EPF8820ARC208-2H - FLEX 8000 FPGA, 672 LEs, 152 I/O | Altera
MPN: EPF8820ARC208-2H ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $15.95 | $159.50 |
| 100 | $13.4 | $1,340.00 |
| 250 | $11.85 | $2,962.50 |
| 500 | $10.2 | $5,100.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EPF8820ARC208-2H — 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:
EPF8820ARC208-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF8820ARC208-2A
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$14.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF8820ARC208-24
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$27.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF8636ARC208-4
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$16.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF8820ARC208-2H Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | FLEX 8000 |
| Device Type | FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) |
| Logic Elements | 672 |
| Number of I/O | 152 |
| Dedicated Inputs | 4 |
| Outputs | 148 (registered output macrocell functions) |
| Propagation Delay (tpd) | 5.0 ns |
| Configuration Technology | CMOS SRAM (volatile) |
| VCCIO Supply | 3.3 V or 5.0 V (selectable) |
| Package | 208-pin PQFP (S-PQFP-G208), exposed pad |
| Terminal Pitch | 0.500 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Process Technology | CMOS |
EPF8820ARC208-2H Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — User I/O pin (152 total, function configured by bitstream) |
| Pin 52 | GND — Ground (multiple GND pins distributed around package) |
| Pin 104 | VCCINT — Internal core supply voltage (5.0 V) |
| Pin 156 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (3.3 V or 5.0 V selectable) |
| Pin 208 | I/O — User I/O pin (final pin in 208-pin PQFP sequence) |
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
EPF8820ARC208-2H is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Industrial Control Systems, Telecommunications Backplane Glue Logic, Bus Interface Bridging (PCI/ISA/VME), Coprocessor and DSP Front-End Logic, TTL Integration and ASIC Replacement, High-Speed Controller and State Machine Logic.
Legacy Industrial Control Systems
The EPF8820ARC208-2H fits legacy industrial control systems where factory-deployed equipment was built around FLEX 8000 FPGAs and cannot be re-spinned. The 672 logic elements provide sufficient capacity for motor control state machines, I/O expansion logic, and encoder interfacing, while the 152 I/O pins allow direct connection to 32-bit parallel buses, opto-isolated inputs, and relay driver outputs. The 5.0 ns tpd propagation delay is adequate for sub-100 MHz control loops typical of PLC and SCADA peripherals. Engineers maintaining installed-base industrial machinery depend on this exact part because the FLEX 8000 bitstream format is locked into legacy Quartus toolchains (Quartus 2000/2001). Modern Cyclone replacements require a full board re-spin plus firmware porting, which is cost-prohibitive for sustaining ten-year-old production lines.
Recommended
Telecommunications Backplane Glue Logic
The EPF8820ARC208-2H serves as glue logic on telecommunications backplanes, replacing discrete TTL/CMOS IC packages with a single integrated programmable device. Its 152 I/O lines comfortably handle 32-bit data buses plus address, control, and clock distribution across multi-card chassis, while 672 logic elements provide bus arbitration, parity generation, and protocol conversion (e.g., UART-to-PCI bridge glue). The 208-pin PQFP package's 0.500 mm pitch suits high-density backplane daughter-card layouts. The 3.3V or 5.0V selectable VCCIO directly interfaces with legacy 5.0V telecom logic without level shifters, a critical advantage when the EPF8820ARC208-2H bridges between modern 3.3V FPGAs and legacy 5.0V ASICs in central-office equipment.
Recommended
Bus Interface Bridging (PCI/ISA/VME)
The EPF8820ARC208-2H's high pin count and register-rich architecture make it ideal for bridging legacy bus interfaces - PCI, ISA, VME - within a single device. The 152 I/O pins accommodate full 32-bit data plus 32-bit address buses plus control signals for a single bus master, or multiplexed handling of multiple 16-bit buses. The 672 logic elements (each containing a 4-input LUT and register) implement bus arbitration state machines, wait-state generators, and interrupt controllers in hardware. Registered output macrocell functions provide the synchronous I/O timing required for PCI 33 MHz operation. This use case dominates FLEX 8000 designs in VME-based military/aerospace subsystems and PCI-based industrial PCs where the bitstream was certified and cannot be ported.
Recommended
Coprocessor and DSP Front-End Logic
The EPF8820ARC208-2H provides the wide-data-path manipulation and high register count needed for DSP front-end preprocessing. With 672 logic elements, designers can implement FIR filters, address generators, memory controllers, and data-format converters (parallel-to-serial, fixed-to-floating-point) feeding a separate DSP processor or ASIC. The registered outputs minimize setup/hold violations on the wide data bus connecting to external SRAM, while the 5.0 ns tpd supports sample rates up to 50 MSPS in pipelined DSP designs. FLEX 8000 devices are explicitly recommended for these coprocessor functions in Altera's product literature, making the EPF8820ARC208-2H a standard choice in legacy radar, sonar, and instrumentation front-ends.
Recommended
TTL Integration and ASIC Replacement
The EPF8820ARC208-2H excels at TTL integration - replacing dozens of 74-series TTL packages with a single programmable device to reduce board area, power consumption, and BOM complexity. The 152 I/O pins and 672 logic elements can absorb typical mid-complexity TTL designs (counters, multiplexers, address decoders, glue logic) that previously required 15-30 discrete packages. The 5.0V VCCIO option directly drives legacy TTL inputs without level translation. Engineers use the EPF8820ARC208-2H to consolidate legacy logic when a custom ASIC is too expensive (NRE > USD 100K) and off-the-shelf TTL cannot meet the form factor. This is the canonical FLEX 8000 use case.
Recommended
High-Speed Controller and State Machine Logic
The EPF8820ARC208-2H is well suited to high-speed controller applications where multiple coordinated state machines must run in parallel - for example, multi-axis motion controllers, multi-port communication switches, or RAID storage controllers. Its 672 logic elements support 10-20 complex state machines running concurrently with sub-100 ns response times, while 152 I/O lines handle the multiple parallel I/O channels these controllers require. The registered I/O macros provide the deterministic timing critical for closed-loop control. Typical applications include legacy semiconductor test equipment, ATE handlers, and factory automation controllers where FLEX 8000 bitstreams are locked in firmware.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF8820ARC208-2H — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF8820ARC208-2 | EPF8820ARC208-2A | EPF8820ARC208-24 | EPF8636ARC208-4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 208-pin PQFP (S-PQFP-G208) | 208-pin PQFP - same | 208-pin PQFP - same | 208-pin PQFP - same | 208-pin PQFP - same |
| Logic Elements | 672 | 672 | 672 | 672 | 432 (-36%) |
| User I/O Pins | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 136 |
| Propagation Delay (tpd) | 5.0 ns (-2H grade) | 5.0 ns (standard grade) | 5.0 ns | [DATA_NEEDED] | [DATA_NEEDED] |
| Operating Temperature | [DATA_NEEDED: extended industrial] | Commercial/Industrial | Extended | Extended (-4 suffix) | Industrial (-4) |
| VCCIO Supply | 3.3 V or 5.0 V | 3.3 V or 5.0 V | 3.3 V or 5.0 V | 3.3 V or 5.0 V | 3.3 V or 5.0 V |
| Configuration Technology | CMOS SRAM (volatile) | CMOS SRAM | CMOS SRAM | CMOS SRAM | CMOS SRAM |
Key Differentiators
- Higher logic density than EPF8636 in same package (vs EPF8636ARC208-4)
- Lower-density family migration path exists within same package (vs EPF8820ARC208-2)
- Extended temperature options in same package (vs EPF8820ARC208-2A / EPF8820ARC208-24)
Design Notes
The EPF8820ARC208-2H requires two supply rails: VCCINT for the internal core (5.0 V typical for FLEX 8000) and VCCIO for I/O (3.3 V or 5.0 V selectable via board-level connection). Both rails must be sequenced with VCCINT rising no later than VCCIO to prevent I/O latch-up. Decoupling: place 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors at every VCCINT and VCCIO pin pair, plus bulk 10-100 uF tantalum or aluminum polymer capacitors near the package. The SRAM configuration cells draw additional inrush current during configuration (estimated 200-500 mA peak); ensure the 5.0 V regulator can source at least 1 A.
The 208-pin PQFP package with exposed pad (S-PQFP-G208) requires the exposed thermal pad to be soldered to a copper pour of at least 1 square inch on the PCB. Estimated theta_JA without thermal pad soldering exceeds 50 C/W, which can cause junction temperature rise above 100 C at moderate toggle rates. With proper thermal pad soldering, theta_JA drops to approximately 20-25 C/W. For sustained high-utilization designs (>70% LE switching at 50 MHz), provide additional copper pour or forced-air cooling to keep Tj below 125 C.
Three common pitfalls with FLEX 8000 FPGAs: (1) Forgetting that SRAM configuration is volatile - the bitstream must be reloaded at every power-up via EPC1/EPC1213/EPC1064/EPC1441 PROM or system controller, or the device remains unconfigured. (2) Driving configuration pins (nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE) incorrectly during power-up - these pins have specific pull-up/pull-down requirements during initialization. (3) Mixing VCCIO voltages on the same device - all VCCIO pins must connect to the same rail, or output levels become unpredictable. Refer to the FLEX 8000 family datasheet configuration chapter before PCB layout finalization.
The 0.500 mm pitch 208-pin PQFP package demands careful PCB layout: 0.150 mm trace width with 0.150 mm spacing is feasible on a 4-layer FR-4 stackup. Use a fanout pattern that routes outer rows first, then inner rows - avoid dog-bone fanouts which introduce inductance. Place configuration PROM (EPC1/EPC1213) within 50 mm of the EPF8820ARC208-2H's configuration pins to minimize signal integrity issues on the serial configuration interface. Keep clock inputs (CLK0-CLK3) routed with controlled impedance and short traces (<25 mm) to minimize skew.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not explicitly stated in verified web data. FLEX 8000 family predates widespread RoHS adoption; many variants require tin-lead (SnPb) solder processes. Verify with original Altera datasheet or Intel FPGA legacy documentation.
