and 1KB of SRAM. Housed in a classic 28-pin PDIP package, it offers 23 programmable I/O lines and operates at speeds up to 16MHz. This legacy device is a staple for through-hole designs and education due to its simplicity and broad community support.

Why Choose This Part

The through-hole PDIP package allows for easy prototyping on breadboards and socketed repairs in the field. It provides a highly efficient execution of most instructions in a single clock cycle, achieving up to 16 MIPS throughput. The inclusion of 512 bytes of EEPROM ensures critical configuration data is retained even during power loss.

Applications

Legacy Industrial Controllers
Drop-in replacement or maintenance part for older 5V industrial monitoring equipment using through-hole construction.
Educational Training Kits
Ideal for teaching assembly and C programming on breadboards without the need for surface-mount soldering.
Simple Sensor Nodes
Low-complexity data acquisition using the integrated ADC and UART for basic environmental or process monitoring.
DIY Peripherals
Building custom computer interface devices like macro pads or status displays using its 23 available I/O pins.

Key Specifications

Speed 16MHz
RAM Size 1K x 8
Core Size 8-Bit
EEPROM Size 512 x 8
Peripherals Brown-out Detect/Reset, POR, PWM, WDT
Connectivity I2C, SPI, UART/USART
Mounting Type Through Hole
Number of I/O 23
Core Processor AVR
Package / Case 28-DIP (0.300", 7.62mm)
Data Converters A/D 6x10b
Oscillator Type Internal
Program Memory Size 8KB (4K x 16)
Program Memory Type FLASH
Operating Temperature -40degC ~ 85degC (TA)
Supplier Device Package 28-PDIP
Voltage - Supply (Vcc/Vdd) 2.7V ~ 5.5V

Getting Started

To program this MCU, use an AVR ISP programmer like the AVRISP mkII or a USBasp. It is fully supported by Microchip Studio (formerly Atmel Studio) and the AVR-GCC toolchain. For breadboarding, ensure a stable 2.7V to 5.5V power supply and connect a 16MHz crystal to the XTAL pins if high-speed operation is required.

Part of ATmega family » ATMEGA8A

ATMEGA8A Family

Comparing specs that differ across variants. The current part is highlighted.

Part Number Package ADC/DAC Stock
ATMEGA8A-PU (this part) DIP-28 A/D 6x10b 12,633
ATMEGA8A-AU TQFP-32 A/D 8x10b 8,886

Also Consider

ATmega328P MCHPMicrochip Technology - Offers four times the Flash memory and double the RAM in the same 28-pin DIP footprint with identical pinouts for most functions.

Categories

Microcontrollers > AVR Microcontrollers > Microchip
The 2026 Embedded Online Conference