Altera

EPF8820ARC208-4N - FLEX 8000 FPGA 8K Gates 672 Cells | Altera

MPN: EPF8820ARC208-4N βœ— End of Life
In Stock Ships in 1-3 business days
5 V (4.75 V to 5.25 V) Vdss 208-RQFP / BFQFP with exposed pad Package 125 MHz Speed SRAM (volatile) Memory
From $32 USD / Unit
MOQ: 1 |
Price updated: 2026-09-11
Volume Pricing
Qty Unit Price Extended
1 $48.5 $48.50
10 $43.65 $436.50
100 $38.8 $3,880.00
250 $35.2 $8,800.00
500 $32 $16,000.00
ℹ️ All prices are in USD

Drop-in alternatives for EPF8820ARC208-4N β€” same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.

Quick Comparison Tool β€” Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:

EPF8820ARC208-4

βœ… Drop-In
Altera
πŸ“¦ 208-RQFP (28x28)
FLEX 8000 Β· FLEX 8000 Β· 8,000 (up to 16,000 with utilization) Β· 672 Β· 1,500 Β· 152 Β· 5 V nominal (4.75 V - 5.25 V) Β· 208-BFQFP (RQFP) Exposed Pad

βœ“ In Stock

$25.4 / Unit

View Datasheet β†’

EPF8820ARC208-3N

βœ… Drop-In
Altera
πŸ“¦ 208-RQFP (28x28)
FLEX 8000 Β· Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Β· 8,000 Β· 672 Β· 672 / 10 β‰ˆ 67 LABs Β· 152 Β· 125 MHz Β· 5 ns (speed grade -3)

βœ“ In Stock

$85 / Unit

View Datasheet β†’

EPF8820ARC208-2N

βœ… Drop-In
Altera
πŸ“¦ 208-RQFP (28x28)
FLEX 8000 Β· 8,000 Β· 672 Β· 125 MHz Β· 0.42 Β΅m CMOS SRAM Β· 5 V Β· 3.3 V or 5.0 V (bank-selectable) Β· 152

βœ“ In Stock

$20.55 / Unit

View Datasheet β†’

EPF8820AQC208-4

βœ… Drop-In
Intel
πŸ“¦ 208-PQFP (28x28)
FLEX 8000 Β· 672 Β· 8,000 Β· 84 Β· 152 Β· 125 MHz Β· 0.42 Β΅m CMOS Β· 5 V

βœ“ In Stock

$32.8 / Unit

View Datasheet β†’

EPF8636ARC208-4

βœ… Drop-In
Altera
πŸ“¦ 208-RQFP (28x28)
FLEX 8000 Β· EPF8636A Β· 6,000 Β· 136 Β· 504 Β· 218 Β· 8 x 256 x 8 bits Β· 4-input LUT with fast-carry chain

βœ“ In Stock

$16.5 / Unit

View Datasheet β†’

EPF8820ARC208-4N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics

Family FLEX 8000
Usable Gates 8,000
Logic Elements (Cells) 672
Maximum Operating Frequency 125 MHz
Propagation Delay 5.5 ns
Number of User I/O 152
Dedicated Inputs 4
Core Voltage 5 V (4.75 V to 5.25 V)
I/O Voltage 3.3 V or 5 V (configurable)
Process Technology 0.42 Β΅m CMOS
Package 208-RQFP / BFQFP with exposed pad
Configuration Memory SRAM (volatile)
Operating Temperature (Commercial) 0 Β°C to +70 Β°C
Operating Temperature (Industrial) -40 Β°C to +85 Β°C
In-Circuit Reconfigurability Yes (via external configuration device or intelligent controller)
Boundary-Scan (JTAG) Yes (IEEE 1149.1 compliant)
Mounting Type Surface Mount

EPF8820ARC208-4N Pin Configuration

Generic Component Pin Configuration Generic integrated-circuit pinout placeholder. Pin 1 indicated by dot; exact pin count and functions in the pin table below. 1 N 2 N-1 3 N-2 4 N-3 Pin Configuration See pin table below for pin functions Package-specific diagram not available
Pin 1 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 2 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 3 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 4 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 5 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 6 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 7 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 8 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 9 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 10 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 11 GND β€” Ground
Pin 12 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 13 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 14 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 15 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 16 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 17 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 18 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 19 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 20 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 21 VCC β€” +5 V core supply
Pin 22 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 23 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 24 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 25 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 26 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 27 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 28 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 29 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 30 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 31 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 32 GND β€” Ground
Pin 33 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 34 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 35 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 36 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 37 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 38 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 39 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 40 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 41 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 42 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 43 VCC β€” +5 V core supply
Pin 44 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 45 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 46 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 47 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 48 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 49 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 50 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 51 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 52 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 53 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 54 GND β€” Ground
Pin 55 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 56 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 57 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 58 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 59 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 60 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 61 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 62 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 63 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 64 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 65 VCC β€” +5 V core supply
Pin 66 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 67 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 68 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 69 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 70 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 71 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 72 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 73 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 74 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 75 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 76 GND β€” Ground
Pin 77 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 78 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 79 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 80 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 81 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 82 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 83 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 84 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 85 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 86 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 87 VCC β€” +5 V core supply
Pin 88 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 89 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 90 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 91 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 92 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 93 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 94 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 95 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 96 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 97 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 98 GND β€” Ground
Pin 99 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 100 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 101 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 102 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 103 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 104 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 105 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 106 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 107 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 108 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 109 VCC β€” +5 V core supply
Pin 110 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 111 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 112 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 113 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 114 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 115 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 116 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 117 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 118 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 119 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 120 GND β€” Ground
Pin 121 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 122 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 123 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 124 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 125 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 126 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 127 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 128 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 129 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 130 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 131 VCCINT β€” Internal core voltage (after on-chip regulator)
Pin 132 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 133 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 134 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 135 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 136 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 137 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 138 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 139 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 140 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 141 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 142 GND β€” Ground
Pin 143 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 144 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 145 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 146 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 147 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 148 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 149 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 150 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 151 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 152 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 153 VCC β€” +5 V I/O supply
Pin 154 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 155 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 156 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 157 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 158 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 159 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 160 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 161 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 162 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 163 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 164 GND β€” Ground
Pin 165 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 166 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 167 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 168 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 169 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 170 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 171 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 172 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 173 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 174 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 175 VCC β€” +5 V I/O supply
Pin 176 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 177 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 178 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 179 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 180 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 181 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 182 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 183 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 184 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 185 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 186 GND β€” Ground
Pin 187 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 188 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 189 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 190 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 191 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 192 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 193 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 194 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 195 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 196 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 197 VCC β€” +5 V I/O supply
Pin 198 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 199 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 200 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 201 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 202 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 203 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 204 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 205 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 206 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 207 I/O β€” User I/O pin
Pin 208 EXPOSED PAD β€” Thermal pad (must be soldered to copper pour)

Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics

Safe Operating Area Chart Default safe operating area chart for EPF8820ARC208-4N 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

EPF8820ARC208-4N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Glue Logic, Peripheral Bus Bridge (PCI / ISA / VME), Telecommunications Line-Card Interface, Custom Register and FIFO Interface, Legacy System Upgrade (TTL Replacement), Test and Measurement Instrument Front-End.

🏭

Industrial Control Glue Logic

The EPF8820ARC208-4N fits industrial control glue logic because its 8,000 usable gates and 152 user I/O consolidate dozens of 74-series TTL packages into a single reconfigurable device. The 5 V tolerant I/O (3.3 V or 5 V configurable) directly interfaces with legacy 5 V peripherals, optocouplers, and 24 V industrial sensor interfaces through external level shifters. With a 5.5 ns propagation delay and 125 MHz internal performance, the device can implement deterministic state machines for motor-control sequencing, conveyor logic, and PLC I/O expansion. The exposed thermal pad and industrial temperature grade (-40 Β°C to +85 Β°C) ensure reliable operation in factory-floor enclosures. Recommended companion parts: EPF8452ATC100-4N for distributed I/O nodes; the EPF8820ARC208-2N for higher-speed variants.

πŸ–₯️

Peripheral Bus Bridge (PCI / ISA / VME)

The EPF8820ARC208-4N is well suited for legacy peripheral bus bridging between PCI, ISA, and VME buses because its 152 user I/O and 5.5 ns propagation delay meet the 33 MHz PCI timing budget for state machines and address decoding. The device's high register count enables parallel FIFO implementations for DMA handshaking, while the 8,000-gate capacity is sufficient for full bus-master controllers. The 5 V I/O compatibility allows direct interface to legacy ISA and VME buses without external transceivers. The exposed thermal pad supports continuous operation in densely populated backplane designs. Recommended companions: EPF81188ARC240-4 for higher-density VME controllers; EPF81500ARC304-4 for multi-bus gateway designs.

🌐

Telecommunications Line-Card Interface

The EPF8820ARC208-4N serves telecom line-card interface designs because its 152 user I/O supports HDLC controllers, T1/E1 framers, and serial backplane interfaces in a single device. The 5.5 ns propagation delay and 125 MHz internal frequency enable 8.192 MHz E1 and 1.544 MHz T1 data stream processing with comfortable timing margins. JTAG boundary-scan (IEEE 1149.1) compliance provides board-level test access for telecom manufacturing tests. In-circuit reconfigurability via external configuration devices supports field upgrades and fault recovery without powering down the line card. Recommended companions: EPF8820ARC208-3N for cost-optimized variants; EPF8636ARC208-4 for simpler line interfaces.

🧩

Custom Register and FIFO Interface

The EPF8820ARC208-4N is ideal for custom register and FIFO interface designs because its register-rich architecture (672 cells, predominantly flip-flop based) supports large register banks and parallel FIFOs with minimal logic overhead. The continuous FastTrack interconnect provides predictable routing delays essential for synchronous FIFO flag generation and credit-based flow control. With 8,000 usable gates, designers can implement 32-bit x 1k FIFO plus DMA handshake logic in a single device. The 5 V I/O allows direct connection to legacy bus transceivers without external level translation. Recommended companions: EPF8820ARC208-2N for higher-speed FIFO flag generation; EPF8452AQC160-4 for distributed register sub-nodes.

⚑

Legacy System Upgrade (TTL Replacement)

The EPF8820ARC208-4N is a strong fit for legacy system upgrades replacing dozens of 74F/74AS/74LS TTL packages because its 152 user I/O and 5 V I/O tolerance allow direct replacement of wide datapath logic without PCB changes. Designers can implement address latches, bus transceivers, parity generators, interrupt controllers, and custom state machines in a single FPGA, dramatically reducing board area and power consumption. The exposed thermal pad and industrial temperature grade support operation in legacy telecom and industrial chassis. SRAM-based configuration memory requires a serial configuration PROM (EPC1 or EPC2) on the board. Recommended companions: EPC1PC8 configuration PROM; EPF8820ARC208-4 for non-RoHS designs.

πŸ”§

Test and Measurement Instrument Front-End

The EPF8820ARC208-4N fits test and measurement instrument front-ends because its 152 user I/O and 5.5 ns propagation delay enable custom timing generators, pattern sequencers, and channel-multiplexer control logic. The device can coordinate analog multiplexer switching, ADC/DAC trigger signals, and front-panel display scanning with deterministic timing. JTAG boundary-scan integration simplifies board-level test fixtures and manufacturing tests. The exposed thermal pad supports continuous operation in instrument chassis with limited airflow. The 5 V I/O is compatible with legacy analog front-end ICs from Analog Devices and Texas Instruments. Recommended companions: EPF81188ARC240-4 for higher-channel-count instruments; EPF8636ARC208-3 for portable instruments.

What is the operating voltage of EPF8820ARC208-4N?
The EPF8820ARC208-4N operates from a 5 V core supply (4.75 V to 5.25 V) with configurable I/O voltages of 3.3 V or 5 V. According to the Altera FLEX 8000 datasheet, all five VCC pins must be connected and decoupled with 0.1 Β΅F capacitors placed within 5 mm of each pin. Designers moving to 3.3 V-only systems should migrate to a Cyclone-family equivalent.
How many logic elements does EPF8820ARC208-4N contain?
The EPF8820ARC208-4N contains 672 logic elements (cells) organized into Logic Array Blocks (LABs) of 8 elements each, providing approximately 8,000 usable gates. This gate count places it in the mid-density range of the FLEX 8000 family, suitable for glue logic, bus interfaces, and custom state machines. Designs requiring higher density should consider the EPF81188 or EPF81500 variants.
What package does EPF8820ARC208-4N use?
The EPF8820ARC208-4N is housed in a 208-pin Power Quad Flat Pack (208-RQFP, also designated 208-BFQFP) measuring 28 mm x 28 mm with an exposed thermal pad for heatsinking. According to the FLEX 8000 datasheet, the package supports 152 user I/O plus 4 dedicated input pins (CLK1, CLK2, CLR, OE). The exposed pad must be soldered to a copper pour for reliable industrial-temperature operation.
What is the difference between EPF8820ARC208-4N and EPF8820ARC208-4?
The EPF8820ARC208-4N is the lead-free / RoHS-compliant variant, while the EPF8820ARC208-4 is the standard leaded version. Both share the same 208-RQFP package, 672 logic elements, and 5 V core, making them electrically and pin-to-pin compatible on the same PCB footprint. The only practical difference is solder composition and the absence of lead in the -4N variant.
Where to buy EPF8820ARC208-4N online?
The EPF8820ARC208-4N is listed by Rochester Electronics (an authorized Altera/Intel legacy distributor) on DigiKey as of 2026-09-12. Because the part is obsolete, mainstream distributors typically do not stock it; expect to purchase from authorized legacy specialists or authorized resellers of last-time-buy inventory. Pricing as of 2026-09-12 starts at approximately $48.50 per unit at qty 1.
What is the price of EPF8820ARC208-4N?
Pricing for the EPF8820ARC208-4N as of 2026-09-12 starts at $48.50 per unit at qty 1, falling to $43.65 at qty 10 and $32.00 at qty 500 when purchased through authorized Altera/Intel legacy channels. Because this part is obsolete, pricing fluctuates based on remaining wafer/die stock; engineers should request quotes from multiple authorized distributors before committing to a long-life design.
Is EPF8820ARC208-4N in stock?
Stock for the EPF8820ARC208-4N is limited as of 2026-09-12 because the device is in the obsolete lifecycle phase. Rochester Electronics is the primary authorized source for legacy Altera parts and typically holds extended inventory for last-time-buy programs. Engineers should verify current stock and lead time directly with the distributor before committing to a design.
EPF8820ARC208-4N vs EPF8636ARC208-4 - which is better for high-gate-count designs?
The EPF8636ARC208-4 is the lower-density sibling with 6,000 usable gates and 504 logic elements, while the EPF8820ARC208-4N provides 8,000 gates and 672 logic elements. For high-gate-count designs, the EPF8820ARC208-4N is the better choice because it offers 33% more logic capacity in the same 208-RQFP footprint. Both share pin compatibility, so a board designed for the EPF8820 family can be downgraded to EPF8636 if gate count permits.
When should I choose EPF8820ARC208-4N over EPF81188ARC240-4?
Choose the EPF8820ARC208-4N when you need a low-cost, mid-density 5 V tolerant FPGA in a 208-pin RQFP package. Choose the EPF81188ARC240-4 when you need higher gate count (12,000 gates, 1,188 logic elements), more I/O (240 pins), or when your design outgrows the EPF8820's capacity. Both are part of the same FLEX 8000 family, share the Quartus / MAX+PLUS II toolchain, and offer pin-compatible packages in selected SKUs.
What is the best drop-in replacement for EPF8820ARC208-4N?
The best drop-in replacement for the EPF8820ARC208-4N is the EPF8820ARC208-3N (same package, same 672 logic elements, -3 speed grade with marginally slower timing). According to the Altera FLEX 8000 datasheet, all EPF8820ARC208-series parts share the identical 208-RQFP pinout, so the -3N, -4N, and standard -4 variants are interchangeable on existing PCBs. For long-term designs, consider migrating to a Cyclone-series equivalent for continued supply.
Where to download EPF8820ARC208-4N datasheet PDF?
The official Altera FLEX 8000 datasheet is available at https://www.altera.com/literature/ds/dsf8000.pdf and covers the EPF8820ARC208-4N together with all other FLEX 8000 family members. The datasheet includes pinout, DC characteristics, AC timing, configuration sequences, and package thermal data. Third-party datasheet mirrors (datasheets.com, digchip.com) also host PDFs, but the Altera URL is the authoritative source.
What is the propagation delay of EPF8820ARC208-4N?
The EPF8820ARC208-4N has a worst-case pin-to-pin propagation delay of 5.5 ns at the -4 speed grade, supporting internal operating frequencies up to 125 MHz. The -3 speed grade is slower (typical 6 ns), while the -2 grade is faster. Designers should consult the FLEX 8000 datasheet AC characteristics table for setup, hold, and clock-to-output timings specific to their routing path.
Is EPF8820ARC208-4N RoHS compliant?
Yes, the EPF8820ARC208-4N is the lead-free (Pb-free) variant of the EPF8820ARC208-4 and is RoHS-compliant per the manufacturer's part-number suffix convention (-N designates lead-free). The standard EPF8820ARC208-4 (without -N) is the leaded version. For new designs entering the EU market, the -N suffix variant is required to meet RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC.
Hey Google, what can replace EPF8820ARC208-4N?
The EPF8820ARC208-4N can be replaced by other EPF8820ARC208-series variants (same 208-RQFP package, same 672 logic elements), or by the higher-density EPF81188ARC240-4 if more gates are needed. For modern designs, the Altera/Intel Cyclone IV EP4CE6E22 or Lattice ispMACH LC4256ZE in similar 208-pin packages are functional alternatives, though they require PCB redesign and toolchain migration.
What are the key specifications of EPF8820ARC208-4N that engineers should know?
The EPF8820ARC208-4N is a FLEX 8000 FPGA with 8,000 usable gates, 672 logic elements, 152 user I/O, 5 V core (4.75 V to 5.25 V), 3.3 V or 5 V configurable I/O, 5.5 ns propagation delay, 125 MHz maximum frequency, 0.42 Β΅m CMOS process, and 208-RQFP package. It features JTAG boundary scan, in-circuit reconfigurability via SRAM, and an exposed thermal pad for industrial temperature operation. Source: Altera FLEX 8000 datasheet.

Engineering reference data for EPF8820ARC208-4N β€” comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.

Selection Guide

Choose the EPF8820ARC208-4N when you need a RoHS-compliant, mid-density 5 V FPGA in a 208-RQFP package for industrial control glue logic, PCI/ISA/VME bus bridging, or legacy TTL replacement. It offers 8,000 usable gates / 672 logic elements with 152 user I/O at 125 MHz performance - well-suited for designs that outgrow a CPLD but do not require a high-density Cyclone or Stratix FPGA. Choose the EPF8820ARC208-4 (non-N) for legacy chassis that are not RoHS-constrained. Choose the EPF8820ARC208-3N if 5.5 ns propagation delay is not required and you can tolerate approximately 6 ns timing with cost savings. Choose the EPF8820AQC208-4 for PQFP (no exposed pad) thermal configurations where the PCB does not provide a copper heatsink. Choose the EPF8636ARC208-4 if 6,000 gates / 504 logic elements are sufficient and you want to reduce cost and dynamic power. All five alternatives share the same 208-pin footprint (RQFP or PQFP variants), enabling PCB layout reuse across the family.

Comparison with Alternatives

Parameter This Product EPF8820ARC208-4 EPF8820ARC208-3N EPF8820ARC208-2N EPF8820AQC208-4 EPF8636ARC208-4
Brand Altera Altera Altera Altera Altera Altera
Package 208-RQFP (28x28) with exposed pad 208-RQFP (28x28) with exposed pad 208-RQFP (28x28) with exposed pad 208-RQFP (28x28) with exposed pad 208-PQFP (28x28) 208-RQFP (28x28) with exposed pad
Usable Gates 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 6,000
Logic Elements 672 672 672 672 672 504
Speed Grade -4 (5.5 ns) -4 (5.5 ns) -3 (~6 ns) -2 (faster) -4 (5.5 ns) -4 (5.5 ns)
RoHS Compliance Yes (Pb-free, -N suffix) No (leaded) Yes (Pb-free) Yes (Pb-free) No (leaded) No (leaded)
Core Voltage 5 V 5 V 5 V 5 V 5 V 5 V
Lifecycle Status Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete Obsolete

Key Differentiators

  • Lead-free / RoHS-compliant variant in same footprint (vs EPF8820ARC208-4)
  • Highest speed grade in the EPF8820ARC208 family (vs EPF8820ARC208-3N)
  • Maximum logic capacity in the 208-pin FLEX 8000 family (vs EPF8636ARC208-4)

Design Notes

The EPF8820ARC208-4N requires five VCC pins (4.75 V to 5.25 V) plus an internal core voltage pin. Per the FLEX 8000 datasheet, decouple each VCC pin with a 0.1 Β΅F X7R ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the pin, plus a single 10 Β΅F tantalum bulk capacitor near the package. Configuration PROMs (EPC1, EPC2) must share this decoupling network to avoid in-rush current glitches that can corrupt configuration.

The exposed thermal pad on the 208-RQFP package MUST be soldered to a copper pour of at least 1 square inch (645 mmΒ²) for industrial-temperature (-40 Β°C to +85 Β°C) operation. Estimated: with the -4 speed grade at 125 MHz and full I/O toggling, dynamic current consumption reaches approximately 200 mA, dissipating 1 W. Without proper thermal pad soldering, junction temperature can exceed 100 Β°C and trigger thermal-induced timing failure. Reference the FLEX 8000 packaging thermal characteristics section for theta-JA values.

Place the EPC1 or EPC2 configuration PROM within 50 mm of the FPGA to keep configuration traces short and avoid reflection-induced configuration failures. Use 4-layer PCB with dedicated ground and power planes; route configuration signals (nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE, DCLK, DATA0) as 50 Ξ© microstrip on the top layer over a continuous ground plane. The 208-RQFP pin pitch is 0.5 mm, so use 0.2 mm/8 mil trace/space design rules.

Do not assume the SRAM configuration memory retains bitstream after power-off - it does not. The EPF8820ARC208-4N requires reconfiguration on every power-up via an external EPC1/EPC2 PROM or intelligent controller. For designs requiring non-volatile bitstream retention, consider migrating to a MAX series CPLD or a flash-based FPGA. Also note that the 5 V I/O banks are NOT 5 V tolerant when VCCIO is set to 3.3 V; exceeding VCCIO + 0.5 V damages the I/O cells.

The FLEX 8000 FastTrack interconnect uses continuous routing rows and columns; place high-fanout signals (clock, global enable) on dedicated global routing lines (CLK1, CLK2, OE, CLR) to avoid contention with general routing. Keep high-speed I/O (e.g., 50 MHz clock outputs) on the dedicated clock output pins to leverage the FastTrack low-skew network. Reference the FLEX 8000 handbook chapter on FastTrack routing for detailed placement guidelines.

Compliance Information

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

Pb-free / RoHS-compliant per the -N suffix part-number convention. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (commercial/industrial temperature grades only). Halogen-free and conflict-minerals status not stated in the available data.

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

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