FPGA & CPLD
Produkte (6666)
EP1M120F484C7AES - Altera Mercury FPGA, 484-BGA | Intel/Altera
The Intel (formerly Altera) EP1M120F484C7AES is a member of the Mercury Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) family, a high-performance programmable logic device (PLD) fabricated on a CMOS process. It integrates 49,152 logic elements (LEs) along with 4,800 dedicated memory bits and provides 303 user I/O pins through a 484-ball FineLine BGA package with 1.00 mm terminal pitch. The part operates from a 1.8 V core supply and is specified over the 0 to 85 C commercial temperature range. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that combines configurable logic blocks, programmable interconnect, and dedicated I/O cells on a single die. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, FPGAs sit alongside microcontrollers, DSPs, and ASICs as parallel-processing compute fabrics used for glue logic, hardware acceleration, prototyping, and high-speed signal processing. The Mercury family specifically targets applications that require integrated high-speed serial transceivers with embedded clock data recovery (CDR) up to 1.25 Gbps, lookup-table (LUT)-based logic, and embedded memory blocks for buffering and packet processing. Key features of the EP1M120F484C7AES include a CMOS logic family, 303 user I/Os (among the highest in the family for this package), 4,800 memory bits, and high-speed serial transceivers with built-in CDR to 1.25 Gbps. The 484-ball FineLine BGA provides a compact 1.0 mm pitch footprint, which is well-suited to high-density PCB designs where many LVDS or LVTTL signals must escape the die. The part also supports multi-standard I/O, allowing it to interface directly with LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, and other common logic families without external level translation. Architecturally, the Mercury family uses SRAM-based configuration cells (volatile), so the device must be configured from an external PROM or flash on every power-up. Look-up tables implement combinational logic, while dedicated carry chains accelerate arithmetic operations. Embedded memory blocks (4,800 bits in this variant) can be configured as RAM, ROM, or FIFO buffers, and the integrated CDR-enabled transceivers eliminate the need for external SERDES chips in many gigabit link applications. Typical applications include telecommunications switching and routing equipment, high-speed serial backplane interfaces, network interface cards (NICs), baseband signal processing, prototyping of ASIC designs, and industrial control systems with high I/O counts. The integrated 1.25 Gbps transceivers make it especially attractive for early-generation SONET/SDH and Gigabit Ethernet equipment. When designing with this part, ensure proper decoupling of the 1.8 V core rail and matched-length routing for high-speed transceiver pairs. Because the configuration memory is volatile, an external configuration device (such as an Altera EPC configuration PROM) is required for stand-alone operation. Confirm JTAG access before PCB tape-out to allow boundary-scan and in-system programming. This page synthesizes distributor availability, same-package drop-in alternatives from the Mercury family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
EP1M120F484C7ES - 120K LE Mercury FPGA, 484-FBGA | Intel
The Intel EP1M120F484C7ES is a high-density Mercury Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) delivering 120,000 logic elements (49,152 logic cells / 4,800 LABs) integrated with high-speed differential transceivers and CDR support, housed in a 484-ball FineLine BGA (FCBGA) package. This speed-optimized PLD architecture targets communication infrastructure, signal processing, and protocol bridging applications where deterministic throughput and serializer/deserializer integration are required. What is a Mercury FPGA? A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated hard IP such as transceivers, block RAM, and PLLs. The Mercury family is Intel/Altera's mid-density transceiver-equipped family positioned between Cyclone and Stratix in logic density and IO bandwidth, optimised for ASIC-prototyping, telecom line cards, and high-speed serial bridging. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, FPGAs belong to programmable logic -> logic ICs -> integrated circuits. Key specifications of the EP1M120F484C7ES include 303 user I/O pins, integrated high-speed differential transceivers with embedded Clock Data Recovery (CDR), 4,800 LABs/4,800 logic-array blocks, on-chip block RAM, distributed RAM, and DSP blocks. The C7 speed grade and -ES (extended temperature/engineering sample) suffix indicate a particular timing closure window and screening level; designers must consult the Mercury family datasheet for the precise -ES qualification grade. Architecture is built on a PLD fabric optimised for speed with embedded transceiver macro cells. Designers map SERDES and high-speed LVDS interfaces into hardened PHY blocks rather than soft SERDES, simplifying board layout and reducing FPGA fabric utilisation. The PLD fabric supports look-up-table (LUT)-based logic, dedicated carry chains for arithmetic, and multiplier/accumulator blocks for DSP. Typical applications for the EP1M120F484C7ES include telecom line cards, baseband processing, serial backplane bridging, industrial imaging, test and measurement front-ends, and ASIC prototyping. The 303 user I/O count supports wide parallel data buses plus multiple high-speed serial links concurrently. When designing with this device, allocate a 484-ball FCBGA land pattern with controlled-impedance differential pairs for the transceiver channels. Provide multi-rail power (core, IO, transceiver analog, transceiver digital) with proper decoupling. Use Intel Quartus Prime for synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closure; verify transceiver channel loss budget against PCB stack-up. This page synthesizes Intel/Altera Mercury family datasheet parameters, distributor pricing, drop-in same-package variants, and practical design notes not consolidated on the manufacturer product brief.
EP1M120F484C7N - Mercury FPGA, 120K Gates, 484-BGA | Altera / Intel
The Altera (now Intel) EP1M120F484C7N is a member of the Mercury family of high-performance programmable logic devices, delivering 120,000 system gates with 4,800 logic elements, 49,152 bits of embedded memory, and 303 user I/Os in a 484-ball FineLine BGA (F484) package. The device integrates high-speed transceivers supporting clock data recovery (CDR) to 1.25 Gbps, making it suitable for serial-interface bridging, telecommunications backplanes, and high-bandwidth data-acquisition front-ends. A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor integrated circuit built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and embedded memory and DSP resources. FPGAs sit in the broader taxonomy of programmable logic devices (PLDs) and are used for parallel hardware acceleration, custom I/O interfacing, and rapid prototyping before ASIC tape-out. The Mercury family specifically targets designs that need integrated transceivers alongside general-purpose logic, placing it between conventional logic-only FPGAs and dedicated serial-interface ASSPs. Key specifications include 480 LABs (Logic Array Blocks), 4,800 logic cells, 49,152 RAM bits distributed across embedded array blocks (EABs), 303 maximum user I/O pins, and core supply voltage of 1.8 V. The 'F484' suffix indicates the FineLine BGA-484 package; the 'C7' speed grade denotes a commercial temperature range (0°C to 85°C) with Altera's mid-tier timing closure. The 'N' suffix indicates a lead-free / RoHS-compliant finish. The Mercury architecture integrates a high-performance embedded transceiver array alongside the general-purpose fabric. Per the Mercury Family datasheet, the device supports multiple industry-standard serial protocols with CDR rates up to 1.25 Gbps, and the core fabric is implemented in 1.8 V CMOS with on-chip PLL clock management. Embedded array blocks (EABs) provide dual-port RAM and ROM capability for efficient on-chip buffering. Typical applications include serial-interface bridging (Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, custom SERDES), telecommunications backplane aggregation, high-speed test instrumentation, and digital video capture/processing. The combination of integrated transceivers and 303 user I/Os also makes it attractive for legacy bus-replacement cards that need glue logic alongside serialized I/O. When designing with the EP1M120F484C7N, allocate the four dedicated transceiver banks and verify signal-integrity at the BGA breakout before layout. The 484-ball FineLine BGA requires at least 6 PCB layers with microvia or via-in-pad technology; controlled-impedance routing is required for the 1.25 Gbps serial links. This page synthesizes real-time distributor pricing, package-compatible same-brand drop-in alternatives from the Mercury family, and practical design guidance that the bare manufacturer datasheet does not provide.
EP1M120F484C8 - 120 Element Mercury PLD, 484-BGA | Altera
The Altera (Intel) EP1M120F484C8 is a member of the Mercury PLD family fabricated on a CMOS process, packaged in a 484-ball FineLine BGA, and rated for commercial temperature operation (0C to 85C). It provides 120 logic elements, up to 303 user I/O lines, and operates from a 1.8 V nominal supply (1.71 V min, 1.89 V max). The device is built on Altera's second-generation programmable logic architecture optimized for high-speed interfacing, with on-chip memory and PLL clock management typical of the Mercury family. A Programmable Logic Device (PLD) is a general term that covers simple PALs, complex CPLDs, and FPGAs - all semiconductor devices whose logic function is defined by user-programmed configuration bits held in on-chip SRAM or non-volatile memory. The Mercury family occupies the mid-range between classic CPLDs and high-density FPGAs, and within the broader taxonomy PLD -> programmable logic -> logic IC -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor. The EP1M120 sits between smaller ACEX/MAX families and larger APEX/Stratix families, making it a cost-effective choice for glue-logic, bus-interface, and protocol-bridge designs. Key features include 303 user I/O pins on a 1.00 mm-pitch BGA, seated height of 2.10 mm, CMOS technology node, and a 484-ball package. The 'C8' speed grade corresponds to approximately 8 ns pin-to-pin logic delay, while the 'F484' suffix denotes the 484-ball FineLine BGA package. Industrial applications are served by variants with 'I' temperature suffix; this specific part is the commercial-temperature, 8-speed-grade, 484-BGA variant. Typical applications include telecommunications interface cards, industrial control logic, custom bus bridges (PCI to local bus, UART multiplexing), and high-speed glue logic between microprocessors and peripherals. Its combination of moderate logic density and high I/O count suits designs that need many connections but not enormous gate capacity. When designing with this part, allocate sufficient PCB layers for the 1.00 mm BGA escape routing and follow Altera's layout guidelines for ground/power plane distribution. Decoupling capacitor placement within 100 mils of each supply ball is recommended, and JTAG access must be brought out for in-system programming and boundary-scan testing.
EP1M120F484C8A - Mercury 120K FPGA, 303 I/O, FC-FBGA-484 | Intel
The Intel (formerly Altera) EP1M120F484C8A is a Mercury-family Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with 120,000 system gates and 4,800 logic elements, packaged in a 484-ball FineLine BGA (FC-FBGA-484) and supplied from a 1.8 V core rail. It provides 303 user I/O pins and integrates high-speed transceivers with built-in clock-data recovery (CDR) supporting serial rates up to 1.25 Gbps, making it a drop-in programmable logic option for parallel-to-serial bridging and protocol adaptation. A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and I/O cells that the designer defines after manufacture using a hardware description language (HDL). In the system-component hierarchy, FPGAs sit between general-purpose microcontrollers (which execute software sequentially) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs, which are fixed at fabrication). The Mercury family in particular targets high-speed serial I/O and parallel-interface bridging applications. Key features include 4,800 logic elements distributed across 480 LABs/CLBs, embedded memory blocks totaling 49,152 bits, 303 user I/O pins for high-density board-level interfacing, integrated CDR-capable transceivers up to 1.25 Gbps, and an industrial-class 0 to 85 °C operating temperature. The -C8 speed grade places this part in the medium-speed tier of the Mercury family, trading absolute Fmax for lower cost than -C7/-C6 grades. The Mercury architecture combines a look-up-table (LUT)-based logic fabric with dedicated serializer/deserializer (SERDES) hard IP, allowing the EP1M120F484C8A to implement custom parallel-to-serial interfaces without external PHY devices. The 1.8 V core and I/O supply simplifies board power design compared with older 2.5 V/3.3 V-only FPGAs. Typical applications include telecommunications backplane bridging, custom high-speed serial protocol engines, industrial data-acquisition pre-processing, and legacy parallel-bus to serial link aggregation. The 303 user I/Os comfortably accommodate wide external memory buses or multiple 8/16-bit peripheral interfaces. When designing with this device, ensure the Quartus II toolchain (the legacy Altera IDE that supports Mercury-family parts) is selected for synthesis, place-and-route, and bitstream generation. Confirm that any replacement candidate retains both the 484-ball FC-FBGA footprint and the integrated CDR-capable transceiver block, as soft-logic SERDES will not match the deterministic latency of the hard IP. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-brand variants from the EP1M120 family, and practical design notes drawn from the Mercury datasheet family, providing information gain beyond what a single distributor product page offers.
EP1M120F484C8ES - 120K Logic Elements FPGA, 484-FBGA | Intel
The Intel EP1M120F484C8ES is a high-density APEX-style Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from the ACEX 1M family, integrating 120,000 logic elements (also referenced as 120K gates or 4,800 logic cells across the embedded array) in a 484-ball FineLine BGA package. Built on a 0.18 µm CMOS process with SRAM-based configuration, this device delivers up to 303 user I/O pins with LVTTL, LVCMOS, and LVDS signaling support, alongside embedded RAM blocks, PLLs, and dedicated clock networks for high-speed digital designs. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a reconfigurable semiconductor device whose logic fabric, interconnect, and I/O can be redefined in-system by loading a new configuration bitstream. In the broader taxonomy, an FPGA belongs to programmable logic devices (PLDs) within the integrated circuit family, sitting between fixed-function ASICs and software-driven microcontrollers. ACEX 1M devices specifically target high-volume, high-density applications where mask-programmed ASICs are not economical but require ASIC-level logic capacity. Key features include 120,000 logic elements, 4,800 embedded logic cells (EABs), 303 user I/O pins, embedded True-LVDS support, four enhanced PLLs, and a flexible memory interface with up to 12 embedded RAM blocks totaling approximately 104 Kbits. The 'C8' speed grade and 'ES' (Engineering Sample) designation indicate a faster propagation delay variant supplied as a pre-production sample, suitable for prototype validation and early system bring-up rather than full production qualification. The ACEX 1M architecture combines a fine-grained look-up-table (LUT) fabric with embedded array blocks (EABs) that can be configured as wide synchronous SRAM, dual-port RAM, or FIFOs. This hybrid LUT+EAB approach is optimized for DSP pipelines, communications protocol bridges, and glue-logic consolidation, allowing designers to merge multiple discrete CPLD/FPGA parts into a single ACEX 1M device. MultiVolt I/O supports mixed-voltage interfacing with 2.5 V, 3.3 V, and 5.0 V buses without external level shifters. Typical applications include telecommunications line cards, industrial motor control, ASIC prototyping, video processing pipelines, and PCI/PCI-X bridges where high gate count and rich I/O are mandatory. Engineering samples are intended for design validation, firmware co-development, and pre-compliance EMC testing, not for volume deployment. When designing with this part, allocate 16% of logic utilization as margin for synthesis efficiency and routing congestion, derate the PLL output frequency by 5% to account for process variation, and use Intel Quartus II version 13.1 or earlier for ACEX 1M bitstream generation. Confirm the full production part is available for transition before committing the design to manufacturing. This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in ACEX 1M alternatives from the same family, and engineering notes not aggregated elsewhere, helping procurement and design teams evaluate the EP1M120F484C8ES for prototype pipelines.
EP1M120F484C8N - Mercury 1.8V FPGA, 303 I/O, 484-BGA | Altera
The Intel / Altera EP1M120F484C8N is a member of the Mercury programmable logic family, a high-performance 1.8 V CMOS FPGA with integrated high-speed transceivers. Housed in a 484-ball FineLine BGA, it exposes 303 user I/O pins and contains 49,152 logic elements backed by 4,800 Kbits of embedded memory. The part supports CDR (clock data recovery) up to 1.25 Gbps, making it one of the first low-density Altera devices to combine high-speed serial I/O with general-purpose FPGA fabric. A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is a semiconductor integrated circuit that can be reconfigured by the customer after manufacture to implement arbitrary digital logic. FPGAs sit in the programmable logic hierarchy alongside CPLDs (smaller, non-volatile) and ASICs (fixed-function, highest density). The Mercury family specifically targets applications requiring both flexible logic and multi-gigabit serial connectivity, sitting between Altera's earlier APEX families and the Stratix series that superseded them. The EP1M120F484C8N thus occupies a specialized niche for moderate-density designs with embedded SERDES. Key features include 303 user I/O, a 1.8 V core supply (1.71 V min to 1.89 V max), 0 °C to 85 °C commercial operating temperature, and a speed grade of 8. The integrated CDR blocks support protocols including Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and RapidIO, while the high-density logic fabric supports embedded processors, custom DSP blocks, and standard peripheral interfaces. The device is configured via Altera's Quartus II design software. The EP1M120 uses a SRAM-based LUT architecture with a hierarchical interconnect routing fabric. Each logic element contains a 4-input lookup table, a programmable register, and dedicated carry chain logic for arithmetic operations. Embedded memory is organized as True Dual-Port RAM blocks (M4K in this family) of 4 Kbits each, totaling 4,800 Kbits across the device. Typical applications include telecom line cards, base-station signal processing, software-defined radio (SDR), serial backplane bridging, and industrial control with high-speed serial links. Its combination of logic density and integrated SERDES made it a popular choice for legacy prototyping platforms and custom protocol development where commercial ASSPs were unavailable. When designing with this device, ensure proper decoupling on all VCC pins (multiple 0.1 µF and 10 µF capacitors placed close to the BGA). The 1.25 Gbps SERDES channels require controlled-impedance routing with reference planes and length matching. JTAG configuration requires a 10 kΩ pull-up on nCONFIG and a 1 kΩ pull-up on nSTATUS per Altera's configuration handbook. This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the original Altera datasheet, helping engineers sourcing legacy Mercury-family FPGAs extend production lifetimes.
EP1M120F484I5 - 120K LE Altera FPGA, BGA-484, Industrial | Intel
The Intel (formerly Altera) EP1M120F484I5 is a high-density programmable logic device from the Mercury (EP1M) family, packaged in a 484-ball FineLine BGA (F484) and specified for the industrial temperature range. The part is identified by suffix I (industrial, -40C to +100C junction) and speed grade 5, and integrates approximately 120,000 logic elements along with dedicated memory and multiplier blocks typical of the EP1M120 die. A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor IC whose digital logic is defined by a customer-supplied configuration bitstream rather than by hard-wired mask layers. The FPGA sits within the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices (PLD) -> complex PLD (CPLD) -> FPGA -> structured ASIC; FPGAs are the highest-density, highest-performance tier and are used as the central compute and glue-logic element in modern digital systems. Intel/Altera brands the EP1M120 family as part of its Mercury generation of FPGAs targeted at high-volume, low-power ASIC-replacement designs. Key features include 120,000 logic elements, embedded array blocks (EABs) for memory and DSP primitives, dedicated high-speed I/O with support for multiple I/O standards (LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL, HSTL, LVDS, and PCI), 8 device I/O banks for flexible voltage mixing, and clock management via on-PLL blocks. Configuration can be loaded from passive serial (PS), passive parallel synchronous/asynchronous (PPS/PPA), or JTAG, and the device supports in-system programmability through the JTAG boundary-scan port. The EP1M120F484I5 implements a SRAM-based configuration cell backed by distributed and block RAM, with embedded multiplier blocks for DSP-class arithmetic. Logic is built from 4-input LUTs wired through a row/column interconnect, with EABs providing 4 Kbit memory blocks usable as single-port RAM, dual-port RAM, ROM, or multipliers. The 1.5 V core (VCCINT) and 3.3 V/2.5 V I/O (VCCIO) supply architecture, together with per-bank VREF pins, allows direct interface to legacy and modern ASIC/ASSP buses without level shifters. Typical applications include industrial motor control and factory automation backbones, telecom line cards and baseband processing, ASIC prototyping and emulation, low-volume glue-logic consolidation, and embedded test/measurement instrumentation. The F484 FineLine BGA package supports high I/O count while keeping board area compact, and the industrial-grade thermal range makes the device suitable for unattended outdoor or industrial cabinet deployments. When designing with this device, follow Altera's reference decoupling scheme with multiple low-ESR ceramic bulk caps on every VCCINT/VCCIO/VCC_PLL rail, and route all clock and global signals on inner layers with controlled impedance. JTAG chain ordering must be verified against the BSDL file from the manufacturer datasheet before PCB release. This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, parametric data, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes that are not available on the manufacturer datasheet alone, making it a one-stop reference for engineering sourcing and design-in decisions.
EP1M120F484I5N - Mercury 1.8V FPGA 120K LE | Intel (Altera) | 484-FBGA
The Intel (formerly Altera) EP1M120F484I5N is a high-performance Mercury Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) IC from the Mercury family, featuring 303 user I/O pins in a 484-pin FineLine BGA (FCBGA) package at speed grade 5, in industrial temperature grade. It belongs to a high-density programmable logic family with integrated high-speed transceivers supporting clock data recovery (CDR) up to 1.25 gigabits per second (Gbps). An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that contains an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) connected via programmable interconnect. FPGAs occupy a position in the digital design hierarchy between ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) and microcontrollers, offering hardware-level parallelism with software-level reconfigurability. The Mercury family sits within the broader hierarchy: PLD -> FPGA -> high-speed FPGA with transceivers -> programmable logic IC -> semiconductor. FPGAs are widely used where fixed-function ASICs are too costly or inflexible and where CPU performance is insufficient for parallel workloads. Key features of the EP1M120F484I5N include 1.8V core supply (1.71V to 1.89V), 303 user I/Os providing abundant board-level connectivity, integrated transceivers with CDR to 1.25 Gbps for serial protocols, and an industrial temperature rating (-40C to +100C) suitable for non-automotive harsh environments. The 23x23 mm 484-FBGA package supports high pin density while enabling fine-pitch PCB routing. Speed grade 5 indicates a specific timing closure window. Architecture-wise, the Mercury family combines a CMOS logic fabric with embedded transceiver tiles, RAM blocks, and dedicated clock management. The 'I' suffix denotes industrial temperature grade, while the trailing 'N' indicates lead-free / Pb-free termination. Per the family datasheet, Mercury FPGAs target telecom, networking, and high-speed serial I/O applications. Typical applications include telecom line cards, networking switches with SERDES interfaces, industrial control with high-speed I/O, and prototyping for ASIC replacement. Designers choose Mercury FPGAs when 1.25 Gbps CDR capability, abundant user I/O, and industrial temperature grading are required. A key design consideration is PCB BGA fanout: a 484-pin FBGA at 1.0 mm pitch requires microvia (HDI) PCB technology and matched-length routing for the high-speed transceiver pairs. Plan for at least 4 PCB layers with a dedicated ground plane beneath the BGA. This page synthesizes distributor inventory, parametric datasheet data, drop-in alternatives within the Mercury EP1M120 family, and practical design notes that are not aggregated on a single manufacturer or distributor page.
EP1M120F484I6 - Mercury FPGA 49K LE 303 I/O 484-BGA | Altera
The Altera EP1M120F484I6 is a Mercury family Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) IC from the Mercury programmable logic device (PLD) family, integrating 49,152 logic elements, 480 Kbits of embedded memory, 480 LABs, and 303 user I/Os into a 484-ball FineLine BGA package (FCBGA, 484-BBGA). The part is specified at the -6 speed grade and operates across the industrial 0C to +85C temperature range from a 1.8 V core supply. What is an FPGA? An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a class of programmable logic device (PLD) that lets engineers configure digital logic blocks, interconnect, and I/O after fabrication using HDL flows such as VHDL or Verilog. FPGAs sit between fixed-function ASICs (lower cost at volume, but no post-fabrication flexibility) and microcontrollers (sequential software-driven logic) in the digital design hierarchy. The Mercury family specifically adds integrated high-speed transceivers with embedded clock-data-recovery (CDR) supporting data rates up to 1.25 Gbps, which is unusual for this density class and made the part attractive for serial-protocol bridging and telecom line-card designs. Key differentiating features include embedded CDR-based transceivers to 1.25 Gbps, 4 transceiver channels at 1.25 Gbps on EP1M120 devices (with EP1M350 extending up to 8 channels at 1.25 Gbps), 8 channels at 1.0 Gbps or less on remaining links, on-chip memory, and full Quartus II design-flow support including HDL/schematic entry, synthesis, full simulation, worst-case timing analysis, SignalTap logic analysis, and device configuration. The 484-ball FineLine BGA package provides high I/O density for memory-bus-heavy and parallel-interface designs. The Mercury family architecture combines a sea-of-logic fabric with dedicated high-speed serial I/O, allowing a single device to bridge parallel bus logic to multi-gigabit serial links - a pattern commonly seen in early-2000s telecom backhaul, base-station line cards, and storage bridging cards. Quartus II support with worst-case timing closure makes static timing analysis tractable for industrial designs. Typical applications include telecommunications line cards and serial backplanes, industrial networking switches and routers, storage bridging and protocol conversion cards, test and measurement instrumentation with embedded CDR-based serial interfaces, and prototyping or migration paths from ASIC to FPGA. Designers typically pair the part with external PHY devices, DDR memory controllers, and clock-generation ICs such as the Altera CY22150 or IDT ICS clock trees. When designing with the EP1M120F484I6, account for the 1.8 V core supply sequencing, provide clean PLL reference clocks, and respect the BGA escape routing for 303 user I/Os - a 4-to-6 layer PCB with microvia stackups is recommended. The Mercury family has reached end-of-life from Altera/Intel; verify long-term availability and consider Cyclone or newer Altera families for new designs.
EP1M120F484I6M - Mercury FPGA, 120K LE, 484-FCBGA | Altera
The Altera (Intel) EP1M120F484I6M is a high-density Mercury-family Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) delivering 120,000 logic elements, 303 LABs/CLBs, 49,152 flip-flops, and 4,800 Kbits of embedded memory in a 484-ball Fine-pitch Chip-Scale BGA (FCBGA) package at industrial temperature grade with -6 speed grade. The Mercury family targets high-speed serial interface, parallel processing, and ASIC-prototyping designs where deterministic logic density and abundant I/O bandwidth are required. Background: an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a configurable logic IC that combines programmable logic blocks, programmable interconnect, and dedicated hard IP such as memory blocks, PLLs, LVDS I/O, and (in modern families) transceivers. FPGAs occupy the top of the programmable-logic hierarchy alongside CPLDs, and sit between fixed-function ASICs and software-defined DSPs in the broader semiconductor taxonomy. The Mercury family in particular emphasizes high-speed LVDS I/O and external memory interfaces rather than integrated multi-gigabit transceivers. Key features of the EP1M120F484I6M include 480,000 system gates (typical), 480 Kbits (4,800 Kb) of embedded RAM, support for multiple I/O standards including LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL, HSTL, and LVDS, dedicated PLL-based clock management blocks, and a JTAG/IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan test interface. The -6 speed grade specifies the slowest commercial/industrial timing bin in the Mercury line, while the I suffix denotes the industrial -40C to +100C operating junction temperature range; the trailing M typically denotes a specific mask/revision or lead-free RoHS-compliant variant consistent with Altera's part-number conventions. Architecture: the device is built on a 0.18 um CMOS process with a look-up-table-based logic fabric, distributed and block RAM, and a hierarchical routing network. Performance analysis: the Mercury family achieves system clock rates exceeding 200 MHz in pipelined datapaths and supports external DDR SRAM/SDRAM at full throughput. Typical applications include high-speed serial backplane bridging, telecom datapath processing, ASIC prototyping and emulation, industrial imaging front-ends, and military/aerospace signal-processing boards where the FCBGA package's thermal and pin-density advantages outweigh the cost of fine-pitch PCB assembly. Design consideration: the 484-ball FCBGA uses 1.0 mm pitch which requires high-density PCB stack-up with buried vias, microvia-in-pad or HDI construction, and matched-length routing for LVDS pairs; signal-integrity simulation is mandatory before layout freeze. Power sequencing on Mercury devices requires well-defined 1.5V core / 3.3V aux supply ramp order; consult the manufacturer datasheet before finalizing the power tree. This page synthesizes distributor stock and pricing, mask/revision drop-in alternatives within the Mercury family, and practical board-design notes that supplement the manufacturer datasheet.
EP1M120F484I6N - Mercury FPGA, 120K Gates, 484-FBGA | Intel
The Intel EP1M120F484I6N is a high-performance Mercury-family Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) housed in a 484-ball FineLine BGA (FBGA) package, delivering approximately 120,000 system gates and 4,800 logic elements/cells. The device integrates up to 49,152 RAM bits, 303 user I/Os, and high-speed transceivers supporting clock data recovery (CDR) up to 1.25 Gbps, all operating from a 1.8V core supply with an industrial 0C to +85C temperature grade. A Field Programmable Gate Array is a semiconductor device built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and dedicated I/O and memory resources that engineers can re-program after manufacture. FPGAs sit in the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices (PLDs) -> programmable logic -> digital logic ICs -> integrated circuits, distinguishing themselves from CPLDs by offering higher logic density, embedded Block RAM, and hardened transceiver/PLL silicon for parallel and serial data-path designs. The Mercury architecture combines Look-Up Table (LUT)-based logic with distributed and block memory, providing 12 LABs (Logic Array Blocks) per row and on-chip CDR-assisted serial channels for low-jitter serial I/O. Embedded PLLs multiply and condition reference clocks, while per-pin LVDS/LVCMOS/LVTTL support and high-speed row-I/O buffers simplify interfacing to DDR-style memory and parallel ADC/DAC buses. The 484-FBGA package exposes the full user-I/O count and high-speed serial channels while keeping board area manageable for high-density designs. Typical applications for the EP1M120F484I6N include high-speed serial-interface bridging, custom protocol conversion, glue logic in DSP pipelines, and parallel data-acquisition front-ends. With 49,152 RAM bits the device can absorb multi-byte FIFOs for rate matching between asynchronous clock domains, and the 1.25 Gbps CDR-capable transceivers enable backplane links, multi-gigabit serial fan-out, and telecom-grade line-card glue logic. A key design consideration is the 0C to +85C commercial/industrial temperature window versus the -40C to +85C extended-industrial grade; pick the EP1M120F484I6N for benign, controlled-thermal environments such as lab instrumentation and indoor telecom shelves, and reserve the wider-grade sibling for outdoor or automotive-adjacent deployments. This page synthesizes Mercury family variant coverage, drop-in alternatives, parametric comparisons, and practical PCB thermal guidance not consolidated in any single manufacturer or distributor datasheet.
EP1M120F484I7 - Mercury FPGA 120K Gates 484-BGA | Altera
The Altera (Intel Programmable Solutions Group) EP1M120F484I7 is a Mercury-family mask-programmed logic device built on a CMOS process, integrating approximately 120,000 usable gates into a 484-ball FineLine BGA package. As a member of the Altera Mercury PLD family, it combines high-density programmable logic with a structured ASIC-style architecture optimized for high-volume cost reduction. The part is specified for industrial temperature operation (-40C to +85C) and is supplied in a 484-ball plastic BGA. What is a Mercury PLD? A Mercury programmable logic device (PLD) is a mask-programmed equivalent of an SRAM-based Altera APEX-class FPGA. Instead of being configured by an external configuration PROM at every power-up, the Mercury device is metal-mask programmed at the wafer fab, so its logic fabric is fixed for the lifetime of the part. This makes Mercury parts cheaper per unit at high volumes and instant-on at power-up, at the cost of zero field reconfigurability. Mercury devices sit in the ASIC replacement layer of the programmable logic taxonomy: programmable logic device (PLD) -> mask-programmed PLD -> Mercury family -> ASIC-equivalent structured array. Key features include approximately 120,000 usable gates, a 484-ball FineLine BGA package, industrial-grade -40C to +85C operating temperature, mask-programmed one-time configuration, and a CMOS core optimized for low static power. The Mercury architecture shares its logic element and routing fabric with the SRAM APEX 20KE family, but converts the SRAM configuration cells into via-mask programmed connections during fabrication. The EP1M120F484I7 is best understood as a cost-down ASIC alternative. Designers develop their logic on the equivalent SRAM-based APEX 20KE device using Quartus, then migrate to a Mercury part for volume production. The mask-programmed routing eliminates the bitstream loader, the configuration PROM, and the long SRAM-configuration power-up delay, simplifying board design. Typical applications include high-volume consumer electronics glue logic, networking line-card control planes, industrial machine controllers, automotive body and chassis ECUs (where instant-on is required), and any high-volume product where the design is finalized and per-unit BOM cost dominates the engineering cost. The industrial temperature grade also supports outdoor telecom and building automation. When designing with this device, plan the mask-program step at the wafer fabrication stage: any logic change after mask generation requires a new mask set and a new part number, so design verification must be fully closed on the SRAM prototype before ordering Mercury parts. Also confirm that the Quartus project targets the APEX 20KE EP1K100 or EP1K50 equivalent so the bitstream-to-mask conversion is unambiguous.
EP1M120F484I7N - Mercury 120K FPGA, 484-BGA | Intel / Altera
The Intel / Altera EP1M120F484I7N is a member of the Mercury PLD family, delivering approximately 120,000 gates of programmable logic in a 484-pin FineLine BGA (FCBGA) package. It is part of Altera's 1.8V low-power FPGA lineup and provides 303 user I/O pins, 49,152 logic elements (LEs), and 4,800 embedded RAM bits, making it suitable for high-density glue-logic and parallel processing tasks. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) - within the broader semiconductor taxonomy: FPGA -> PLD -> logic IC -> integrated circuit. FPGAs contain an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) connected via programmable interconnect, allowing designers to implement custom digital circuits after manufacturing. Mercury devices specifically target high-speed, low-power applications using a 0.18 µm six-layer metal process with embedded memory and dedicated clock networks. Key features include a 1.8V core supply (VCCINT) with 3.3V/2.5V multi-voltage I/O support, dedicated True-LVDS circuitry, four phase-locked loops (PLLs) for clock management, and support for high-speed interfaces including LVDS, SSTL, and HSTL I/O standards. The device operates over the industrial temperature range (-40C to +100C) with a -7 speed grade. Embedded array blocks (EABs) provide efficient on-chip memory for FIFO, ROM, and RAM functions, while the RAM block capacity supports single-port and dual-port memory configurations. Typical applications include telecommunications line cards, industrial control and factory automation, video processing pipelines, high-speed serial bridging, and ASIC prototyping. The Mercury family's high I/O count and low-power 1.8V operation make it well-suited for I/O-intensive designs where board space and power budget are constrained. When designing with this device, ensure proper decoupling with 0.1 µF and 10 µF capacitors placed close to each power pin. The FineLine BGA package requires careful PCB layout with controlled-impedance traces and matched-length routing for LVDS pairs to maintain signal integrity at high toggle rates.
EP1M120F484I8 - Mercury 120K FPGA, 484-FBGA | Intel / Altera
The Intel / Altera (formerly Altera) EP1M120F484I8 is a Mercury PLD family Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) IC delivering 120,000 typical gates (4,800 Logic Elements / 49,152 RAM bits) in a 484-ball FineLine BGA (FCBGA) package. It is built on a 1.8 V core process with 303 user I/O pins and operates across the industrial temperature range (-40C to +100C) at speed grade 8. An FPGA is a programmable logic device that contains an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) connected by programmable interconnect, allowing engineers to implement arbitrary digital circuits after manufacturing. FPGAs sit hierarchically above standard logic ICs and below ASICs, offering ASIC-class performance at low NRE cost for prototyping, low-volume production, and rapidly evolving standards. The Mercury family specifically targets high-speed serial I/O applications, integrating up to 18 high-speed transceiver channels supporting data rates up to 1.25 Gbps per channel. Key features of the EP1M120F484I8 include 120,000 typical gates, 49,152 bits of embedded SRAM, 4,800 logic elements, and a maximum of 303 user I/O pins. The device supports multiple I/O standards (LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, GTL+, SSTL) and integrates dedicated high-speed transceiver blocks. The 484-ball FineLine BGA package supports industrial-grade thermal and reliability requirements. The 'I8' suffix denotes the industrial temperature grade with speed grade 8, the second-fastest speed bin in the Mercury family. Architecturally, the EP1M120F484I8 uses a SRAM-based configuration cell backed by LUT-based logic elements, with embedded multiplier and memory blocks optimized for DSP and data-path acceleration. The 1.8 V core reduces power consumption relative to earlier 2.5 V families while the transceiver blocks maintain signal-integrity performance up to 1.25 Gbps. Typical applications include high-speed serial interface bridging, telecom backplane aggregation, optical transport networking, and embedded DSP prototyping. The Mercury family's transceiver focus makes the EP1M120F484I8 particularly well suited to protocols such as Gigabit Ethernet, SONET/SDH, and Fibre Channel where multi-channel serial I/O is required. When designing with this part, ensure a configuration source is provided (EPCS serial flash or microcontroller) and that the four transceiver supply rails (VCCA, VCC_PLL, VCC_TX, VCC_RX) are properly decoupled. Designers should also confirm that the industrial temperature profile (-40C to +100C) covers the target application envelope, as commercial parts carry a different operating range. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
EP1M120F486I6 - 486-Pin Mercury FPGA | Altera | Embedded Logic
Altera EP1M120F486I6 is a Mercury programmable logic device in a 486-ball FineLine BGA package, intended for embedded logic designs requiring reconfigurable digital circuitry. The verified source material identifies the part as an Altera Mercury PLD and associates the EP1M120F486I6 ordering code with the -6 speed grade and an industrial-oriented suffix designation. The available evidence does not provide a verified logic-element count, memory capacity, I/O count, core voltage, operating temperature, or package dimensions for this exact ordering code, so those values remain explicitly marked for validation. A field-programmable gate array is a semiconductor device whose logic functions are defined through programmable configuration rather than fixed mask-level interconnection. FPGAs occupy the programmable-logic branch of digital integrated circuits and provide a hardware hierarchy ranging from configurable logic blocks to programmable interconnect, I/O elements, configuration memory, and system-level interfaces. Mercury devices are presented in the source material as a programmable-logic family; EP1M120F486I6 is the industrial-grade, -6-speed member identified for this product record. The principal verified ordering details are the EP1M120F486I6 MPN, the Altera brand identity, the Mercury PLD family association, the 486-ball FineLine BGA package reference, and the -6 speed-grade notation. The MPN structure is useful during procurement: the family name identifies the device family, F486 indicates the package-related ordering variant, I indicates the industrial-oriented ordering designation in the supplied record, and 6 indicates the speed grade. The supplied search results also identify a 484-BBGA EP1M120F484I6 variant, but it is not treated as a drop-in equivalent because the package designation differs. From a system-design perspective, the device belongs to a programmable-logic architecture and should be evaluated using the manufacturer's complete EP1M120 documentation before schematic release. Configuration methodology, supported I/O standards, available user I/O, embedded memory, clock resources, power sequencing, and package-ball assignments must be confirmed from the official device documentation. The search results provide an EP1M120 datasheet link hosted by AllDataSheet and an Altera-semi PDF result for a related EP1M120F484I6 ordering code; neither source confirms every electrical characteristic of EP1M120F486I6. Typical procurement and design uses include industrial control logic, communications equipment, test hardware, instrumentation, and embedded systems that need field-updatable digital processing. The device is especially relevant where a programmable implementation is preferred over a fixed-function ASIC or where late-stage logic changes are expected. Because exact electrical and timing data are not present in the supplied snippets, a replacement decision should not rely solely on the partial web results. When selecting this part, verify the exact package drawing, ball map, supported configuration interface, voltage rails, thermal limits, and speed-grade timing tables from the manufacturer datasheet. Do not infer that the 484-ball EP1M120F484I6 can replace the 486-ball target without a pin-by-pin and package comparison. This page distinguishes verified ordering information from missing engineering data and avoids presenting cross-package or unverified drop-in substitutions.
EP1M120F48I6 - Mercury FPGA 120K Gates 4800 Cells | Intel/Altera
The Intel/Altera EP1M120F48I6 is a Mercury-family Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) delivering 120,000 system gates and 4,800 logic elements in a 484-ball FineLine BGA (FCBGA) package, operating from the industrial temperature range. Built on a 1.8V core with 0.18µm process technology, this -6 speed grade device is engineered for high-performance, logic-intensive designs requiring embedded memory and high-speed serial I/O. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that allows engineers to implement custom digital circuits after manufacturing. FPGAs belong to the hierarchy: FPGA -> Programmable Logic Device -> Logic IC -> Integrated Circuit -> Semiconductor. The Mercury family, released by Altera in the early 2000s, was one of the first Altera FPGAs to integrate dedicated high-speed serial transceiver channels alongside traditional programmable logic fabric, enabling applications such as telecom backplanes, serial Rapid I/O, and custom high-speed interfaces that previously required expensive ASICs. Key features of the EP1M120F48I6 include up to 8 high-speed transceiver channels capable of 1.25 Gbps operation (with the remaining channels supporting up to 1.0 Gbps), 303 user I/O pins, an embedded memory subsystem, and a -6 industrial temperature grade spanning -40°C to +100°C. The device supports multiple I/O standards including LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, and LVDS for flexible board-level interfacing. The 484-ball FCBGA package with 1.0mm ball pitch is suitable for high-density PCB designs using standard BGA assembly processes. Architecturally, the Mercury family combines a lookup-table-based logic fabric with embedded transceiver macros, dedicated clock management circuitry, and dual-port RAM blocks. The transceiver macros incorporate serializer/deserializer, clock-data recovery, and word alignment logic, significantly simplifying designs that previously required external PHY chips. Typical applications for the EP1M120F48I6 include telecom line cards, custom serial RapidIO bridges, high-speed serial protocol converters, optical transport equipment, and military/aerospace signal-processing subsystems where industrial temperature grade and reconfigurable logic provide clear advantages over fixed ASIC solutions. When designing with this FPGA, allocate sufficient PCB layers for transceiver routing - the high-speed serial channels require controlled impedance (typically 50Ω differential) and length-matched traces within the same channel group to maintain signal integrity. Decoupling requires multiple bulk and ceramic capacitors placed adjacent to each power pin. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives from the same Mercury family, and practical design notes not found in the original manufacturer datasheet.
EP1M350B780C6 - 350K Gate Mercury FPGA 780-Pin BGA | Altera
The Altera EP1M350B780C6 is a member of the Altera Mercury PLD family of programmable logic devices, integrating approximately 350,000 gates of logic fabric in a 780-pin FineLine BGA package. This device targets high-performance, high-bandwidth digital designs where parallel processing and deterministic timing are required. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that combines logic blocks, programmable interconnect, I/O elements, and embedded memory into a single semiconductor die. FPGAs occupy the upper tier of programmable logic - above CPLDs and SPLDs - and serve as flexible hardware platforms between general-purpose microcontrollers and fixed ASICs. The Mercury family extends this concept by adding dedicated high-speed serial interface circuitry and embedded transceiver blocks optimized for serial backplane and telecom data-path applications. Key features of the EP1M350B780C6 include 350K typical gates (approximately 200K logic elements + dedicated memory and PLL), embedded array blocks (EABs) for RAM/ROM/dual-port memory functions, multiple phase-locked loops (PLLs) for clock management, and high-speed I/O capable of LVDS/LVTTL signalling. The 780-pin FineLine BGA package exposes roughly 488 user I/O pins with rich pin-swappable I/O standards, allowing dense board layouts while preserving signal integrity. The peak reflow temperature rating of 220 C (per the verified distributor records) makes it compatible with standard lead-free SMT assembly profiles. Architecture-wise, the Mercury family uses a Lookup Table (LUT) based logic element array combined with row/column interconnect, similar to other Altera APEX/Stratix-family predecessors, but enhanced with embedded transceiver macros and CDR circuitry for serial data rates up to 1.25 Gbps per channel. The -6 speed grade balances logic throughput versus static power, sitting between -7 (faster, more leakage) and -8 (slower) grades in the family ordering. Typical applications for the EP1M350B780C6 include custom telecom line-card designs, serial backplane aggregation, high-speed protocol bridging (SPI 4.2, UTOPIA, POS-PHY), industrial machine-vision frame grabbers, and high-throughput signal-processing prototypes. Designers also use it in software-defined radio (SDR) front-ends and legacy ASIC-replacement programmes where Altera MAX/Quartus tool flow compatibility matters. When designing with this device, plan power-rail sequencing carefully - the core, I/O, and PLL supplies each require a known-good ramp profile before I/O tri-state is released. Use Altera's Quartus II or MAX+PLUS II tool flow for fitting, place-and-route, and timing closure; older Mercury designs remain supported in Altera/Intel FPGA legacy tool chains. This page synthesizes distributor pricing snapshots, same-family pin-compatible Mercury drop-in alternatives, and practical layout notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet rather than duplicate it.
EP1M350B780C7 - 350K Gates Mercury FPGA, 780-Pin BGA | Altera
The Altera (now Intel) EP1M350B780C7 is a member of the Mercury FPGA family, delivering 350,000 system gates in a 780-ball FineLine BGA package. It is a high-density programmable logic IC designed for high-performance digital signal processing, telecommunications, and embedded compute applications where deterministic logic density and abundant I/O are required. The Mercury family introduced Altera's first-generation multi-gigabit serial transceiver capability integrated into a general-purpose FPGA fabric. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor IC built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated hard IP blocks such as transceivers, memory blocks, and DSP slices. Within the broader taxonomy, an FPGA sits under programmable logic devices (PLD), which themselves fall under the integrated circuit (IC) / semiconductor hierarchy. FPGAs occupy a unique design position: they deliver ASIC-class performance and parallel processing throughput while retaining in-system reprogrammability, making them ideal for prototyping, low-volume production, and designs requiring post-deployment field updates. Key features of the EP1M350B780C7 include 350K equivalent system gates, multi-gigabit transceivers operating up to 1.25 Gbps, embedded LVDS-compatible I/O supporting DDR memory interfaces, a maximum user I/O count enabled by the large 780-ball BGA, and a 1.5 V core voltage with 3.3 V I/O tolerance. The device also supports Altera's SOPC Builder and Quartus II development flow, providing toolchain maturity for industrial and telecommunications designs. Technically, the Mercury family pairs a 4-input LUT-based logic fabric with embedded transceiver macros and dual-port RAM blocks. This architecture targets high-speed serial backplane links, protocol bridging, and high-throughput data-path applications. Compared with lower-density ACEX/MAX families, the Mercury family's integrated transceivers eliminate the need for external SERDES components, simplifying board design and reducing BOM cost for multi-gigabit interfaces. Typical applications include multi-gigabit serial backplane links, SONET/SDH framer interfaces, high-speed protocol bridges (PCI-X, RapidIO), telecommunications line cards, and DSP co-processing for wireless base stations. The 780-ball BGA package provides the routing escape and I/O density required for these high-pin-count designs. Designers should note the Mercury family has been in production for a long time and may carry NRND or last-time-buy status at certain distributors. Verify current lifecycle via the manufacturer's PCN search before committing to new designs. Always use the latest Quartus II service pack for bitstream generation to avoid known hardware/software errata. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative cross-references, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, providing engineers with the cross-shopping context needed for supply chain resilience.
EP1M350B780I6 - Altera Mercury 350 FPGA, BGA-780, -40C/+100C | Altera
The Altera EP1M350B780I6 is a high-density Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from the legacy Mercury (EP1M) programmable logic family, supplied in a 780-ball FineLine BGA package (designator B780) with industrial temperature grade -40C to +100C (suffix "I6"). It is built on SRAM-based configuration technology with on-chip flash-backed configuration support typical of the Enhanced Configuration Device line, delivering high gate count and rich DSP/embedded-memory resources for high-performance digital signal processing applications. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that combines configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated silicon resources such as block RAM, multipliers/DSP blocks, and high-speed transceivers into a single semiconductor die. Within the broader component taxonomy, FPGAs sit above generic logic ICs and below Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), occupying the "hardware-reconfigurable" tier of the digital IC hierarchy. The Altera Mercury family specifically targets high-speed signal processing with embedded multiplier blocks and LVDS-capable I/O, suitable for telecom, video, and DSP pipelines. Key features of the EP1M350B780I6 include its 780-ball FineLine BGA package providing high I/O density, an industrial-grade operating temperature window of -40C to +100C (denoted by the "I" temperature designator and "6" speed grade), a peak reflow temperature rating of 220C compatible with lead-free SMT assembly, and configuration support through the Altera Enhanced Configuration scheme (multi-bit serial/parallel, JTAG). The part is qualified for surface-mount production with MSL handling per JEDEC J-STD-020. Mercury-family FPGAs implement a sea-of-LABs architecture with embedded array blocks (EABs) for memory functions and dedicated DSP rows. The configuration controller integrates with Altera's Quartus II design flow, accepting compiled SRAM configuration bitstreams via JTAG, serial, or parallel modes. The on-die flash controller (where present on Mercury variants) enables single-chip, instant-on operation without an external configuration PROM. Typical applications include high-speed DSP datapaths in telecom baseband cards, video processing and imaging front-ends, industrial control and instrumentation, military/aerospace signal processing subsystems, and prototyping bridges for ASIC emulation. The BGA-780 footprint is well-suited to high-density backplane or line-card layouts where LVDS and parallel I/O bandwidth dominate. When designing with this device, ensure the PCB accommodates the 1.0 mm or 1.27 mm pitch BGA land pattern with proper microvia stack-up, and observe the 220C peak reflow limit for lead-free profile compliance. Power estimation should be performed early using Quartus II PowerPlay to size decoupling and thermal relief. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and design notes not consolidated in the original manufacturer datasheet.
EP1M350F672C7 - Mercury PLD FPGA 350K Gates | Intel/Altera
The Altera (now Intel) EP1M350F672C7 is a Mercury-family programmable logic device (PLD) delivering approximately 350,000 system gates of logic capacity in a 672-ball FineLine BGA package. It belongs to Altera's APEX Mercury PLD family, which combines high-density SRAM-based look-up tables (LUTs) with embedded memory and LVDS-capable I/O for high-bandwidth signal processing designs. A Programmable Logic Device (PLD) is a general term for any digital integrated circuit whose logic function is defined by the customer rather than the mask set. The Mercury family is built on a 0.18-micrometer SRAM-based CMOS process with an embedded 4-input LUT architecture and dual-port RAM blocks, allowing logic functions to be reconfigured in-system at any time. FPGAs sit at the top of the digital logic hierarchy: programmable logic > PLD > CPLD > FPGA > SRAM-based FPGA > Mercury family. Key features include up to 350K usable gates, multiple embedded system blocks (ESBs), dedicated LVDS I/O support, and a clock management subsystem with up to four phase-locked loops (PLLs). The 672-pin FineLine BGA package exposes a high pin count to drive wide parallel buses and dozens of high-speed serial links, while the -7 speed grade designates a mid-range timing closure target for cost-sensitive commercial designs. The Mercury architecture pairs logic elements with embedded memory blocks and dedicated multiplier support, allowing DSP-style datapaths to be implemented without consuming logic resources for arithmetic primitives. Multi-voltage I/O banks support interfacing to 3.3V, 2.5V, and 1.8V peripherals on the same die, simplifying mixed-voltage system design. Typical applications include telecom line-card glue logic, high-speed serial protocol bridging, image preprocessing pipelines, and digital test instrumentation backplanes. The wide package makes it suitable as a system controller on PCI, PMC, and custom mezzanine cards in industrial and defense platforms. When designing with this device, plan power sequencing for the 1.5V core and 3.3V I/O rails simultaneously, and ensure the JTAG chain is correctly ordered with any boundary-scan devices on the board. The FineLine BGA requires X-ray or careful optical inspection after reflow to verify sphere collapse. This page consolidates distributor inventory signals, drop-in Mercury-family alternatives, and design notes not duplicated in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers shorten sourcing time and avoid cross-package pitfalls.
EP1M350F672C7N - Altera Mercury PLD Configuration Device | 672-BGA
The Altera EP1M350F672C7N is a member of the Mercury PLD family, an enhanced configuration device designed as a single-device, high-speed configuration solution for very high-density SRAM-based FPGAs. Housed in a 672-pin FineLine BGA package, it integrates a dedicated configuration controller with on-chip flash memory, eliminating the need for external boot PROMs in many Altera FPGA designs. The device targets configuration of LUT-based SRAM FPGAs such as the APEX and Mercury device families. A configuration device is a non-volatile memory IC that stores the FPGA bitstream and serially delivers it to the target FPGA at power-up through a standardized configuration interface (typically JTAG or passive serial). Within the broader component hierarchy, configuration devices sit between PROM memory and FPGA companion silicon: they are application-specific flash memories with a state machine optimized for FPGA configuration protocols rather than general-purpose storage. The Mercury family is the enhanced-generation successor to Altera's earlier EPC configuration devices, supporting faster configuration clocks and larger bitstream capacities. Key features include 3.5 Mbit of configuration storage capacity (the '350' designator in the part number), 672-ball FineLine BGA packaging, industrial temperature grade option support, and a 7ns access time tier. The device operates from a 3.3V core supply and supports multi-device daisy-chaining for configuration of multiple FPGAs in parallel. Compared to discrete flash + controller implementations, the EP1M350F672C7N provides a verified single-chip solution that has been characterized by Altera for compatibility with their FPGA configuration engines. Typical applications include configuring Altera APEX 20K, APEX II, and Mercury FPGA families, factory programming of FPGA development boards, and embedded systems requiring field-upgradable FPGA logic via JTAG. The industrial temperature range makes the part suitable for telecom infrastructure and industrial control platforms. When designing with this device, engineers should verify JTAG chain compatibility with the target FPGA, confirm voltage level matching (the EP1M350F672C7N uses 3.3V I/O), and ensure the 672-BGA land pattern is manufacturable on the target PCB. Modern Altera/Intel FPGA families (Cyclone, Arria, Stratix) have moved to different configuration schemes and newer configuration devices such as EPCQ-A, making this part most relevant for legacy and second-source designs.
EP1M350F780-C7 - Mercury 1440-LAB FPGA, 486 I/O, 1.25Gbps CDR BGA-780
The Altera (Intel) EP1M350F780-C7 is a high-performance Mercury-family programmable logic device (PLD) with 1440 logic array blocks, 486 user I/Os, and integrated multi-gigabit transceivers supporting clock data recovery up to 1.25 Gbps, housed in a 780-ball FineLine BGA package. A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a reconfigurable semiconductor that allows hardware designers to implement custom digital logic after manufacturing. FPGAs sit within the programmable logic hierarchy: PLD -> CPLD -> FPGA -> structured ASIC. Unlike fixed-function ASICs, FPGAs are programmed via configuration bitstreams stored in SRAM cells, enabling rapid prototyping, in-field upgrades, and hardware emulation of complex digital systems such as bus interfaces, DSP pipelines, and high-speed serial links. Key specifications include: 1440 logic array blocks (LABs), 486 user I/Os, integrated high-speed transceivers (CDR) supporting 8 channels at 1.25 Gbps with the remaining 10 channels limited to 1.0 Gbps or less, -7 commercial speed grade, 1.8V core supply, and 0 to 85 degrees C commercial operating temperature range. The device is fabricated on a CMOS process with SRAM-based configuration memory. Architecturally, the Mercury family combines a 4-input look-up table (LUT) fabric with embedded multiplier/accumulator blocks, dedicated LVDS serializer/deserializer (SERDES) channels, and clock management tiles that together provide the throughput needed for telecom backplanes, video bridges, and embedded computing applications. The BGA-780 FineLine package supports 486 usable I/Os while preserving signal integrity at multi-gigabit data rates. Typical applications include high-speed serial interface bridges, telecom line card prototyping, industrial imaging pipelines, and embedded processing subsystems that require parallel logic with selective high-speed serial links. When designing with this device, ensure PCB designers follow the FineLine BGA breakout pattern with matched-length differential routing on all CDR channels, and reserve sufficient decoupling capacitance near every power pin to meet the 1.8V core supply tolerance under dynamic load. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives from the Mercury and ACEX families, and practical design considerations not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
EP1M350F78016 - Mercury PLD FPGA, 780-BGA | Intel / Altera
The Intel (formerly Altera) EP1M350F78016 is a member of the Mercury PLD family of high-performance FPGAs, packaged in a 780-ball FineLine BGA (FCBGA) and rated for industrial temperature operation. It integrates 486 user I/O pins and is fabricated on a sub-micron CMOS process optimized for high-speed logic and memory implementation. The Mercury family targets networking, telecommunications, and high-end DSP applications where deterministic timing and high I/O density are essential. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that combines a configurable logic block (CLB) array, programmable interconnect, and embedded memory into a single semiconductor IC. FPGAs sit in the taxonomy of digital logic ICs: PLD -> FPGA -> SRAM-based FPGA -> Mercury family. Unlike fixed-function ASICs, FPGAs allow full in-system reconfiguration, making them ideal for prototyping, low-volume production, and applications requiring field upgrades. The Mercury PLD family in particular uses a 4-input look-up table (LUT) architecture with embedded system blocks. Key features of the EP1M350F78016 include 486 I/O pins distributed across multiple I/O banks, support for multiple I/O standards (LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, GTL+, HSTL, SSTL), and embedded memory blocks suitable for FIFO and RAM implementations. The device supports in-system programming via the IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) interface and offers multi-volt core and I/O operation. The 780-BGA package provides high-density interconnect routing with controlled-impedance signal paths. The Mercury architecture separates logic from routing using a segmented interconnect network, which improves timing predictability and reduces signal skew. Designers can implement up to several hundred thousand system gates depending on the specific Mercury variant, and the device supports dedicated multiplier/accumulator blocks for DSP functions. Configuration is loaded from external serial or parallel memory at power-up. Typical applications of the EP1M350F78016 include high-speed network routers and switches, telecommunications line cards, baseband signal processing for wireless infrastructure, and high-performance data acquisition systems. The device is also used in industrial automation controllers requiring deterministic logic and in test equipment where high I/O counts are needed to interface with multiple buses. Compared to older MAX 7000-series CPLDs, the Mercury family offers significantly higher logic density and integrated memory. When designing with the EP1M350F78016, ensure the PCB has matched-length traces and proper impedance termination for high-speed signals, and provide sufficient decoupling (100 nF + 10 uF per power pin cluster). Plan configuration memory selection early, since the device requires a specific configuration bitstream generated by the Altera/Intel Quartus toolchain. This page synthesizes pricing, lifecycle status, and pin-compatible alternatives not consolidated on any single distributor page.