EPM3512AQC208-2 - MAX 3000A CPLD, 512 Macrocells, 172 I/O | Altera
MPN: EPM3512AQC208-2 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.5 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $26.2 | $262.00 |
| 100 | $23.4 | $2,340.00 |
| 500 | $20.85 | $10,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $18.75 | $18,750.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EPM3512AQC208-2 — 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:
EPM3512AQC208-10N
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View Datasheet →EPM3512AQC208-7N
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View Datasheet →EPM3512AQC208-15N
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View Datasheet →EPM3512AQC208-10
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View Datasheet →EPM3512AQC208-10S
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View Datasheet →EPM3512AQC208-10NS
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View Datasheet →EPM3512AQC208-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MAX 3000A |
| Macrocells | 512 |
| User I/O Pins | 172 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 16 |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Package | PQFP-208 (QC) |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 3.3 V |
| Output Drive Voltage | 2.5 V / 3.3 V programmable |
| Input Voltage Tolerance | 2.5 V / 3.3 V / 5.0 V |
| Process Technology | 0.30 µm EEPROM |
| Program/Erase Endurance | 100 cycles (typical) |
| In-System Programmability | Yes (IEEE 1149.1 JTAG) |
| User I/O Banks | 4 |
| Operating Temperature Range | Commercial (0C to +70C) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (legacy PQFP) |
| Lead-Free | No (SnPb lead finish) |
| Security Bit | Yes (programmable) |
EPM3512AQC208-2 pqfp-208 (qc) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EPM3512AQC208-2 (pqfp-208 (qc) package) with 172 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 EPM3512AQC208-2.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Estimated pin count: 172 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
EPM3512AQC208-2 is suitable for 6 applications: Bus-Interface Bridging, Power-Supply Sequencing & Supervisory Logic, Glue-Logic Replacement, FPGA Configuration & Control Plane, Industrial Control I/O Expansion, Legacy Design Maintenance & Sustainment.
Bus-Interface Bridging
The EPM3512AQC208-2's 172 user I/O and 4 I/O banks make it well suited for bridging between mismatched bus widths and voltage domains, such as converting a 16-bit 5 V microcontroller bus to a 32-bit 3.3 V peripheral bus. With 5 V tolerant inputs and 2.5/3.3 V programmable outputs, it can interface directly to legacy TTL logic while driving modern low-voltage peripherals without external level shifters. The -2 speed grade delivers approximately 2 ns pin-to-pin propagation delay, which is fast enough for asynchronous bus-cycle timing at moderate clock rates. JTAG-based in-system programmability allows field firmware updates without removing the device from the board.
Recommended
Power-Supply Sequencing & Supervisory Logic
With 512 macrocells and non-volatile EEPROM configuration, the EPM3512AQC208-2 reliably implements multi-rail power-up and power-down sequencing for systems with stringent timing requirements. Designers can program precise delay chains and watchdog timers that operate deterministically from the first power-on cycle without an external boot PROM. The 172 I/O pins comfortably handle dozens of enable and power-good signals across multiple voltage rails in complex SoC or FPGA-based boards. The wide 5 V input tolerance lets the part supervise rails that exceed its own 3.3 V core supply.
Recommended
Glue-Logic Replacement
The EPM3512AQC208-2 is frequently deployed to replace dozens of legacy 74-series TTL or CMOS glue-logic chips, integrating address decoding, chip-select generation, interrupt prioritization, and bus arbitration into a single non-volatile device. The deterministic -2 ns timing eliminates the worst-case propagation skew of cascaded discrete gates and simplifies board layout. Designers can iterate logic through JTAG reprogramming rather than board respins, accelerating hardware development. With 512 macrocells, the device has ample headroom for unforeseen glue-logic additions late in the design cycle.
Recommended
FPGA Configuration & Control Plane
The EPM3512AQC208-2 frequently serves as the configuration controller for adjacent FPGAs, generating PROG_B, INIT_B, and DONE signals while supervising configuration sequences and CRC validation. Its non-volatile storage lets it boot instantly and reliably begin the FPGA configuration handshake at power-on, without depending on an external boot source. The wide I/O count allows it to also implement reset distribution, clock multiplexing, and JTAG chain management for multi-FPGAs. The -2 speed grade ensures that configuration timing requirements are met even for high-performance FPGAs.
Recommended
Industrial Control I/O Expansion
In industrial automation and motor control systems, the EPM3512AQC208-2 expands microcontroller I/O counts by implementing parallel-input scanning, encoder decoding, and PWM multiplexing without burdening the host processor. Its 172 I/O pins accommodate dozens of optically isolated inputs and outputs, while the 4 I/O banks allow mixing of 5 V sensor signals and 3.3 V logic-level communication buses on the same device. The deterministic timing simplifies safety-critical control loops, and JTAG in-system programmability supports field updates for evolving industrial protocols.
Recommended
Legacy Design Maintenance & Sustainment
Many aerospace, defense, and medical systems continue to depend on the EPM3512AQC208-2 because their existing firmware and PCB layouts were qualified against this specific part. Sustainment programs rely on the EPM3512AQC208-2 to produce identical replacement units without re-qualifying the entire system. The device's non-volatile EEPROM ensures bitstream compatibility across decades, and the PQFP-208 footprint remains stable for board-level interchangeability. Engineers supporting these long-lifecycle programs should plan secondary-market sourcing and consider migration paths to modern MAX V CPLDs for new variants.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPM3512AQC208-2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPM3512AQC208-10N | EPM3512AQC208-7N | EPM3512AQC208-15N | EPM3512AQC208-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | PQFP-208 (QC) | PQFP-208 (QC) - same | PQFP-208 (QC) - same | PQFP-208 (QC) - same | PQFP-208 (QC) - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Speed Grade | -2 (~2 ns tPD) | -10 (~10 ns tPD) | -7 (~7 ns tPD) | -15 (~15 ns tPD) | -10 (~10 ns tPD) |
| Macrocells | 512 | 512 | 512 | 512 | 512 |
| User I/O | 172 | 172 | 172 | 172 | 172 |
| Core Voltage | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V |
| Output Drive | 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Input Tolerance | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V |
| Operating Temperature | Commercial (0C to +70C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Commercial (0C to +70C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Commercial (0C to +70C) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest speed grade in the MAX 3000A PQFP-208 family (vs EPM3512AQC208-10N)
- Non-volatile EEPROM configuration enables instant-on operation (vs EPM240T100C5N (MAX II flash-based CPLD))
- 5 V input tolerance on all user I/O (vs Modern MAX V CPLDs (3.3 V or lower I/O))
- Highest-density PQFP-208 packaging option in the MAX 3000A family (vs EPM3256AQC208-10 (256 macrocells, same PQFP-208))
Design Notes
The MAX 3000A is supported by Quartus II Service Packs up to 13.0sp1 but is NOT supported by modern Quartus Prime releases. Maintain a Quartus II 13.0sp1 installation for legacy MAX 3000A design work, including bitstream generation and JTAG programming files. Bitstream compatibility across Quartus II versions is generally preserved, but verify against golden reference designs before respinning legacy boards.
The EPM3512AQC208-2 requires a 3.3 V core supply with multiple VCCINT and GND pins distributed across the PQFP-208 package. Decouple each VCCINT pin with a 0.1 µF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the pin, plus a bulk 10 µF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the board power entry. Power-up ramp should be monotonic and complete within the datasheet's specified tPR requirement to prevent partial-configuration failures.
The PQFP-208 package has a 0.5 mm pitch and exposed die pad region on the bottom; route signals on inner layers to escape the dense pin field. Assign high-speed clock and JTAG signals to short, impedance-controlled traces, and keep I/O bank voltage reference pins (VCCIO) properly decoupled to maintain signal integrity across the 4 I/O banks. Avoid running analog-sensitive signals under the package.
Configure each of the 4 I/O banks to the appropriate VCCIO voltage (2.5 V or 3.3 V) before use; mixing voltages across banks allows direct interface between incompatible logic families. Assign JTAG pins (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) to a dedicated 4-pin header or boundary-scan chain accessible without disturbing board operation. Reserve one unused I/O pin as a logic-probe test point for in-system debugging.
Compliance Information
PQFP-208 package uses SnPb lead finish (non-RoHS) per MAX 3000A datasheet. REACH compliance assumed for legacy Altera products but not explicitly verified. AEC-Q100 not applicable for general-purpose commercial/industrial CPLDs.
