10M08SAU169C8G - MAX 10 FPGA, 8K LEs, 130 I/O, 169-LFBGA | Intel
MPN: 10M08SAU169C8G ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $16.95 | $16.95 |
| 10 | $15.26 | $152.60 |
| 100 | $12.84 | $1,284.00 |
| 500 | $11.5 | $5,750.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.2 | $10,200.00 |
10M08SAU169C8G Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a programmable logic device whose architecture comprises an array of configurable logic elements (LEs) interconnected through a programmable routing fabric, surrounded by hard IP blocks such as embedded memory, PLLs, and high-speed transceivers. FPGAs sit within the programmable logic device (PLD) category and are used for glue logic, custom state machines, parallel interfaces, hardware acceleration, and ASIC prototyping. The MAX 10 line extends the legacy MAX CPLD family with an on-chip ADC, Nios II soft-processor support, and dual-configuration flash to deliver true single-chip programmability.
Key features include 8K logic elements, 173 Kbits of dedicated M9K block RAM, four analog PLLs plus two fractional PLLs, dual-configuration flash, on-chip ADC support, and DSP blocks for signal processing. The 169-LFBGA footprint exposes 130 general-purpose user I/Os up to 3.3 V LVCMOS/LVTTL and includes embedded PCIe hard IP plus DDR3 external memory interface support. Power consumption is typically below 1 W at moderate toggle rates, and the 0.8 mm ball pitch simplifies PCB manufacturing.
Architecturally, MAX 10 devices pair the LE fabric with embedded flash for in-system programmability via JTAG, supporting active serial (AS) configuration and the Quartus Prime toolchain. The C8G speed grade and industrial-grade temperature rating make the variant well suited to factory-floor equipment, motor control, and HMI controllers.
Typical applications include industrial control and factory automation, motor drives and servo control, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), video bridging and display controllers, sensor aggregation for IoT gateways, and low-cost ASIC prototyping.
When designing with this device, ensure the Quartus Prime toolchain matches the device speed grade (C8) and pin-out package (U169). Decoupling strategy should follow Intel's MAX 10 Hardware Reference Guide, and the dual-boot configuration should be exercised when designing fail-safe remote firmware updates.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives from the MAX 10 family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for 10M08SAU169C8G — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with 10M08SAU169C8G (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Configuration Memory, Speed Grade, Logic Elements (LE).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
10M08SAU169I7G
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →10M08SAU169C7G
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
10M08SAU169C8GES
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
10M08SAU169A7G
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →10M16SAU169C8G
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →10M08SAU169C8G Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MAX 10 |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 8,000 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 387,072 (≈378 Kbits user flash + M9K block RAM) |
| User I/Os | 130 |
| M9K Block RAM (Kbits) | 173 (≈378 Kbits total embedded memory including user flash) |
| DSP Blocks | Yes (18x18 multiplier blocks) |
| PLLs | 4 analog PLLs + 2 fractional PLLs |
| On-chip ADC | Yes (single, 12-bit, 1 MSps equivalent — device dependent) |
| Configuration Memory | Dual-configuration on-chip flash (non-volatile, instant-on) |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| I/O Voltage Standards | LVCMOS/LVTTL up to 3.3 V |
| Speed Grade | C8 (-8) |
| Package | 169-LFBGA (UBGA, 11x11 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) |
| Operating Temperature | Commercial / Industrial (per device suffix) |
| Process Node | 55 nm embedded flash |
| External Memory Interface | DDR3, LPDDR2, SRAM (hard IP) |
| PCIe Hard IP | Yes (PCIe Gen2 x1 hard IP block) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Configuration Mode | JTAG (1149.1) + Active Serial (AS) |
| Development Toolchain | Intel Quartus Prime |
10M08SAU169C8G 169-lfbga (ubga, 11x11 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for 10M08SAU169C8G (169-lfbga (ubga, 11x11 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for 10M08SAU169C8G.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
10M08SAU169C8G is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Motor Drive and Servo Control, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Main CPU, Video Bridging and Display Controller, IoT Gateway and Sensor Aggregation, Low-Cost ASIC Prototyping.
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The 10M08SAU169C8G's 130 user I/Os and on-chip flash make it a strong fit for industrial controllers and PLCs that must boot within milliseconds of power-up without an external PROM. Its 8,000 LEs comfortably handle typical PLC scan-cycle logic, encoder interfaces, and fieldbus bridges (Modbus, EtherCAT slave), while the 12-bit on-chip ADC samples analog sensor inputs. Industrial temperature screening and instant-on behavior are critical for factory-floor reliability, where the device is placed between sensor-conditioning circuitry and the backplane or HMI link.
Recommended
Motor Drive and Servo Control
The 10M08SAU169C8G is widely deployed in brushless DC and AC servo drives where 130 I/Os are needed for PWM channels, Hall-sensor/encoder feedback, current sensing and gate-driver control. Its DSP blocks accelerate field-oriented control (FOC) algorithms, while the 4 analog PLLs and 2 fractional PLLs generate jitter-free clocks for PWM and ADC synchronization. Compared with a microcontroller-only solution, the FPGA enables deterministic latency under 1 microsecond and parallel processing of multiple motor axes on the same silicon, with the 169-LFBGA footprint handling thermal dissipation at typical 1W loads.
Recommended
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Main CPU
When used as the main logic engine in a small PLC, the 10M08SAU169C8G pairs an 8,000-LE fabric with the Nios II soft processor for IEC 61131-3 ladder-logic execution. The 130 I/Os map directly to digital input and output banks, while 387 Kbits of embedded memory holds scan tables and ladder rung state without external SRAM. The non-volatile dual-configuration flash supports remote firmware updates with rollback safety, critical for PLCs deployed in unattended factory installations where a failed upgrade must not brick the controller.
Recommended
Video Bridging and Display Controller
The 10M08SAU169C8G is used in video-format conversion and display-controller boards that need to translate between LVDS, RGB and MIPI pixel streams. Its 130 I/Os are sufficient for a 24-bit parallel video bus plus control signals, and the embedded DSP blocks implement scaling and color-space conversion in hardware. Unlike a microcontroller, the FPGA delivers deterministic pixel-clock-aligned processing with no software jitter, while the on-chip flash ensures the display controller is alive before the LCD panel's T-CON expects valid pixel data.
Recommended
IoT Gateway and Sensor Aggregation
IoT gateways that aggregate multiple SPI, I2C and UART sensors benefit from the 10M08SAU169C8G's 130 I/Os and hardware-accelerated protocol handling. Its 8K LEs implement multiple concurrent serial buses with deterministic timing, while the on-chip 12-bit ADC monitors power rails and chassis temperature. Compared with an MCU-based gateway, the FPGA offloads protocol parsing from software, freeing the host processor for higher-level TLS and message-queue work, and the instant-on flash enables sub-100 ms gateway cold-boot.
Recommended
Low-Cost ASIC Prototyping
For ASIC prototyping, the 10M08SAU169C8G delivers 8K logic elements in a 169-ball BGA that closely matches the ball pitch and I/O count of mid-complexity ASICs. Designers can validate RTL, JTAG, and pin-out before committing to a foundry tape-out, and the Quartus Prime toolchain provides timing-driven synthesis comparable to ASIC flows. The non-volatile flash also enables quick bring-up iterations without programming an external PROM, making it ideal for short-cycle prototype boards in academic and small-OEM ASIC emulation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for 10M08SAU169C8G — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | 10M08SAU169I7G | 10M08SAU169C7G | 10M08SAU169C8GES | 10M08SAU169A7G | 10M16SAU169C8G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Package | 169-LFBGA (U169, 11x11 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) | 169-LFBGA (U169) - same | 169-LFBGA (U169) - same | 169-LFBGA (U169) - same | 169-LFBGA (U169) - same | 169-LFBGA (U169) - same |
| Logic Elements | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 16,000 |
| Speed Grade | C8 (-8) | I7 (-7) | C7 (-7) | C8 (-8) | A7 (-7) | C8 (-8) |
| User I/Os | 130 | 130 | 130 | 130 | 130 | 130 |
| Embedded Memory | 387,072 bits | 387,072 bits | 387,072 bits | 387,072 bits | 387,072 bits | 549,888 bits (higher density) |
| Operating Temperature | Commercial (0C to +85C) per device suffix | Industrial (-40C to +100C) | Commercial | Extended screening | Automotive grade | Commercial |
Key Differentiators
- Same-package speed grade flexibility without re-laying out the PCB (vs 10M08SAU169I7G)
- Logic-density upgrade path on identical footprint (vs 10M16SAU169C8G)
- Extended screening variant for long-lifecycle industrial programs (vs 10M08SAU169C8GES)
Design Notes
Estimated: at typical toggle rate (~30% of LEs switching at 100 MHz, VCCINT 1.2 V) the 10M08SAU169C8G consumes ~0.7 W to 1.0 W core power. Decouple VCCINT with 0.1 uF X7R capacitors placed within 5 mm of each VCCINT/GND ball pair, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor on each supply rail. Per the MAX 10 Hardware Reference Guide, VCCA (analog PLL supply) must be filtered with a ferrite bead and decoupled with 10 uF + 0.1 uF to minimize PLL jitter. Estimated input values: 8000 LEs, 30% utilization, 100 MHz toggle, 12 pF output load per pin; actual ICC will vary with design utilization and Quartus Prime PowerPlay report.
The 169-LFBGA has a 0.8 mm ball pitch and 11x11 mm body, which requires 4-layer PCB with microvia HDI stack-up or laser-drilled vias for fan-out. Per Intel's MAX 10 PCB layout guidelines, all GND balls should be stitched to a solid ground plane on layer 2 with via-in-pad recommended for thermal relief. Use 0.5 oz copper on outer layers with 1 oz on inner planes, and avoid routing signal traces beneath the BGA — break out to the perimeter first, then route on the surface layers.
Differential pairs (LVDS, DDR3) must be length-matched to within 50 mil (1.27 mm) per the MAX 10 pin connection guide. Keep impedance-controlled traces at 100 ohm differential for LVDS and 50 ohm single-ended for LVCMOS. Place the JTAG header on the same board edge for easy access to the 10-pin JTAG connector; MSEL[3:0] pins must each be tied to VCCIO or GND with 4.7 kohm resistors to select the configuration mode (AS standard, AS fast, JTAG). Estimated trace-length budget: 4 inches maximum from FPGA to first SDRAM, 50 ps/mil propagation delay.
A common pitfall when migrating from Cyclone IV/MAX V designs is forgetting to assign the MAX 10's MSEL[3:0] pins — leaving them floating causes configuration failure at power-up. Another pitfall is using the on-chip ADC without enabling the VCCADC analog supply; the ADC will not function until VCCADC and VREFADC are powered and decoupled. According to the MAX 10 datasheet, the dual-configuration flash requires the user to populate both CFM0 and CFM1 images in the Quartus Prime Convert Programming File tool to enable remote-update with rollback.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Altera/Intel product page. Standard C8G variant is not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose 10M08SAU169A7G for AEC-Q100 automotive equivalent. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in provided data.
