A42MX16-1PQG100 - 24K Gate MX FPGA, 83 I/O | Microchip
MPN: A42MX16-1PQG100 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $258.51 | $258.51 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
A42MX16-1PQG100 Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device containing configurable logic blocks and programmable interconnects that the designer wires together after manufacturing, in contrast to fixed-function ASICs. Within the programmable logic hierarchy, the MX family sits as a one-time-programmable (OTP) FPGA platform, positioned between CPLDs and large SRAM-based FPGAs, and is widely used to consolidate legacy PLD and glue-logic designs into a single low-cost, high-volume device.
Key characteristics of the A42MX16 include 24K system gates, 83 available I/O, the Actel antifuse architecture with non-volatile configuration (no external boot PROM required), and 5.0 V tolerant operation suited to legacy industrial system voltages. The -1 speed grade targets commercial temperature applications. Because configuration data is stored in antifuse elements, the device is inherently secure and immune to configuration-readback attacks and radiation-induced configuration upsets compared with SRAM FPGAs.
Architecturally, MX devices combine fine-grained logic modules (ACT modules) with embedded decoding and wide-decode capability, allowing efficient implementation of state machines, bus interfaces, and legacy 5V logic replacement. The PQFP-100 package offers a practical 0.65 mm lead pitch for hand-assembly-friendly prototype and repair workflows common in industrial maintenance.
Typical applications include legacy PLD consolidation, industrial control and automation boards, 5V bus interface bridging, aerospace/defense obsolescence management designs, and high-volume cost-sensitive logic integration. Engineers choose MX devices precisely because they bridge aging 5V systems to long-term production with a stable, single-chip solution.
Design consideration: because MX antifuse devices are one-time programmable, thoroughly verify the design in simulation before programming; provide the 5.0 V supply with adequate decoupling and follow the pinout table in datasheet DS2136 when assigning I/O.
Drop-in alternatives for A42MX16-1PQG100 — 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 A42MX16-1PQG100 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, System Gates, Family, Supply Voltage, Logic Cells.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
A42MX16-PQ100
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX16-1PQG100M
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$818 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX09-2PQG100I
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$30.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX24-PQ100
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A42MX16-1PQG100 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MX (42MX) |
| System Gates | 24000 |
| User I/O | 83 |
| Program Type | One-Time Programmable (antifuse) |
| Supply Voltage | 5.0 V |
| Speed Grade | -1 |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial |
| Package | 100-BQFP (PQFP-100), gull-wing |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Number of Terminals | 100 |
| Configuration Memory | Non-volatile antifuse (no boot PROM) |
| JTAG Boundary Scan | Yes (IEEE 1149.1, per MX family datasheet) |
| Primary Use Case | Legacy PLD consolidation, ASIC alternative |
| Lead Free | Yes (G suffix) |
A42MX16-1PQG100 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | IO — User input/output (see datasheet DS2136 PQ-100 pin table for exact signal assignments) |
| Pin 10 | VDD — 5.0 V power supply |
| Pin 26 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 35 | IO — User input/output |
| Pin 50 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 63 | VDD — 5.0 V power supply |
| Pin 75 | TCK — JTAG test clock (IEEE 1149.1) |
| Pin 76 | TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin 77 | TDO — JTAG test data out |
| Pin 78 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
Typical Applications
A42MX16-1PQG100 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy PLD Consolidation, Industrial Control and Automation, Obsolescence Management for Defense Systems, 5V Bus Interface Bridging, High-Volume Cost-Sensitive Logic Integration, Test and Measurement Instrument Logic.
Legacy PLD Consolidation
The A42MX16-1PQG100 is purpose-built for consolidating multiple legacy PLDs, GALs, and TTL glue-logic devices into a single low-cost 24K-gate FPGA. Its native 5.0 V architecture directly replaces aging 5V logic families without level translation, cutting board area and BOM count. In a typical consolidation, two to five 22V10-class PLDs plus address decoders fit into the 24K gates with margin. Because the antifuse configuration is non-volatile, no configuration PROM is needed on the bill of materials, keeping the replacement cost and provisioning simple for long-life production programs.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation
In industrial control and automation boards, the A42MX16-1PQG100 implements state machines, motor-control sequencing, and bus-interface logic that must tolerate 5V signaling environments. The 83 user I/O provide sufficient pin count for parallel fieldbus interfaces and sensor polling, while the -1 commercial speed grade comfortably meets sub-100 MHz control logic timing. Antifuse configuration is immune to power-glitch corruption, an important reliability trait on factory floors with unstable power, and IEEE 1149.1 JTAG boundary scan supports in-circuit production test of assembled control boards.
Recommended
Obsolescence Management for Defense Systems
Defense and avionics sustainment programs use the A42MX16-1PQG100 and its military-grade siblings to keep legacy 5V programmable logic in production after original PLD vendors exit the market. Microchip maintains the MX family specifically as a long-term platform for such programs. The 100-pin PQFP with gull-wing leads is easy to inspect and rework during depot-level repair, and the one-time-programmable antifuse technology provides inherent tamper resistance and configuration security valued in defense platforms where configuration readback must be impossible.
Recommended
5V Bus Interface Bridging
The device serves as a bridge between legacy 5V parallel buses (VME-style backplanes, ISA-derived interfaces) and newer subsystem logic. With 83 I/O operating at 5.0 V, it drives and receives TTL-level signals directly, eliminating bus transceiver banks. The MX architecture's wide-decode capability implements address decoding and chip-select generation efficiently in the 24K gates. Designers should budget I/O clamp considerations and follow datasheet DS2136 DC specifications for VOH/VOL at required drive currents to guarantee bus timing margins across the commercial temperature range.
Recommended
High-Volume Cost-Sensitive Logic Integration
For consumer and industrial products in volumes above roughly 10K units per year, the A42MX16-1PQG100 functions as a low-cost single-chip ASIC alternative: no NRE mask charges, immediate design changes, and non-volatile configuration that removes firmware provisioning from the assembly line. The antifuse technology makes cloned re-programming impossible, protecting logic IP in cost-sensitive markets. At the ~$258 unit price point as of 2026-08-30 it targets programs where reliability and IP security outweigh the per-unit cost of modern low-voltage FPGAs.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrument Logic
Benchtop instruments and rack-mounted test equipment use the A42MX16-1PQG100 for timing sequencers, trigger logic, and interface glue logic that must remain fixed and deterministic across production units. The one-time-programmable nature guarantees identical configuration in every shipped unit - no firmware corruption risk in the field. JTAG boundary scan (IEEE 1149.1) enables full board interconnect testing during instrument calibration, and the 5.0 V I/O directly interfaces the legacy backplane and front-panel signaling common in long-lived instrument platforms.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A42MX16-1PQG100 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A42MX16-PQ100 | A42MX16-1PQG100M | A42MX09-2PQG100I |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-BQFP (PQFP) | 100-PQFP - same | 100-PQFP - same | 100-PQFP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| System Gates | 24000 | 24000 | 24000 | 9000 |
| User I/O | 83 | 83 | 83 | 69 |
| Supply Voltage | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V |
| Speed Grade | -1 | Standard | -1 | -2 (faster) |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial | Commercial | Military | Industrial |
| Program Technology | Antifuse OTP | Antifuse OTP | Antifuse OTP | Antifuse OTP |
Key Differentiators
- 24K gate density in the MX family PQ-100 footprint (vs A42MX09-2PQG100I)
- Non-volatile antifuse configuration with no boot PROM (vs A42MX16-PQ100)
- Military temperature variant available on same die (vs A42MX16-1PQG100M)
Design Notes
The MX family operates from a single 5.0 V supply. Decouple each VDD pin of the PQ-100 package with 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors placed within 5 mm of the pin, plus bulk 10 uF tantalum per supply rail. Current consumption depends on toggling activity; obtain dynamic current estimates from the Microchip Designer tool power calculator rather than assuming worst-case datasheet numbers, and size the 5V regulator with margin for simultaneous output switching.
This is a one-time-programmable antifuse FPGA - a programmed device can never be reprogrammed. Complete full functional simulation and static timing analysis in Microchip Libero/Designer before releasing a design to Silicon Sculptor programming. Do not treat the -1 speed grade as interchangeable with -2 parts in timing-critical paths; check AC timing tables in datasheet DS2136 for your actual operating conditions.
With 83 5.0 V CMOS I/O, ground bounce can be significant when many outputs switch simultaneously. Assign high-toggle-rate signals near GND pins, use the MX family's programmable output slew-rate options to slow non-critical edges, and maintain a solid, unbroken ground plane under the PQFP. Follow Microchip MX application notes for recommended max simultaneous switching output counts per ground pin.
Compliance Information
The G suffix in A42MX16-1PQG100 denotes lead-free packaging per distributor listings (PCB Electronics: 'LEAD FREE'). RoHS/REACH certificates should be requested from Microchip directly.
