EP1C6F25617L - Cyclone FPGA 6K LE, 256-BGA, 1.7V | Altera
MPN: EP1C6F25617L ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $42.5 | $42.50 |
| 10 | $38.25 | $382.50 |
| 100 | $33.9 | $3,390.00 |
| 500 | $29.75 | $14,875.00 |
| 1,000 | $26.4 | $26,400.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C6F25617L — 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:
EP1C6F256C8L
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP1C6F256I7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$27.94 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C6F256C6
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$38.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C12F256C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C20F256C8N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP1C6F25617
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$23.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1C6F25617L Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone |
| Logic Elements | 5,980 LE |
| Total RAM Bits | 92,160 bits (90 Kbits) |
| Embedded RAM Blocks | M4K blocks (20 blocks) |
| User I/O Pins (max) | 185 |
| PLLs | 2 |
| Global Clock Networks | 8 |
| Package | 256-pin FineLine BGA (FBGA-256) |
| Speed Grade | -7 |
| Core Voltage | 1.7 V (L variant) |
| I/O Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Configuration Mode | Active Serial (AS), Passive Serial (PS), JTAG |
| Process Technology | 130 nm SRAM |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (L suffix indicates lead-free) |
EP1C6F25617L 256-pin fineline bga (fbga-256) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C6F25617L (256-pin fineline bga (fbga-256) package) with 185 pins. 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 EP1C6F25617L.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Estimated pin count: 185 pins (digital package)
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
EP1C6F25617L is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Glue Logic, Video Processing Front-End, Communications Protocol Bridging, Legacy Equipment Maintenance, Educational and Hobbyist Development, Consumer Electronics Interface Bridging.
Industrial Control Glue Logic
The EP1C6F25617L fits industrial control glue-logic applications because its 5,980 logic elements and 185 user I/O pins provide sufficient capacity to bridge legacy parallel buses (PCI, ISA, VME) to modern serial interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART) without an external ASIC. The two on-chip PLLs enable clean clock generation from a single 50 MHz crystal, deriving multiple domain frequencies for motor-control PWMs and sensor sampling. With 90 Kbits of embedded RAM distributed across M4K blocks, the device handles FIFO buffering for inter-processor communication. The commercial 0C to +85C operating range suits factory-floor enclosures; for harsher environments the EP1C6F256I7N industrial variant extends to -40C to +100C with the same 256-FBGA footprint.
Recommended
Video Processing Front-End
The EP1C6F25617L suits video processing front-end designs such as camera-link receivers, NTSC/PAL decoders, and LCD timing controllers because its 256-FBGA package supports the high I/O count required for parallel video buses (8/16/24-bit RGB or ITU-R BT.656). The M4K memory blocks can implement line buffers and frame-stores up to the 90 Kbit total, sufficient for several lines of CIF-resolution video. Two PLLs generate pixel clocks from a 27 MHz reference. The -7 speed grade ensures the device meets timing for 100-150 MHz internal datapaths common in VGA-to-LCD scaling pipelines. Bitstream recompilation in Quartus II lets designers iterate on color-space conversion or de-interlacing algorithms in the same hardware.
Recommended
Communications Protocol Bridging
The EP1C6F25617L is well-suited for communications protocol bridging, including UART-to-Ethernet, SPI-to-PCI, and I2C-to-parallel converters used in telecom and networking equipment. With 5,980 logic elements, the device can implement multiple protocol engines concurrently plus packet buffers using the 90 Kbits of embedded RAM. The 185 user I/O pins accommodate multi-channel serial interfaces alongside 16- or 32-bit host buses without external mux logic. Two PLLs allow independent clock domains for the host processor and the line-side interface. The Cyclone family's JTAG and Active Serial configuration interfaces support field firmware updates essential for deployed telecom hardware.
Recommended
Legacy Equipment Maintenance
The EP1C6F25617L is primarily used today for maintaining legacy equipment originally designed in the early-to-mid 2000s, where the FPGA bitstream and PCB layout cannot be modified without expensive re-certification. Industries including aerospace, medical imaging, and industrial automation still require these FPGAs for field-replacement boards where the alternative is a complete system redesign costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Independent distributors stock remaining factory inventory and reclaimed components specifically for this maintenance market. The 256-FBGA footprint and Cyclone architecture ensure bitstream-compatible operation with original boards, allowing drop-in replacement of failed units.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Development
The EP1C6F25617L and related Cyclone family devices are featured in university digital-design curricula and hobbyist development boards because they offer a balance of capacity, cost, and tool support. Students learn HDL design, state-machine implementation, and synthesis on a 5,980-LE device large enough for meaningful projects (UART, VGA controller, simple CPU) but small enough to fit in budget lab kits. The Cyclone family is supported by the free Quartus II Web Edition toolchain, eliminating licensing barriers for educational use. Although Intel now focuses on Cyclone 10 LP and Cyclone V for new curricula, legacy Cyclone development boards remain widely available and continue to teach foundational FPGA concepts.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics Interface Bridging
The EP1C6F25617L targets consumer electronics interface bridging applications such as HDMI-to-LVDS converters, USB-to-I2S audio bridges, and image-sensor pre-processors in digital cameras and projectors. With 185 user I/O pins and 90 Kbits of RAM, the device handles multi-format video timing plus audio sample buffering without external memory. The two PLLs derive pixel clocks and audio master clocks from a common reference. Low unit cost made Cyclone attractive for consumer products in the mid-2000s. The L-variant 1.7V core reduces power consumption in battery-powered devices such as digital camcorders and portable media players where the part was widely deployed.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C6F25617L — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C6F256C8L | EP1C6F256I7N | EP1C12F256C8N | EP1C20F256C8N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 256-FBGA (1.0mm pitch) | 256-FBGA - same | 256-FBGA - same | 256-FBGA - same | 256-FBGA - same |
| Logic Elements | 5,980 LE | 5,980 LE | 5,980 LE | 12,060 LE | 18,752 LE |
| Family | Cyclone (130 nm) | Cyclone | Cyclone | Cyclone II | Cyclone II |
| Core Voltage | 1.7 V (L variant) | 1.7 V (L) | 1.8 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
| Speed Grade | -7 | -8 | -7 | -8 | -8 |
| Embedded RAM | 92,160 bits | 92,160 bits | 92,160 bits | 239,616 bits | 239,616 bits |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C | -40C to +100C (industrial) | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage 1.7V core variant (vs EP1C6F25617 (standard 1.8V core))
- -7 speed grade performance (vs EP1C6F256C8L (-8 speed grade))
- Original Cyclone architecture (130 nm) (vs EP1C12F256C8N (Cyclone II, 90 nm))
Design Notes
The EP1C6F25617L L-variant requires a regulated 1.7V core supply and a 3.3V I/O supply, with sequencing typically core-first then I/O. Use a low-dropout regulator (e.g., LT1117-1.7 or equivalent) for the core rail. Decouple each VCC pin with 0.1 uF and 10 uF bulk capacitors placed within 5 mm of the BGA balls. The Cyclone family datasheet specifies 8-12 decoupling capacitors distributed across the package perimeter; missing decoupling can cause configuration failures and intermittent logic errors.
The 256-FBGA package uses 1.0 mm ball pitch, requiring 6-8 layer PCB stack-up with microvia or via-in-pad technology for reliable assembly. Signal escape routing on the top layer uses dog-bone fanout; inner layers route between BGA balls. Controlled-impedance traces (50 ohm single-ended, 100 ohm differential) are required for LVDS and clock signals. Maintain 3W spacing between high-speed clocks and user I/O to minimize crosstalk. Thermal pads under the BGA improve heat dissipation but are not connected electrically.
Do not assume the EP1C6F25617L is drop-in compatible with EP1C6F25617 (non-L variant): the 1.7V vs 1.8V core voltage requires a different LDO regulator. Configuration bitstreams for Cyclone and Cyclone II are NOT interchangeable - the EP1C12F256C8N alternative requires recompilation in Quartus II. The MSEL pins must be strapped correctly for the desired configuration mode (AS/PS/JTAG); incorrect strapping causes configuration failure. JTAG chain integrity should be verified before debugging logic issues - a broken TDI/TDO connection masks all functional problems.
High-speed I/O on the EP1C6F25617L (LVDS, SSTL) requires impedance-matched routing with termination resistors placed within 5-10 mm of the receiver. The Cyclone LVDS receivers support up to 640 Mbps but require 100 ohm differential impedance and length-matching within 50 ps. Clock inputs should use the dedicated CLK pins (PLL clock inputs) rather than regular I/O for best jitter performance. Series damping resistors (22-33 ohm) on high-speed outputs reduce reflections when driving long traces or connectors.
Compliance Information
L suffix indicates lead-free / RoHS-compliant package. Original Cyclone family datasheet does not specify halogen-free status. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a commercial/industrial grade FPGA, not an automotive-qualified part.
