EXHIBIT 5.1
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                            HOLME ROBERTS & OWEN LLP
                            1700 Lincoln, Suite 4100
                             Denver, Colorado 80203



September 4, 2001


Board of Directors
Simtek Corporation
4250 Buckingham Dr. #100
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907

Dear Gentlemen:

Reference  is made to the  registration  statement  on Form SB-2  filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission")  on or about May 9, 2001
(the "Registration  Statement"),  as amended, by Simtek Corporation,  a Colorado
corporation (the "Company"), for the purpose of registering under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),  1,810,123 shares  ("Shares") of its Common
Stock,  par value  $0.01 per share (the  "Common  Stock").  The Shares are being
offered for resale by thirty of the Company's shareholders.

As counsel for the Company,  we have examined  such  documents and reviewed such
questions of law as we have considered  necessary or appropriate for the purpose
of this opinion.  Based on the foregoing,  we are of the opinion that the Shares
are legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We consent to the filing of this  opinion with the  Commission  as an exhibit to
the  Registration  Statement.  We consent to be named in the prospectus  forming
part of the Registration  Statement (the "Prospectus")  under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the form and context in which we are named in the Prospectus.

We do not express an opinion on any matters other than those expressly set forth
in this letter.

Sincerely,


/s/ Holme Roberts & Owen LLP
Holme Roberts & Owen LLP