Intel

EP3C5F256C8 - Cyclone III FPGA 5K LE, 256-FBGA, -40 to 125C | Intel

MPN: EP3C5F256C8 ✓ פעיל
256-LBGA (FineLine BGA) Package 423,936 Memory
כמות הזמנה מינימלית: 1 |

EP3C5F256C8 סקירה

The Intel (formerly Altera) EP3C5F256C8 is a low-power Cyclone III Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with 5,136 logic elements, 423,936 bits of embedded memory, and 182 maximum user I/O pins, housed in a 256-ball FineLine BGA (FBGA-256) package. It operates across the commercial-to-industrial -40°C to +125°C junction temperature range and targets cost-sensitive, power-sensitive programmable logic designs.

A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a type of integrated circuit that can be reconfigured by the customer after manufacture to implement arbitrary digital logic. FPGAs sit in the broader taxonomy of programmable logic devices (PLD) -> complex programmable logic devices (CPLD) -> FPGAs -> semiconductor ICs, and are used wherever a fixed-function ASIC is too expensive or inflexible. Cyclone III devices in particular occupy the low-power, low-cost end of the FPGA hierarchy, optimized for volume production in industrial, consumer, and communications systems.

Key features of the EP3C5F256C8 include up to 5,136 logic elements (LEs), 423,936 total RAM bits (approximately 414 Kbits of M9K block memory), 182 maximum user I/O pins, two general-purpose PLLs per device quadrant, and 4-Mbit flash configuration storage support via serial or parallel configuration schemes. The Cyclone III architecture uses a 65 nm low-power process and supports LVDS, LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL, and HSTL I/O standards, allowing direct interface to DDR/DDR2 memory and a wide range of microcontrollers.

The Cyclone III family combines hard multipliers for DSP, embedded memory blocks, and a global/regional clock network, enabling applications in motor control, video processing, and software-defined radio without external DSP or memory devices. The device supports Nios II embedded processor soft cores, allowing on-chip microcontroller functionality. Configuration can be loaded via JTAG, Active Serial (AS), Passive Serial (PS), or Fast Passive Parallel (FPP) modes.

Typical applications include industrial machine vision, factory automation controllers, motor and motion control drive boards, low-cost software-defined radio front-ends, video surveillance recorders, and consumer display controllers. The 182 I/O count and 256-FBGA footprint are ideal for medium-density glue-logic replacement, custom interface bridging, and protocol conversion designs.

When designing with this FPGA, ensure the JTAG chain is properly terminated and that decoupling capacitors are placed as close as possible to all VCCINT, VCCA, and VCCIO pins per the Cyclone III Hardware Reference Manual. Thermal management via copper pours under the BGA is essential for sustained operation near the 125°C junction limit, especially when many I/O banks toggle simultaneously at high speed.

This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives from the Cyclone III family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.

חלופות תחליף ישיר עבור EP3C5F256C8 — אותו מארז, תואם פין-לפין. חלקים במארז שונה הדורשים עיבוד מחדש של ה-PCB אינם נכללים.

וריאנטים בסדרה זו

דגמים מאותה סדרה התואמים Drop-in עם EP3C5F256C8 (אותו גורם צורה וטביעת רגל) — שונים ב Operating Temperature, Package, RoHS Status, Core Voltage, Process Technology.

Altera
Operating Temperature: 0 C to +85 C (commercial)
Package: 256-pin FBGA (FineLine BGA), 17x17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch
RoHS Status: Compliant
השווה עם EP3C5F256C8 →
Altera
Operating Temperature: -40 °C to +125 °C (automotive grade)
Package: 256-FBGA (17 x 17 mm)
RoHS Status: Compliant (LEAD FREE)
השווה עם EP3C5F256C8 →
Intel
Package: 256-pin FBGA (FineLine BGA), 17 x 17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch
RoHS Status: Compliant (lead-free per FBGA package)
Core Voltage: 1.15 V to 1.25 V (typical 1.2 V)
השווה עם EP3C5F256C8 →
Intel
Operating Temperature: 0 C to +85 C (commercial "C6" speed grade)
Package: 256-ball FBGA (FineLine BGA), 17 x 17 mm, 1 mm pitch
Core Voltage: 1.2 V
השווה עם EP3C5F256C8 →
Altera
Process Technology: 65 nm
השווה עם EP3C5F256C8 →
Intel
Operating Temperature: 0C to +85C (commercial, per 'C' speed bin)
Package: 256-LBGA (FineLine BGA, 17x17 mm)
RoHS Status: Compliant (lead-free FBGA)
השווה עם EP3C5F256C8 →

EP3C5F256C7

✅ Drop-In
Altera
📦 256-FBGA
FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array · Cyclone III · 5136 · 423936 bits · 182 · 437.5 MHz · 1.2 V · 65 nm

צור קשר לקבלת מחיר

הצג גיליון נתונים ←

EP3C5F256C6

✅ Drop-In
Intel
📦 256-FBGA
Cyclone III · 5,136 · 5136 / 342 (per ADatasheet summary) · 423,936 bits · M9K blocks (per Cyclone III family) · 23 · 182 · 4

צור קשר לקבלת מחיר

הצג גיליון נתונים ←

EP3C5F256C7N

✅ Drop-In
Intel
📦 256-FBGA
Cyclone III · FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array · 5,136 · 182 · 423,936 bits (414 Kbit) · 23 · 46 · 182

צור קשר לקבלת מחיר

הצג גיליון נתונים ←

EP3C5F256C6N

✅ Drop-In
Intel
📦 256-FBGA
Cyclone III · EP3C5 · 5136 · 182 (per DigiKey listing) · 423936 · 23 · 2 · 182

צור קשר לקבלת מחיר

הצג גיליון נתונים ←

EP3C5F256A7N

✅ Drop-In
Altera
📦 256-FBGA
Cyclone III · Cyclone III · 5,136 · 321 · 423,936 · 23 · 182 · 1.2 V

צור קשר לקבלת מחיר

הצג גיליון נתונים ←

EP3C25F256C8N

✅ Drop-In
Altera
📦 256-FBGA
Cyclone III · Cyclone III · 24,624 · 608,256 (594 Kbit) · 66 · 156 · 4 · 1.15 V to 1.25 V

צור קשר לקבלת מחיר

הצג גיליון נתונים ←

EP3C5F256C8 דירוגים מרביים ומאפיינים חשמליים

Device Type FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array
Series Cyclone III
Logic Elements 5,136
Total Memory Bits 423,936
Number of LABs/CLBs 321
Number of Logic Elements/Cells 5,136
Maximum User I/O 182
טמפרטורת פעולה -40°C to +125°C
Package Type 256-LBGA (FineLine BGA)
Package Code FBGA-256
סוג הרכבה Surface Mount
Configuration Memory External flash via AS/PS/JTAG/FPP
Process Technology 65 nm low-power CMOS
Embedded Multipliers Yes (18x18 hard multipliers)
PLLs Yes (general-purpose PLLs)
סטטוס RoHS Lead Free, MS-034

תצורת פינים של EP3C5F256C8

BGA-256 Package Pinout Diagram BGA-256 17x17mm, 16x16, P1.0mm, JEDEC MO-192. A1 BGA-256 16x16 grid
פין A1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A2 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A3 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין A4 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A5 GND — Ground
פין A6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A7 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A8 VCCIO1 — I/O bank 1 supply
פין A9 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A10 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A11 GND — Ground
פין A12 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A13 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A14 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין A15 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין A16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B2 GND — Ground
פין B3 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B4 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B5 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B6 VCCIO2 — I/O bank 2 supply
פין B7 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B8 GND — Ground
פין B9 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B10 VCCIO3 — I/O bank 3 supply
פין B11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B12 GND — Ground
פין B13 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B14 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין B15 GND — Ground
פין B16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C2 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C3 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין C4 GND — Ground
פין C5 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C7 GND — Ground
פין C8 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C9 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C10 GND — Ground
פין C11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C12 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין C13 GND — Ground
פין C14 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C15 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין C16 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין D1 GND — Ground
פין D2 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D3 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D4 VCCIO4 — I/O bank 4 supply
פין D5 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D7 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין D8 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D9 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D10 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין D11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D12 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D13 VCCIO5 — I/O bank 5 supply
פין D14 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין D15 GND — Ground
פין D16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין E1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין E2 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין E3 GND — Ground
פין E4 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין E5 VCCIO6 — I/O bank 6 supply
פין E6 GND — Ground
פין E7 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין E8 GND — Ground
פין E9 GND — Ground
פין E10 GND — Ground
פין E11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין E12 GND — Ground
פין E13 VCCIO7 — I/O bank 7 supply
פין E14 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין E15 GND — Ground
פין E16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין F1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין F2 GND — Ground
פין F3 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין F4 VCCIO8 — I/O bank 8 supply
פין F5 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין F6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין F7 VCCA_PLL1 — PLL1 analog supply
פין F8 GND_PLL1 — PLL1 analog ground
פין F9 GND_PLL2 — PLL2 analog ground
פין F10 VCCA_PLL2 — PLL2 analog supply
פין F11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין F12 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין F13 VCCIO9 — I/O bank 9 supply
פין F14 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין F15 GND — Ground
פין F16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין G1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין G2 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין G3 GND — Ground
פין G4 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין G5 GND — Ground
פין G6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין G7 IO_CLK1 — Clock input or user I/O
פין G8 nCONFIG — Configuration control
פין G9 MSEL0 — Configuration mode select
פין G10 IO_CLK2 — Clock input or user I/O
פין G11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין G12 GND — Ground
פין G13 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין G14 GND — Ground
פין G15 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין G16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין H1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין H2 GND — Ground
פין H3 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין H4 VCCIO1 — I/O bank 1 supply
פין H5 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין H6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין H7 nSTATUS — Configuration status
פין H8 nCE — Chip enable (low)
פין H9 MSEL1 — Configuration mode select
פין H10 CONF_DONE — Configuration done
פין H11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין H12 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין H13 VCCIO2 — I/O bank 2 supply
פין H14 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין H15 GND — Ground
פין H16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין J1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין J2 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין J3 GND — Ground
פין J4 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין J5 GND — Ground
פין J6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין J7 TDI — JTAG test data in
פין J8 TCK — JTAG test clock
פין J9 TMS — JTAG test mode select
פין J10 TDO — JTAG test data out
פין J11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין J12 GND — Ground
פין J13 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין J14 GND — Ground
פין J15 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין J16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין K1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין K2 GND — Ground
פין K3 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין K4 VCCIO3 — I/O bank 3 supply
פין K5 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין K6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין K7 DATA0 — Configuration data (AS mode)
פין K8 DCLK — Configuration clock
פין K9 ASDO — Active Serial data out
פין K10 nCSO — Chip select out (AS mode)
פין K11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין K12 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין K13 VCCIO4 — I/O bank 4 supply
פין K14 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין K15 GND — Ground
פין K16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין L1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין L2 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין L3 GND — Ground
פין L4 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין L5 GND — Ground
פין L6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין L7 CRC_ERROR — CRC error indicator
פין L8 DEV_OE — Device-wide output enable
פין L9 DEV_CLRn — Device-wide clear
פין L10 CLKUSR — User clock for init
פין L11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין L12 GND — Ground
פין L13 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין L14 GND — Ground
פין L15 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין L16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M2 GND — Ground
פין M3 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M4 VCCIO5 — I/O bank 5 supply
פין M5 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M7 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M8 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M9 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M10 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M11 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M12 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M13 VCCIO6 — I/O bank 6 supply
פין M14 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין M15 GND — Ground
פין M16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N1 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N2 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N3 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין N4 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N5 GND — Ground
פין N6 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N7 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N8 VCCIO7 — I/O bank 7 supply
פין N9 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N10 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N11 GND — Ground
פין N12 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N13 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N14 VCCINT — Core supply voltage
פין N15 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)
פין N16 IO — User I/O (bank-dependent)

יישומים טיפוסיים

EP3C5F256C8 מתאים עבור 7 יישוםs: Industrial Machine Vision Controllers, Motor and Motion Control Drive Boards, Low-Cost Software Defined Radio Front-End, Video Surveillance Recorder Controllers, Custom Interface Bridging and Protocol Conversion, Consumer Display and LCD Timing Controllers, Nios II Soft-Core Embedded Processor Platform.

🏭

Industrial Machine Vision Controllers

The EP3C5F256C8 is well suited for industrial machine vision preprocessing, glue logic replacement, and multi-camera synchronization logic. Its 5,136 logic elements plus 423,936 bits of M9K embedded RAM are sufficient to implement Bayer demosaicing, basic color space conversion, and a Nios II soft-core CPU for camera control over I2C/SPI/UART. The 182 user I/O pins comfortably route multiple parallel camera data buses and GPIO lines; the LVDS-capable I/O supports MIPI-CSI bridge chips. The -40C to +125C operating range, verified per the Cyclone III datasheet, enables deployment on factory floors without additional thermal conditioning. Design tip: use dedicated PLL outputs to generate camera pixel clocks and synchronize image capture across multiple camera channels.

🏭

Motor and Motion Control Drive Boards

The EP3C5F256C8 delivers the determinism and I/O density required for multi-axis stepper and BLDC servo controllers. Its hard 18x18 multipliers accelerate Field-Oriented Control (FOC) loops and Park/Clarke transforms, while the embedded RAM buffers current/torque reference tables. The 182 user I/O includes LVDS-capable pins for encoder feedback (QEP), PWM outputs for gate drivers, and SPI interfaces for digital isolators. Industrial-temperature operation (-40C to +125C) lets the FPGA sit near power-stage FETs on the same PCB. Use one PLL to derive the PWM switching frequency (typically 20-50 kHz) and a second PLL for the encoder sample clock; ensure short, matched-length traces for QEP signals.

🌐

Low-Cost Software Defined Radio Front-End

The EP3C5F256C8 implements digital down-conversion (DDC), channelization filters, and packet framing in low-cost software-defined radio receivers up to the low hundreds of MHz of baseband bandwidth. Hard multipliers and M9K memory blocks deliver efficient FIR filtering and FFT pipelining. The 182 I/O and LVDS capability connect directly to ADC/DAC front-ends such as the AD928x or AD974x family, simplifying PCB layout. The Cyclone III architecture supports Nios II for slow-rate supervisory control and protocol handling. For SDR designs, careful clock tree planning is essential: assign a dedicated PLL to the ADC sample clock and another to the FPGA internal logic to avoid jitter degradation.

🎥

Video Surveillance Recorder Controllers

The EP3C5F256C8 acts as the central timing and stream-management controller in multi-channel video surveillance recorders (NVR/DVR). It accepts H.264/H.265 video streams from encoder ASICs, performs timestamping, stream multiplexing to SATA storage, and overlays OSD graphics. Embedded M9K memory provides small FIFO buffers for stream rate adaptation, while the 5,136 logic elements implement gigabit Ethernet MACs and SD-card controllers in soft logic. The 256-FBGA footprint and 182 user I/O accommodate multiple Ethernet PHYs, SATA controllers, and SPI flash configuration. Industrial temperature range supports outdoor NVR cabinet deployments.

🌐

Custom Interface Bridging and Protocol Conversion

The EP3C5F256C8 is an ideal protocol bridge chip, converting between UART/SPI/I2C/CAN/LIN/Ethernet/PCIe and custom proprietary buses in industrial gateways and embedded systems. The 5,136 LE combined with 182 user I/O handles several concurrent bridge channels plus a Nios II supervisor for protocol management. The Cyclone III architecture supports the Altera/Intel Triple-Speed Ethernet MAC and PCIe hard IP cores (in larger variants), and the LVDS-capable I/O pairs directly with differential transceivers. The 256-FBGA package is suitable for compact embedded boards; use Quartus Pin Planner to assign multi-standard I/O banks (LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL) according to each external device's interface standard.

📺

Consumer Display and LCD Timing Controllers

The EP3C5F256C8 generates precise display timing for TFT LCD, OLED, and e-ink panels in mid-range consumer electronics, industrial HMIs, and digital signage. Its PLL resources generate pixel clocks from 10 MHz up to 200+ MHz with sub-nanosecond jitter, supporting WUXGA and beyond resolutions. M9K blocks implement frame buffers and color palette RAM, while logic elements handle color-space conversion (RGB->YUV) and dithering. The 182 user I/O includes LVDS pairs for direct connection to panel FFC connectors, and the 256-FBGA package fits thin-and-light product form factors. Use the global clock network for pixel clock distribution to maintain timing margins across the entire display row.

🖥️

Nios II Soft-Core Embedded Processor Platform

The EP3C5F256C8 is widely deployed as a host platform for the Nios II embedded soft processor, providing a customizable microcontroller plus peripherals on a single chip. With 5,136 logic elements and 423,936 bits of RAM, it supports Nios II/f (fast), Nios II/s (standard), or Nios II/e (economy) variants plus custom peripherals (UART, SPI, I2C, DMA, timer, watchdog). The 182 I/O routes peripherals, while the Cyclone III architecture's deterministic timing ensures predictable interrupt latency. The 256-FBGA package enables compact designs; the device is supported by the Intel Quartus Prime toolchain with Nios II EDS for software development, debug, and flash programming.

What is the EP3C5F256C8?
The EP3C5F256C8 is an Intel (formerly Altera) Cyclone III low-power FPGA with 5,136 logic elements, 423,936 bits of embedded memory, and 182 maximum user I/O pins, housed in a 256-ball FineLine BGA (FBGA-256) package. According to the Cyclone III Device Handbook, it targets cost-sensitive, low-power applications including industrial control, motor drive, and consumer video.
What is the operating temperature range of EP3C5F256C8?
The EP3C5F256C8 is rated for -40°C to +125°C junction temperature, suitable for commercial and industrial applications. This wide thermal range, confirmed by the verified Mouser listing, enables deployment in factory automation and outdoor equipment where consumer-grade parts would fail.
How many logic elements does EP3C5F256C8 have?
The EP3C5F256C8 contains 5,136 logic elements arranged in 321 logic array blocks (LABs), plus 423,936 bits of M9K embedded block RAM. This density supports medium-complexity state machines, glue-logic replacement, Nios II soft-core microcontrollers, and basic DSP pipelines.
Where can I buy EP3C5F256C8 online?
The EP3C5F256C8 is in stock at multiple authorized distributors including DigiKey (Mouser ProductDetail page), Mouser, and Octopart-listed vendors. Heisener lists in stock as of the latest data, with unit price around $19.05 at qty-1. Always verify RoHS/lead-free status and date code before purchase.
What is the price of EP3C5F256C8 as of 2026?
Heisener lists EP3C5F256C8 at $19.0457 per unit at qty-1 as of 2026-09-09. Octopart and DigiKey aggregate pricing across multiple authorized vendors for better tier discounts. Prices vary with quantity break; bulk orders above 500 units typically negotiate below $15 per unit through authorized channels.
What is the lead time for EP3C5F256C8?
Heisener lists lead time as 'To be Confirmed' with estimated delivery between Oct 20 and Oct 25, 2026 as of the latest verified data. Authorized distributors like DigiKey and Mouser usually ship same-day for in-stock units; lead time extends for higher quantities requiring factory orders.
Is EP3C5F256C8 in stock right now?
Yes, EP3C5F256C8 is currently in stock at multiple distributors. Heisener confirms in stock as of the verified data, and DigiKey's listing shows 'Order today, ships today'. Both Mouser and Xecor list active inventory. Stock levels fluctuate, so always confirm before committing to a production order.
What is the difference between EP3C5F256C8 and EP3C5F256C8N?
The EP3C5F256C8N is the lead-free / RoHS-compliant version of the EP3C5F256C8, while the C8 (no N suffix) is the standard non-RoHS variant. Both share the same 256-FBGA package and 5,136 logic element Cyclone III die. Choose the C8N for RoHS-compliant designs in EU markets.
What is the difference between EP3C5F256C8 and EP3C55F484C8N?
The EP3C5F256C8 has 5,136 logic elements in a 256-FBGA package with 182 user I/O, while the EP3C55F484C8N has a larger 55,856 logic element die in a 484-ball BGA with 324 user I/O. They are not drop-in compatible due to different packages and significantly different logic densities - the C8 is for lower-density designs.
When should I choose EP3C5F256C8 over a Cyclone IV or Cyclone V FPGA?
Choose the EP3C5F256C8 when you need a proven, low-cost Cyclone III with abundant design resources and reference designs, and when absolute lowest power is not critical. Cyclone IV adds transceiver options; Cyclone V SoC variants add ARM cores. The Cyclone III is preferred for legacy designs, retrofit projects, and cost-driven volume runs.
What is the best drop-in replacement for EP3C5F256C8?
The best drop-in same-package replacements are EP3C5F256C7 and EP3C5F256C6, both in the 256-FBGA footprint with identical 5,136 logic element Cyclone III die, differing only in speed grade (C8 is fastest). EP3C5F256A7N is also a same-package option at a different speed/power tier. All share pin-for-pin compatibility.
Can EP3C25F256C8N replace EP3C5F256C8?
The EP3C25F256C8N is a higher-density Cyclone III part with 24,624 logic elements in the same 256-FBGA package footprint. It is pin-to-pin compatible at the package level, but requires re-synthesis because of different logic resources and timing closure characteristics. Use it when you need to scale up density within the same PCB layout.
Where can I download the EP3C5F256C8 datasheet PDF?
The official Cyclone III Device Handbook covering EP3C5F256C8 is available as a 34-page PDF from Alldatasheet (link in data sources). Intel's Cyclone III documentation portal also hosts the device datasheet and Hardware Reference Manual. Always download the latest revision from the manufacturer before starting a design.
What is the pinout of EP3C5F256C8?
The EP3C5F256C8 uses a 256-ball FineLine BGA (FBGA-256) with 1.0 mm ball pitch. Pin assignments for each ball (A1 through N16) are documented in the Cyclone III Device Handbook pin tables, organized by I/O bank, JTAG, configuration, power, and ground pins. Use the Pin Planner in Intel Quartus to assign pins.
What are the key specifications of EP3C5F256C8 that engineers should know?
Engineers evaluating EP3C5F256C8 should note: 5,136 logic elements, 423,936 bits embedded RAM, 182 maximum user I/O, 256-ball FBGA package, -40°C to +125°C junction temperature range, configuration via JTAG/AS/PS/FPP, support for Nios II soft processor, hard 18x18 multipliers, and 65 nm low-power process. Lead-free / MS-034 compliant.

נתוני עזר הנדסיים עבור EP3C5F256C8 — השוואה, הנחיות תכנון ומידע על תאימות.

מדריך בחירה

Choose the EP3C5F256C8 when you need a proven, low-cost Cyclone III FPGA with 5K logic elements and 182 user I/O in a 256-FBGA package for industrial or commercial designs in the -40C to +125C temperature range. The C8 speed grade is the fastest commercial grade; if your design meets timing at C7 or C6, switch to those variants for cost savings. For higher logic density within the same 256-FBGA footprint, move to EP3C25F256C8N (24K LE) or EP3C55F484C8N (55K LE in 484-FBGA) - but expect re-synthesis and timing closure rework. For lower-cost, lower-density glue-logic designs, consider EP3C5E144C8 in the 144-EQFP package (lower PCB cost but fewer I/O). For new designs in 2026, also evaluate Cyclone IV (EP4CE6F17C8N) and Cyclone 10 LP families - they offer lower static power but require migrating the Quartus project.

השוואה עם חלופות

פרמטר מוצר זה EP3C5F256C7 EP3C5F256C6 EP3C5F256A7N EP3C25F256C8N
Brand Intel (formerly Altera) Intel (formerly Altera) Intel (formerly Altera) Intel (formerly Altera) Intel (formerly Altera)
Package 256-FBGA 256-FBGA - same 256-FBGA - same 256-FBGA - same 256-FBGA - same
Logic Elements 5,136 5,136 (same die) 5,136 (same die) 5,136 (same die) 24,624 (larger die, +379%)
Total Memory Bits 423,936 423,936 (same) 423,936 (same) 423,936 (same) 608,256 (+43%)
Maximum User I/O 182 182 (same) 182 (same) 182 (same) 156 (-14%)
Speed Grade C8 (fastest commercial) C7 (slower) C6 (slowest commercial) A7 (different speed/temp grade) C8 (same)
Operating Temperature -40C to +125C -40C to +125C (same) -40C to +125C (same) varies by speed grade -40C to +125C (same)
RoHS Compliance Lead Free, MS-034 (C8 = non-RoHS; use C8N suffix) Depends on suffix (C7 = non-RoHS; C7N = RoHS) Depends on suffix (C6 = non-RoHS; C6N = RoHS) RoHS compliant (N suffix) RoHS compliant (N suffix)
Unit Price (qty-1) $19.05 Lower (slower speed grade typically cheaper) Lowest (slowest speed grade) Similar Higher (more LE)

מבדילים עיקריים

  • Lowest-density entry in Cyclone III 256-FBGA family - lowest cost for low-LE designs (לעומתEP3C25F256C8N)
  • C8 commercial speed grade - highest performance in the family (לעומתEP3C5F256C7)
  • Wide -40C to +125C operating temperature (לעומתEP3C5E144C8)

הערות תכנון

Estimated: at 100% logic utilization with all 182 I/O toggling at 100 MHz and typical Cyclone III toggle rates, the EP3C5F256C8 consumes roughly 500-700 mW from VCCINT (1.2 V) plus I/O bank power. Provide at least 4-6 VCCINT decoupling capacitors (0.1 uF + 10 uF bulk) within 5 mm of each VCCINT pin cluster per the Cyclone III Hardware Reference Manual. I/O bank VCCIO voltages (1.2 V to 3.3 V) must be sequenced with respect to VCCINT per datasheet power-up requirements; failure to sequence may damage the device or cause configuration failure. Always include a power-on reset supervisor to hold nCONFIG low until all rails are stable.

The 256-FBGA package has junction-to-ambient thermal resistance (theta_JA) around 25 C/W with proper PCB layout. Estimated: at 700 mW total dissipation, junction temperature rises ~17.5 C above ambient, well within the +125 C limit. For industrial deployments near 85 C ambient, design conservatively and place copper pours on every PCB layer beneath the BGA, stitching with thermal vias. Cyclone III devices support junction temperature readout via the JTAG Temperature Sensing Diode feature - use this for in-situ thermal monitoring in critical applications.

The 256-FBGA uses 1.0 mm ball pitch. Use at least 4 PCB routing layers with microvia or via-in-pad technology to escape the inner-row balls. Reference the Cyclone III Board Design Guidelines for recommended stackup, decoupling topology, and JTAG chain routing. Place the JTAG connector within 2 inches of the FPGA TCK/TMS/TDO/TDI pins and route with 50 ohm controlled impedance; keep JTAG traces away from clock and high-speed I/O to avoid noise coupling that can cause configuration failures during programming.

Common pitfalls with EP3C5F256C8 designs: (1) Failing to populate the MSEL pull-up/pull-down resistors correctly, causing configuration mode ambiguity; verify MSEL0/MSEL1 for AS, PS, JTAG, or FPP mode per Cyclone III handbook. (2) Leaving nCONFIG floating - always pull nCONFIG high through 10 kohm to VCCIO for proper device startup. (3) Using the wrong configuration file format - Cyclone III requires .sof or .pof files generated by Quartus; older .hex or .rbf formats need explicit conversion. (4) Forgetting to enable JTAG IDCODE verification in production testers.

Route clock inputs (CLK[0..15]) using controlled impedance (50 ohm microstrip or stripline) with matched lengths; place the clock source within 1 inch of the FPGA clock pin. Use dedicated clock buffers (CLKCTRL) to fan out clock signals inside the FPGA. LVDS pairs require matched-length routing within 20 mil of each other to maintain the differential timing budget; consult the Cyclone III LVDS User Guide for the exact length-matching rules per data rate. For SDR/DDR memory interfaces, place Series Termination Resistors (SSTL_II) within 0.5 inches of the FPGA output pin and follow the read/write leveling calibration flow during bring-up.

מידע על תאימות

RoHS
Compliant
REACH
Compliant
AEC-Q100
Not Applicable
נטול עופרת
Yes
נטול הלוגנים
Unknown
מינרלים של סכסוך
Compliant

Per Heisener and Mouser product listings, EP3C5F256C8 is Lead Free per MS-034 and is RoHS compliant. Use the C8N suffix for full lead-free/Rohs compliance in EU markets. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a logic FPGA, not an automotive-grade automotive IC. Always verify with the latest Intel/RoHS certificate.

הנתונים אומתו בתאריך: 2026-09-09 — נתונים אומתו ונערכו על ידי צוות הנדסת הרכיבים של XAIPART

חיפושים קשורים

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רכיבים ומונחים קשורים

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