EPM3512AFC-7N - 512-Macrocell MAX 3000A CPLD, 7.5ns, BGA-256 | Intel (Altera)
MPN: EPM3512AFC-7N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $35.2 | $352.00 |
| 100 | $31.85 | $3,185.00 |
| 500 | $28.9 | $14,450.00 |
| 1,000 | $26.4 | $26,400.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EPM3512AFC-7N — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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View Datasheet →EPM3512AFC-7N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MAX 3000A |
| Device Type | CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) |
| Macrocells | 512 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 16 |
| User I/Os | 208 |
| Dedicated Inputs | 16 |
| Propagation Delay (tPD) | 7.5 ns (speed grade -7) |
| Package | BGA-256 (FineLine BGA) |
| Logic Family | CMOS, EEPROM-based |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 3.3 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage (VCCIO) | MultiVolt: 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V / 5.0 V tolerant |
| In-System Programmability | Yes - IEEE Std. 1532 / JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) |
| Programming Interface | JTAG (4-wire TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
EPM3512AFC-7N bga-256 (fineline bga) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EPM3512AFC-7N (bga-256 (fineline bga) package) with 256 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 EPM3512AFC-7N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Estimated pin count: 256 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
EPM3512AFC-7N is suitable for 6 applications: PCI / Local Bus Address Decoding, Glue Logic and Chip-to-Chip Interfacing, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Legacy System Refresh and Form-Fit Replacement, Power Sequencing and Reset Distribution, Networking and Telecom Line Card Control.
PCI / Local Bus Address Decoding
The EPM3512AFC-7N's 512 macrocells and 7.5 ns tPD make it well suited for PCI-to-local-bus address decoding and arbitration logic. The 208 user I/Os handle wide bus interfaces, while the deterministic pin-to-pin delay simplifies PCI 33 MHz timing closure (33 MHz period = 30 ns, well above 7.5 ns). The MultiVolt I/O allows direct interface to 3.3-V and 5-V PCI signals without external level shifters, and instant-on EEPROM configuration avoids the FPGA configuration wait state that would violate PCI bus-grant timing.
Recommended
Glue Logic and Chip-to-Chip Interfacing
The EPM3512AFC-7N is a classic fit for glue logic between microprocessors, memory, and peripherals where deterministic timing and instant-on behavior matter. Its MultiVolt I/O (1.8 V to 5.0 V tolerant) enables direct interface to legacy 5-V peripherals alongside modern 1.8-V processors without level shifters. The 512 macrocells accommodate wide state machines and complex bus protocols, while the 7.5 ns tPD supports bus frequencies up to approximately 133 MHz. JTAG ISP allows board-level rework without removing the device.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The EPM3512AFC-7N's deterministic timing, instant-on EEPROM configuration, and 208 user I/Os make it valuable in industrial PLC and motor-control boards where predictable latency is critical. Engineers use the 512 macrocells to implement custom protocol stacks, encoder counters, and PWM generation in parallel with a host processor. The MultiVolt I/O allows direct interface to 24-V industrial sensors via external opto-isolation, while the JTAG ISP enables in-field firmware updates for control-logic refinement without board removal.
Recommended
Legacy System Refresh and Form-Fit Replacement
The EPM3512AFC-7N remains in production as a long-lifecycle part for refreshing legacy boards where the original MAX 3000A CPLD has reached end-of-life or is unobtainable. Its 30+ year product longevity on the MAX 3000A family, combined with pin-compatible -10 and -15 speed-grade variants, allows direct PCB-level replacement without redesign. The non-volatile EEPROM configuration matches legacy design files byte-for-byte, eliminating firmware revalidation cycles and shortening the qualification timeline for aerospace, medical, and defense refresh programs.
Recommended
Power Sequencing and Reset Distribution
The EPM3512AFC-7N's instant-on behavior (no configuration wait time) and 208 user I/Os make it ideal for power-sequencer and reset-distribution roles in multi-rail systems. CPLDs boot deterministically at power-up, ensuring that downstream ASICs, FPGAs, and processors receive correctly-sequenced reset and enable signals without race conditions. The 7.5 ns tPD is well below typical power-rail rise times, and the MultiVolt I/O allows direct interface to 1.8-V, 3.3-V, and 5.0-V rails in a single device.
Recommended
Networking and Telecom Line Card Control
The EPM3512AFC-7N's combination of high pin count (208 I/Os) and deterministic timing makes it well suited for line-card control-plane functions in networking and telecom equipment, including TDM bus switching, framer configuration, and backplane arbitration. The MultiVolt I/O interfaces directly to legacy 5-V telecom backplanes while supporting modern 3.3-V ASICs. EEPROM-based instant-on configuration ensures the line card is operational immediately after hot-plug insertion, critical for carrier-grade five-nines availability targets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPM3512AFC-7N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPM3512AFC256-10N | EPM3512AFC256-10 | EPM3256AFC256-10 | EPM3256AFC256-10N | EPM3256AFI256-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Package | BGA-256 (FineLine BGA) | BGA-256 (FineLine BGA) - same | BGA-256 (FineLine BGA) - same | BGA-256 (FineLine BGA) - same | BGA-256 (FineLine BGA) - same | BGA-256 (FineLine BGA) - same |
| Macrocells | 512 | 512 | 512 | 256 (-50%) | 256 (-50%) | 256 (-50%) |
| Speed Grade (tPD) | 7.5 ns (-7) | 10 ns (-10) | 10 ns (-10) | 10 ns (-10) | 10 ns (-10) | 10 ns (-10) |
| User I/Os | 208 | 208 | 208 | 158 | 158 | 158 |
| Family | MAX 3000A | MAX 3000A | MAX 3000A | MAX 3000A | MAX 3000A | MAX 3000A |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Core Supply Voltage | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V |
| In-System Programmability | Yes - IEEE 1532 / JTAG | Yes - IEEE 1532 / JTAG | Yes - IEEE 1532 / JTAG | Yes - IEEE 1532 / JTAG | Yes - IEEE 1532 / JTAG | Yes - IEEE 1532 / JTAG |
Key Differentiators
- Highest-density MAX 3000A member in BGA-256 (vs EPM3256AFC256-10N)
- Fastest speed grade in the MAX 3000A family (vs EPM3512AFC256-10N)
- Industrial-temperature variant available in same package (vs EPM3256AFI256-10)
Design Notes
The EPM3512AFC-7N uses a 256-ball FineLine BGA package with 1.0 mm ball pitch, requiring PCB microvia and via-in-pad technology for fanout. Confirm that the PCB fabricator supports stacked microvias (typically laser-drilled, plasma-etched, or copper-filled) before finalizing layout. Use a 4-6 layer stackup with continuous GND planes adjacent to the BGA signal-exit layer to provide low-impedance return paths and minimize crosstalk on the high-speed 7.5 ns tPD timing paths. Plan for X-ray inspection at PCB assembly to verify BGA solder joint integrity, especially for prototypes and low-volume builds.
The EPM3512AFC-7N's VCCINT (core) must remain at 3.3 V; only VCCIO banks may be configured to 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V, or 5.0 V. Mixing VCCIO bank voltages incorrectly is a common design error that causes input threshold violations and output drive contention. Each VCCIO bank typically contains 8 or 16 I/O balls sharing a common supply rail - consult the BGA pinout in the datasheet to assign voltages correctly. Reserve four JTAG balls (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) for ISP and connect TDI to VCCIO through a pull-up resistor per JTAG recommendations to avoid floating-TDI programming failures.
For designs using the EPM3512AFC-7N at the 7.5 ns speed grade, signal integrity analysis is recommended for bus edges faster than 5 ns. Terminate high-speed outputs with series damping resistors (22-33 ohm) near the CPLD if the trace length exceeds approximately 50 mm or crosses a connector. Use controlled-impedance traces (50 ohm single-ended, 100 ohm differential) for clocks and critical synchronous signals. Place decoupling capacitors (0.1 uF X7R) within 3 mm of every VCCINT and VCCIO ball, plus bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic caps on each supply rail to suppress switching transients during ISP programming events.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH status not explicitly stated in verified web data; the 'N' suffix in EPM3512AFC-7N historically indicates Pb-free / RoHS-compliant assembly per Altera/Intel legacy part-numbering convention, but this should be verified against the manufacturer declaration before Pb-free assembly. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a commercial/industrial-grade CPLD, not an automotive-qualified part. No conflict-minerals declaration found in the provided data.
