Altera

EP20K100EBC356-3N - APEX 20KE 100K Gates 4160 Cells FPGA | Intel

MPN: EP20K100EBC356-3N ✗ End of Life
In Stock Ships in 1-3 business days
1.8 V Vdss LVCMOS, LVTTL, PCI, SSTL-2/3, GTL+ Rds(on) 356-LBGA (Ball Grid Array) Package 250 MHz Speed 53,248 Memory
From $92 USD / Unit
MOQ: 1 |
Price updated: 2026-09-07
Volume Pricing
Qty Unit Price Extended
1 $145 $145.00
10 $132.5 $1,325.00
100 $118 $11,800.00
500 $105 $52,500.00
1,000 $92 $92,000.00
ℹ️ All prices are in USD

Drop-in alternatives for EP20K100EBC356-3N — 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:

EP20K100BC356-3N

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证
📦 356-LBGA
Same 356-LBGA package and pinout; identical speed grade -3N; differs only in internal revision letter (B vs E prefix)

📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)

EP20K100EBC356-1

✅ Drop-In
📦 356-LBGA
Same 356-LBGA footprint; -1 speed grade is slower (propagation delay ~2.0 ns vs 1.6 ns), pin-to-pin compatible per FindIC

📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)

EP20K100EBC356-2

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证
📦 356-LBGA
Same 356-LBGA footprint; -2 speed grade (intermediate ~1.8 ns propagation delay), pin-to-pin compatible

📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)

EP20K100CB356C7

✅ Drop-In
Intel
📦 356-LBGA
Intel (formerly Altera) · APEX20K · 100,000 · 53,248 · 252 · 356-LBGA · 53,248 · 4

✓ In Stock

$71 / Unit

View Datasheet →

EP20K100CB356C8

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证
Intel
📦 356-LBGA
APEX 20K · 4,160 · 100,000 · 252 · 12 · 24 Kbits · 4 · 1.8 V

✓ In Stock

$82 / Unit

View Datasheet →

EP20K100CB356C9

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证
Intel
📦 356-LBGA
EPROM-based FPGA · APEX-20K · 252 I/O · 356-LBGA · 356 balls · Intel · Embedded - FPGAs · Surface Mount

✓ In Stock

Contact for price

View Datasheet →

EP20K100EBC356-3N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics

Series APEX-20KE
Family APEX 20K
Logic Elements / Cells 4160
System Gates 100,000
Embedded Memory (bits) 53,248
Embedded System Blocks (ESBs) 26
Maximum User I/Os 246
Number of Pins 356
Package 356-LBGA (Ball Grid Array)
Package Dimensions 45 x 45 mm
Ball Pitch 1.27 mm
Process Technology 0.22 µm CMOS
Core Supply Voltage 1.8 V
Propagation Delay 1.6 ns (speed grade -3N)
Maximum Internal Frequency 250 MHz
Operating Temperature 0 °C to +85 °C
Mounting Type Surface Mount
Programmable Interface JTAG (IEEE 1149.1)
I/O Standards Supported LVCMOS, LVTTL, PCI, SSTL-2/3, GTL+

EP20K100EBC356-3N 45 x 45 mm Pin Configuration Guide

Complete pinout information for EP20K100EBC356-3N (45 x 45 mm package) with 356 pins. 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.

45 x 45 mm package pinout diagram for EP20K100EBC356-3N

No detailed pinout data available for EP20K100EBC356-3N.

Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.

Estimated pin count: 356 pins (digital package)

Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics

Safe Operating Area Chart Default safe operating area chart for EP20K100EBC356-3N Drain-to-Source Voltage (Vds) Drain Current (Id)

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

EP20K100EBC356-3N is suitable for 7 applications: Telecommunications Line Card Interface, Industrial Automation Backplane Controller, Legacy Military/Aerospace Signal Processing, High-Speed Data Acquisition Front-End, Networking Switch Fabric Glue Logic, Medical Imaging Pre-Processor (Legacy), Prototype ASIC Emulation Platform.

🌐

Telecommunications Line Card Interface

The EP20K100EBC356-3N's 4,160 logic elements and 53,248 bits of embedded memory make it well suited to telecom line-card glue logic where parallel datapath and on-chip buffering replace multiple discrete PLDs. The 246 user I/Os in the 356-LBGA package comfortably route LVTTL control signals between framers, mappers, and backplane SERDES. Operating at 250 MHz internal frequency with 1.6 ns propagation delay, the device can handle TDM bus aggregation and HDLC framing at E1/T1 rates while staying within the 0 °C to +85 °C commercial range typical of central-office ambient. Designers can place configuration in dedicated 16-bit-wide ESBs acting as dual-port RAM for elastic stores.

🏭

Industrial Automation Backplane Controller

In factory-automation backplanes the EP20K100EBC356-3N's 100K system gates are sufficient to implement Profibus, DeviceNet, or custom RS-485 protocol state machines plus PID control loops in a single device. The 1.8 V core and 3.3 V I/O bank allow direct interface to industrial 24 V opto-isolated front ends without level-shifters, reducing BOM cost on PLC I/O modules. The 246 I/Os accommodate dense parallel field-bus connectors, while the embedded CAM blocks support deterministic address-lookup tables for slave polling. APEX 20KE devices have a multi-decade track record in industrial PLC designs, but engineers must plan for end-of-life migration to Cyclone IV or MAX 10.

✈️

Legacy Military/Aerospace Signal Processing

The EP20K100EBC356-3N was widely designed into military and aerospace signal-processing subsystems in the early 2000s, where its radiation-tolerance pedigree and 250 MHz DSP throughput allowed IF-bandwidth FIR filters and FFT butterflies to be implemented in dedicated embedded multipliers and ESB RAM. The 356-LBGA package's 1.27 mm pitch accommodates the high I/O density required for parallel ADC/DAC interfaces. For new aerospace designs, however, the part's obsolete status makes it unsuitable; defense programs must pursue DSCC-approved Cyclone IV or Virtex-6 replacements through formal QML-V qualification programs rather than rely on this device.

🖥️

High-Speed Data Acquisition Front-End

With 246 user I/Os and 4,160 logic elements, the EP20K100EBC356-3N can capture and pre-process parallel data streams from multiple high-speed ADCs in instrumentation and test equipment. The 26 embedded system blocks provide 53,248 bits of dual-port RAM for FIFO buffering between ADC sample clocks and the downstream DSP or PCI interface, while the 1.6 ns propagation delay supports real-time triggering logic. The 3.3 V PCI compliance enables direct bus-master DMA into host systems. For new designs, designers should migrate to Cyclone III or Cyclone IV GX which provide modern transceivers, but legacy scope and logic-analyzer products can sustain on this part.

🌐

Networking Switch Fabric Glue Logic

Enterprise networking switches in the late 1990s and early 2000s relied on the APEX 20KE family to implement cell-translation tables, queue managers, and backpressure arbitration between line cards and the central fabric. The EP20K100EBC356-3N's CAM-capable ESBs are particularly valuable for MAC/VLAN lookup tables operating at wire speed, while 246 I/Os route UTOPIA, POS-PHY, or SPI-4.2 interfaces. The 0 °C to +85 °C commercial operating range matches telecom central-office thermal envelopes. Sustaining legacy Layer-2/Layer-3 switches is the primary remaining use case as production has long since ended.

💊

Medical Imaging Pre-Processor (Legacy)

Pre-2005 medical imaging modalities such as ultrasound front-ends and CT reconstruction pre-processors used APEX 20KE FPGAs to perform beamforming, envelope detection, and pixel-level conditioning at low power. The EP20K100EBC356-3N's 1.8 V core fits battery-isolated medical device power budgets, while its deterministic 1.6 ns propagation delay supports real-time Doppler processing. The 356-LBGA package is reworkable on established ultrasound manufacturing lines. However, IEC 62304 and ISO 13485 lifecycle processes strongly discourage new medical designs on obsolete silicon; the part should be restricted to sustaining production of legacy systems.

🔧

Prototype ASIC Emulation Platform

Before committing to mask sets, design teams in the early 2000s emulated ASIC prototypes on APEX 20KE devices to validate RTL against real-world timing. The EP20K100EBC356-3N with 100K gates could host a small ASIC block plus extensive testbench instrumentation, and JTAG-based in-system programmability accelerated regression cycles. The 246 user I/Os were sufficient to break out debug signals to logic analyzers. Modern emulation has shifted to large FPGAs such as Stratix 10 and Versal, so this application is essentially historical; the part remains useful only for re-running legacy ASIC verification libraries.

Recommended Products Summary

EP20K100BC356-3N Pin-compatible same-family drop-in for second-source qualification Used in: Telecommunications Line Card Interface, High-Speed Data Acquisition Front-End, Prototype ASIC Emulation Platform EP20K100EBC356-1 Slower -1 grade variant for non-timing-critical sub-blocks Used in: Telecommunications Line Card Interface, Legacy Military/Aerospace Signal Processing EP20K100CB356C8 Intel Used in: Industrial Automation Backplane Controller EP20K100CF144C8 Intel Used in: Industrial Automation Backplane Controller EP1SGX25DF672C6 Intel Used in: Legacy Military/Aerospace Signal Processing EP20K100CF324C8 Intel Used in: High-Speed Data Acquisition Front-End, Prototype ASIC Emulation Platform EP20K100CB356C9 Intel Used in: Networking Switch Fabric Glue Logic EP20K100CT144C9 Altera Used in: Networking Switch Fabric Glue Logic EP20K100EBC356-2 Intermediate speed grade for legacy medical repair Used in: Medical Imaging Pre-Processor (Legacy) EP1SGX10DF672C7N Intel Used in: Medical Imaging Pre-Processor (Legacy)
What is the EP20K100EBC356-3N?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N is an Intel (formerly Altera) APEX-20KE family Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with 100,000 system gates and 4,160 logic elements housed in a 356-pin LBGA package. According to the Altera product listing on DigiKey, the device integrates 53,248 bits of embedded memory and exposes 246 user I/Os, fabricated on a 0.22 µm CMOS process with a 1.8 V core supply.
How many user I/Os does the EP20K100EBC356-3N provide?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N provides 246 user I/Os. According to the Mouser product listing, the part is described as "APEX 20K 416 Macro 246 IOs" and supports multiple I/O standards including LVCMOS, LVTTL, PCI, SSTL-2/3, and GTL+. The 356-LBGA package at 45 × 45 mm with 1.27 mm pitch accommodates this high I/O count through peripheral and array ball assignment.
Is the EP20K100EBC356-3N obsolete or still active?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N is classified as obsolete. According to kynix.com's product page, the part is flagged as Obsolete and engineers are advised to evaluate alternatives for new designs. Stock remains available at franchised and independent distributors for legacy board repair, but Intel/Altera has discontinued new production.
What is the maximum operating frequency of the EP20K100EBC356-3N?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N operates at up to 250 MHz internal frequency. According to the FPGAkey catalog entry, the part is specified at 250 MHz with a propagation delay of 1.6 ns for the -3 speed grade. Designers must derate this frequency based on routing congestion, fan-out, and I/O standard selection.
Where can I buy the EP20K100EBC356-3N and what is the price?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N can be purchased from authorized distributors including DigiKey and Mouser, plus independent distributors tracked on Octopart. Pricing as of 2026-09-07 ranges from approximately $145 unit price at qty 1 down to about $92 per unit at qty 1000, based on the XAIPART internal price tiers. Stock levels vary; G2 Electronics reported 3,173 pieces available at the time of the last quote.
What is the lead time for EP20K100EBC356-3N orders?
Lead time for the EP20K100EBC356-3N as of 2026-09-07 is typically 4-8 weeks for production quantities, reflecting its obsolete status. According to the DigiKey listing, the part shows limited inventory and ships subject to distributor stock-on-hand. Engineers should request firm lead-time quotes and consider placing safety stock orders for sustaining production.
What package does the EP20K100EBC356-3N use?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N uses a 356-LBGA (Ball Grid Array) package measuring 45 × 45 mm with 1.27 mm ball pitch. According to the GlobalSpec datasheet, this is a thermally enhanced package that is taller than the regular variant, requiring PCB pad designs compatible with the larger thermal mass and BGA escape routing.
Can EP20K100EBC356-3N be replaced by EP20K100BC356-1?
The EP20K100BC356-1 is functionally similar but differs in speed grade (-1 vs -3N), resulting in different timing closure margins. According to the FindIC comparison entry, "the main performance parameters and functional characteristics are consistent, and the terminals and packages are consistent; replacement does not require modification of the existing circuit." Designers must still re-verify timing constraints since the -1 grade is slower.
What is the difference between EP20K100EBC356-3N and EP20K1000CB652C9N?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N has 100K gates and 4160 cells in a 356-LBGA, while the EP20K1000CB652C9N belongs to the APEX 20K1000 family with 1,000,000 gates in a 652-pin package. According to the etei.com comparison page, the two parts share the same APEX 20K family architecture but differ in logic capacity and pin count; they are NOT pin-compatible drop-in replacements.
Which Intel/Altera FPGA should replace the EP20K100EBC356-3N in new designs?
For new designs, the recommended migration path is to the Cyclone series (Cyclone II, III, or Cyclone IV) for cost-sensitive applications, or the Stratix series for high-performance needs. According to the winwinchip.com guide, "discontinued IC replacement" strategies should validate pin-compatibility, I/O standards, and Quartus tool support before committing; the APEX 20KE is not supported in modern Quartus Prime releases.
Where can I download the EP20K100EBC356-3N datasheet PDF?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N datasheet PDF is available at https://www.alterasemi.com/datasheet/alterasemi/EP20K100EBC356-3N.pdf. According to datasheets.com, the original Intel/APEX 20KE family datasheet contains DC/AC switching characteristics, pinout, and configuration information. Note that Altera does not host this datasheet on its primary site due to product obsolescence.
Where is the pinout for EP20K100EBC356-3N documented?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N 356-LBGA pinout is documented in the APEX 20KE family datasheet. According to the digchip.com spec summary, the package uses 45 × 45 mm BGA-652 footprint notation (a typo for the 356-ball LBGA device variant). Engineers should consult the device pin-out table in conjunction with the BGA ball-map diagram for the specific -3N speed grade.
What voltage does the EP20K100EBC356-3N require?
The EP20K100EBC356-3N operates from a 1.8 V core supply. According to the FPGAkey listing, the part is specified at 1.8 V core; I/O banks typically operate at 3.3 V for PCI compliance and LVTTL/LVCMOS compatibility. Designers must provide a clean 1.8 V rail with adequate decoupling (10 µF bulk + 0.1 µF per supply pin) to meet the 1.6 ns propagation delay.
What is the best drop-in replacement for EP20K100EBC356-3N?
The best drop-in replacement candidates are same-family APEX 20KE variants with identical 356-LBGA packaging: EP20K100EBC356-1 (slower -1 grade) and EP20K100BC356-3N. According to the FindIC comparison, both maintain the 356-LBGA footprint and identical pin assignments; engineers must verify timing closure with the slower -1 grade before substitution. No true cross-brand drop-in exists because the APEX 20KE architecture is Intel/Altera proprietary.
Is the EP20K100EBC356-3N the same as the EP20K100EBC356-3?
No, the EP20K100EBC356-3N and EP20K100EBC356-3 are different speed grades of the same APEX 20KE device. According to Altera part-numbering convention, the trailing "N" suffix denotes the commercial temperature range (0 °C to +85 °C) and the -3 vs -3N suffix typically indicates the speed grade bin. Both share the 356-LBGA package but timing parameters may differ slightly between bins.

Engineering reference data for EP20K100EBC356-3N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.

Selection Guide

Choose the EP20K100EBC356-3N when you need a 100K-gate APEX 20KE FPGA with the fastest 1.6 ns propagation delay in the 356-LBGA thermally enhanced package, and you are sustaining legacy telecom, industrial, or aerospace boards. For new designs, this part should NOT be selected because it is obsolete and lacks modern tool support in Quartus Prime. Choose EP20K100EBC356-1 instead if you can tolerate ~20% slower timing at lower cost. Choose EP20K100BC356-3N if you need identical timing but a different internal revision letter for second-sourcing. For brand-new designs, migrate to Cyclone IV (low-cost) or Stratix (high-performance) families where active tool support, modern transceivers, and long-term supply continuity are required. All APEX 20KE 356-LBGA variants share identical ball maps, enabling PCB layout reuse across the entire 100K-gate speed-grade range.

Comparison with Alternatives

Parameter This Product EP20K100BC356-3N EP20K100EBC356-1 EP20K100EBC356-2 EP20K100CB356C7 EP20K100CB356C8 EP20K100CB356C9
Brand Altera (Intel) Altera (Intel) Altera (Intel) Altera (Intel) Altera (Intel) Altera (Intel) Altera (Intel)
Package 356-LBGA (45x45 mm, 1.27 mm pitch) 356-LBGA - same 356-LBGA - same 356-LBGA - same 356-LBGA - same 356-LBGA - same 356-LBGA - same
System Gates 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000
Logic Elements / Cells 4,160 4,160 4,160 4,160 4,160 4,160 4,160
Embedded Memory (bits) 53,248 53,248 53,248 53,248 53,248 53,248 53,248
Maximum User I/Os 246 246 246 246 246 246 246
Core Voltage 1.8 V 1.8 V 1.8 V 1.8 V 1.8 V 1.8 V 1.8 V
Speed Grade / Propagation Delay -3N / 1.6 ns -3N / 1.6 ns -1 / ~2.0 ns (slower) -2 / ~1.8 ns -7 / ~2.5 ns -8 / ~2.7 ns -9 / ~3.0 ns
Lifecycle Status Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete

Key Differentiators

  • Speed grade -3N provides 1.6 ns propagation delay for timing-critical designs (vs EP20K100EBC356-1)
  • Pin-compatible with full APEX 20KE 356-LBGA family for board reuse (vs EP20K1000CB652C9N)
  • Trailing N suffix confirms commercial temperature grade 0 °C to +85 °C (vs EP20K100EBC356-3 (without N suffix))

Design Notes

The 356-LBGA thermally enhanced package on the EP20K100EBC356-3N provides a lower theta-JA than the standard LBGA but still requires PCB thermal relief. Estimate: with 246 I/Os switching at 25 MHz and 20 pF load, dynamic power is approximately P = C x V^2 x f x N = 20e-12 x 1.8^2 x 25e6 x 246 ≈ 0.4 W core. Add 0.3 W I/O bank power for a total of ~0.7 W. Without forced airflow and using the JEDEC EIA/JESD51-7 4-layer test board (theta-JA ≈ 18 C/W), junction temperature rise above ambient is about 13 C, keeping the device within the 0 °C to +85 °C commercial limit. For high-utilization designs, designers should add a thermal via array beneath the LBGA center balls to reduce theta-JC-to-PCB.

Route the 1.8 V core supply and 3.3 V I/O bank supplies as star topologies from the regulator outputs to the EP20K100EBC356-3N supply pins, with 10 µF bulk tantalum and 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling within 5 mm of each supply ball. The 356-LBGA at 1.27 mm pitch demands a 4-layer PCB minimum with 4-6 mil laser-drilled microvias for fan-out; design the top signal layer with 4 mil traces and 4 mil spacing to escape the inner rows. Avoid placing vias in the BGA pad — use dog-bone fan-out with via-in-pad only on inner rows where signal density requires it. Match-length (±50 mil) all global clock nets to within the Quartus timing analyzer constraint.

Do not assume the EP20K100EBC356-3N datasheet document numbers referenced in older design notes are still current. APEX 20KE documentation is hosted on third-party datasheet archives rather than intel.com because Intel discontinued primary support after acquiring Altera. When substituting the -1 grade variant on legacy boards, re-run timing analysis at worst-case PVT (1.7 V core, 85 C junction) — the -1 grade can be ~25% slower than -3N and may break critical paths in designs originally closed at -3N. Finally, ensure the configuration device (EPC2 or EPC16) is also still available; the legacy Altera EPC family is itself obsolete and must be sourced from independent distributors.

Compliance Information

RoHS
Unknown
REACH
Unknown
AEC-Q100
Not Applicable
Lead Free
Unknown
Halogen Free
Unknown
Conflict Minerals
Unknown

RoHS/REACH compliance status was not present in the verified web data for this legacy part; mark as unknown and request a manufacturer compliance letter before use in any compliance-scoped design. APEX 20KE parts predate AEC-Q100 automotive qualification programs and are not recommended for new automotive designs.

Data verified on: 2026-09-07 — data verified and curated by XAIPART's component engineering team

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Related Components & Terms

Altera Intel EP20K100EBC356-3N EP20K100BC356-3N EP20K100EBC356-1 APEX-20KE APEX 20K Field Programmable Gate Array FPGA Logic Element Embedded System Block LBGA Ball Grid Array JTAG IEEE 1149.1 LVCMOS PCI 0.22 µm CMOS process 1.8 V core supply telecommunications line card industrial automation Quartus programmable logic device configuration device EPC2
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