A54SX72A-FG256 - 108K Gate SX-A FPGA, 256-BGA | Microchip
MPN: A54SX72A-FG256 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $128.5 | $128.50 |
| 10 | $118.2 | $1,182.00 |
| 100 | $105.6 | $10,560.00 |
| 500 | $96.4 | $48,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $89 | $89,000.00 |
A54SX72A-FG256 Overview
A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit that implements custom digital logic through a configurable fabric of logic modules and routing resources. Within the programmable logic hierarchy (FPGA -> programmable logic device -> digital IC -> semiconductor), the SX-A family is distinctive for its antifuse interconnect: configuration is permanent, stored in silicon rather than an external flash, giving inherent resistance to bit-stream capture and single-event upset, with no configuration boot delay at power-up.
Key features include 108,000 system gates with 6,036 modules (CLBs), 217 MHz system performance, instant-on nonvolatile operation, and low power consumption typical of antifuse CMOS. Commercial temperature range is 0C to +70C (TA), with supply operation per the manufacturer data at 2.25 V to 5.25 V operating supply range reported for the family. The FG256 (commercial, 256-pin FBGA, tray) ordering option suits cost-driven, high-volume industrial builds.
Architecturally, the SX-A fabric combines combinational and sequential logic modules with a segmented routing mesh set by antifuse elements, delivering ASIC-like speed, security, and standby current without NRE mask charges. Typical toggle rates around 217 MHz support interface bridging, state machines, glue logic consolidation, and bus interfaces such as PCI-class designs from the Actel heritage.
Typical applications include industrial control and automation, communications line cards, test and measurement boards, and military/avionics heritage systems migrating from ASICs, where instant-on, secure single-chip logic integration reduces BOM count.
A key design consideration: antifuse devices are one-time programmable, so verify the design thoroughly in simulation and, if needed, prototype with the CQ208 pin-compatible prototyping options documented by Actel before committing production devices.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives, pinout guidance, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for A54SX72A-FG256 — 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 A54SX72A-FG256 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, System Gates, Process Technology, Speed Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
A54SX72A-FGG256
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$153.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX72A-1FG256M
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$62.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX72A-FFGG256
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$65.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX72A-FGG256I
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →A54SX72A-FGG256M
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$136 / Unit
View Datasheet →A54SX72A-FG256 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | SX-A (Actel/Microsemi antifuse FPGA) |
| System Gates | 108,000 |
| Logic Gates | 72,000 |
| Logic Cells | 4,024 |
| Modules (CLBs) | 6,036 |
| User I/O | 203 |
| Maximum System Frequency | 217 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.25um / 0.22um CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V |
| Operating Supply Voltage Range | 2.25 V to 5.25 V |
| Programming Technology | Antifuse (one-time programmable, nonvolatile) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (TA) |
| Package | 256-BGA (FBGA-256, 17x17 mm, 1.0 mm ball pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (SMD) |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Speed Grade | Standard (commercial) |
A54SX72A-FG256 256-bga (fbga-256, 17x17 mm, 1.0 mm ball pitch) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for A54SX72A-FG256 (256-bga (fbga-256, 17x17 mm, 1.0 mm ball 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 A54SX72A-FG256.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
A54SX72A-FG256 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, Communications Line Cards and Interface Bridging, Test and Measurement Equipment, Avionics and Aerospace-Heritage Systems, Secure Single-Chip Logic Integration, Legacy ASIC Redesign and BOM Consolidation.
Industrial Control and Automation
The A54SX72A-FG256 fits industrial control and factory automation backplanes where deterministic, instant-on logic is required at power-up. Its 108,000 system gates and 6,036 modules consolidate PLC I/O handling, encoder interfaces, and sequencing state machines that previously occupied multiple discrete devices, while the 217 MHz system frequency comfortably covers motor-control timing loops and high-speed counter functions. Because the antifuse fabric is nonvolatile, the controller is operational the instant 2.5 V and I/O supplies settle, with no configuration controller or boot flash to fail in electrically noisy plant environments. Place it between backplane transceivers and a host microprocessor, with 203 user I/O absorbing parallel buses, fieldbus PHY links, and diagnostic GPIO. The trade-off is one-time programmability: fix the logic in simulation before programming, since field updates require a socketed device swap.
Recommended
Communications Line Cards and Interface Bridging
In telecom and datacom line cards, the A54SX72A-FG256 serves as a bridge between backplane interfaces and framing or MAC devices. With 203 user I/O and 217 MHz toggle capability on a 0.22um CMOS process, it handles PCI-class parallel buses, T1/E1 framer glue logic, and status aggregation across a single 256-ball BGA, reducing the connector-to-connector routing burden versus multi-chip glue solutions. The nonvolatile antifuse fabric means the card enumerates and passes traffic immediately on hot-swap power application - critical where a configuration-delay FPGA would drop frames during boot. Design the power tree around the 2.5 V core with clean, locally decoupled rails, and keep I/O bank loading within datasheet drive limits to preserve signal integrity on backplane stubs. The security benefit is real: the antifuse design cannot be read out, protecting proprietary framing IP shipped inside line-card hardware.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Equipment
Bench instruments, protocol analyzers, and automated test equipment use the A54SX72A-FG256 as a real-time trigger engine and data-capture fabric. The 217 MHz maximum system frequency supports timestamp counters and edge-trigger comparators running at the acquisition clock, while the 6,036-module array implements multi-channel capture FIFOs and pattern matchers. Instant-on antifuse configuration guarantees the instrument front-end logic is live before the operator finishes power-up diagnostics, and low static power from the 0.25um CMOS process keeps idle thermal drift low in precision analog compartments. The 256-FBGA with 203 I/O offers dense parallel connections to sample memories and front-end ADC logic interfaces. Because the device is one-time programmed, test-equipment firmware fixes require socketed replacement; design the device in a reworkable location and validate trigger logic thoroughly in simulation before committing production programmers.
Recommended
Avionics and Aerospace-Heritage Systems
SX-A antifuse FPGAs have a long heritage in avionics and space-adjacent programs because the configuration is stored in silicon antifuses, making it immune to configuration memory single-event upsets that plague SRAM FPGAs. The A54SX72A-FG256 provides 108,000 gates for telemetry formatting, bus interface bridging, and watchdog/safety interlock logic that must function the moment power is applied after cold-soak. For flight programs, select the military-screened A54SX72A-1FG256M sibling on the identical 256-ball FBGA footprint so the PCB design carries over; the commercial FG256 suits ground-based test benches and simulators. Note the commercial-grade part is rated 0C to +70C (TA) - do not use it in the flight article. Implement triplicated safety logic within the 6,036 modules and verify with static timing analysis in Libero at the target speed grade before programming.
Recommended
Secure Single-Chip Logic Integration
Where proprietary algorithms must never be extracted, the A54SX72A-FG256 is a strong fit: the antifuse bitstream is physically buried in the routing layer and cannot be read back through any programming interface, unlike SRAM FPGA bitstreams that travel over a visible bus at every boot. A 108,000-gate capacity is ample for crypto cores, license-check logic, anti-counterfeiting challenge-response engines, or proprietary bus protocols that currently span several unsecured PAL/GAL devices. Integration into one 256-FBGA also removes the assembly-step information leak that loose programmable-logic chips provide counterfeiters. Design the surrounding board so that no external configuration device exists - the instant-on, self-contained fabric makes this natural. The trade-off versus flash-based secure FPGAs is the lack of field updates: any algorithm revision means programming and soldering a fresh device, so budget a rework-friendly layout.
Recommended
Legacy ASIC Redesign and BOM Consolidation
Teams retiring obsolete ASICs or ASSPs use the A54SX72A-FG256 as a pin-compatible redesign vehicle: 108,000 gates absorb gate-array netlists, and the 256-FBGA footprint was commonly chosen to match original ASIC packages, letting the last-time-buy board spin continue without a connector-level redesign. Because the SX-A fabric delivers ASIC-like 217 MHz timing without NRE mask charges, small production runs become economical. Libero IDE imports EDIF netlists, easing translation from legacy gate-level sources, and the antifuse fabric's fixed timing avoids SRAM-FPGA re-compilation variance across builds. Plan the migration with a pin-mapping pass on the 203 user I/O and static timing verification at the chosen speed grade. The one-time-programmable nature is actually favorable here - each shipped unit is physically identical, matching ASIC production discipline and simplifying change-control documentation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A54SX72A-FG256 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A54SX72A-FGG256 | A54SX72A-1FG256M | A54SX72A-FFGG256 | A54SX72A-FGG256I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 256-BGA (FBGA-256) | 256-FBGA - same footprint | 256-FBGA - same footprint | 256-FBGA - same footprint | 256-FBGA - same footprint |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Actel/Microsemi) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| System Gates | 108,000 | 108,000 | 108,000 | 108,000 | 108,000 |
| User I/O | 203 | 203 | 203 | 203 | 203 |
| Speed Grade / Max Frequency | Standard / 217 MHz | Standard / 217 MHz | -1 (faster) / higher | FF (faster) / higher | Standard / 217 MHz |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
| Programming Technology | Antifuse (OTP, nonvolatile) | Antifuse (OTP) | Antifuse (OTP) | Antifuse (OTP) | Antifuse (OTP) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost commercial ordering option in the A54SX72A FBGA-256 family (vs A54SX72A-1FG256M)
- Nonvolatile instant-on antifuse fabric (vs SRAM FPGA alternatives)
- Extended-temperature drop-in path exists (vs A54SX72A-FGG256I)
Design Notes
Design the power tree around the 2.5 V core supply with local bulk and 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling at the FBGA ball array corners per the SX-A datasheet power section. Because the antifuse fabric draws no configuration surge current at power-up (unlike SRAM FPGAs), inrush is dominated by ordinary decoupling charge - a soft-start on the upstream regulator is usually sufficient. Verify I/O bank voltage compatibility for legacy 5 V-tolerant interfaces; the family operating supply range reported by distributors (2.25 V to 5.25 V) reflects heritage dual-supply usage, but confirm exact rail requirements in the SX-A datasheet before wiring mixed-voltage banks.
The A54SX72A is one-time programmable: after antifuse programming the device cannot be erased or updated. Treat any post-production logic change as a physical device swap - socket the FPGA or place it in a rework-friendly location near a board edge during development, and complete timing-driven simulation plus static timing analysis in Libero before committing to a programming run. Also verify the exact speed grade of purchased lots: mixing commercial FG with -1 or FF speed grades changes timing closure, so lock the ordering suffix in the BOM and incoming inspection.
The FBGA-256 package uses a 1.0 mm ball pitch on a 17x17 mm body - specify a standard 0.5 mm pad, NSMD land pattern per IPC-calculated dimensions and route escape fans-out on inner layers with 0.2 mm via-in-pad or dog-bone escapes. Give the 203 user I/O priority in the fan-out plan: assign parallel buses to contiguous balls to shorten break-out routing, and reserve power/ground ball clusters for solid plane connections. For signal integrity at 217 MHz-class edges, keep stub lengths short on I/O escapes and reference uninterrupted ground planes beneath high-speed banks.
Compliance Information
The FG256 suffix denotes the original commercial package; the FGG256 suffix denotes lead-free ball metallurgy. RoHS/REACH status for this specific MPN was not stated in the verified data - confirm on the Microchip product page or choose FGG variants for lead-free requirements.
