EP1K30FC256-3 - ACEX 1K FPGA 30K Gates | Altera
MPN: EP1K30FC256-3 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.75 | $167.50 |
| 100 | $14.2 | $1,420.00 |
| 500 | $12.6 | $6,300.00 |
| 1,000 | $11.1 | $11,100.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1K30FC256-3 — 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:
EP1K30FC256-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K30FC256-2
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$22.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K30FC256-2N
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$21.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K30FC256-1
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$17.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K30FC256-1N
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$13.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K30FC256-3 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| IC Type | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| FPGA Family | ACEX 1K |
| Logic Elements | 1,728 logic elements |
| LABs | 216 LABs (8 logic elements per LAB) |
| Typical System Gates | 30K gates |
| Total RAM Bits | 24,576 bits |
| User I/O | 171 |
| Number of Balls | 256 |
| Package / Case | 256-Ball FineLine BGA (FBGA), 17 x 17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.375 V to 2.625 V |
| Technology | CMOS |
| Speed Grade | -3 |
| Maximum Internal Clock Frequency | 200 MHz [from FindIC summary] |
EP1K30FC256-3 256-ball fineline bga (fbga), 17 x 17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1K30FC256-3 (256-ball fineline bga (fbga), 17 x 17 mm, 1.0 mm 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 EP1K30FC256-3.
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
EP1K30FC256-3 is suitable for 6 applications: Glue-Logic Consolidation in Legacy Industrial Boards, Protocol Bridging and Bus Interface Conversion, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, FPGA Training and Architecture Study, Mature Communication Equipment Maintenance, Digital Control and Waveform Generation.
Glue-Logic Consolidation in Legacy Industrial Boards
The EP1K30FC256-3 provides 1,728 logic elements, 24,576 RAM bits and 171 user I/Os, making it practical to consolidate 74-series glue logic and multiple PAL/GAL devices into a single 256-ball FBGA FPGA. A legacy industrial controller often has dozens of parallel control, address, and data lines; the 171 I/Os let the FPGA capture these signals directly without external multiplexing. The 2.5V core with 2.375V to 2.625V supply tolerance fits systems that already have a regulated 2.5V rail. Because ACEX 1K is a mature family, this part is most valuable for maintaining an existing board where the configuration device and design database are already established, rather than for new high-volume production.
Recommended
Protocol Bridging and Bus Interface Conversion
The EP1K30FC256-3 can implement simple protocol bridges, memory-mapped bus translators, and parallel-to-serial or serial-to-parallel conversion in mature communications equipment. Its 216 LABs provide enough registers and lookup tables for state machines, FIFO control, and CRC or parity logic, while 24,576 RAM bits can buffer small packets or serve as mailbox memory. The 171 user I/Os are sufficient to connect an 8- or 16-bit host bus, status LEDs, and a second parallel interface without adding an external bus transceiver. Because the device is configured from external flash or a download cable at power-up, designers can later update the protocol logic in the field by reloading a new FPGA image.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
In test-and-measurement equipment, the EP1K30FC256-3 can act as an acquisition control sequencer, counter/timer block, or trigger logic engine. The 30K typical gates and 1,728 logic elements support a moderate digital control core, while the 24,576 RAM bits allow small pattern buffers. The 171 user I/Os give the FPGA enough pins to capture parallel ADC data, drive DAC/switch matrices, and communicate with an instrument controller. The -3 speed grade is adequate for clock rates in the 100MHz-class instrumentation range, but designers should verify the actual timing using the Altera ACEX 1K timing model. Because the part is legacy, this application is best for servicing existing instruments or for researcher-owned long-life test platforms.
Recommended
FPGA Training and Architecture Study
The EP1K30FC256-3 is useful in university laboratories and FPGA architecture classes because it exposes a classic SRAM-based lookup-table fabric without the complexity of modern devices. Students can implement finite-state machines, seven-segment display controllers, simple ALUs, and small UART or SPI cores using 1,728 logic elements. The 256-ball FineLine BGA package is still practical for hand-built boards with controlled breakout routing, and the part is small enough to be programmed through legacy configuration chains. Because the device is no longer recommended for production, it remains inexpensive and readily available through legacy-stock channels, making it a reasonable choice for educational boards where long-term supply is not critical.
Recommended
Mature Communication Equipment Maintenance
Field-repair and aftermarket support of legacy communication switches, routers, and base station controllers often requires exactly the original FPGA part or a pin-compatible drop-in. The EP1K30FC256-3 supports 171 user I/Os, which is sufficient to interface legacy TDM or parallel control buses while the internal logic performs address decoding and status monitoring. Since the ACEX 1K configuration bitstream is not automatically portable to newer FPGAs, replacing the original -3 device with an FC256 same-family speed-grade variant minimizes redesign effort. For maintenance stock, XAIPART recommends also evaluating EP1K30FC256-2N or EP1K30FC256-3N because the N suffix devices are more likely to be the later lead-free production builds.
Recommended
Digital Control and Waveform Generation
The EP1K30FC256-3 can generate custom digital waveforms, PWM patterns, and repetitive state sequences using its configurable logic elements and embedded RAM. A design may use the 24,576 RAM bits as a lookup-table waveform memory and the LABs as a counter/sequencer that reads addresses at a fixed rate. The 171 I/O pins allow separate outputs for multiple channels, status signals, and host control inputs. Since ACEX 1K does not contain hard microprocessor peripherals, the FPGA is best used when a soft state-machine approach is sufficient. The -3 speed grade is adequate for moderate PWM and clocked waveform rates; for faster sequences use the -2N or -1N pin-compatible speed-grade variants on the same PCB.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1K30FC256-3 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1K30FC256-3N | EP1K30FC256-2 | EP1K30FC256-2N | EP1K30FC256-1 | EP1K30FC256-1N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 256-Ball FineLine BGA (FBGA) | 256-Ball FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same | 256-Ball FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same | 256-Ball FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same | 256-Ball FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same | 256-Ball FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Logic Elements | 1,728 | 1,728 | 1,728 | 1,728 | 1,728 | 1,728 |
| LABs | 216 | 216 | 216 | 216 | 216 | 216 |
| Total RAM Bits | 24,576 | 24,576 | 24,576 | 24,576 | 24,576 | 24,576 |
| User I/O | 171 | 171 | 171 | 171 | 171 | 171 |
| Typical Gates | 30K | 30K | 30K | 30K | 30K | 30K |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.375 V to 2.625 V | 2.375 V to 2.625 V | 2.375 V to 2.625 V | 2.375 V to 2.625 V | 2.375 V to 2.625 V | 2.375 V to 2.625 V |
| Speed Grade | -3 | -3 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 |
Key Differentiators
- Same-package speed-grade baseline with a complete upgrade path (vs EP1K30FC256-1N)
- Non-N baseline may be preferred for legacy leaded-compatible rework (vs EP1K30FC256-3N)
- Medium-density ACEX 1K footprint between small and large families (vs EP1K10TC144-3N)
- Low 2.5V core voltage compared with older 3.3V CPLD/FPGA parts (vs EP1K10TC100-3)
Design Notes
The EP1K30FC256-3 core must be powered from a regulated 2.5V supply within 2.375V to 2.625V. Place a low-ESR ceramic capacitor network close to the VCCINT balls, using at least one 0.1uF capacitor per power ball cluster and a 10uF bulk capacitor on the board side. Estimated total transient current depends on toggle rate and configured logic, so use the Altera power-estimation spreadsheet for the ACEX 1K design to size the regulator. Avoid sharing the core rail directly with noisy 2.5V I/O or analog supplies unless there are sufficient filter stages.
The 256-ball FineLine BGA has a 1.0mm pitch and requires careful fan-out and breakout routing. Use microvias or blind/buried vias if available; otherwise use a four-layer or higher stack-up with a dedicated ground plane directly below the BGA. Keep the configuration and clock traces short, matched, and shielded from high-current switching traces. Place the programming header close to the FPGA to reduce download-cable loop area. For legacy board rework, confirm the ball-out matches the existing PCB footprint before substituting EP1K30FC256-3N, -2N or -1N.
Treat the EP1K30FC256-3 as a legacy, not-for-new-design FPGA. Before using it in a new board, confirm that an external configuration source is provided because ACEX 1K devices are SRAM-based and lose their programmed image at power-off. Also verify I/O bank voltage compatibility; the web data does not state the exact I/O supply range. If the design requires higher speed, select EP1K30FC256-2N or EP1K30FC256-1N in the same FC256 package. If an alternative non-Altera FPGA is considered, perform a complete pin, power, configuration and timing review because no verified cross-brand drop-in was found in the source data.
Compliance Information
The verified web data does not provide explicit RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free or conflict-mineral statements for the EP1K30FC256-3. The N suffix on related Altera parts generally indicates lead-free finish, but this target part does not carry the N suffix.
