EP1K50TI144-4 - ACEX 1K FPGA 50K Gates 144-TQFP | Altera
MPN: EP1K50TI144-4 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.5 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $25.4 | $254.00 |
| 100 | $22.1 | $2,210.00 |
| 500 | $19.8 | $9,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $17.95 | $17,950.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1K50TI144-4 — 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:
EP1K50TI144-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TI144-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TI144-2N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TI144-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$27.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K30TI144-2N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$25 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TI144-4 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | ACEX 1K |
| Logic Elements | 2,880 |
| Typical Gates | 50,000 |
| Embedded Memory (EAB) | 40,960 bits (5 EABs) |
| Maximum User I/O | 102 |
| Dedicated Input Pins | 6 |
| Package | TQFP-144 (TI144) |
| Pin Pitch | 0.5 mm |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.375 V to 2.625 V (nominal 2.5 V) |
| I/O Voltage | 2.5 V / 3.3 V MultiVolt |
| Technology | CMOS, SRAM-based, volatile |
| Speed Grade | -4 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Pb-free TQFP available) |
EP1K50TI144-4 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 2 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 3 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 4 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 5 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 6 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 7 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 8 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 9 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage 2.5 V |
| Pin 10 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 11 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 12 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 13 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 14 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 15 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 16 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 17 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 18 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 19 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 20 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 21 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage 2.5 V or 3.3 V |
| Pin 22 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 23 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 24 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 25 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 26 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 27 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 28 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 29 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 30 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 31 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 32 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 33 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage 2.5 V |
| Pin 34 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 35 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 36 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 1) |
| Pin 37 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 38 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 39 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 40 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 41 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 42 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 43 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 44 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 45 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage 2.5 V or 3.3 V |
| Pin 46 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 47 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 48 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 49 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 50 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 51 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 52 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 53 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 54 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 55 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 56 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 57 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 58 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 59 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 60 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 61 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 62 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 63 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 64 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 65 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 66 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 67 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 68 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 69 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 70 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 71 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 72 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 2) |
| Pin 73 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage 2.5 V |
| Pin 74 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 75 | DEV_CLRn — Device clear (active low) |
| Pin 76 | DEV_OE — Device output enable |
| Pin 77 | CONFIG_DONE — Configuration complete status |
| Pin 78 | nCONFIG — Configuration control (active low) |
| Pin 79 | MSEL0 — Configuration mode select 0 |
| Pin 80 | MSEL1 — Configuration mode select 1 |
| Pin 81 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage 2.5 V |
| Pin 82 | DCLK — Configuration clock |
| Pin 83 | DATA0 — Configuration data input 0 |
| Pin 84 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active low) |
| Pin 85 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 86 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 87 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 88 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 89 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 90 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 91 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 92 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 93 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 94 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 95 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 96 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 97 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 98 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage 2.5 V or 3.3 V |
| Pin 99 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 100 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 101 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 102 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 103 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 104 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 105 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 106 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 107 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 108 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 109 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 110 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 111 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 112 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 113 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 114 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 115 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 116 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 3) |
| Pin 117 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 118 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 119 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 120 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 121 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage 2.5 V |
| Pin 122 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 123 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 124 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 125 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 126 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 127 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 128 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 129 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 130 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 131 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 132 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 133 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 134 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage 2.5 V or 3.3 V |
| Pin 135 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 136 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 137 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 138 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 139 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 140 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 141 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 142 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 143 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
| Pin 144 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank 4) |
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
EP1K50TI144-4 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Interface Bridge, Parallel Bus Bridge / Legacy Peripheral Expansion, ASIC Prototyping and Emulation, Telecommunications Line Card Logic, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Custom Peripheral Controller for Embedded Systems.
Industrial Control Interface Bridge
The EP1K50TI144-4 fits industrial control interfaces because its 102 user I/O pins and 2,880 logic elements can implement multi-protocol glue logic between legacy and modern peripherals. The 50,000-gate capacity handles complex state machines for motor control sequencing, while the MultiVolt I/O (2.5 V/3.3 V) bridges 5 V-tolerant sensors through external level shifters. The -4 speed grade's 90 MHz clock is sufficient for deterministic control loops at typical 1-10 kHz control rates, leaving significant timing margin. Operating temperature of -40 C to +85 C meets industrial enclosure requirements. The TQFP-144 package provides hand-rework access for prototype and low-volume production, valuable for custom industrial machinery with long field lifecycles.
Recommended
Parallel Bus Bridge / Legacy Peripheral Expansion
The EP1K50TI144-4 is well suited for parallel bus bridges connecting older microprocessors to modern peripherals. Its 102 I/O pins comfortably host an 8/16/32-bit data bus plus address and control signals, while the 40,960-bit embedded SRAM provides FIFO buffering for protocol conversion. The 2.5 V core with 3.3 V I/O enables direct interface to 3.3 V peripherals like SDRAM controllers, while external transceivers bridge to 5 V legacy devices. The -4 speed grade is acceptable for bus bridges running at typical 33-50 MHz peripheral speeds. Engineers commonly use the EP1K50 in PCI-to-ISA bridges, IDE-to-SATA converters, and custom peripheral emulators for industrial PCs.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Emulation
The EP1K50TI144-4 serves as an ASIC prototyping vehicle for designs in the 30,000-50,000 gate range. The 2,880 logic elements map comfortably to mid-complexity ASICs such as custom UART controllers, encryption accelerators, or signal processing front-ends. The 5 Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) provide 40,960 bits of dual-port RAM suitable for FIFO and lookup-table implementations common in ASIC designs. MultiVolt I/O allows the FPGA to interface with mixed-voltage ASIC pin environments during bring-up. Quartus II design tools support incremental compile, enabling rapid ASIC-to-FPGA migration. The TQFP-144 package on standard 0.5 mm pitch is breadboard-friendly for prototype verification.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line Card Logic
The EP1K50TI144-4 fits legacy telecommunications line cards where it implements custom framing, channelization, and protocol termination functions. Its 102 I/O pins handle T1/E1 data streams plus overhead, while 2,880 logic elements process framing and alarm logic without external DSP. The -4 speed grade delivers 90 MHz clock, sufficient for DS3 (44.736 Mbps) demultiplexing with internal oversampling. Industrial temperature range suits central-office environments. The 2.5 V core with 3.3 V I/O interoperates with classic telecom ASICs like the DS2155 or PM4351. Note: most telecom OEMs have migrated to newer Cyclone IV/V FPGA families for new designs, but EP1K50TI144-4 remains in service in legacy line cards.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
The EP1K50TI144-4 is well matched for custom test and measurement instruments where its 50,000 gates implement timing generators, pattern sequencers, and protocol analyzers. The 102 I/O pins connect to multiple instrument buses (GPIB, USB, parallel data acquisition). The 5 EABs provide 40 Kbits of pattern memory for stimulus generation, while 2,880 logic elements handle sequencer state machines. The -4 speed grade supports pattern rates up to 90 MHz, adequate for digital logic analyzer applications. Industrial temperature and Pb-free TQFP-144 package suit laboratory and field-portable instruments. The MultiVolt I/O simplifies interface to mixed 2.5 V/3.3 V/5 V measurement ASICs.
Recommended
Custom Peripheral Controller for Embedded Systems
The EP1K50TI144-4 fits custom peripheral controller designs where it implements specialized interfaces not available in standard microcontrollers. Its 2,880 logic elements and 102 I/O pins handle complex peripherals such as camera interfaces, LCD controllers, or custom motor drives. The 40,960-bit embedded SRAM provides frame buffers for small displays or data pre-processing. The 2.5 V core and 3.3 V I/O interoperate with ARM7/ARM9 embedded processors from the same era. Quartus II supports SOPC Builder for soft-core Nios II integration when more complex control is needed. The TQFP-144 package is hand-solderable for prototype embedded systems.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1K50TI144-4 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1K50TI144-3N | EP1K50TI144-2N | EP1K30TI144-2N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | TQFP-144 (TI144) | TQFP-144 (TI144) - same | TQFP-144 (TI144) - same | TQFP-144 (TI144) - same |
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) - same | Altera (Intel) - same | Altera (Intel) - same |
| Logic Elements | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 1,728 (-40%) |
| Typical Gates | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 30,000 (-40%) |
| Embedded Memory (EAB) | 40,960 bits | 40,960 bits | 40,960 bits | 24,576 bits (-40%) |
| Speed Grade | -4 (90 MHz) | -3 (~130 MHz, +44%) | -2 (~180 MHz, +100%) | -2 (~180 MHz) |
| Maximum User I/O | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 |
| Core Voltage | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
| Relative Price (qty 100) | 22.10 USD | ~26 USD (+18%) | ~32 USD (+45%) | ~14 USD (-37%) |
Key Differentiators
- Slowest speed grade offers lowest price among EP1K50 family (vs EP1K50TI144-3N)
- Full 50,000-gate density supports more complex logic (vs EP1K30TI144-2N)
- TQFP-144 package allows hand-rework and visual inspection (vs EP1K50FC256-2 (256-pin FBGA))
Design Notes
The EP1K50TI144-4 core requires a stable 2.5 V supply at 2.375 V to 2.625 V. Estimated: core ICC is approximately 100-300 mA depending on utilization and clock rate, so budget a regulator with at least 500 mA capacity for a 90% utilized design. Place 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitors within 5 mm of every VCCINT and VCCIO pin, plus a single 10 uF bulk capacitor per supply rail. Configuration device current (EPC2) should be budgeted separately at approximately 50 mA peak during configuration. Power-on ramp should be monotonic; reset is held internally until VCC reaches the brown-out threshold.
Estimated: the TQFP-144 package has a theta_JA of approximately 25 C/W (no airflow, JEDEC test board) and 15 C/W with 100 LFM airflow. At full utilization with all I/O toggling, the EP1K50 may dissipate 1.5-2 W, yielding a 38-50 C junction temperature rise above ambient. Industrial-grade parts rated to 85 C ambient therefore have only 35-47 C thermal margin. For continuous high-utilization designs, place a copper flood on inner PCB layers beneath the package to reduce theta_JA. Do not exceed 125 C junction temperature or device reliability degrades.
The TQFP-144 package uses 0.5 mm pitch gull-wing leads. Per IPC-7351 land pattern guidelines, use 0.30 mm wide by 1.50 mm long surface-mount pads with 0.50 mm pitch. Solder mask dams between pads must be at least 0.20 mm wide for reliable assembly. Route all signals on inner layers with micro-vias or escape to outer-layer traces within 5 mm of the package edge. Power planes should be split so that the noisy MultiVolt VCCIO bank does not couple into VCCINT - separate analog and digital ground regions and stitch with vias near the package. Avoid routing high-speed signals (LVDS or DDR) adjacent to JTAG pins to minimize crosstalk during boundary-scan testing.
Common pitfalls: (1) Do not apply 5 V to any I/O pin - the EP1K50 is rated for 3.3 V maximum. Use external level shifters for 5 V interfaces. (2) Configuration pins (nCONFIG, MSEL0/1, nSTATUS) must be properly terminated with 1-10 kohm pull-ups or pull-downs per the configuration mode selection. (3) The DEV_OE pin must be held LOW during power-up or I/O pins will drive random patterns, potentially damaging external devices. (4) Always compile with Quartus II 13.0sp1 or earlier - newer Quartus Prime versions have removed ACEX 1K device support. (5) Verify your design's worst-case timing against the -4 speed grade fMAX before committing to PCB layout.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant (Pb-free TQFP, 'T' suffix). REACH and halogen-free status unknown - verify with supplier. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial grade only). Per Altera product documentation, the 'T' in part number indicates Pb-free lead finish.
