EPF81500AGC280-4 - FLEX 8000 CPLD, 1500 Gates | Intel / Altera
MPN: EPF81500AGC280-4 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.5 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $26.5 | $265.00 |
| 100 | $24 | $2,400.00 |
| 500 | $22.6 | $11,300.00 |
| 1,000 | $21.2 | $21,200.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EPF81500AGC280-4 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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EPF81500AGC280-3
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View Datasheet →EPF81500AGC280-4 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | FLEX 8000 |
| Device Type | CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) |
| Technology | CMOS, SRAM-based |
| Usable Gates | Up to 16,000 |
| Registers | 1,500 |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 357 MHz |
| Speed Grade | -4 |
| Package | CPGA-280 (Ceramic Pin Grid Array) |
| User I/O Pins | 208 |
| Dedicated Inputs | 4 |
| Configuration Method | In-circuit reconfigurability (ICR) via external configuration device or intelligent controller |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (CPGA socket or hand-solder) |
| Pin Count | 280 |
EPF81500AGC280-4 cpga-280 (ceramic pin grid array) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EPF81500AGC280-4 (cpga-280 (ceramic pin grid array) package) with 280 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.
No detailed pinout data available for EPF81500AGC280-4.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Estimated pin count: 280 pins (digital package)
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
EPF81500AGC280-4 is suitable for 6 applications: Telecom Line Card Glue Logic, ASIC Prototyping Platform, Industrial Control and Machine Automation, Legacy Avionics and Defense Upgrades, Bus Bridge and Protocol Converter, Test and Measurement Instrumentation Backplane.
Telecom Line Card Glue Logic
The EPF81500AGC280-4 fits telecom line-card glue logic because its 208 user I/O pins can absorb wide bus interfaces (UTOPIA, H.110, parallel TDM) while the 357 MHz fMAX sustains high-speed pipeline stages. Its 1,500 registers and 16,000 usable gates are sufficient to implement cell delineation, framing, and per-channel state machines between framer ICs and network processors. The 280-pin CPGA ceramic package provides the thermal headroom and mechanical reliability needed for central-office environments. Designers pair the device with an EPC2 configuration EPROM so the line card boots deterministically on every power-up. Compared with an FPGA-only solution, this FLEX 8000 CPLD simplifies pin-level timing closure thanks to deterministic CPLD propagation delays.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping Platform
ASIC prototyping is one of the historic sweet spots for the EPF81500AGC280-4 because its 16,000 usable gates and 1,500 registers let engineers emulate mid-complexity ASICs and validate system-level behavior before committing to mask sets. The SRAM-based fabric supports rapid design iterations via JTAG programming, and the 280-pin CPGA package allows the prototype to plug into a socketed daughterboard. The 357 MHz internal frequency keeps emulation cycles tight so software teams can run near-real-time firmware on the prototype. Designers often combine the device with boundary-scan and logic-analyzer test access to maximize debug visibility. This use case is common in legacy defense and aerospace programs that originally specified FLEX 8000 silicon.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Machine Automation
For industrial control and machine automation, the EPF81500AGC280-4's 208 I/O pins interface directly to TTL/CMOS sensor banks, encoder inputs, and parallel driver stages, while its deterministic CPLD propagation delays simplify safety-critical timing budgets. The ceramic CPGA package tolerates the wide thermal swings of factory-floor enclosures when paired with adequate heatsinking. The 1,500 registers are sufficient for sequencing motion controllers, interlocks, and alarm-handling state machines. In-circuit reconfigurability via JTAG enables field firmware updates without removing the card from the chassis, which is valuable for installed industrial systems. Compared with newer MAX V CPLDs, the FLEX 8000 part is often retained in long-life industrial platforms where re-validation cost dominates over redesign savings.
Recommended
Legacy Avionics and Defense Upgrades
Avionics and defense upgrade programs continue to specify the EPF81500AGC280-4 because the CPGA ceramic package meets the thermal, vibration, and outgassing requirements of DO-254 and MIL-STD-454 platforms that were originally qualified with FLEX 8000 silicon. The 208 I/O count matches legacy ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553, and discrete interface pin counts, so the device drops into existing board layouts without re-spinning the chassis. Its deterministic timing supports safety-critical signal conditioning, encoder decoding, and discrete-output sequencing. The SRAM-based architecture is paired with radiation-tolerant configuration strategies in some programs. Long-term support and the availability of -3 and -4 speed grades make the family attractive for sustainment contracts that run for decades.
Recommended
Bus Bridge and Protocol Converter
Bus-bridging and protocol-conversion designs benefit from the EPF81500AGC280-4 because the 208 user I/O and 16,000 usable gates can host several bus interfaces simultaneously, such as PCI to local bus, ISA to I2C/SPI bridges, or VME to peripheral expansion. The 357 MHz fMAX keeps FIFO and DMA handshakes fast, while deterministic CPLD propagation delays keep protocol timing budgets tight. The JTAG port lets engineers debug inter-bus handshakes in-circuit without disturbing runtime traffic. The 280-pin CPGA package is convenient for socketed prototype boards and field-replaceable units. The device is often paired with line drivers and transceivers to form complete bridge cards.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation Backplane
Test and measurement backplanes use the EPF81500AGC280-4 to implement timing generators, trigger sequencers, and parallel-data routing on instrument mainboards. The 208 I/O support dense parallel front-panel connectors, while the 1,500 registers implement deep event counters and pattern generators. The 357 MHz internal frequency supports fast event timing for high-speed digitizers and logic-analyzer cards. The CPGA package handles the elevated thermal loads of densely-populated ATE backplanes. Designers often retain the FLEX 8000 family for backward compatibility with installed test programs and reference waveforms already characterized against the device's timing model.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF81500AGC280-4 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF81500AGC280-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Package | CPGA-280 | CPGA-280 - same |
| Brand | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel - same |
| Family | FLEX 8000 | FLEX 8000 - same |
| Usable Gates | Up to 16,000 | Up to 16,000 - same |
| Registers | 1,500 | 1,500 - same |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 357 MHz | 357 MHz - same (speed grade differs) |
| Speed Grade | -4 | -3 (faster) |
| User I/O Pins | 208 | 208 - same |
| Dedicated Inputs | 4 | 4 - same |
| Pin Count | 280 | 280 - same |
Key Differentiators
- 208 user I/O plus 4 dedicated inputs in a single 280-pin CPGA package (vs Lower-pin-count FLEX 8000 variants such as the EPF81188AQC208-4 (208-pin PQFP))
- -4 speed grade balance of timing margin and cost (vs EPF81500AGC280-3 (-3 speed grade))
- Mature SRAM-based FLEX 8000 fabric with broad third-party tool support (vs Modern MAX II / MAX V non-volatile CPLDs)
Design Notes
The CPGA-280 package requires a through-hole PCB footprint with plated-through-hole pads; plan for either a PGA socket (for field-replaceable designs) or hand-soldered pin installation (for prototype and low-volume builds). Maintain a clearance keep-out around the package body and route all high-speed I/O signals on inner PCB layers with a continuous reference plane to control impedance and crosstalk.
Because the FLEX 8000 SRAM-based architecture requires an external configuration device, route nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE, and DCLK with short traces and place the EPC2/EPC1 configuration EPROM close to the CPLD. Use decoupling capacitors (0.1uF plus bulk) at every VCCINT and VCCIO pin, and provide a clean analog/digital ground return path to minimize jitter on high-speed outputs.
Common pitfalls include: (1) forgetting the external configuration memory - the CPLD will not boot without an EPC1/EPC2; (2) leaving JTAG pins floating - tie TCK low or pull up per the datasheet to avoid spurious configuration; (3) mixing -3 and -4 speed grades in the same board - timing closure fails because propagation delays differ; and (4) assuming SRAM-based CPLDs retain configuration on power-down - they do not, so always verify the boot sequence on every power-up.
Compliance Information
Compliance status for the EPF81500AGC280-4 was not present in the Verified Web Data; refer to the FLEX 8000 datasheet family or the Intel/Altera product archive for authoritative RoHS, lead-free, and REACH statements.
