EP20K1500CF33C8
EP20K1500CF33C8 - 1.5M Gates APEX FPGA 1020-FCBGA | Altera
The Altera (Intel PSG) EP20K1500CF33C8 is a high-density APEX 20K family Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) fabricated on a 0.18 µm CMOS process with embedded system-block memory, packaged in a 1020-ball FineLine BGA (FCBGA) and graded for commercial temperature operation. Key headline parameters are 51,840 logic elements (cells), 1,500,000 typical system gates, and 442,368 embedded system block RAM bits, making it one of the largest APEX devices available in a single-package silicon solution of its era. The device is a member of the APEX 20K family, which pioneered the combination of look-up-table (LUT) logic with embedded memory blocks.
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a type of integrated circuit that can be configured by the customer after manufacturing to implement arbitrary digital logic functions. APEX 20K devices belong to the hierarchical category: programmable logic device (PLD) -> complex PLD (CPLD) / FPGA hybrid -> SRAM-based FPGA -> high-density embedded-memory FPGA -> system-on-chip programmable logic. Within this taxonomy they sit at the upper end of the pre-Stratix era, distinguished by their embedded system blocks (ESBs) which deliver dual-port RAM, ROM, and CAM functions without consuming logic resources.
Key differentiating features include the 1020-ball FCBGA package supporting up to 808 user I/O pins, in-system programmability via IEEE 1149.1 JTAG, multi-volt I/O standards (1.5V, 1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V LVTTL/LVCMOS), four phase-locked loops (PLLs) for clock management, and dedicated high-speed interconnect (FastTrack). The die integrates 1,152 Kbits of distributed SRAM alongside the ESBs, enabling single-chip implementation of processor cores, FIFOs, and memory-intensive DSP blocks. Configuration is SRAM-based, requiring a configuration device or system-on-chip controller for in-field reprogramming.
Architecturally the EP20K1500 uses a MultiCore architecture that fuses fine-grain logic elements (LEs) with MegaLAB structures grouping 16 Logic Array Blocks (LABs) per MegaLAB, interconnected by the FastTrack routing hierarchy. This provides predictable timing closure for high-utilisation designs and supports True-LVDS signalling on selected I/O banks. The four on-chip PLLs provide clock multiplication, division, phase shifting, and zero-delay buffering for distributed clock trees.
Typical applications include telecommunications line cards, high-speed data-path designs, network switches, digital signal processing engines, and complex glue logic replacement on legacy backplane systems. Industrial automation controllers and military/aerospace imaging subsystems also leverage its high gate count and large embedded memory in commercial-grade designs. The commercial temperature grade (0 °C to +85 °C) restricts deployment to controlled-environment systems rather than automotive under-hood or extended-industrial environments.
When designing with the EP20K1500CF33C8, ensure your power-rail sequencing respects SRAM-configuration requirements and provision an Altera EPC configuration device or equivalent serial flash loader. Use the Altera Quartus II design software (legacy support) for synthesis, place-and-route, and timing analysis, as modern Quartus Prime versions retain APEX 20K device support only as a legacy device family. Decoupling strategy must follow the manufacturer's multi-rail (VCCINT, VCCIO, VCC_PLL) reference schematic to avoid in-rush issues during configuration.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative sources, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone. All specifications are referenced against the Altera APEX 20K datasheet, distributor listings, and the XAIPART internal database as of 2026-09-07.
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