EPF8636AQC208-4N - FLEX 8000 FPGA, 6K Gates, 504 Cells, 5V | Intel
MPN: EPF8636AQC208-4N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.2 | $162.00 |
| 100 | $13.8 | $1,380.00 |
| 500 | $11.95 | $5,975.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.4 | $10,400.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EPF8636AQC208-4N — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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EPF8636AQC208-4
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View Datasheet →EPF8636AQC208-2
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View Datasheet →EPF8636AQC208-4N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | FLEX 8000 |
| Usable Gates | 6,000 |
| Logic Cells / Logic Elements | 504 |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 125 MHz |
| User I/Os (max) | 136 |
| Process Technology | 0.42 µm CMOS |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V (4.75 V to 5.25 V) |
| Package | 208-pin PQFP (28x28 mm) |
| Terminal Form | Gull wing |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 70 °C (Commercial) |
| Logic Family | CMOS |
| Configuration Method | In-Circuit Reconfigurability (ICR) |
| Programmable Logic Blocks | Look-Up Table (LUT) based |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | unknown |
| Temperature Grade | COMMERCIAL |
| Package Code | FQFP |
EPF8636AQC208-4N fqfp Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EPF8636AQC208-4N (fqfp package). 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 EPF8636AQC208-4N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
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
EPF8636AQC208-4N is suitable for 6 applications: 32-bit Bus Interface Bridging, Legacy Industrial Control Logic Replacement, Custom State-Machine Controllers, Peripheral Controller Glue Logic, 5V System Prototyping and Replication, Protocol Conversion Gateways.
32-bit Bus Interface Bridging
The EPF8636AQC208-4N's 504 logic elements, 136 user I/Os, and high-pin-count PQFP-208 package make it well suited for bridging between 32-bit buses and legacy peripherals. The FLEX 8000 architecture integrates multiple 32-bit buses into a single device, while the 125 MHz toggle rate supports typical bus-state-machine timing. Per the FLEX 8000 datasheet, dedicated carry and cascade chains accelerate address decoding and parity logic. Placed between a 5 V microprocessor bus and slower peripheral logic, it absorbs protocol mismatches with deterministic latency. Compared with discrete 74-series glue logic, this FPGA reduces part count and PCB area substantially.
Recommended
Legacy Industrial Control Logic Replacement
Industrial control cabinets built in the 1990s and early 2000s commonly use the EPF8636AQC208-4N for custom state machines, interlocks, and timing controllers. Its 5 V supply tolerance (4.75-5.25 V) is essential in noisy 24 V-derived industrial rails where 3.3 V-only FPGAs would brown out. The 504 LE capacity comfortably implements complex ladder-logic replacements, and the 136 I/Os handle numerous 24 V opto-isolated inputs and outputs. Commercial 0-70 °C temperature grade suits cabinet environments. Engineers replacing failed units should prefer the -4 speed grade for typical timing margins, with -3 as a fallback.
Recommended
Custom State-Machine Controllers
The EPF8636AQC208-4N implements complex Moore and Mealy state machines using its LUT-based LE array with dedicated flip-flops. Each LE's programmable clock/clear/preset control - driven by dedicated inputs, general-purpose I/Os, or internal logic - simplifies state-machine timing per the FLEX 8000 datasheet. The 504-cell capacity supports state machines with 50-100 states plus auxiliary decoding, well beyond typical PAL/GAL devices. Designers can bypass flip-flops for combinatorial paths, then register outputs for clean boundaries. The PQFP-208 footprint exposes enough I/O for handshaking and status LEDs.
Recommended
Peripheral Controller Glue Logic
When a system needs custom DMA sequencing, interrupt prioritization, or address decoding beyond what 74-series logic can deliver, the EPF8636AQC208-4N serves as a single-chip replacement for dozens of discrete gates. Its 6,000 usable gates and 136 I/Os let one FPGA absorb an entire decoder/sequencer/buffer board. The 125 MHz toggle rate handles high-speed peripheral buses, and the 5 V I/O is directly compatible with TTL peripherals without level shifters. Commercial temperature grade is appropriate for office and lab equipment enclosures.
Recommended
5V System Prototyping and Replication
Engineers prototyping or replicating legacy 5V designs benefit from the EPF8636AQC208-4N's drop-in compatibility with its FLEX 8000 family siblings. Because the EPF8636AQC208-4, -3, and -2 speed grades share the PQFP-208 footprint, designers can validate timing on the slowest grade first, then move to faster grades for production. In-circuit reconfigurability (ICR) enables rapid iteration during bring-up. The CMOS logic family matches standard 5V TTL thresholds. Source verified firmware (bitstreams) from the original design files or authorized partners to avoid counterfeit configuration memory issues.
Recommended
Protocol Conversion Gateways
The EPF8636AQC208-4N can act as a glue-logic gateway between legacy and modern serial/parallel protocols - for example, converting between 8-bit parallel microcontroller buses and serial peripherals. Its 504 LEs provide enough capacity for UART/SPI state machines, FIFO flag generation, and bus-arbitration logic simultaneously. The 136 I/Os accommodate multiple parallel interfaces, while the 5V tolerance interfaces directly with legacy 5V peripherals without external level shifters. Commercial temperature grade fits indoor gateway enclosures. The PQFP-208 footprint is well supported by low-cost adapter boards for modern form factors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF8636AQC208-4N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF8636AQC208-4 | EPF8636AQC208-3 | EPF8636AQC208-2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Package | PQFP-208 | PQFP-208 - same | PQFP-208 - same | PQFP-208 - same |
| Usable Gates | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Logic Elements | 504 | 504 | 504 | 504 |
| Maximum Frequency | 125 MHz | 125 MHz | Lower speed grade | Lowest speed grade |
| Supply Voltage | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | 4.75 V to 5.25 V | 4.75 V to 5.25 V |
| User I/Os | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
| Process Technology | 0.42 µm CMOS | 0.42 µm CMOS | 0.42 µm CMOS | 0.42 µm CMOS |
Key Differentiators
- High-density 5V FPGA in PQFP-208 (vs Discrete 74-series glue logic)
- In-circuit reconfigurability (ICR) (vs PAL/GAL devices)
- 136 user I/Os on PQFP-208 (vs EPF8452AQC160-4N (PQFP-160))
Design Notes
The EPF8636AQC208-4N requires a tightly regulated 5 V supply in the range 4.75 V to 5.25 V. Brown-outs below 4.75 V cause configuration memory corruption and unpredictable logic. Place 100 nF decoupling capacitors close to each VCC pin and add bulk 10 µF tantalum or ceramic capacitors on the supply rail. Estimated: at 100 MHz toggle activity across 136 I/Os, expect roughly 300-500 mA peak supply current - verify with a current probe during bring-up.
The PQFP-208 package has theta-JA around 30-40 °C/W depending on PCB copper area. For continuous commercial operation, ensure at least 1 square inch of unbroken ground plane directly beneath the package. At full I/O switching (136 I/Os at 125 MHz), the package will dissipate roughly 0.5-1 W. Estimated: junction temperature rise ≈ 0.7 W × 35 °C/W ≈ 24 °C above ambient, well within the 0-70 °C commercial range with normal airflow.
Route all 5 V supply and ground traces with at least 0.2 mm width; place decoupling capacitors within 2 mm of each VCC/GND pair. Keep clock and JTAG signals short and away from switching I/O edges. The PQFP-208 leads are 0.5 mm pitch gull-wing - use a reflow profile compatible with plastic quad flat packs (peak 245-250 °C for 30 seconds max). Confirm the PCB land pattern matches the JEDEC PQFP-208 standard before fabrication.
Do not assume pin compatibility with the PQFP-160 or PLCC-84 variants of the EPF8636A family - those packages have different footprints and require PCB redesign. The 'N' suffix in EPF8636AQC208-4N designates a commercial/lead-free process variant per Altera ordering information; for new designs confirm against the FLEX 8000 datasheet ordering guide. Configuration memory must be loaded after every power-up; a missing configuration file leaves all I/Os in high-impedance state.
Compliance Information
The 'N' suffix in EPF8636AQC208-4N indicates a lead-free commercial variant per Altera ordering information. RoHS, REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status are not explicitly disclosed in the verified web data and are marked unknown.
