A42MX24-3PQG160 - 36K Gate MX FPGA, 125 I/O | Microchip
MPN: A42MX24-3PQG160 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $68.5 | $68.50 |
| 10 | $62.1 | $621.00 |
| 100 | $55.8 | $5,580.00 |
| 500 | $49.9 | $24,950.00 |
| 1,000 | $44.6 | $44,600.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for A42MX24-3PQG160 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
A42MX24-3PQG160I
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$48.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX24-2PQG160I
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$44 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX24-PQG160A
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX24-PQG160M
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$29.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX24-1PQG160
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$32.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →A42MX24-3PQG160 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MX (42MX) |
| System Gates | 36000 gates |
| Logic Elements | 912 |
| User I/O | 125 |
| Speed Grade | -3 |
| Supply Voltage Architecture | 5.0 V |
| Program Type | One-Time Programmable (antifuse) |
| Package | 160-BQFP (PQFP-G160) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Special Modules | D-modules (wide-decode) |
| Lead Free | Yes (per distributor listing) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free suffix G) |
A42MX24-3PQG160 160-bqfp (pqfp-g160) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for A42MX24-3PQG160 (160-bqfp (pqfp-g160) 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 A42MX24-3PQG160.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics
No official SOA curve available for this digital IC. Always operate within absolute maximum ratings specified in the datasheet. Ensure adequate cooling and derate as needed.
Typical Applications
A42MX24-3PQG160 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy 5V Logic Consolidation, Industrial Control and Automation, Aerospace and Defense Retaining Designs, ASIC Prototyping and Bridge-to-Production, Test and Measurement Equipment, Embedded System Glue Logic.
Legacy 5V Logic Consolidation
The A42MX24-3PQG160's defining strength is consolidating multiple legacy 5V PLDs, PALs, GALs, and glue-logic SSI/MSI devices into one 36K-gate antifuse device. The 5.0 V tolerant architecture connects directly to legacy 5V buses and peripherals without level shifters, and D-modules provide CPLD-class wide-input decode for address decoding at PAL-comparable speeds. Because configuration is programmed once, the design cannot be corrupted by configuration readback, suiting long-lifetime industrial equipment. One 160-pin BQFP replaces dozens of through-hole PLDs, cutting board area, BOM count, and assembly cost in mature products still in volume production.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation
In industrial controllers, the A42MX24-3PQG160 implements state machines, motor-interface sequencing, encoder decoding, and interlock logic where 5V I/O must directly drive legacy optocouplers, relays drivers, and sensor heads. The 912 logic modules and 125 user I/O provide ample capacity, while the -3 speed grade supports 100 MHz-class internal clocks for fast datapaths. Antifuse non-volatility means the logic is active at power-up with no configuration load time - important for safety interlocks that must be functional within milliseconds of energizing. The industrial-range A42MX24-3PQG160I variant covers -40C to +85C cabinet environments.
Recommended
Aerospace and Defense Retaining Designs
Antifuse FPGAs are historically favored in aerospace and defense because the programmed fuse network is immune to configuration upset from radiation and cannot be read out, and because Microchip offers the A42MX24-PQG160M military-temperature variant on the identical 160-pin PQFP footprint. A design qualified on the commercial A42MX24-3PQG160 can migrate to the M-variant with no PCB change. The single-chip ASIC-alternative positioning also suits programs that cannot afford ASIC NRE. Designers should re-run timing at the target speed grade and confirm program-specific qualification requirements before substitution.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Bridge-to-Production
Microchip positions MX as a reliable single-chip ASIC alternative, and the A42MX24-3PQG160 fits prototyping and low-to-mid-volume bridge production where ASIC masks are not yet justified. The 36K-gate fabric absorbs moderate RTL blocks, and D-modules accelerate wide-decode functions similar to CPLD architectures per the 40MX/42MX datasheet. Because the part is one-time-programmable, each prototype iteration consumes a new device, so full simulation coverage before programming is essential. When volumes justify an ASIC, the MX design flow and 5V I/O structures ease transition planning for legacy-interface systems.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Equipment
Bench and automated test instruments frequently retain 5V backplanes and trigger architectures; the A42MX24-3PQG160 provides direct 5V-compatible I/O for these domains while offering FPGA-class flexibility for custom timing generators, event counters, and bus monitors. The -3 speed grade supports fast state machines for handshaking with legacy instrumentation buses, and the 125 user I/O handles wide parallel test buses without external expanders. Non-volatile antifuse configuration means the instrument is functional immediately at power-on with no boot sequence, matching expectations of traditional instrument front ends.
Recommended
Embedded System Glue Logic
Around mature microprocessors and microcontrollers, the A42MX24-3PQG160 merges address decoding, bus arbitration, wait-state generation, interrupt aggregation, and I/O expansion into one 160-pin package. Microchip's own positioning of MX as the platform for integrating legacy PLDs into a single low-cost device applies directly here: nine or twelve TTL/PLD packages collapse into one device, improving reliability metrics (fewer solder joints) and reducing inventory SKUs. The 5.0 V architecture matches legacy CPU bus voltage levels, and D-modules deliver the fast, wide-input AND decode functions that address maps demand.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A42MX24-3PQG160 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A42MX24-3PQG160I | A42MX24-2PQG160I | A42MX24-PQG160A | A42MX24-PQG160M | A42MX24-1PQG160 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 160-BQFP | 160-BQFP - same | 160-BQFP - same | 160-BQFP - same | 160-BQFP - same | 160-BQFP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Actel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| System Gates | 36000 | 36000 | 36000 | 36000 | 36000 | 36000 |
| Logic Elements | 912 | 912 | 912 | 912 | 912 | 912 |
| User I/O | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 |
| Speed Grade | -3 (fastest commercial) | -3 | -2 | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] | -1 |
| Temperature Range | Commercial (standard) | Industrial (I suffix) | Industrial (I suffix) | Automotive/extended (A suffix) | Military (M suffix) | Commercial (standard) |
| Program Technology | One-time programmable antifuse, 5.0 V architecture | Same antifuse OTP | Same antifuse OTP | Same antifuse OTP | Same antifuse OTP | Same antifuse OTP |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest -3 speed grade in the 160-pin PQFP A42MX24 family (vs A42MX24-2PQG160I)
- Commercial-range cost optimization (vs A42MX24-3PQG160I)
- 5.0 V native antifuse architecture (vs A42MX24-1PQG160)
Design Notes
The A42MX24-3PQG160 is one-time programmable: once antifuses are blown there is no erase or rework path. Complete post-layout timing simulation at the -3 speed grade in Microchip Libero (successor to Actel Designer) before committing a device to programming. Every prototype iteration consumes a new device, so budget for multiple programming cycles during debug. Also confirm that any alternative speed grade (-2, -1) substitution is accompanied by a full timing re-verification, not just a pinout check.
The MX family uses a 5.0 V core/IO architecture. Verify your board's 5V rail can supply both static and dynamic programming-of-design currents per the 40MX/42MX datasheet power tables; estimate current using Libero power analysis for your specific netlist rather than generic family figures. Decouple the VCC and VPP-related programming pins per the datasheet reference design. Mixing this 5V device with 3.3V logic requires level-shifting on those I/O banks - do not assume 3.3V tolerance on all pins.
The 160-pin BQFP has gull-wing leads on 0.65 mm-class pitch with leads on all four sides (JESD S-PQFP-G160 style footprint). Use a footprint matching the mechanical drawing in the 40MX/42MX datasheet, with generous via fan-out under the package center for ground. Inspect solder joints with X-ray or angled AOI on all four lead sides; quad flat packs are prone to bridging on outer rows in wave or selective soldering. Allow lead-forming tolerance in the land pattern for older tray stock.
Compliance Information
Distributor listings (PCB Electronics, Kynix) describe the A42MX24-3PQG160 as LEAD FREE; the G suffix denotes Microchip lead-free plating. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status should be confirmed via Microchip's official environmental documentation.
