I was messing around with Atmel's MCU selector and I somehow narrowed it down to the xmega192 chips.
The C3 variant is pretty impressive (I was looking at MCUs with USB only) and it costs less that $4 (bulk).
AVRDUDE supports it, much to my surprise, so that makes it even more appealing. Same for ATxmega192A3U, with slightly different specs.
There are no mentions of it on this forum, so I'm wondering what you guys think about it.
Come up with a set of core files for it, I think it would fit on a 2561 breakout board with extension for a USB connector.
$6 in lower quantities.
More capability than I need, for sure.
Wonder how it compares to the Teensy 3.x board?
https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/teensy31.html
Thank you.
$6 plus another $2 for the breakout board is a smidge less than the 1284P, but with built-in USB, more flash and more pins, making it more appealing, even though, yes, it's overkill for the Blink sketch, heh heh.
But what a nice controller there...
Off for some golf! Great December so far ...
Awesome, I take it you like it too?
Enjoy, it's too cold up here, but we've had a great long Indian summer.
Supposed to be 50s again next weekend, we're going out again if the courses are open. Warm enough for the grass to keep growing, greens are in great shape.
Looks like a nice chip. Need to do some more datasheet reading to find out about ICSP connection for bootloading. I don't know anything about coming up with a set of core files so the IDE can be used to program it. Gonna need some software help there.
what I've come up with so far.
TQFP, right? The pads look "short"... or something.
I made the pads 1mm x 0.45mm, extending from the maximum body edge (+/- 7.05) to the maximum outer dimension of the legs (+/- 8.125). The L dimension of the drawing shows the leg contact area as 0.75max by 0.45nominal.
You think they should be a little longer? Extending out more?
Overlaying the 2561 pads to the pads I made, it looks like the 2561 pads do look a little wider and longer. That's probably good for machine placement, I think mine might be a little more foregiving for hand placement? (pad width anyway, longer I guess would not make much difference).
I dunno; It's not like I have any actual experience building anything with that package - they just looked a out-of-proportion (which is hard to tell on a small-scale picture, anyway.)
I checked the Eagle reference-package library, and their TQFP64 (0.8mm pitch) has pads 0.5588x1.1938mm (22x47mil)
I wish I was better at manipulating across libraries, I could pull in the Atmel pads for 64 TQFP with my schematic symbol to have the 'standard' footprint for the board.
I do like the idea tho of somewhat narrower pads for more solder mask between legs and less chance for solder bridges when hand assembling. 0.8mm pitch and 0.5588mm pad width only leaves 0.2412mm for solder mask, = 9.4mil? I think iteadstudio likes 8mil min between pads.
CrossRoads:
I do like the idea tho of somewhat narrower pads for more solder mask between legs and less chance for solder bridges when hand assembling.
I second that. I would have to grind the s### out of the solder iron tip to sharpen it up enough...
Bob, are you just messing around or are you actually planning on making a pcb for this?
This site and this site offer adapters, but it looks expensive (first one to buy and the second one to ship).
I also found some on eBay, universal 32 to 100 pin adapters with a 0.8mm pitch but they will take two months to get.
Just watch, Paul_B will now post one of his trademarks: "Do you want it cheap or do you want it fast" Heh heh heh
eh Paul? 
WOW! The A3U variant looks even more impressive.
Atmel's MCU selector: 192K flash and USB Yes
I hope this link works properly.
I don't want an adapter, I want a system on a board kind of thing, everything but a voltage regulator.
Like I have for 328P, 1284P already.
I have boards in hand for 2560 & 2561, need some parts to put a couple together. Probably order tomorrow.
This will be another option in that line, but with a USB connector.
Sure, but for me to play around with this MCU, I was looking at options, so an adapter appeared to be the easiest avenue.
Check the Schmart board adapters then. Easily Hand Solder .8mm Pitch QFP Components Hang a USB connector off it somehow,
Sweet, thank you very much.
