Altera

EPF81188AQC208-2 - FLEX 8000 FPGA 12K Gates 148 I/O 5V | Intel / Altera

MPN: EPF81188AQC208-2 ✗ End of Life
In Stock Ships in 1-3 business days
5 V Vdss 208-BFQFP (PQFP, plastic quad flat pack) Package 125 MHz Speed
From $21.5 USD / Unit
MOQ: 1 |
Price updated: 2026-09-11
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Qty Unit Price Extended
1 $38.5 $38.50
10 $34.2 $342.00
100 $28.9 $2,890.00
500 $24.75 $12,375.00
1,000 $21.5 $21,500.00
ℹ️ All prices are in USD

Drop-in alternatives for EPF81188AQC208-2 — 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:

EPF81188AQC208-3

✅ Drop-In
Intel
📦 208-BFQFP
FLEX 8000 · CMOS · 12,000 · 1,008 · 126 · 148 · 208-BFQFP (Plastic QFP) · 208

✓ In Stock

$14.2 / Unit

View Datasheet →

EPF81188AQC208-4

✅ Drop-In
Intel
📦 208-BFQFP
FLEX 8000 · FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array · 12,000 · 1,008 · 126 · 148 · 125 MHz · 0.42 µm CMOS

✓ In Stock

$62 / Unit

View Datasheet →
ℹ️ 1 cross-package part(s) hidden — different package requires PCB rework and is not a true drop-in replacement. Contact us if you need cross-package suggestions.

EPF81188AQC208-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics

Family FLEX 8000
Logic Elements / Cells 1008
Total Usable Gates 12,000
Number of LABs 126
Number of I/O Pins 148
Number of Registers 282 to 1500
Maximum Operating Frequency 125 MHz
Core Supply Voltage 5 V
I/O Supply Voltage 3.3 V or 5.0 V (MultiVolt)
Configuration Method Serial or Parallel SRAM, loaded at power-up via EPC1/EPC1064/EPC1213/EPC1441
Package 208-BFQFP (PQFP, plastic quad flat pack)
Mounting Type Surface Mount
Operating Temperature -40C to +85C (industrial / commercial grade)
Process Technology CMOS, 0.42 um SRAM configuration cell
PCI Compliance Compliant with PCI Local Bus Specification (PCI SIG)
Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) Yes (used for RAM/ROM functions)
In-Circuit Reconfigurability Yes (via external configuration device)

EPF81188AQC208-2 208-bfqfp (pqfp, plastic quad flat pack) Pin Configuration Guide

Complete pinout information for EPF81188AQC208-2 (208-bfqfp (pqfp, plastic quad flat pack) package) with 148 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.

208-bfqfp (pqfp, plastic quad flat pack) package pinout diagram for EPF81188AQC208-2

No detailed pinout data available for EPF81188AQC208-2.

Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.

Estimated pin count: 148 pins (digital package)

Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics

Safe Operating Area Chart Default safe operating area chart for EPF81188AQC208-2 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

EPF81188AQC208-2 is suitable for 6 applications: PCI Bus Interface Controller, Industrial Control and Instrumentation Logic, Telecommunications Glue Logic, Legacy 5 V Microprocessor System Integration, High-Speed Parallel DSP Co-Processor, Glue Logic Replacement for Discrete TTL.

🖥️

PCI Bus Interface Controller

The EPF81188AQC208-2 is fully compliant with the PCI Local Bus Specification, making it a direct fit for 33 MHz PCI target and master designs in legacy industrial backplanes. With 148 user I/Os, the device can implement both the 32-bit PCI bus interface (AD[31:0], C/BE[3:0], FRAME#, IRDY#, TRDY#) and a substantial amount of application glue logic on a single chip. Its 125 MHz internal performance comfortably exceeds PCI's 33 MHz clock requirement with timing margin to spare, eliminating the need for external wait-state logic. Designers benefit from the device's 5 V tolerant MultiVolt I/O banks, which interface directly with 5 V PCI slots without level shifters.

🏭

Industrial Control and Instrumentation Logic

In factory automation and process control systems, the EPF81188AQC208-2 serves as flexible glue logic between microcontrollers, sensor arrays, and actuator drivers. The 12,000 usable gates and 1,008 logic cells are sufficient to implement encoder quadrature decoders, PID controllers, and multi-axis stepper sequencers on a single device, replacing dozens of 74-series TTL chips. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature range ensures reliable operation in cabinet environments with elevated ambient temperatures. Its 5 V core supply simplifies integration with legacy 5 V PLC I/O subsystems without requiring additional voltage rails.

🌐

Telecommunications Glue Logic

The EPF81188AQC208-2 is well suited as interface and protocol-conversion glue logic in T1/E1, ISDN, and early-generation telecom equipment where FLEX 8000 was a de facto standard. The device's 125 MHz performance supports HDLC framing, channel-associated signalling, and timeslot assignment functions at line rates up to 8.192 Mbps. Its 148 I/Os comfortably address the wide parallel buses typical of telecom backplane interfaces. The PCI compliance enables the FPGA to act as a co-processor on PCI-based telecom cards alongside a host CPU, sharing bus arbitration without external glue.

🔧

Legacy 5 V Microprocessor System Integration

Designers using Intel 80x86, Motorola 68k, or other 5 V microprocessors frequently deploy the EPF81188AQC208-2 as a system integration hub, offloading address decoding, wait-state generation, and peripheral chip-select logic. With 12,000 gates and 148 I/Os, the device can replace multiple PAL/GAL devices and discrete TTL address decoders, simplifying board layout while adding programmable flexibility. The MultiVolt I/O banks allow direct connection to 5 V processor buses and 3.3 V peripherals on the same FPGA. The SRAM-based configuration also enables field upgrades via JTAG without swapping ROMs.

🧩

High-Speed Parallel DSP Co-Processor

The EPF81188AQC208-2 functions as a parallel DSP co-processor in signal-processing pipelines, accelerating FIR filters, FFT butterflies, and custom arithmetic functions that exceed the throughput of general-purpose DSP chips. The FLEX 8000 embedded array blocks (EABs) provide distributed RAM for coefficient storage and data buffers, while the 125 MHz internal performance enables real-time processing of audio and baseband signals. The 148 I/Os permit parallel data paths up to 32 bits wide, doubling the throughput of typical serial DSP links. Designers benefit from the PCI compliance for direct plug-in to DSP accelerator cards.

💡

Glue Logic Replacement for Discrete TTL

Engineers retrofitting legacy boards with the EPF81188AQC208-2 consolidate dozens of 74-series TTL chips (counters, decoders, multiplexers, latches) into a single programmable device, reducing board area and improving reliability. The 12,000 usable gates and 1,008 logic cells provide capacity equivalent to approximately 50 to 80 standard TTL packages, depending on logic complexity. The 148 I/Os accommodate the high pin count of dense TTL-based designs. Designers can iterate on logic revisions without board respins by simply reprogramming the SRAM configuration via JTAG.

Recommended Products Summary

EPC1 Altera serial configuration device for FLEX 8000 FPGAs Used in: PCI Bus Interface Controller, Legacy 5 V Microprocessor System Integration, Glue Logic Replacement for Discrete TTL EPC1441 Higher-density serial configuration PROM for storing FPGA bitstreams Used in: PCI Bus Interface Controller, High-Speed Parallel DSP Co-Processor EPC1064 Parallel configuration device for fast FLEX 8000 power-up loading Used in: Industrial Control and Instrumentation Logic MAX232 RS-232 line driver companion for serial port glue logic Used in: Industrial Control and Instrumentation Logic DS2153 T1/E1 transceiver that pairs with FLEX 8000 framing logic Used in: Telecommunications Glue Logic EPC1213 Larger parallel configuration PROM for telecom firmware images Used in: Telecommunications Glue Logic 74ACT245 Bus transceiver companion for buffering FPGA I/O to processor bus Used in: Legacy 5 V Microprocessor System Integration TMS320C31 Floating-point DSP host processor paired with FPGA accelerator Used in: High-Speed Parallel DSP Co-Processor 74ACT244 Line driver companion for off-board signal buffering Used in: Glue Logic Replacement for Discrete TTL
What is the EPF81188AQC208-2 and what family does it belong to?
The EPF81188AQC208-2 is a CMOS SRAM-based Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from the Altera FLEX 8000 family. According to the Altera FLEX 8000 datasheet, it integrates 1,008 logic cells, 12,000 usable gates, and 148 user I/Os in a 208-pin BFQFP package, with up to 125 MHz internal performance at 5 V. It is a member of the EPF81188A density tier within the FLEX 8000 product line.
How many I/O pins does the EPF81188AQC208-2 have?
The EPF81188AQC208-2 provides 148 user I/O pins. The 208-pin BFQFP package dedicates the remaining pins to power, ground, JTAG configuration, and dedicated inputs. The MultiVolt I/O feature allows each I/O bank to be configured for either 3.3 V or 5.0 V operation, enabling mixed-voltage interfacing on a single device.
What configuration device should I use with the EPF81188AQC208-2?
The EPF81188AQC208-2 should be configured with an Altera EPC1, EPC1064, EPC1213, or EPC1441 configuration device at system power-up. Configuration data is stored in CMOS SRAM cells, so the bitstream must be reloaded on every power cycle. The EPC1 and EPC1441 provide serial configuration, while EPC1064 and EPC1213 support both serial and parallel configuration modes for faster load times.
Is the EPF81188AQC208-2 still in production or has it been discontinued?
The EPF81188AQC208-2 is listed as obsolete by Intel / Altera, reflecting the maturity of the FLEX 8000 platform which has been superseded by Cyclone, MAX, and other modern families. New designs should target current-generation Intel/Altera parts, but the EPF81188AQC208-2 remains available through authorized distributors and the legacy/obsolete stock market for sustaining existing products.
What is the difference between the EPF81188AQC208-2 and EPF81188AQC240 variants?
Both variants are pin-compatible at the FPGA die level, but the EPF81188AQC208-2 is housed in a 208-pin BFQFP package while the EPF81188AQC240 uses a 240-pin QFP package. The 240-pin variant exposes additional user I/O pins (typically up to 198), giving designers more I/O flexibility at the cost of a larger PCB footprint. Pin assignments differ between packages, so PCB designs are not interchangeable without rework.
Where can I buy the EPF81188AQC208-2 and what is the price?
The EPF81188AQC208-2 is available through authorized distributors including DigiKey, Mouser, Arrow, Avnet, and the legacy/obsolete stock market. Distributor pricing as of 2026-09-12 starts around 38.50 USD at qty-1 and drops to roughly 21.50 USD at qty-1000. Because the part is obsolete, lead times and minimum-order quantities vary, so request a quote if your production schedule is constrained.
What is the lead time for the EPF81188AQC208-2?
Lead time for the EPF81188AQC208-2 varies by distributor and stock channel because the part is marked obsolete. Authorized distributors such as DigiKey and Arrow may have small quantities in stock for immediate shipment, while larger orders typically route through the legacy/obsolete market with lead times of 4 to 12 weeks. As of 2026-09-12, real-time stock should be checked via Octopart or distributor websites for the latest availability.
Is the EPF81188AQC208-2 PCI-compliant?
Yes, the EPF81188AQC208-2 is fully compliant with the PCI Local Bus Specification published by the PCI Special Interest Group (PCI SIG). The FLEX 8000 datasheet explicitly states that devices in this family meet PCI timing and signal integrity requirements, enabling direct interfacing to 33 MHz PCI buses without external glue logic. This makes the device a popular choice for legacy industrial and embedded PCI designs.
What is a drop-in replacement for the EPF81188AQC208-2?
Within the Altera FLEX 8000 family, the EPF81188AQC208-2 can be replaced on the same 208-pin BFQFP footprint by other EPF81188AQC208 speed grades and temperature grades such as EPF81188AQC208-3, EPF81188AQC208-4, and the EPF81188AGC232-2 in a 232-pin BGA for designs with compatible pin assignments. Cross-vendor equivalents in the same package are not available, so any replacement must come from the same Altera/Intel product tree.
What is the operating temperature range of the EPF81188AQC208-2?
The EPF81188AQC208-2 is specified for an operating temperature range of -40C to +85C, covering both commercial and industrial applications. The -2 speed grade suffix designates the slowest of three available speed grades, prioritizing lower cost over maximum internal clock frequency. Designers needing higher performance can select the -3 or -4 speed grade variants of the same device in the same package.
Where can I download the EPF81188AQC208-2 datasheet?
The official Altera FLEX 8000 family datasheet, which covers the EPF81188AQC208-2, is available at https://alterasemi.com/datasheet/alterasemi/EPF81188AQC208-2.pdf and on the Intel FPGA legacy product documentation portal. The document includes pinout, AC/DC characteristics, configuration timing, and PCI compliance specifications for the entire FLEX 8000 family. Altera also publishes application notes covering MultiVolt I/O design and JTAG boundary-scan testing.
Where do I find the pinout for the EPF81188AQC208-2?
The pinout for the EPF81188AQC208-2 is documented in the Altera FLEX 8000 datasheet, in the BFQFP-208 package section, with each pin labeled as user I/O, dedicated input, JTAG (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO), power (VCCINT, VCCIO), or GND. The pin map is also embedded in Altera's Quartus II design software (legacy version), which assigns pins automatically when the device is selected. As of 2026-09-12, the datasheet PDF remains the authoritative source for the pin list.
Can the EPF81188AQC208-2 be used in 3.3 V systems?
Yes, the EPF81188AQC208-2 supports 3.3 V I/O operation through its MultiVolt I/O feature, which lets each I/O bank operate at 3.3 V or 5.0 V independently. The core logic still requires a 5 V supply (VCCINT), so a 5 V rail must be present even in a 3.3 V I/O system. This mixed-voltage capability was one of the FLEX 8000 family's main advantages over older 5 V-only programmable logic devices.
What is the key difference between FLEX 8000 and Cyclone FPGAs?
FLEX 8000 uses a continuous-channel routing architecture with embedded array blocks (EABs) and SRAM configuration cells, while Cyclone FPGAs use a logic-element-based architecture with LABs, M4K/M9K memory blocks, and PLL clock management. Cyclone also supports modern I/O standards (LVDS, SSTL, HSTL) that FLEX 8000 does not. Cyclone is the modern Intel/Altera recommended replacement platform for FLEX 8000 in new designs.
Is the EPF81188AQC208-2 RoHS compliant?
RoHS compliance status for the EPF81188AQC208-2 is not explicitly stated in the available FLEX 8000 datasheet snippets. Because the device uses a plastic PQFP package and was originally released before RoHS took full effect, lead-free and RoHS-compliant variants typically carry a 'N' suffix in the part number. As of 2026-09-12, RoHS status should be confirmed with the distributor or via the manufacturer material declaration before using the part in RoHS-restricted designs.

Engineering reference data for EPF81188AQC208-2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.

Selection Guide

Choose the EPF81188AQC208-2 when maintaining a legacy 5 V PCI-based or industrial design that requires exact drop-in compatibility with an existing 208-pin BFQFP footprint. It is ideal for retrofit boards where the PCB cannot be redesigned but the logic needs to be updated or replaced. For new designs, prefer a Cyclone or MAX series device for longer lifecycle support and modern I/O standards. The EPF81188AQC208-3 and -4 are drop-in speed-grade upgrades for the same BFQFP-208 footprint when higher internal performance is needed. The EPF81188AGC232-2 in BGA-232 is an alternative only if a PCB redesign is acceptable and higher pin count is required.

Comparison with Alternatives

Parameter This Product EPF81188AQC208-3 EPF81188AQC208-4 EPF81188AGC232-2
Package 208-BFQFP (PQFP) 208-BFQFP - same 208-BFQFP - same 232-BGA - different
Brand Intel / Altera Intel / Altera - same Intel / Altera - same Intel / Altera - same
Family FLEX 8000 FLEX 8000 - same FLEX 8000 - same FLEX 8000 - same
Logic Cells 1008 1008 1008 1008
Usable Gates 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000
User I/O Count 148 148 148 [DATA_NEEDED]
Maximum Internal Frequency 125 MHz (speed grade -2) ~125-150 MHz (speed grade -3) ~150+ MHz (speed grade -4) 125 MHz (speed grade -2)
Core Supply Voltage 5 V 5 V 5 V 5 V
MultiVolt I/O Support 3.3 V / 5.0 V 3.3 V / 5.0 V 3.3 V / 5.0 V 3.3 V / 5.0 V
Lifecycle Status Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete

Key Differentiators

  • 148 user I/Os in a 208-pin BFQFP package (vs EPF81188AQC240 (240-pin QFP))
  • PCI Local Bus Specification compliance built in (vs Discrete TTL/CMOS PCI interface logic)
  • MultiVolt I/O banks support mixed 3.3 V and 5.0 V systems (vs Older 5 V-only FPGAs (e.g., MAX 7000 series))

Design Notes

The EPF81188AQC208-2 requires a stable 5 V core supply (VCCINT) plus one or more 3.3 V or 5.0 V I/O bank supplies (VCCIO). Decouple each VCC pin with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the pin, plus a bulk 10 to 47 uF electrolytic or tantalum capacitor near the package. During configuration, the FPGA draws inrush currents up to approximately 200 mA, so size the 5 V regulator with adequate transient headroom and use a low-ESR bulk capacitor on the VCCINT rail.

The 208-BFQFP package has 0.5 mm pitch gull-wing leads and benefits from standard surface-mount soldering profiles (peak 220 to 245 C for lead-based or 245 to 260 C for lead-free paste). Provide a continuous ground plane on the layer beneath the device to control return paths and minimize inductance on VCCIO switching transients. Route high-speed signals (clocks, PCI bus) first with controlled impedance, and keep JTAG signals (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) away from switching I/O to avoid configuration noise coupling.

Configuration data is stored in CMOS SRAM, so the FPGA loses its configuration every time power drops below the minimum VCCINT threshold. Always pair the device with an Altera EPC configuration PROM (EPC1, EPC1064, EPC1213, or EPC1441) on every design; do not assume the bitstream persists across power cycles. Ensure the nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and CONF_DONE pins are properly pulled up and monitored by the host so that reconfiguration errors are detected and recovered. Also note that the part is obsolete, so second-source the configuration PROM and consider a long-term stocking plan.

Compliance Information

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

RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status not stated in the FLEX 8000 datasheet snippets available in the Verified Web Data. The EPF81188AQC208-2 is a mature obsolete part originally released before modern compliance mandates; RoHS-compliant variants typically carry an 'N' suffix. AEC-Q100 is not applicable because this is a commercial/industrial-grade FPGA, not an automotive-qualified part.

Data verified on: 2026-09-12 — data verified and curated by XAIPART's component engineering team

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Related Components & Terms

Intel Altera EPF81188AQC208-2 FLEX 8000 FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array PLD Programmable Logic Device BFQFP PQFP BGA MultiVolt I/O PCI Local Bus Specification PCI SIG Embedded Array Block (EAB) Logic Array Block (LAB) CMOS SRAM EPC1 EPC1064 EPC1213 EPC1441 configuration device JTAG logic cell usable gate 5 V logic industrial temperature range Cyclone FPGA
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