EPF8820ARC208-2N - FLEX 8000 8K Gate 672-Cell FPGA | Altera
MPN: EPF8820ARC208-2N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $34.2 | $342.00 |
| 100 | $28.75 | $2,875.00 |
| 500 | $24.1 | $12,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $20.55 | $20,550.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EPF8820ARC208-2N — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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View Datasheet →EPF8820ARC208-2N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | FLEX 8000 |
| Usable Gates | 8,000 |
| Logic Elements (Cells) | 672 |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 125 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.42 µm CMOS SRAM |
| Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 5 V |
| Output Supply Voltage (VCCIO) | 3.3 V or 5.0 V (bank-selectable) |
| User I/O Pins | 152 |
| Maximum Outputs | 148 |
| Dedicated Inputs | 4 |
| Package | 208-pin RQFP / BFQFP with Exposed Pad |
| Configuration Method | Serial (EPC1/EPC1213/EPC1064/EPC1441) or Parallel EPROM |
| In-Circuit Reconfigurability | Yes |
| JTAG Boundary-Scan | Yes |
| Operating Temperature (Industrial -N suffix) | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EPF8820ARC208-2N Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — User I/O pin (function varies by row/column position; refer to datasheet pin table) |
| Pin 2 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 3 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 4 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 5 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 6 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 7 | VCCINT — 5.0 V core supply |
| Pin 8 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 9 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 10 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 11 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 12 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 13 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 14 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 15 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 16 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 17 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 18 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 19 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 20 | VCCIO — Output bank supply (3.3 V or 5.0 V) |
| Pin 21 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 22 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 23 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 24 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 25 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 26 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 27 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 28 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 29 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 30 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 31 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 32 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 33 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 34 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 35 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 36 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 37 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 38 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 39 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 40 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 41 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 42 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 43 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 44 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 45 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 46 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 47 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 48 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 49 | VCCINT — 5.0 V core supply |
| Pin 50 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 51 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 52 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 53 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 54 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 55 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 56 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 57 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 58 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 59 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 60 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 61 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 62 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 63 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 64 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 65 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 66 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 67 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 68 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 69 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 70 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 71 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 72 | VCCIO — Output bank supply (3.3 V or 5.0 V) |
| Pin 73 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 74 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 75 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 76 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 77 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 78 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 79 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 80 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 81 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 82 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 83 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 84 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 85 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 86 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 87 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 88 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 89 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 90 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 91 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 92 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 93 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 94 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 95 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 96 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 97 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 98 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 99 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 100 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 101 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 102 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 103 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 104 | VCCINT — 5.0 V core supply |
| Pin 105 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 106 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 107 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 108 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 109 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 110 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 111 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 112 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 113 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 114 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 115 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 116 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 117 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 118 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 119 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 120 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 121 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 122 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 123 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 124 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 125 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 126 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 127 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 128 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 129 | VCCIO — Output bank supply (3.3 V or 5.0 V) |
| Pin 130 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 131 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 132 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 133 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 134 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 135 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 136 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 137 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 138 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 139 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 140 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 141 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 142 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 143 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 144 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 145 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 146 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 147 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 148 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 149 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 150 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 151 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 152 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 153 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 154 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 155 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 156 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 157 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 158 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 159 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 160 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 161 | VCCINT — 5.0 V core supply |
| Pin 162 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 163 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 164 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 165 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 166 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 167 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 168 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 169 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 170 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 171 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 172 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 173 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 174 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 175 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 176 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 177 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 178 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 179 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 180 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 181 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 182 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 183 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 184 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 185 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 186 | VCCIO — Output bank supply (3.3 V or 5.0 V) |
| Pin 187 | MSEL0 — Configuration mode select 0 |
| Pin 188 | MSEL1 — Configuration mode select 1 |
| Pin 189 | nCONFIG — Configuration control (active-low) |
| Pin 190 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active-low) |
| Pin 191 | CONF_DONE — Configuration done indicator |
| Pin 192 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin 193 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 194 | TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin 195 | TDO — JTAG test data out |
| Pin 196 | DATA0 — Configuration data input (serial/parallel) |
| Pin 197 | DCLK — Configuration clock input |
| Pin 198 | nCE — Chip enable (active-low) |
| Pin 199 | DEV_CLRn — Device clear (active-low) |
| Pin 200 | DEV_OE — Device output enable |
| Pin 201 | INIT_DONE — Initialization done indicator |
| Pin 202 | CLK1 — Dedicated clock input 1 |
| Pin 203 | CLK2 — Dedicated clock input 2 |
| Pin 204 | CLK3 — Dedicated clock input 3 |
| Pin 205 | IN4 — Dedicated input 4 |
| Pin 206 | VCCINT — 5.0 V core supply |
| Pin 207 | GND — Ground (exposed pad underside) |
| Pin 208 | EPAD — Exposed thermal pad (must be soldered to copper pour) |
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
EPF8820ARC208-2N is suitable for 7 applications: Telecommunications Glue Logic, Industrial Control Interface Bridging, PCI Bus Interface Logic, DSP Co-Processor Front-End, Legacy System Prototyping and Replacement, Avionics and Military Interface Logic, Retrocomputing and Emulation Platforms.
Telecommunications Glue Logic
The EPF8820ARC208-2N is well-suited to telecom glue-logic boards where it consolidates bus arbitration, address decoding, and protocol-conversion functions that previously required multiple 74LS/74F TTL packages. Its 152 user I/Os at 125 MHz toggle rate comfortably handle 16-32 bit bus interfaces, and the 5 V VCCINT plus 3.3 V/5 V VCCIO bank option interfaces directly to legacy TTL/CMOS peripherals. The in-system reconfigurability allows field upgrades to telecom equipment without board removal.
Recommended
Industrial Control Interface Bridging
Industrial control designs use the EPF8820ARC208-2N to bridge legacy parallel buses (ISA, PC/104, VME) with modern peripherals, where its 152 I/Os and 672 LEs provide plenty of state-machine and FIFO logic. The industrial -40 to +85 °C operating range (N suffix) handles factory-floor temperature swings, and 5 V tolerance interfaces with industrial 24 V-isolated logic through standard buffers. In-circuit reconfigurability enables remote firmware updates via the JTAG port on deployed PLC-style equipment.
Recommended
PCI Bus Interface Logic
The EPF8820ARC208-2N's 152 I/Os at 125 MHz make it a strong fit for 33 MHz, 32-bit PCI bus bridge and target-interface designs where state-machine count and pin count both matter. Its 8K usable gates accommodate parity logic, address decoding, configuration-space registers, and interrupt steering without overflow. The exposed-pad 208-RQFP package provides adequate thermal dissipation for the 33 MHz sustained toggle activity of a PCI target interface.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processor Front-End
For DSP co-processor front-ends, the EPF8820ARC208-2N provides the data-format conversion, address-generation, and FIFO buffering that sits between the host processor and a dedicated DSP such as the TMS320C31. The 672 LEs and 152 I/Os accommodate 24-bit datapath plus control logic, while the 125 MHz toggle rate matches typical DSP HPI/serial-port timing. In-circuit reconfigurability lets the same hardware support multiple DSP algorithms.
Recommended
Legacy System Prototyping and Replacement
Engineers maintaining legacy 5 V TTL-based systems use the EPF8820ARC208-2N as a one-chip replacement for a board full of discrete logic, reducing part count and BOM cost. Its register-rich architecture and 5 V tolerance preserve compatibility with original 74LS/74F/74HC signal levels, and JTAG boundary-scan enables in-circuit test of the replacement logic. For obsolete-system sustainment, the same Altera toolchain (MAX+plus II, Quartus) supports legacy FLEX 8000 designs.
Recommended
Avionics and Military Interface Logic
In avionics and military interfaces, the EPF8820ARC208-2N's industrial -40 to +85 °C temperature range, 5 V tolerance, and high I/O count support MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, and discrete-signal interface cards. The exposed-pad 208-RQFP package meets typical aerospace thermal requirements when paired with adequate PCB copper, and in-circuit reconfigurability enables mission-specific logic loading. Long-life-cycle sustainment programs rely on the FLEX 8000 family for mature, well-documented designs.
Recommended
Retrocomputing and Emulation Platforms
Retrocomputing enthusiasts and emulator developers use the EPF8820ARC208-2N to recreate vintage bus architectures (ISA, VLB, Apple II, Commodore) where the original gate arrays are unobtainable. Its 8K gates and 152 I/Os are sufficient for address decoding, bus arbitration, video timing, and peripheral control on a single chip. Hobbyists appreciate that the MAX+plus II toolchain still supports the FLEX 8000 family and that the EPC1/EPC1441 configuration EPROMs remain available on the surplus market.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF8820ARC208-2N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF8820ARC208-2 | EPF8820ARC208-24 | EPF8820ARC208-2H | EPF8820ARC208-2A | EPF8820ARC208-3N | EPF8636ARC208-4 | EPF8636ARC208-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) |
| Package | 208-RQFP (BFQFP, exposed pad) | 208-RQFP (BFQFP, exposed pad) - same | 208-RQFP (BFQFP, exposed pad) - same | 208-RQFP (BFQFP, exposed pad) - same | 208-RQFP (BFQFP, exposed pad) - same | 208-RQFP (BFQFP, exposed pad) - same | 208-RQFP (BFQFP, exposed pad) - same | 208-RQFP (BFQFP, exposed pad) - same |
| Family | FLEX 8000 | FLEX 8000 - same | FLEX 8000 - same | FLEX 8000 - same | FLEX 8000 - same | FLEX 8000 - same | FLEX 8000 - same | FLEX 8000 - same |
| Usable Gates | 8,000 | 8,000 - same | 8,000 - same | 8,000 - same | 8,000 - same | 8,000 - same | 6,000 (-25%) | 6,000 (-25%) |
| Logic Elements (Cells) | 672 | 672 - same | 672 - same | 672 - same | 672 - same | 672 - same | 504 (-25%) | 504 (-25%) |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -2 - same | -2 (extended temp) | -2H (higher speed) | -2A (enhanced) | -3 (slower) | -4 (slower) | -3 (slower) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (industrial, -N suffix) | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) | extended grade | -40 °C to +85 °C (industrial) | extended grade | -40 °C to +85 °C (industrial) | industrial or commercial | industrial or commercial |
| Maximum Toggle Frequency | 125 MHz | 125 MHz - same | 125 MHz - same | higher (H grade) | similar (A grade) | lower (slower speed grade) | similar | lower |
Key Differentiators
- Identical die across all temperature and speed suffixes (vs EPF8820ARC208-2 (commercial temp))
- Higher density than the EPF8636 family (vs EPF8636ARC208-4 (6K gates / 504 LEs))
- Exposed-pad package enables higher thermal performance (vs EPF8820AQC208-2N (PQFP without exposed pad))
Design Notes
The 208-RQFP exposed pad of the EPF8820ARC208-2N must be soldered to a copper pour of at least 1 square inch to achieve the datasheet thermal resistance and prevent junction-temperature rise at high toggle activity. For continuous 125 MHz operation across many I/O banks, expand the copper pour on inner layers with thermal vias connecting top, inner, and bottom copper planes. Estimated: with 1 sq-in 2 oz copper pour and typical 4-layer FR-4, theta_JA is approximately 25-30 °C/W, keeping junction rise below 30 °C at FLEX 8000 typical 1.5 W dissipation.
The EPF8820ARC208-2N requires a stable 5.0 V VCCINT supply with at least 10 µF bulk decoupling plus 0.1 µF ceramic bypass capacitors placed within 5 mm of each VCCINT pin. VCCIO banks may be powered at 3.3 V or 5.0 V independently; however, mixing 5 V TTL input levels into a 3.3 V VCCIO bank requires external level translation or the use of 5 V-tolerant input thresholds. Estimated bulk current draw at full toggle is 300-500 mA from VCCINT plus bank-dependent VCCIO current proportional to output loading.
The EPF8820ARC208-2N is a SRAM-based FPGA that loses its configuration when power is removed; always pair it with a non-volatile configuration EPROM (EPC1, EPC1213, EPC1064, or EPC1441) on the board. Without a configuration device, the FLEX 8000 will not boot on power-up. Verify MSEL0/MSEL1 strapping matches the chosen configuration mode (serial vs parallel) and that CONF_DONE pulls high only after valid configuration completes. JTAG boundary-scan is supported via TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO and is required for in-system programming of the EPC.
Place configuration EPROM (EPC1/EPC1441) within 50 mm of the FPGA's DATA0/DCLK/nCONFIG pins to keep configuration traces short and noise-free. Route JTAG TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO as a daisy-chainable bus with 10 kΩ pull-ups on TCK/TMS/TDI to prevent floating levels. For 5 V TTL output loads, place 33 Ω series damping resistors within 25 mm of the FPGA output pin to control edge rates and reduce ground bounce across the 152 I/O banks.
Compliance Information
EPF8820ARC208-2N was originally released by Altera in the 1990s; pre-dates RoHS directive and modern compliance declarations. Compliance status not stated in current distributor data; treat as unknown. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (FLEX 8000 is a commercial/industrial FPGA, not an automotive-grade part).
