EP1C3T144C6 - Cyclone I FPGA, 2,910 LEs, 144-TQFP | Altera
MPN: EP1C3T144C6 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $26.27 | $26.27 |
| 10 | $23.64 | $236.40 |
| 100 | $21.27 | $2,127.00 |
| 500 | $19.18 | $9,590.00 |
| 1,000 | $17.32 | $17,320.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C3T144C6 — 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:
EP1C3T144C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.94 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C3T144C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$14.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C3T144C7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$16.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C3T100C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$13.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C3T144C6 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone I |
| Logic Elements | 2,910 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 291 |
| Total RAM Bits | 59,904 |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 1 |
| M4K RAM Blocks | 13 |
| Maximum User I/Os | 104 |
| Package | 144-LQFP (TQFP-144) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +85 °C (Commercial) |
| Speed Grade | -6 |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.5 V |
| I/O Bank Count | 4 |
| Configuration Modes | JTAG, Active Serial, Passive Serial |
| Process Technology | 0.13 µm SRAM |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EP1C3T144C6 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 2 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 3 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 4 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 5 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 6 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 7 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 8 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 9 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 10 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 11 | VCCIO1 — I/O Bank 1 supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 13 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 14 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 15 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 16 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 17 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 18 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 19 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 20 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 21 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 22 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 23 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 24 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 25 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 26 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 27 | VCCIO2 — I/O Bank 2 supply voltage |
| Pin 28 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 29 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 30 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 31 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 32 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 33 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 34 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 35 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 36 | I/O BANK2 — User I/O (Bank 2) |
| Pin 37 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 38 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 39 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 40 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 41 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 42 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 43 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 44 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 45 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 46 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 47 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 48 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 49 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 50 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 51 | VCCIO3 — I/O Bank 3 supply voltage |
| Pin 52 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 53 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 54 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 55 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 56 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 57 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 58 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 59 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 60 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 61 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 62 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 63 | I/O BANK3 — User I/O (Bank 3) |
| Pin 64 | VCCIO4 — I/O Bank 4 supply voltage |
| Pin 65 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 66 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 67 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 68 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 69 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 70 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 71 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 72 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 73 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 74 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 75 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 76 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 77 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 78 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 79 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 80 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 81 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 82 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 83 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 84 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 85 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 86 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 87 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 88 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 89 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 90 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 91 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 92 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 93 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 94 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 95 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 96 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 97 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 98 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 99 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 100 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 101 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 102 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 103 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 104 | I/O BANK4 — User I/O (Bank 4) |
| Pin 105 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 106 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (1.5 V) |
| Pin 107 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 108 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (1.5 V) |
| Pin 109 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 110 | nCONFIG — Configuration control |
| Pin 111 | nSTATUS — Configuration status |
| Pin 112 | CONF_DONE — Configuration done |
| Pin 113 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin 114 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 115 | TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin 116 | TDO — JTAG test data out |
| Pin 117 | MSEL0 — Configuration mode select 0 |
| Pin 118 | MSEL1 — Configuration mode select 1 |
| Pin 119 | DCLK — Configuration clock input |
| Pin 120 | DATA0 — Configuration data input 0 |
| Pin 121 | DATA1 — Configuration data input 1 |
| Pin 122 | DATA2 — Configuration data input 2 |
| Pin 123 | DATA3 — Configuration data input 3 |
| Pin 124 | DATA4 — Configuration data input 4 |
| Pin 125 | DATA5 — Configuration data input 5 |
| Pin 126 | DATA6 — Configuration data input 6 |
| Pin 127 | DATA7 — Configuration data input 7 |
| Pin 128 | nCE — Chip enable (active low) |
| Pin 129 | nCEO — Chip enable out (for multi-device chain) |
| Pin 130 | CLK0 — Dedicated clock input 0 |
| Pin 131 | CLK1 — Dedicated clock input 1 |
| Pin 132 | CLK2 — Dedicated clock input 2 |
| Pin 133 | CLK3 — Dedicated clock input 3 |
| Pin 134 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 135 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (1.5 V) |
| Pin 136 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 137 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (1.5 V) |
| Pin 138 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 139 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 140 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 141 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 142 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 143 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
| Pin 144 | I/O BANK1 — User I/O (Bank 1) |
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
EP1C3T144C6 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Glue Logic & Bus Bridge, Custom Peripheral Controller (PCI Card), Digital Video Processing Front-End, Prototype ASIC Replacement, Educational FPGA Board, Legacy System Refresh / Obsolete Replacement.
Industrial Glue Logic & Bus Bridge
The EP1C3T144C6 excels at custom glue logic and bus bridging tasks where 2,910 LEs and 104 user I/Os are sufficient to implement a soft bridge between legacy 8/16-bit buses and modern controllers. Its 1.5 V core and 4 independent I/O banks support 3.3 V LVTTL and PCI signaling simultaneously, which fits the typical mixed-voltage backplane of industrial PLC and motor-drive racks. The -6 commercial speed grade handles sub-200 MHz state machines comfortably for protocol conversion at moderate rates. Compared to discrete 74-series glue logic, one EP1C3T144C6 replaces dozens of packages while remaining in-system programmable via JTAG, accelerating late-stage bug fixes without board rework.
Recommended
Custom Peripheral Controller (PCI Card)
The EP1C3T144C6's PCI-capable I/O bank makes it a natural fit for low-cost PCI add-in cards that need a custom state machine or data path. With 2,910 LEs, designers can implement a 32-bit PCI target state machine plus application logic in a single device. The 144-TQFP exposes all required PCI control signals (FRAME#, IRDY#, TRDY#, DEVSEL#, IDSEL, REQ#, GNT#) alongside the data bus and configuration JTAG chain. The -6 speed grade meets the 33 MHz PCI clock domain comfortably. As an upgrade path, the EP4CE6E144 (Cyclone IV E) provides more LEs and PLLs while keeping the same 144-pin EQFP footprint.
Recommended
Digital Video Processing Front-End
Although modest, the EP1C3T144C6 supports small digital video front-end tasks such as line buffering, frame synchronization, and chroma re-sampling. Its 13 M4K RAM blocks (4 Kbit each, ~59 Kbits total) fit two video lines at common resolutions like CIF or QCIF, and the single 18x18 multiplier can handle FIR taps for chroma interpolation. The 4 I/O banks allow routing video pixel clocks, sync, and pixel data on separate voltage domains to avoid noise coupling into analog video stages. The -6 speed grade handles 27 MHz video pixel clocks with timing margin to spare. For larger video designs, scale to EP1C6 or EP1C12 density.
Recommended
Prototype ASIC Replacement
The EP1C3T144C6 is widely used as a low-NRE prototype for designs that will eventually migrate to a hard ASIC. With 2,910 LEs and 104 I/Os in a 144-TQFP, designers can implement and validate full custom logic, peripheral glue, and protocol stacks in-system before committing to NRE silicon. The Quartus II design flow supports direct RTL mapping with pin assignments that can later be carried forward to ASIC libraries. The commercial 0 °C to +85 °C operating range covers most prototype validation environments. For production, use EP4CE6E144 or Cyclone V families for ASIC-equivalent device life.
Recommended
Educational FPGA Board
The EP1C3T144C6 powers a generation of university-level FPGA education boards because its 144-TQFP package is breadboard-friendly through 0.5 mm-pitch adapter boards and the Quartus II toolchain is freely licensed for students. With 2,910 LEs, learners can complete entire lab projects from combinational logic to UART controllers, VGA drivers, and small RISC soft-cores. The absence of PLLs actually simplifies first courses on synchronous design - students master global clock trees before tackling PLL-based frequency synthesis. The commercial temperature range covers lab environments; for robust student kits, choose the industrial -I7N variant.
Recommended
Legacy System Refresh / Obsolete Replacement
Because the Cyclone I family is now obsolete, designers maintaining production equipment that depends on EP1C3T144C6 must source from independent distributor stock or migrate. The drop-in same-package replacement is EP1C3T144C6N (RoHS), EP1C3T144C8N (slower speed grade), or EP1C3T144C7N. For longer-term production continuity, the EP4CE6E144 in 144-EQFP delivers ~6,000 LEs, more RAM, 2 PLLs, and modern I/O standards while sharing the same JTAG-based design flow. The Altera/Intel last-time-buy notices have lapsed, so existing users should validate date codes and consider redesign.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C3T144C6 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C3T144C6N | EP1C3T144C8N | EP1C3T144C7N | EP1C3T100C6N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-LQFP (TQFP-144) | 144-LQFP (TQFP-144) - same | 144-LQFP (TQFP-144) - same | 144-LQFP (TQFP-144) - same | 100-LQFP (TQFP-100) - different |
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) |
| Logic Elements | 2,910 | 2,910 | 2,910 | 2,910 | 2,910 |
| Speed Grade | -6 (fastest commercial) | -6 | -8 (slower) | -7 (intermediate) | -6 |
| Maximum User I/Os | 104 | 104 | 104 | 104 | ~66 (smaller package) |
| Embedded RAM (bits) | 59,904 | 59,904 | 59,904 | 59,904 | 59,904 |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V |
| RoHS Compliance | Non-RoHS (legacy) | RoHS compliant | RoHS compliant | RoHS compliant | RoHS compliant |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete (Cyclone I legacy) | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Smallest Cyclone I density in largest package option (144-TQFP, 104 I/Os) (vs EP1C3T100C6N (100-TQFP, ~66 I/Os))
- Fastest commercial speed grade (-6) of the EP1C3 family (vs EP1C3T144C8N)
- Legacy/non-RoHS variant suitable for repair of legacy industrial equipment (vs EP1C3T144C6N)
Design Notes
The EP1C3T144C6 requires a tightly regulated 1.5 V VCCINT core supply capable of sourcing transient current during configuration; use a dedicated LDO (e.g., TPS7A4701 or LT1761) with bulk decoupling of 100 µF + 10 µF + 0.1 µF at each VCCINT pin pair (pins 106/108, 135/137). Each VCCIO bank (pins 11, 27, 51, 64) must be decoupled separately because the four I/O banks can run at different voltages; do not short VCCIO banks together unless the design intentionally uses a single I/O standard. Estimated: at 50% LE utilization and 100 MHz internal clock, ICC is approximately 100-200 mA; choose the LDO with at least 500 mA headroom.
Route the JTAG chain (TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO) with 4-6 mil traces and series-terminate TCK with a 33 Ω resistor near the FPGA pin to damp reflections when driving multiple JTAG devices. Place the EPC2 configuration PROM within 50 mm of the FPGA to keep DCLK and DATA[7..0] rise times under 2 ns. Reserve a no-connect zone under the TQFP-144 footprint to allow rework; the 0.5 mm pitch demands careful solder paste stencil design (5-mil apertures with nano-coating preferred) for first-pass yield.
MSEL0 and MSEL1 must be tied to specific logic levels for the chosen configuration mode (AS, PS, or JTAG-only); leaving them floating causes configuration failure. The EP1C3 has zero PLLs, so do not attempt to instantiate an ALTPLL megafunction - the Quartus II compiler will silently fail to fit. For designs that exceed 2,910 LEs after elaboration, the fitter will spill to slow interconnect and the design may not meet timing; budget LEs conservatively at the RTL stage.
Compliance Information
EP1C3T144C6 is the original non-RoHS Cyclone I variant. Choose the C6N (RoHS compliant, lead-free) for new production. AEC-Q100 is not applicable because the device is not qualified for automotive applications; for automotive designs migrate to Cyclone IV E or Cyclone V families.
