EP1K50FC256-2 - ACEX-1K 50K Gates FPGA 256-BGA | Altera
MPN: EP1K50FC256-2 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $95 | $95.00 |
| 10 | $88 | $880.00 |
| 100 | $78 | $7,800.00 |
| 500 | $68.5 | $34,250.00 |
| 1,000 | $62 | $62,000.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1K50FC256-2 — 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:
EP1K50FC256-2N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50FC256-1
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$18.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50FC256-1N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$15.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50F256-2N
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$21.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K100FC256-2
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$27.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K100FC256-2N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$78.1951 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50FC256-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | ACEX-1K |
| Family | ACEX 1K Family |
| Logic Cells / Elements | 2,880 |
| Typical Gates | 50,000 |
| Number of LABs/CLBs | 360 |
| User I/Os | 186 |
| Total RAM Bits | 40,960 |
| Number of Gates | 50,000 |
| Voltage - Supply | 2.375 V to 2.625 V (nominal 2.5 V) |
| Process Technology | 0.22 µm CMOS |
| Propagation Delay | 0.4 ns (per Partstack listing) |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to +70°C (commercial) |
| Package / Case | 256-BGA (FineLine BGA, 17x17 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Mounting Style | SMD/SMT |
| Programming Type | In-System Programmable via JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) |
| Configuration Method | SRAM-based, volatile configuration |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| REACH Status | Compliant |
EP1K50FC256-2 256-bga (fineline bga, 17x17 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1K50FC256-2 (256-bga (fineline bga, 17x17 mm) 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 EP1K50FC256-2.
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
EP1K50FC256-2 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Telecommunications Line Cards, Video Processing Front-Ends, ASIC Prototype and Logic Emulation, Legacy Peripheral and Bus Bridging, Embedded Digital Signal Processing.
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The EP1K50FC256-2's 50K gates and 186 user I/Os make it well suited for industrial PLCs, motor-control boards, and factory automation controllers where multiple parallel I/O channels drive sensors, relays, and stepper motors. Its 2.5 V core and 3.3 V-tolerant I/O align with industrial logic-level standards, while embedded array blocks (EABs) provide on-chip dual-port RAM for FIFO buffering of sensor data streams. Compared with discrete glue logic, the EP1K50FC256-2 reduces PCB area by integrating address decoding, bus arbitration, and timing logic into a single 256-ball BGA. Designers migrating legacy ACEX-1K designs should retain the device when form-fit-function compatibility is required by long-life industrial programs.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line Cards
The EP1K50FC256-2 targets telecom line-interface cards where moderate logic density combines with many I/Os for TDM bus multiplexing, framing, and protocol conversion. Its 40,960 bits of embedded RAM implement small lookup tables and elastic FIFOs needed for HDLC/SDLC framing, while 186 I/Os fan out to multiple E1/T1 transceiver channels. The 256-ball BGA package supports compact card designs with controlled impedance routing. Engineers maintaining legacy telecom infrastructure value the EP1K50FC256-2 for its deterministic SRAM configuration and proven Quartus II toolchain support, though new designs should evaluate Cyclone IV or Cyclone V for active power savings.
Recommended
Video Processing Front-Ends
The EP1K50FC256-2 delivers the logic and I/O bandwidth required for video processing front-ends such as NTSC/PAL decoders, video format converters, and LCD timing controllers. Its 50K gates comfortably implement line buffers, de-interlacers, and color-space converters, while the 256-ball BGA exposes enough I/O for 24-bit parallel RGB plus control signals. Embedded RAM blocks (EABs) implement dual-port line buffers without external SRAM. Designers must consider the device's 2.5 V core and configure I/O banks at 3.3 V to interface with legacy video ADCs. For modern HDMI/MIPI designs, migration to Cyclone IV GX or Cyclone V is recommended.
Recommended
ASIC Prototype and Logic Emulation
The EP1K50FC256-2 serves as a cost-effective prototype vehicle for ASIC and ASSP designs up to 50,000 gates. Engineers port RTL from simulation to FPGA for real-time verification at near-ASIC speeds, validate I/O protocols with actual peripherals, and run software on embedded processors before tape-out. The 186 I/Os accommodate wide processor buses, while embedded RAM supports register files and cache emulation. The SRAM-based configuration allows rapid design iteration with JTAG programming. This prototyping use case remains popular in aerospace, medical, and industrial programs where design-for-FPGA prototypes reduce ASIC respin risk.
Recommended
Legacy Peripheral and Bus Bridging
The EP1K50FC256-2 excels at bridging between modern processors and legacy peripherals such as ISA bus devices, parallel ATA drives, VMEbus cards, or proprietary backplanes. Its 186 user I/Os and 360 LABs implement bus arbiters, address decoders, and protocol converters in a single chip. The device's 0.4 ns propagation delay (per Partstack listings) supports 50 MHz operation sufficient for ISA and VMEbus timing. Aerospace and defense programs with long lifecycles continue to specify ACEX-1K FPGAs because the qualified silicon and toolchain have decades of reliability data. Stock availability is the main constraint.
Recommended
Embedded Digital Signal Processing
The EP1K50FC256-2 supports moderate-complexity DSP applications such as audio processing, motor-control PWM generation, and low-rate communications modulation. Each LAB implements 16-bit multipliers and adders via cascaded carry chains, while EABs provide dual-port RAM for coefficient storage and delay lines. The 256-ball BGA package and 2.5 V core suit fan-less embedded boards. For sample rates above 10 MSPS, designers should evaluate Cyclone II DSP blocks or dedicated DSP chips, but the EP1K50FC256-2 remains a cost-effective choice for control-loop DSP where flexibility matters more than raw throughput.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1K50FC256-2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1K50FC256-2N | EP1K50FC256-1 | EP1K50FC256-1N | EP1K50F256-2N | EP1K100FC256-2 | EP1K100FC256-2N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) | Altera (now Intel) |
| Package | 256-BGA (FineLine BGA) | 256-BGA (FineLine BGA) - same | 256-BGA (FineLine BGA) - same | 256-BGA (FineLine BGA) - same | 256-BGA (FineLine BGA) - same | 256-BGA (FineLine BGA) - same | 256-BGA (FineLine BGA) - same |
| Typical Gates | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 4,992 | 4,992 |
| User I/Os | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 | 186 |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -2 | -1 (slower) | -1 (slower) | -2 | -2 | -2 |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | No (SnPb finish) | Yes (lead-free) | No (SnPb finish) | Yes (lead-free) | Yes (lead-free) | No (SnPb finish) | Yes (lead-free) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Lead-free / RoHS-compliant equivalent available (vs EP1K50FC256-2N)
- Pin-compatible speed grade options (vs EP1K50FC256-1)
- Higher-density migration path within same package (vs EP1K100FC256-2)
Design Notes
Estimated: the EP1K50FC256-2 core draws roughly 200-400 mA at 2.5 V during typical operation, plus I/O current proportional to switching frequency. Place 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling capacitors within 5 mm of each VCCINT ball, and add 10 µF bulk capacitors per power quadrant. Use a star-ground topology to separate the FPGA's analog/digital grounds if the design has PLLs (ACE-1K has optional PLL support).
The 256-ball FineLine BGA requires careful PCB layout with via-in-pad techniques for proper thermal relief and signal integrity. Use 4-6 layer PCB with continuous ground plane beneath the BGA; escape traces on inner layers reduce crosstalk. Maintain 50 Ω controlled impedance for high-speed I/O signals. JTAG header must be accessible for in-system programming; route TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO with short stubs to minimize reflection.
Do not assume ACEX-1K FPGAs ship with preloaded configuration - they are SRAM-based and require configuration on every power-up. Add a configuration device (EPC2, EPC4, or compatible) or implement a microcontroller-based JTAG loader. Confirm VCCIO voltage matches connected logic levels; the EP1K50FC256-2 I/O banks can be configured for 2.5 V or 3.3 V operation. Programming via Quartus II (legacy) ensures proper bitstream generation.
Estimated: at 50K-gate utilization and 50 MHz operation, the EP1K50FC256-2 dissipates approximately 1-1.5 W of power. The 256-ball BGA package provides adequate thermal dissipation with a 4-layer PCB and ground plane; no external heatsink is typically required. For industrial applications with high ambient temperatures, ensure the PCB thermal vias beneath the BGA thermal balls reduce theta-JA by 30-50%.
Compliance Information
Original EP1K50FC256-2 uses SnPb terminal finish and is not RoHS compliant per Altera nomenclature (no 'N' suffix). RoHS-compliant equivalent is EP1K50FC256-2N. REACH compliance unknown per the verified web data. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; ACEX-1K is commercial/industrial grade only.
