EP20K100CQ208C8 - APEX20KE FPGA 100K Gates 208-PQFP | Altera
MPN: EP20K100CQ208C8 β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.5 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $24.75 | $247.50 |
| 100 | $19.2 | $1,920.00 |
| 500 | $15.8 | $7,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $13.4 | $13,400.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K100CQ208C8 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K100CQ208C7
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$22.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP20K100CQ208C7ES
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$48 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP20K100CQ208C8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | APEX 20KE |
| Logic Elements | 4,160 |
| Typical Gates | 100,000 |
| Maximum System Gates | 263,000 |
| Embedded System Block (ESB) Bits | 53,248 |
| Dedicated RAM Bits | 100,000 |
| Number of PLLs | 4 |
| User I/O Pins | 208 |
| Package | 208-PQFP (28x28 mm) |
| Speed Grade | C8 |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (Commercial) |
| Supply Voltage Core | 1.8 V |
| I/O Standard Support | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V / 5.0V LVTTL/LVCMOS, 3.3V PCI |
| Configuration Modes | Passive Serial, Passive Parallel Synchronous, Passive Parallel Asynchronous, Boundary-Scan JTAG |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EP20K100CQ208C8 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O (Bank 1) β User I/O pin, bank 1 (LVTTL/LVCMOS) |
| Pin 2 | I/O (Bank 1) β User I/O pin, bank 1 |
| Pin 3 | VCCIO1 β I/O bank 1 supply voltage |
| Pin 4 | I/O (Bank 1) β User I/O pin, bank 1 |
| Pin 5 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 6 | I/O (Bank 1) β User I/O pin, bank 1 |
| Pin 7 | I/O (Bank 1) β User I/O pin, bank 1 |
| Pin 8 | I/O (Bank 1) β User I/O pin, bank 1 |
| Pin 9 | VCCINT β Core supply voltage (1.8V) |
| Pin 10 | I/O (Bank 1) β User I/O pin, bank 1 |
| Pin 11 | I/O (Bank 1) β User I/O pin, bank 1 |
| Pin 12 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 13 | TDI β JTAG Test Data In |
| Pin 14 | TMS β JTAG Test Mode Select |
| Pin 15 | TCK β JTAG Test Clock |
| Pin 16 | TDO β JTAG Test Data Out |
| Pin 17 | nSTATUS β Configuration status (open-drain) |
| Pin 18 | CONF_DONE β Configuration done indicator |
| Pin 19 | DCLK β Configuration clock |
| Pin 20 | DATA0 β Configuration data input |
| Pin 21 | nCONFIG β Configuration start (active-low) |
| Pin 22 | MSEL0 β Configuration mode select 0 |
| Pin 23 | MSEL1 β Configuration mode select 1 |
| Pin 24 | I/O (Bank 2) β User I/O pin, bank 2 |
| Pin 25 | VCCIO2 β I/O bank 2 supply voltage |
| Pin 26 | I/O (Bank 2) β User I/O pin, bank 2 |
| Pin 27 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 28 | PLL1_CLKp β PLL1 clock input positive |
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
EP20K100CQ208C8 is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Line Card Glue Logic, Industrial Control Backplane Bridges, PCI Bridge / Adapter Designs, Legacy System Spare Parts, DSP Co-Processor for Data-Path Acceleration, Test and Measurement Backplanes.
Telecommunications Line Card Glue Logic
The EP20K100CQ208C8 fits telecom line card glue-logic applications where 100K gates, 208 user I/Os, and 4 PLLs are needed to consolidate multiple legacy CPLDs into a single device. Its 53,248 ESB bits provide sufficient on-chip buffering for cell/packet FIFOs and look-up tables, eliminating external SSRAMs. The C8 speed grade's 1.5ns pin-to-pin delay comfortably handles 77 MHz TDM bus timing, and multi-voltage I/O (1.8V/2.5V/3.3V/5.0V) lets the FPGA bridge legacy 5V backplanes to modern 1.8V DSP/ASIC interfaces without level translators. Engineers typically place the device between the line-interface ICs and the framer ASIC, using the PLLs to recover clocks and the ESB for elastic buffering.
Recommended
Industrial Control Backplane Bridges
The EP20K100CQ208C8 is well-suited for industrial backplane bridging applications where 208 I/Os and 1.8V core operation provide a balance of density and low power. With 4.5ns LVCMOS 5.0V drive capability and 3.3V PCI compliance, the FPGA can directly interface with backplane VME/CompactPCI connectors, consolidating address decoding, interrupt steering, and bus arbitration into a single device. The C8 speed grade supports 33 MHz PCI at full timing margin. Design teams typically deploy the EP20K100CQ208C8 as a hot-swap controller and bus arbiter in legacy VME systems, replacing multiple discrete TTL/CMOS PALs. Estimated quiescent power of 180 mW on VCCINT allows fanless operation in sealed enclosures.
Recommended
PCI Bridge / Adapter Designs
The EP20K100CQ208C8 implements PCI-to-local-bus bridges in adapter and add-in card designs. According to the APEX 20KE handbook, the device is PCI 2.2-compliant at 33 MHz on 3.3V signaling, with on-chip FIFOs sized via ESB blocks for 0 to 8 deep transactions. The 208-pin PQFP package is large enough to expose all 32-bit PCI address/data plus 64 user-defined sideband signals, while remaining within surface-mount rework tolerance for field-replaceable assemblies. Typical usage replaces an ASIC bridge in legacy add-in cards with an FPGA-defined soft core, allowing in-system firmware updates via JTAG. The four PLLs derive the 33 MHz PCI clock from a 25 MHz oscillator or derive the local-bus clock from the PCI clock.
Recommended
Legacy System Spare Parts
The EP20K100CQ208C8 remains in active demand as a field-replaceable spare for legacy defense, aerospace, and industrial systems designed in the 2000-2010 era. The PQFP-208 footprint is hand-solderable with rework profiles compatible with lead-bearing and lead-free processes, simplifying depot-level maintenance. According to distributor stock data as of 2026-09-07, both Heisener and FPGAELEC list the part in active inventory, supporting long-tail lifecycle requirements. Replacement requires no firmware or PCB changes - new silicon is bitstream-compatible with original APEX 20K series designs. For systems that cannot be redesigned, keeping a small safety stock of the EP20K100CQ208C8 ensures operational continuity.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processor for Data-Path Acceleration
The EP20K100CQ208C8 acts as a co-processor to a host DSP or microprocessor, accelerating FIR filters, CRC engines, and protocol-format conversions. The 53,248 ESB bits implement coefficient ROMs and delay-line RAMs, while the 4,160 logic elements provide the arithmetic fabric. At C8 speed grade the device sustains 80 MHz operation on 16-bit datapaths, sufficient for 100BASE-T Ethernet preamble detection and HDLC bit-stuffing. Designers commonly place the FPGA between a TI TMS320C6x DSP and a packet buffer, using DMA handshakes to maintain throughput. The four PLLs support independent clock domains for the host, datapath, and external memory interfaces.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Backplanes
The EP20K100CQ208C8 fits test and measurement backplanes where reconfigurable switching, signal routing, and pattern generation are required. The 208 user I/Os can directly drive backplane scanners, while the 53,248 ESB bits store stimulus patterns and capture buffers. With four PLLs, the FPGA generates multiple synchronized clocks for ADC sampling and DAC clocking. The C8 speed grade supports 100 MHz pattern generation, making it suitable for ATE pin-electronics control. Engineers typically configure the FPGA via JTAG in the test fixture, allowing rapid pattern set updates between production runs. The commercial 0 to +85C operating range is adequate for laboratory and production-floor environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K100CQ208C8 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K100CQ208C7 | EP20K100CQ208C7ES | EP20K100CB356C8 | EP20K100CF324C8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 208-PQFP | 208-PQFP - same | 208-PQFP - same | 356-BGA | 324-FBGA |
| Logic Elements | 4,160 | 4,160 (identical) | 4,160 (identical) | 4,160 | 4,160 |
| Typical Gates | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Speed Grade | C8 (1.5 ns) | C7 (2.0 ns) | C7 (2.0 ns) | C8 | C8 |
| User I/Os | 208 | 208 | 208 | 276 (estimate) | 252 (estimate) |
| ESB Memory Bits | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | 0C to +85C | -40C to +85C (Extended) | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Pin-compatible speed-grade family for legacy support (vs EP20K100CQ208C7)
- Extended-temperature variant exists for harsh environments (vs EP20K100CQ208C7ES)
- BGA option for higher I/O density migration (vs EP20K100CB356C8)
Design Notes
Estimated: the EP20K100CQ208C8 dissipates roughly 1.25 W at full resource utilization on a 1.8V core. The PQFP-208 package has a theta-JA of approximately 28 C/W with standard 4-layer JEDEC PCB land pattern, resulting in a junction temperature rise of ~35 C above ambient at typical 1.25 W. For sustained operation above 70% utilization, provide at least 200 LFM airflow or mount a small clip-on heatsink on the package top. Maintain VCCINT supply within 1.71 V to 1.89 V to ensure timing closure.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of every VCCINT and VCCIO pin. Add four bulk 47 uF tantalum capacitors near each of the four VCCIO bank feeds and two on the VCCINT rail. The 208-pin PQFP package has a lead pitch of 0.5 mm; use 0.4 mm-wide traces routed between pins with care to maintain 100 ohm differential impedance for LVDS pairs. Avoid routing clock signals over the embedded MultiCore interconnect region.
Do not confuse the EP20K100CQ208C8 with the EP20K100CF208C8 - the latter uses a different pinout and is not a drop-in. When migrating from the original APEX 20K (non-KE) to the -KE family, verify that the Quartus II fitter handles the increased ESB blocks correctly; some legacy design files require manual ESB reassignment. For board-level bring-up, ensure MSEL0/MSEL1 are tied correctly for the intended configuration mode - floating MSEL pins cause configuration failures. Use the Altera EPC2 or EPC16 configuration PROM with the passive-serial mode for simplest JTAG-free loading.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, and halogen-free status are not stated in the verified web data; pre-discontinued legacy parts in this family typically came in lead-bearing PQFP packages. AEC-Q100 is not applicable - the part is not automotive-qualified. Marked [DATA_NEEDED] in specs where manufacturer declaration could not be confirmed.
