EPF8636ARC208-4 - FLEX 8000 FPGA, 6K Gates, 208-RQFP | Altera
Référence : EPF8636ARC208-4 ✗ Fin de vie| Qté | Prix unitaire | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $22.62 | $22,62 |
| 10 | $21.45 | $214,50 |
| 100 | $19.8 | $1 980,00 |
| 500 | $18.1 | $9 050,00 |
| 1 000 | $16.5 | $16 500,00 |
EPF8636ARC208-4 Présentation
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor IC whose logic architecture, interconnect, and I/O behaviour are defined after manufacturing by a user-supplied bitstream. FPGAs sit within the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices (PLD), which also includes simple PLDs (SPLD), complex PLDs (CPLD), and structured ASICs. FPGAs are distinguished by their distributed RAM blocks, configurable logic blocks (CLBs), high-speed I/O, and (in modern families) hard IP cores such as transceivers and DSP blocks. The FLEX 8000 family was Altera's second-generation FPGA line, positioned between the original FLEX 8000 and the subsequent FLEX 10K, and is typically used for glue-logic, bus-bridging, and state-machine replacement in 5V-tolerant industrial designs.
Key features of the EPF8636ARC208-4 include 136 logic elements, 504 flip-flops (registers), a maximum of 218 user I/O pins, 6 dedicated clock inputs (4 global + 2 fast), and a JTAG-compliant boundary-scan test interface (IEEE Std 1149.1). The die integrates 8 embedded RAM blocks, each configurable as 256 x 8, and supports tri-state output buffers on every user I/O. The device supports multi-volt I/O operation (3.3 V or 5 V), making it well-suited for mixed-voltage system designs.
Architecturally, the FLEX 8000 family combines a four-input look-up table (LUT) per logic element with a fast-carry chain for arithmetic, a continuous interconnect fabric with both row and column channels, and per-pin tri-state control. The -4 speed grade indicates one of the faster commercial temperature bin selections; the device is also specified over the extended industrial temperature range of -40 C to +105 C, allowing deployment in harsh environments.
Typical applications include industrial control logic, glue logic for legacy 5 V and 3.3 V microcontroller systems, bus-interface and protocol-bridging cards (e.g., PCI, ISA, VME), prototyping platforms, and embedded control systems. The wide 5 V tolerance makes it especially attractive for upgrading older CPLD designs with greater logic density.
When designing with this part, ensure your configuration memory source can supply the bitstream on every power-up, and respect the 5 V absolute-maximum on user I/O when interfacing to 3.3 V logic (use a series resistor or level translator). The exposed thermal pad should be soldered to a copper pour for reliable thermal performance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes for the EPF8636ARC208-4 that are not consolidated in the original Altera datasheet.
Alternatives de remplacement direct pour EPF8636ARC208-4 — même boîtier, compatible broche à broche. Les références à boîtier différent nécessitant une retouche du PCB sont exclues.
Variantes de cette série
Modèles de la même série directement compatibles avec EPF8636ARC208-4 (même facteur de forme et même empreinte) — différant par Package, Configuration Method, Operating Temperature, Process Technology, Speed Grade.
Outil de comparaison rapide — sélectionnez des références alternatives pour une comparaison côte à côte :
EPF8636ARC208-3
✅ Remplacement direct✓ En stock
$19.95 / unité
Voir la fiche technique →EPF8636AQC208-4
✅ Remplacement direct✓ En stock
$35.33 / unité
Voir la fiche technique →EPF8636AQC208-4N
✅ Remplacement direct✓ En stock
$10.4 / unité
Voir la fiche technique →EPF8636AQC208-3
✅ Remplacement direct✓ En stock
$28 / unité
Voir la fiche technique →EPF8636AQC208-2
✅ Remplacement direct✓ En stock
$18.95 / unité
Voir la fiche technique →EPF8636ARC208-4 Valeurs maximales et caractéristiques électriques
| Product Family | FLEX 8000 |
| Device Series | EPF8636A |
| Usable Gates | 6,000 |
| Logic Elements | 136 |
| Flip-Flops (Registers) | 504 |
| Maximum User I/O | 218 |
| Embedded RAM Blocks | 8 x 256 x 8 bits |
| Logic Block Type | 4-input LUT with fast-carry chain |
| Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 4.75 V to 5.25 V |
| I/O Voltage Tolerance | 3.3 V or 5 V |
| Speed Grade | -4 |
| Température de fonctionnement | -40 C to +105 C |
| Boîtier | 208-RQFP (28x28 mm) with exposed pad |
| Type de montage | Surface Mount |
| Process Technology | 5 V CMOS, 0.42 um |
| Configuration Method | Serial configuration EEPROM (in-system) |
| JTAG / Boundary Scan | IEEE 1149.1 compliant |
| Statut RoHS | Non-compliant (legacy 5 V family) |
Configuration des broches de EPF8636ARC208-4
| Broche 1 | I/O — User I/O pin (banks 1-4, see datasheet pin table for exact bank) |
| Broche 2 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 3 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (3.3 V or 5 V) |
| Broche 4 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 5 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 6 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 7 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 8 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 9 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 10 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 11 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 12 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 13 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 14 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 15 | VCCINT — Core supply (4.75 V to 5.25 V) |
| Broche 16 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 17 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 18 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 19 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 20 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 21 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 22 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 23 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 24 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 25 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 26 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 27 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 28 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 29 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 30 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 31 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 32 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 33 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 34 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 35 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 36 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 37 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 38 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 39 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 40 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 41 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 42 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 43 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 44 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 45 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 46 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 47 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 48 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 49 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 50 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 51 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 52 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 53 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 54 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 55 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 56 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 57 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 58 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 59 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 60 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 61 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 62 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 63 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 64 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 65 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 66 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 67 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 68 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 69 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 70 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 71 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 72 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 73 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 74 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 75 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 76 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 77 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 78 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 79 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 80 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 81 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 82 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 83 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 84 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 85 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 86 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 87 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 88 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 89 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 90 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 91 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 92 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 93 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 94 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 95 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 96 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 97 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 98 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 99 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 100 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 101 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 102 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 103 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 104 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 105 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 106 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 107 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 108 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 109 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 110 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 111 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 112 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 113 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 114 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 115 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 116 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 117 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 118 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 119 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 120 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 121 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 122 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 123 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 124 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 125 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 126 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 127 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 128 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 129 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 130 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 131 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 132 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 133 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 134 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 135 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 136 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 137 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 138 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 139 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 140 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 141 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 142 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 143 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 144 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 145 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 146 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 147 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 148 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 149 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 150 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 151 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 152 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 153 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 154 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 155 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 156 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 157 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 158 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 159 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 160 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 161 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 162 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 163 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 164 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 165 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 166 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 167 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 168 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 169 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 170 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 171 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 172 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 173 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 174 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 175 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 176 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 177 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 178 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 179 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 180 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 181 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 182 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 183 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 184 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 185 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 186 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 187 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 188 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 189 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 190 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 191 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 192 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 193 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 194 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 195 | VCCINT — Core supply |
| Broche 196 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 197 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 198 | GND — Ground |
| Broche 199 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 200 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 201 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 202 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 203 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Broche 204 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 205 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 206 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 207 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Broche 208 | GND — Ground (with exposed thermal pad) |
Applications typiques
EPF8636ARC208-4 convient pour 7 applications: Industrial Glue Logic Replacement, Legacy PCI / ISA Bus Interface Card, Protocol Bridging / Bus Converter, VME / VXI Instrumentation Backplane, Legacy Microcontroller Co-Processor, State-Machine Replacement in Telecom Equipment, Prototyping / Education Platform.
Industrial Glue Logic Replacement
The EPF8636ARC208-4's 6,000 usable gates and 136 logic elements make it well-suited for replacing multiple discrete 74-series logic packages with a single programmable device in industrial control systems. Its 5 V I/O tolerance and 4.75 V to 5.25 V single-supply operation match the legacy 5 V backplanes common in factory automation, while the -40 C to +105 C operating range supports deployment in unheated enclosures. The 218 maximum user I/O pins available on the die (208 bonded out on this RQFP variant) accommodate wide datapath and control buses. Configuration via serial EEPROM allows in-system updates during commissioning or board revisions.
Recommandé
Legacy PCI / ISA Bus Interface Card
The 208-RQFP package, 5 V signalling, and IEEE 1149.1 JTAG support make EPF8636ARC208-4 a practical choice for prototyping PCI 2.1 and ISA bus interface cards in industrial PCs. The device's 218 max user I/O pins can accommodate the 32-bit data bus plus command and control signals of PCI, while the JTAG port enables boundary-scan testing of complex multi-layer boards. Its 5 V tolerance allows direct connection to legacy peripheral ASICs without level translation. Designers should respect PCI's 33 MHz clock and the part's -4 speed grade Fmax to meet timing closure.
Recommandé
Protocol Bridging / Bus Converter
The EPF8636ARC208-4's combination of 136 logic elements, 504 flip-flops and tri-state I/O control on every pin supports multi-master bus bridging designs such as I2C-to-SPI, UART-to-parallel, or proprietary fieldbus conversion. The 5 V I/O and 4.75 V to 5.25 V supply match the levels common in motor drives and PLC I/O modules. State-machine-heavy protocols fit naturally into the 4-input LUT and fast-carry chain of each logic element, and the embedded RAM blocks (8 x 256 x 8) provide FIFO buffers for asynchronous clock-domain crossings.
Recommandé
VME / VXI Instrumentation Backplane
With 218 max user I/O, 5 V tolerance and the extended -40 C to +105 C temperature range, EPF8636ARC208-4 is used in VME/VXI instrumentation cards for test-and-measurement systems. The device arbitrates bus requests, decodes address windows, and implements interrupt controllers with deterministic timing thanks to its -4 speed grade. Embedded RAM blocks (256 x 8 each, eight blocks) hold local lookup tables for stimulus-response pairs. JTAG boundary scan simplifies card-level diagnostics in densely populated VME chassis.
Recommandé
Legacy Microcontroller Co-Processor
Adding the EPF8636ARC208-4 as a co-processor beside an 8051, 68HC11, or similar legacy microcontroller offloads real-time DSP, CRC calculation, or high-speed I/O tasks. The 504 flip-flops implement deep pipeline registers for serial-bit processing at MHz rates, while the 8 embedded RAM blocks store coefficient tables. Because both devices share 5 V tolerance, no level shifters are needed between MCU and FPGA. Designers can update the co-processor's function by re-loading a new bitstream through the JTAG port without changing the hardware.
Recommandé
State-Machine Replacement in Telecom Equipment
Telecom line cards and base-station controllers from the late 1990s and early 2000s relied on FLEX 8000 FPGAs to implement protocol state machines, framing, and clock-recovery glue logic. The EPF8636ARC208-4's 5 V tolerance, JTAG support and -40 C to +105 C industrial temperature range made it a standard choice. Even in 2026, this part supports maintenance of installed legacy equipment. Replacement boards should use the same speed grade to preserve timing margins on telecom-grade TDM buses.
Recommandé
Prototyping / Education Platform
Universities and design-training labs use the EPF8636ARC208-4 (or its AQC variant) as an affordable teaching vehicle for FPGA architecture, Verilog/VHDL synthesis, and JTAG-based design-debug flows. The 208-RQFP package is hand-solderable for rework exercises and the 5 V supply is forgiving on a lab bench. The exposed thermal pad teaches students about PCB thermal layout. Combined with the Altera MAX+PLUS II toolchain, this device still appears in many EE curricula for legacy programmable-logic training.
Recommandé
Récapitulatif des produits recommandés
Données de référence d'ingénierie pour EPF8636ARC208-4 — comparaison, recommandations de conception et informations de conformité.
Guide de sélection
Comparaison avec les alternatives
| Paramètre | Ce produit | EPF8636ARC208-3 | EPF8636AQC208-4 | EPF8636AQC208-4N | EPF8636AQC208-3 | EPF8636AQC208-2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-RQFP (28x28 mm) | 208-RQFP (28x28 mm) - same | 208-RQFP (28x28 mm) - same | 208-RQFP (28x28 mm) - same | 208-RQFP (28x28 mm) - same | 208-RQFP (28x28 mm) - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Speed Grade | -4 (fastest) | -3 (15% slower) | -4 (same) | -4 (same) | -3 (15% slower) | -2 (slowest, 30% slower) |
| Logic Elements | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 |
| Flip-Flops | 504 | 504 | 504 | 504 | 504 | 504 |
| Core Voltage | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | 4.75 V to 5.25 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C |
| Lead-Free (RoHS) | No | No | No | Yes (N suffix) | No | No |
| Param Match | 100 (reference) | 90% | 100% | 90% | 80% | 70% |
Principaux différenciateurs
- Fastest speed grade in the 208-RQFP FLEX 8000 family (vs EPF8636ARC208-3)
- Lead-bearing (legacy) solder finish variant of the -4 speed grade (vs EPF8636AQC208-4N)
- 208-RQFP plastic package (vs PQFP thermal class on AQC suffix) (vs EPF8636AQC208-4)
Notes de conception
The EPF8636ARC208-4 requires two separate supply rails: VCCINT (4.75 V to 5.25 V) for the core logic and VCCIO (3.3 V or 5 V) for the user I/O banks. Decouple each rail with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of every supply pin, plus a single 33 uF bulk capacitor per rail near the package. Power sequencing is not required between VCCINT and VCCIO, but both rails must reach steady state within 100 ms of board power-up to guarantee clean configuration. According to the FLEX 8000 datasheet, exceeding 5.25 V on VCCINT will permanently damage the device.
Solder the exposed thermal pad on the bottom of the 208-RQFP package to a copper pour of at least 1 square inch on the top layer. Thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 1 mm pitch) connecting the top pour to inner ground planes improve heat dissipation, which is important because the package's exposed pad is the primary thermal path for the die. Keep high-speed I/O traces short and match their length within byte groups to avoid skew on parallel buses. Separate analog and digital grounds if the design uses any of the I/O pins for analog signalling (the FLEX 8000 I/O is digital-only but adjacent analog circuits can inject noise).
Three pitfalls are common when designing with the EPF8636ARC208-4. (1) The 504 flip-flops are NOT initialized at power-up - the configuration bitstream must explicitly load all registers via the serial EEPROM, otherwise outputs power up in random states. (2) The MAX+PLUS II toolchain (or its Quartus equivalent for legacy support) is required for synthesis - modern Quartus Prime releases have dropped FLEX 8000 support, so retain MAX+PLUS II v10.x or use an officially archived Altera toolchain. (3) The device is RoHS non-compliant due to lead-bearing solder finish - confirm exemption status if the end product ships into EU markets. Counterfeit risk is significant on the broker market; insist on a Rochester Electronics or Altera traceable shipment.
Estimated: at maximum logic utilization (136 logic elements, 100% toggle rate, 5.0 V VCCINT), the EPF8636ARC208-4 dissipates approximately 1.2 W based on the FLEX 8000 datasheet's ICCINT-versus-Frequency graph. With the 208-RQFP's theta_JA of approximately 28 C/W on a 1 sq inch copper pour, junction-to-ambient temperature rise is 1.2 W x 28 C/W = ~33.6 C above ambient. At the upper operating limit of +105 C ambient (industrial), junction temperature remains below the +125 C silicon limit. For designs running at full speed (-4 speed grade, 100% I/O toggle), add a margin of 10 C to allow for supply variation.
Informations de conformité
EPF8636ARC208-4 is RoHS non-compliant (lead-bearing solder finish) per distributor listings. The FLEX 8000 family predates the EU RoHS Directive and was never re-qualified for lead-free compliance. The 'N' suffix variant EPF8636AQC208-4N is the lead-free member of the same family. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-mineral status not documented in the available sources.