A42MX16-VQG100M - 24K Gate MX FPGA 100-TQFP | Microchip
MPN: A42MX16-VQG100M ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $42.5 | $42.50 |
| 10 | $38.9 | $389.00 |
| 100 | $34.75 | $3,475.00 |
| 500 | $31.2 | $15,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $28.4 | $28,400.00 |
A42MX16-VQG100M Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device containing a fabric of configurable logic blocks and programmable interconnects that the designer wires together post-manufacture, sitting in the system hierarchy between fixed-function ASICs and software-driven microcontrollers. The MX family is positioned as a reliable, single-chip ASIC alternative and is widely used to consolidate legacy PLDs into one low-cost, 5.0V-friendly platform.
Key features of the A42MX16 include 24K system gates, 608 logic cells, a maximum system toggle performance of 103 MHz/172 MHz depending on clocking resources, 83 user I/O, and dual 3.3V/5V supply architecture that directly interfaces with legacy 5V logic without level translation. The 100-pin VQFP with 0.5 mm lead pitch supports dense two-layer and four-layer board layouts using standard surface-mount assembly.
The MX architecture uses a deterministic routing fabric that delivers predictable pin-to-pin delays, simplifying timing closure without a complex back-end flow. Design entry is performed with Microchip (formerly Microsemi/Actel) Libero SoC design tools supporting HDL and schematic capture.
Typical applications include legacy PLD consolidation, industrial glue logic, bus interface bridging, and military/extended-temperature control logic, with the M-grade suffix indicating an extended screening/temperature class. It is a strong fit for high-volume programs where 5.0V I/O tolerance rules out modern low-voltage FPGAs.
Design consideration: the 0.45 um 5V-class fabric has far lower logic density than modern FPGAs; verify gate utilization early and budget I/O standards carefully, since 83 user I/O is a hard limit on the 100-TQFP footprint.
Drop-in alternatives for A42MX16-VQG100M — 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-VQG100M (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, System Gates, Logic Cells, Speed Grade, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
A42MX16-1VQG100M
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX16-1VQG100
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$20.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX16-3VQG100
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX16-2VQG100I
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$20.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX16-VQG100M Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MX (42MX) |
| System Gates | 24000 |
| Logic Cells | 608 |
| User I/O | 83 |
| Maximum Frequency | 103 MHz / 172 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.45 um |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V / 5 V |
| Package | 100-VQFP (TQFP), 0.5 mm pitch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Speed Grade | M |
| Programming Type | In-system programmable via MX architecture |
| Design Software | Libero SoC |
| Lead Pitch | 0.5 mm |
| RoHS Status | Lead Free (per distributor listing) |
| Packaging | Tray |
A42MX16-VQG100M Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | IO — User input/output (see datasheet pin table for bank assignment) |
| Pin 10 | VCC — Core supply, 5V |
| Pin 25 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 50 | CLK — Dedicated clock input resource |
| Pin 75 | IO — User input/output |
| Pin 83 | IO — User input/output (83 total user I/O) |
| Pin 90 | VCCI — I/O bank supply, 3.3V/5V |
| Pin 99 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 100 | IO — User input/output |
Typical Applications
A42MX16-VQG100M is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy PLD Consolidation, Industrial Control and Glue Logic, Bus Interface Bridging, Military and Extended-Temperature Systems, Test and Measurement Instrument Backplanes, Communications Line-Card Control Logic.
Legacy PLD Consolidation
The A42MX16-VQG100M is purpose-built for integrating legacy PLDs such as 22V10 and GAL devices into a single chip. Microchip explicitly positions the MX family as an ideal platform for legacy PLD integration, and its 3.3V/5V architecture means the 24K-gate fabric can drive and receive 5V TTL levels directly, eliminating level translators. With 608 logic cells and 83 I/O, one device typically absorbs an entire board's glue logic, cutting BOM count, board area, and inventory risk while preserving proven 5V system interfaces.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Glue Logic
In factory controllers and industrial I/O modules, the A42MX16-VQG100M implements state machines, address decoding, and bus arbitration at up to 103 MHz system toggle rates. The 0.45 um MX fabric offers deterministic, predictable routing delays, simplifying timing sign-off for safety-relevant control paths without back-end timing iteration. Its 5V-tolerant I/O interfaces cleanly with the industrial 5V TTL and 24V-adjacent sensor logic commonly found on legacy equipment, and the extended-temperature M grade suits unconditioned cabinets.
Recommended
Bus Interface Bridging
The device bridges legacy microprocessor buses to modern peripherals using its 83 user I/O to implement ISA/VME-style parallel bus interfaces, wait-state generators, and chip-select logic. Dual 3.3V/5V operation lets the FPGA sit between a 5V bus and 3.3V peripheral banks, with the 100-VQFP providing enough I/O for full 16-bit address/data buses plus control strobes. Deterministic pin-to-pin delays in the MX fabric guarantee fixed bus timing margins, which is critical for meeting legacy bus setup/hold specifications.
Recommended
Military and Extended-Temperature Systems
The M-grade suffix of A42MX16-VQG100M denotes an extended screening/temperature class well suited to defense and harsh-environment control electronics. The Microsemi (now Microchip) heritage in military programmable logic means stable, long-lifecycle supply, and the 5V I/O directly mates with MIL-STD-era logic families still common in upgrade programs. Designers use it for telemetry formatting, mode control, and discrete I/O processing where fabric predictability and long-term availability outweigh raw density.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrument Backplanes
Bench instruments and rack systems use the A42MX16-VQG100M for slot-address decoding, trigger distribution, and front-panel switch polling on 5V backplanes. The 172 MHz clock-resource toggle capability supports fast trigger gating, while 83 I/O covers a full backplane connector plus panel interfaces in one 100-VQFP. Because the MX fabric routing is deterministic, trigger propagation delay stays constant across production units, an important property for calibrated instruments requiring repeatable channel-to-channel timing.
Recommended
Communications Line-Card Control Logic
Legacy telecom line cards still running 5V backplanes use the A42MX16-VQG100M for framing control, LED driving, and alarm aggregation. Its dual-voltage I/O banks connect directly to 5V backplane signals while internal logic runs at lower effective toggle rates with low power dissipation. The compact 100-VQFP fits dense card edge areas with 0.5 mm pitch compatible with standard assembly. Deterministic timing simplifies design of fixed-latency alarm paths required by carrier-grade monitoring equipment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A42MX16-VQG100M — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A42MX16-1VQG100M | A42MX16-1VQG100 | A42MX16-3VQG100 | A42MX16-2VQG100I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-VQFP (TQFP) | 100-VQFP - same | 100-VQFP - same | 100-VQFP - same | 100-VQFP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Microsemi) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| System Gates | 24000 | 24000 | 24000 | 24000 | 24000 |
| User I/O | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 |
| Speed Grade | M | 1 | 1 | 3 (fastest) | 2 |
| Temperature Grade | M (extended) | M | Standard | Standard | Industrial (I) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V / 5 V | 3.3 V / 5 V | 3.3 V / 5 V | 3.3 V / 5 V | 3.3 V / 5 V |
| Logic Cells | 608 | 608 | 608 | 608 | 608 |
Key Differentiators
- 5V-tolerant I/O on a still-active FPGA (vs A42MX16-3VQG100)
- Deterministic 0.45 um MX fabric timing (vs Modern low-voltage FPGAs (e.g., Xilinx/Intel families))
- Drop-in speed-grade substitution within the same footprint (vs A42MX16-1VQG100M)
Design Notes
The A42MX16 uses dual supplies: a 5.0V core (VCC) and 3.3V/5V I/O banks (VCCI). Sequence power so core rails come up with or before I/O banks and add 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling at every VCC/VCCI pin plus 10 uF bulk per rail. Verify total I/O current against the 83 user I/O budget in the datasheet DC characteristics to size the 5V regulator correctly.
The 100-VQFP has a 0.5 mm lead pitch - use a 4-mil/space footprint per IPC-compliant land patterns and inspect with magnification for solder bridging. Reserve at least 6 spare user I/O routed to test points for in-system debug; MX-family pinout changes after layout are costly. Keep the dedicated clock input trace short and referenced to a solid ground plane for signal integrity at 100+ MHz toggle rates.
Speed grade matters: the M grade is not the fastest MX grade, so timing closure at grade M may fail where grade 3 passes. Run static timing in Libero SoC at worst-case M-grade corners before committing. Also confirm the temperature grade: the M screening class differs from the standard and industrial (I) grades - substituting a standard-grade part in an extended-temperature socket is a reliability risk.
Compliance Information
Kynix listing states A42MX16-VQG100M is LEAD FREE. RoHS and full compliance details per Microchip product page; verify REACH status with Microchip directly.
