EP1K50TQ144-1 - ACEX 1K FPGA 50K Gates 144-TQFP | Intel (Altera)
MPN: EP1K50TQ144-1 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $34.2 | $342.00 |
| 100 | $28.9 | $2,890.00 |
| 500 | $22.4 | $11,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $18.75 | $18,750.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1K50TQ144-1 — 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:
EP1K50TC144-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TC144-1N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TI144-1X
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TI144-1X
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TC144-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$28.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50TQ144-1 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | ACEX 1K |
| Logic Elements | 2,880 |
| Typical Gates | 50,000 |
| Maximum User I/O | 102 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 360 |
| Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) | 40 Kbits (dual-port RAM) |
| Process Technology | 0.22 µm SRAM |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 2.5 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage (VCCIO) | 2.5 V / 3.3 V (multiVolt) |
| Internal Operating Frequency | up to 250 MHz |
| Speed Grade | -1 (standard) |
| Package | TQFP-144 |
| Configuration Interface | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) + EPC4/EPC8/EPC16 + passive serial |
| In-System Programmability | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) |
EP1K50TQ144-1 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 2 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 3 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 4 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 5 | VCCINT — Core supply 2.5 V |
| Pin 6 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 7 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 8 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 9 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 10 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 11 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 12 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 13 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 14 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 15 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 16 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 17 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 18 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 19 | VCCIO — I/O supply 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Pin 20 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 21 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 22 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 23 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 24 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 25 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 26 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 27 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 28 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 29 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 30 | VCCINT — Core supply 2.5 V |
| Pin 31 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 32 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 33 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 34 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 35 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 36 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 37 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 38 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 39 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 40 | VCCIO — I/O supply 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Pin 41 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 42 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 43 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 44 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 45 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 46 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 47 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 48 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 49 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 50 | VCCINT — Core supply 2.5 V |
| Pin 51 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 52 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 53 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 54 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 55 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 56 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 57 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 58 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 59 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 60 | VCCIO — I/O supply 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Pin 61 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 62 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 63 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 64 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 65 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 66 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 67 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 68 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 69 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 70 | VCCINT — Core supply 2.5 V |
| Pin 71 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 72 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 73 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 74 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 75 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 76 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 77 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 78 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 79 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 80 | VCCIO — I/O supply 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Pin 81 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 82 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 83 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 84 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 85 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 86 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 87 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 88 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 89 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 90 | VCCINT — Core supply 2.5 V |
| Pin 91 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 92 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 93 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 94 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 95 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 96 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 97 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 98 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 99 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 100 | VCCIO — I/O supply 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Pin 101 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 102 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 103 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 104 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 105 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 106 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 107 | nCONFIG — Configuration start (active low) |
| Pin 108 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active low) |
| Pin 109 | CONF_DONE — Configuration complete |
| Pin 110 | VCCINT — Core supply 2.5 V |
| Pin 111 | MSEL0 — Configuration mode select |
| Pin 112 | MSEL1 — Configuration mode select |
| Pin 113 | nCE — Chip enable (active low) |
| Pin 114 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 115 | DCLK — Configuration clock input |
| Pin 116 | DATA0 — Configuration data input (bit 0) |
| Pin 117 | TDI — JTAG test data input |
| Pin 118 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 119 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin 120 | VCCIO — I/O supply 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Pin 121 | TDO — JTAG test data output |
| Pin 122 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 123 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 124 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 125 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 126 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 127 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 128 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 129 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 130 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 131 | VCCINT — Core supply 2.5 V |
| Pin 132 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 133 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 134 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 135 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 136 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 137 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 138 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 139 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 140 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 141 | VCCIO — I/O supply 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Pin 142 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 143 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
| Pin 144 | I/O — User I/O (bank dependent) |
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
EP1K50TQ144-1 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Glue Logic Replacement, Industrial Control and Motor Drive Interface, Communications Protocol Bridging, Display Controller and Video Timing, Test and Measurement Front-End, Legacy System Refresh and Form-Fit Replacement.
Legacy Glue Logic Replacement
The EP1K50TQ144-1 fits legacy glue-logic replacement boards because its 2,880 logic elements, 102 user I/Os, and TQFP-144 footprint were designed into many late-1990s/early-2000s industrial and communications designs. Its 50,000-gate capacity comfortably handles bus bridges, address decoding, FIFO control, and asynchronous interface adaptation that previously required several discrete 74-series TTL/MSI parts. Compared with discrete logic, the EP1K50TQ144-1 collapses 5-15 chips into one FPGA, reduces board area, and allows post-build bug fixes via JTAG reconfiguration. Power is supplied at 2.5 V VCCINT with a separate VCCIO bank for 3.3 V interfaces thanks to multiVolt I/O. Programming is via Altera Quartus II 5.0/6.0 with EPC4/EPC8/EPC16 configuration devices or passive-serial from a microcontroller.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Motor Drive Interface
The EP1K50TQ144-1 is well-suited for industrial control cards driving stepper/servo motors because its 102 user I/Os accept LVTTL/LVCMOS encoder feedback, end-of-travel switches, and PWM control signals from upstream MCUs. The 40-Kbit embedded dual-port RAM (distributed across 10 EABs) holds PID coefficients, motion profiles, and encoder counters without external SRAM. MultiVolt I/O allows 5 V-tolerant input interfacing through a 3.3 V VCCIO bank with proper clamping. The device operates on a 0-70 °C window, which covers most factory-floor enclosures, and the TQFP-144 package is hand-solderable for prototype rework. Note that the EP1K50TI144-1 industrial-grade sibling should be selected for harsher -40 °C to +85 °C environments.
Recommended
Communications Protocol Bridging
Communications protocol bridges — UART-to-SPI, I2C-to-parallel, HDLC framing, and custom serializer/deserializer — are a natural fit for the EP1K50TQ144-1 because 2,880 LEs are sufficient for state-machine-driven protocol engines running at 50-100 MHz. The 360 LABs and embedded dual-port RAM allow separate TX and RX FIFOs in a single device. The TQFP-144 footprint supports 102 user I/Os, enough to drive multiple parallel buses plus a management serial interface. The part is commonly paired with a PHY such as an RS-485 transceiver or 10/100 Ethernet MAC. Programming through JTAG and EPC-series configuration devices allows field upgrades as protocols evolve.
Recommended
Display Controller and Video Timing
Display timing generation and simple LCD controller logic are well within the EP1K50TQ144-1's capability: the 250 MHz internal operating frequency supports standard VGA (25 MHz pixel) and low-resolution LVDS panel interfaces, and the 40-Kbit embedded RAM can buffer 1-2 scanlines of color data without external SRAM. With 102 user I/Os the FPGA can drive 18/24-bit RGB buses plus HSYNC/VSYNC/DE and a parallel host interface. MultiVolt I/O banks allow direct 3.3 V connection to modern TFT drivers. For LVDS panels, the EP1K50 has dedicated LVDS outputs in the TQFP-144 package, simplifying PCB layout. Pair with an EPC4 configuration device for instant-on boot.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Front-End
Test and measurement front-ends benefit from the EP1K50TQ144-1 because its 250 MHz internal operating frequency and 102 I/Os let a single device implement pattern generation, response capture, and trigger logic for digital boundary-scan or custom ATE applications. The 4-input LUT-based fabric plus dedicated carry chains enables efficient binary counters and CRCs used in BER testing. Embedded dual-port RAM stores stimulus patterns and captured responses without external memory. JTAG-based in-system programmability makes pattern re-loading trivial. The TQFP-144 footprint supports hand rework in lab prototypes, and the part is widely available from secondary distributors.
Recommended
Legacy System Refresh and Form-Fit Replacement
The EP1K50TQ144-1 is commonly specified for legacy system refresh projects where the original board layout, BOM, and firmware were certified around the Altera ACEX 1K part. Keeping the same TQFP-144 footprint allows drop-in replacement on existing PCBs without respinning layout, and the identical -1 speed bin preserves timing margins. This is especially important in regulated industries (medical, aerospace, defense) where re-certification cost dominates. The part is also a useful emulation target for bit-accurate software models. New designs should migrate to Cyclone IV/10 equivalents; legacy designs continue to be supported by the EPC configuration device family and existing Quartus II 5.0/6.0 software.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1K50TQ144-1 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1K50TC144-1 | EP1K50TC144-1N | EP1K50TI144-1 | EP1K50TC144-2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | TQFP-144 | TQFP-144 (same) | TQFP-144 (same) | TQFP-144 (same) | TQFP-144 (same) |
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Logic Elements | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 |
| Speed Grade | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -2 (slower, ~20% timing penalty) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C | 0 °C to +70 °C | 0 °C to +70 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C (industrial) | 0 °C to +70 °C |
| User I/O Count | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 | 102 |
| Lead-Free (RoHS) | Process dependent (legacy) | Process dependent | Yes (lead-free suffix) | Process dependent | Process dependent |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete (as of 2026-09-07) | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Drop-in TQFP-144 commercial-temperature sibling (vs EP1K50TC144-1)
- Industrial temperature grade option in same footprint (vs EP1K50TI144-1)
- Mature, second-source friendly ACEX 1K family (vs Cyclone IV EP4CE6 (modern active part))
Design Notes
The EP1K50TQ144-1 requires a clean 2.5 V supply for VCCINT (core) and a separate 2.5 V or 3.3 V supply for VCCIO (I/O banks). Estimated: at 250 MHz with all 2,880 LEs toggling at typical 20-30% activity, the core draws roughly 200-400 mA DC; decoupling with 0.1 µF X7R + 10 µF bulk at each VCCINT pin plus a ferrite bead is recommended. Power sequencing should ensure VCCINT ramps before VCCIO, or latch-up may occur on the I/O buffers. Use a TI TPS7A4533 or equivalent LDO for VCCINT and TPS7A3033 for VCCIO.
The TQFP-144 package has 0.5 mm pitch leads on four sides — place a continuous GND ring on the top layer under the device and stitch vias every 5 mm around the perimeter to suppress ground bounce. Estimated: keep all I/O traces shorter than 50 mm to avoid transmission-line effects above 100 MHz; route 3.3 V and 2.5 V signals in separate VCCIO banks with the LVDS pairs length-matched within 2 mm. Connect the exposed pad (if present) to GND for thermal relief.
Do not connect the EP1K50TQ144-1 directly to 5 V logic without a series resistor or level shifter — the absolute-maximum VCCIO is 3.6 V (legacy datasheet section 7) and exceeding it destroys the I/O. Configuration must complete before user I/O becomes active; if the EPC4/EPC8/EPC16 fails to drive CONF_DONE high within the spec time, the device will remain tri-stated and the board will appear 'dead'. Always recheck MSEL0/MSEL1 strap values to match the desired configuration mode (AS, PS, JTAG).
Compliance Information
Compliance status for the EP1K50TQ144-1 is process-dependent and not explicitly stated in the legacy ACEX 1K datasheet; lead-free 'N' suffix variants (e.g., EP1K50TC144-1N) are more likely to be RoHS-compliant. AEC-Q100 is not applicable — this is a commercial/industrial FPGA. Conflict-minerals status not declared in retrieved web data.
