Atmel/Microchip "PU" Suffix

[raelynn.roen]

You may see a ‘PU’ suffix on some older Atmel components, such as ATMEGA168A-PU, from Microchip Technology. What significance does this suffix hold, and does it have a negative impact on the IC?

The ‘P’ in this old suffix indicates a PDIP package, while the ‘U’ is a mark for operating temperature. Microchip, after acquiring Atmel, discontinued the ‘P’ marking on newer devices as it was deemed superfluous - it’s generally held to be quite easy to visually discern PDIP packaging without a marking code for it. Neither marking negatively impacts the part’s performance.

[brooklynnburtle728]

@raelynn.roen

You may see a ‘PU’ suffix on some older Atmel components, such as ATMEGA168A-PU, from Microchip Technology. What significance does this suffix hold, and does it have a negative impact on the IC?

The ‘P’ in this old suffix indicates a PDIP package, while the ‘U’ is a mark for operating temperature. Microchip, after acquiring Atmel, discontinued the ‘P’ marking on newer devices as it was deemed superfluous - it’s generally held to be quite easy to visually discern PDIP packaging without a marking code for it. Neither marking negatively impacts the part’s performance.

Microchip dropped the ‘P’ marking after they bought Atmel, since it’s pretty easy to tell PDIP parts by looking at them.