EP1K100FC256-1 - ACEX 1K FPGA 100K Gates 256-BGA | Altera
MPN: EP1K100FC256-1 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $78.5 | $78.50 |
| 10 | $72 | $720.00 |
| 100 | $64.5 | $6,450.00 |
| 250 | $58.75 | $14,687.50 |
| 500 | $53.2 | $26,600.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1K100FC256-1 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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EP1K100FC256-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$27.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K100FC256-1N
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$22.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K100FC256-3
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$30.22 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K100FC256-1 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | ACEX 1K |
| Logic Elements | 4,992 |
| Typical Gates | 100,000 |
| Embedded RAM (bits) | 49,152 |
| Embedded RAM blocks (EABs) | 12 |
| Maximum User I/O | 186 |
| Speed Grade | -1 |
| Core Voltage | 2.5 V |
| Process Technology | 0.22 µm CMOS |
| Package | 256-BGA (FineLine) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 333.33 MHz |
| I/O Standards Supported | LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, SSTL-2/3 |
| Configuration Interface | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) + serial EEPROM |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
EP1K100FC256-1 256-bga (fineline) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1K100FC256-1 (256-bga (fineline) 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 EP1K100FC256-1.
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
EP1K100FC256-1 is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Line Card Glue Logic, PCI Bus Bridge and Interface Controller, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, DSP Co-Processing Front-End, Legacy Embedded System Design Migration, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
Telecommunications Line Card Glue Logic
The EP1K100FC256-1 fits telecom line-card glue-logic applications because of its 100K-gate logic capacity, 186 user I/O pins, and 333.33 MHz maximum internal frequency - enough to bridge TDM buses, framers, and network processors in legacy DSLAM and SDH equipment. The 4,992 logic elements handle parallel datapath glue while the 49,152 bits of embedded dual-port RAM implement FIFO buffers for cell/packet queuing without external SRAM. Operating from a 2.5 V core with separate VCCIO banks, the device directly interfaces 3.3 V LVTTL and 2.5 V SSTL memory buses common in telecom backplanes. Engineers value its in-system JTAG programmability for field firmware updates without removing the line card from service.
Recommended
PCI Bus Bridge and Interface Controller
With 4,992 logic elements and 186 I/O, the EP1K100FC256-1 is well matched to 33/66 MHz PCI bridge designs that require custom protocol translation or bus isolation between a host CPU and legacy peripherals. Its embedded dual-port EAB memory provides the bus-master FIFOs and DMA descriptor rings without needing external SRAM, reducing PCB area. The device's 3.3 V VCCIO bank capability drives PCI signals directly to the bus, while the 2.5 V core keeps power dissipation manageable in always-on systems. Quartus II MAX+PLUS II synthesis libraries include pre-built PCI megafunctions that drop in to the ACEX 1K logic array, dramatically reducing development time for PCI-target and PCI-master designs.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The EP1K100FC256-1 is suitable for industrial PLC, motor-control, and factory-automation controllers because of its 100K-gate density, JTAG field reprogrammability, and 186 I/O count for connecting to multi-axis servo drivers and digital I/O modules. The dual-port EABs implement deterministic inter-task message queues required for hard-real-time control loops. Although the commercial temperature grade limits it to 0C-70C operation, many factory-floor enclosures regulate internal ambient and accept commercial-grade silicon. Engineers should note the obsolete lifecycle status and qualify the EP1C20F400C6 (Cyclone) as a functional migration target for new industrial platforms as of 2026-09-06.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processing Front-End
In DSP co-processing front-ends, the EP1K100FC256-1 acts as a pre-processor that performs FIR filtering, FFT windowing, or data-rate conversion before handing samples to a dedicated DSP. The embedded dual-port RAM blocks implement coefficient storage and circular sample buffers in a single device, eliminating external SRAM access latency. At 333.33 MHz internal frequency, the ACEX 1K can sustain 80-100 MHz FIR datapaths for moderate-order filters used in audio and baseband processing. The 256-BGA FineLine package provides controlled-impedance signal routing required for high-speed data converters and parallel ADC interfaces. Migrating to a Cyclone device is straightforward because the Quartus II toolchain is shared.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded System Design Migration
Designers maintaining legacy products built around ACEX 1K FPGAs use the EP1K100FC256-1 as a direct lifecycle extension while planning migration to Cyclone-class devices. The 100K-gate density matches many legacy designs exactly, allowing identical Verilog/VHDL source to retarget with minimal changes. Because the part remains in distributor stock through obsolete-component brokers, field-replacement and warranty-service builds can continue without immediate board redesign. The -N suffix variant (EP1K100FC256-1N) provides RoHS-compliant assembly for production in regions requiring lead-free soldering. Engineers should track remaining channel inventory closely as availability has tightened through 2025-2026.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Test-and-measurement equipment such as logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and bench-top data-acquisition systems used the EP1K100FC256-1 for trigger-pattern matching, timing-stamp generation, and parallel-bus capture because of its high I/O count and dual-port memory FIFO capability. The 186 user I/O pins support 16-32 channel digital sampling with minimal external multiplexing. Dual-port EABs implement 4 Kbit x N deep capture buffers without external SRAM. JTAG-based in-system programming simplifies manufacturing calibration and field firmware upgrades. For new T&M designs the EP1AGX50CF484C6N (Arria GX) provides integrated transceivers, but it is not a drop-in upgrade - PCB redesign is required.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1K100FC256-1 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1K100FC256-2 | EP1K100FC256-1N | EP1K100FC256-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 256-BGA | 256-BGA - same | 256-BGA - same | 256-BGA - same |
| Logic Elements | 4,992 | 4,992 | 4,992 | 4,992 |
| Embedded RAM (bits) | 49,152 | 49,152 | 49,152 | 49,152 |
| User I/O | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 |
| Speed Grade | -1 | -2 (faster) | -1 (same) | -3 (fastest) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | No (standard SnPb) | No | Yes (RoHS) | No |
| Max Internal Frequency | 333.33 MHz | ~420 MHz | 333.33 MHz | ~500 MHz |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Widest distributor availability in the -1 speed grade (vs EP1K100FC256-2 and EP1K100FC256-3)
- Standard (SnPb) lead finish vs RoHS-compliant -N variant (vs EP1K100FC256-1N)
- Lowest cost entry point to 100K-gate ACEX 1K family (vs EP1K100FC256-2 and -3)
Design Notes
Estimated: the EP1K100FC256-1 is in obsolete/EOL status as of 2026-09-06, and remaining channel inventory is concentrated at specialty brokers. Do not commit to new production designs without securing a multi-year supply agreement or qualifying the Cyclone EP1C20F400C6 as a functional migration target. Validate timing closure against the Quartus II MAX+PLUS II ACEX 1K timing models because the -1 speed grade is the slowest of the family and may fail timing at high Fmax targets.
The 256-ball FineLine BGA requires careful PCB stackup design: use a 4-6 layer board with continuous ground planes beneath the BGA and matched-impedance traces for high-speed signals. VCCINT and VCCIO decoupling capacitors must be placed within 100 mils of the respective supply balls, with a mix of 0.1 µF ceramic and 10 µF bulk capacitors to handle the simultaneous-switching-current transients typical of 186 I/O toggling. Reference the ACEX 1K datasheet pinout table for ball-grid coordinates.
Estimated: with 186 I/O at 3.3 V LVTTL driving 50 pF loads at 50 MHz, the EP1K100FC256-1 VCCIO current peaks near 1.5 A per bank; the 2.5 V VCCINT core draws approximately 200-400 mA depending on toggle rate and logic utilization. Total board power budget should reserve 4-5 W for the FPGA plus margin. Use a star-ground topology with the FPGA as the central component, and decouple each VCCIO bank independently to prevent switching noise from corrupting the JTAG configuration interface.
Compliance Information
Standard EP1K100FC256-1 uses SnPb solder balls (non-RoHS). The EP1K100FC256-1N variant is the RoHS-compliant lead-free version. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a commercial-grade FPGA in the ACEX 1K family. Reach and conflict-mineral status not explicitly stated in datasheet; engineers should request a compliance letter from the broker when sourcing for European production.
