Altera

EP3C16Q240C8N - Cyclone III FPGA 15K LEs PQFP-240 | Altera

N.º da peça: EP3C16Q240C8N ✓ Ativo
Em estoque Enviado em 1 a 3 dias úteis
240-BFQFP (PQFP-240, 32x32 mm) Package 8 Speed 516096 Memory
A partir de $30.9 USD / unidade
MOQ: 1 |
Preço atualizado: 2026-09-14
Preços por volume
Qtd. Preço unitário Total
1 $42.5 $42,50
10 $39.8 $398,00
100 $36.2 $3.620,00
500 $33.4 $16.700,00
1.000 $30.9 $30.900,00
ℹ️ Todos os preços estão em USD

EP3C16Q240C8N Visão geral

The Altera EP3C16Q240C8N is a Cyclone III FPGA with 15,408 logic elements (LEs), 516,096 bits of embedded memory, and up to 160 user I/O pins, housed in a 240-pin fine-pitch Ball-Grid-Array-style QFP package (240-BFQFP / PQFP-240, 32x32 mm). It is fabricated in a low-cost 65-nm process and belongs to the commercial (C) temperature range with speed grade 8 (the most cost-effective speed bin in the family).

A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device containing a fabric of programmable logic blocks, routing resources, and embedded memory that designers configure in the field using HDL languages such as Verilog and VHDL. In the semiconductor hierarchy, the FPGA sits above fixed-function ASICs and ASSPs in flexibility, and the Cyclone III family targets the low-cost, low-power segment of that market.

Key features of the EP3C16Q240C8N include 15,408 LEs organized as approximately 1,920 adaptive logic modules (ALMs), 516,096 bits (63 kbytes) of M9K embedded memory blocks, and up to 160 maximum user I/O including dedicated clock inputs. The M9K blocks support single- and dual-port operation with byte enables and initialization files, making FIFOs and line buffers easy to implement without external SRAM.

Technically, the Cyclone III architecture uses 8-input fracturable look-up tables, a hierarchical multi-track interconnect, and a phase-locked-loop (PLL)-based clock network for on-chip frequency synthesis and jitter reduction. Configuration is supported through active serial (AS), passive serial (PS), and JTAG schemes, allowing standard EPCS serial configuration devices to load the bitstream at power-up. The Q240 package supports a maximum I/O count that may be reduced depending on the selected configuration scheme, per the Altera device package information data sheet.

Typical applications include industrial motor-control and automation interfaces, video and image processing line cards, communications protocol bridging, and test/measurement glue logic. The 160-I/O budget and 65-nm low static power make it well suited to cost-sensitive volume products that do not need high-end transceivers.

Design consideration: the PQFP-240 footprint is large and hand-solderable for prototypes, but its peripheral I/O ring limits signal counts versus BGA alternatives; plan I/O banking carefully to avoid mixing incompatible voltage standards on one bank.

This page synthesizes verified distributor stock, drop-in same-package alternatives, pricing context, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.

Alternativas drop-in para EP3C16Q240C8N — mesmo encapsulamento, compatível pino a pino. Peças de encapsulamento diferente que exigem retrabalho na PCB são excluídas.

Variantes desta série

Modelos da mesma série compatíveis como drop-in com EP3C16Q240C8N (mesmo formato e footprint) — diferindo em Package, Speed Grade, Process Technology, Embedded 18x18 Multipliers, Logic Elements.

Intel
Package: 240-BFQFP / PQFP-240 (Q240)
Speed Grade: C8
Process Technology: 65 nm low-power (TSMC)
Comparar com EP3C16Q240C8N →
Intel
Package: 240-BFQFP
Speed Grade: C8
Logic Elements: 24,624
Comparar com EP3C16Q240C8N →
Intel
Package: 240-BFQFP / PQFP-240
Speed Grade: C8 (commercial)
Logic Elements: 39,600
Comparar com EP3C16Q240C8N →
Intel
Package: 240-BFQFP (Plastic Enhanced QFP)
Embedded 18x18 Multipliers: 126
Logic Elements: 39,600
Comparar com EP3C16Q240C8N →
Intel
Package: 144-LQFP Exposed Pad (EQFP-144), 22x22 mm, 0.5 mm pitch
Speed Grade: C7 (7 ns delay)
Process Technology: TSMC 65 nm low-power
Comparar com EP3C16Q240C8N →

Ferramenta de comparação rápida — selecione peças alternativas para comparação lado a lado:

EP3C16Q240C7N

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Especificações não verificadas
📦 240-BFQFP (PQFP-240)
identical LEs (15408) and package, faster speed grade 7 vs grade 8 - drop-in timing upgrade

📋 Alternativa de referência (fora do catálogo)

EP3C25Q240C8N

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Especificações não verificadas
Intel
📦 240-BFQFP (PQFP-240)
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) · Cyclone III · 24,624 · 608,256 bits · 148 · 402 MHz · 1.2 V · 65 nm

✓ Em estoque

$160.4667 / unidade

Ver ficha técnica →

EP3C10Q240C8N

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Especificações não verificadas
📦 240-BFQFP (PQFP-240)
same package/pinout, ~10320 LEs vs 15408 LEs (-33% logic capacity), cost-down option

📋 Alternativa de referência (fora do catálogo)

EP3C5Q240C8N

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Especificações não verificadas
📦 240-BFQFP (PQFP-240)
same package/pinout, ~5632 LEs vs 15408 LEs (-63% capacity), lowest-cost family member in Q240

📋 Alternativa de referência (fora do catálogo)

EP3C16Q240I7N

✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Especificações não verificadas
📦 240-BFQFP (PQFP-240)
same 15408 LEs, industrial temperature grade (-40 to +100C) and faster grade 7 vs commercial grade 8

📋 Alternativa de referência (fora do catálogo)

EP3C16Q240C8N Classificações máximas e características elétricas

Family Cyclone III
Logic Elements (LEs) 15408
Embedded Memory (bits) 516096
Maximum User I/O 160
Encapsulamento 240-BFQFP (PQFP-240, 32x32 mm)
Speed Grade 8
Process Technology 65 nm
Temperature Grade Commercial (C)
Tipo de montagem Surface Mount
Configuration Schemes AS, PS, JTAG
Embedded Memory Blocks M9K blocks
Total Memory Bits 516096 bits (~63 kbytes)
Manufacturer Part Status Active

Guia de Configuração de Pinos do EP3C16Q240C8N 240-bfqfp (pqfp-240, 32x32 mm)

Configuração de pinos para EP3C16Q240C8N (pacote 240-bfqfp (pqfp-240, 32x32 mm)). Este CI digital inclui GPIO, interfaces de comunicação (UART, SPI, I2C) e pinos de alimentação. Consulte o datasheet do fabricante para funções alternativas dos pinos e opções de configuração. Essencial para projeto de sistemas embarcados e layout de PCB.

Diagrama de pinagem do pacote 240-bfqfp (pqfp-240, 32x32 mm) para EP3C16Q240C8N

Nenhum dado detalhado de pinagem disponível para EP3C16Q240C8N.

Consulte a ficha técnica para a configuração completa dos pinos.

Aplicações típicas

EP3C16Q240C8N é adequado para 6 aplicaçãos: Industrial Automation and Motor Control, Video and Image Processing, Communications Protocol Bridging, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Medical Device Digital Logic, Security and Surveillance Systems.

🏭

Industrial Automation and Motor Control

The EP3C16Q240C8N fits industrial automation because its 15,408 logic elements implement PWM generators, quadrature encoder interfaces, and multi-axis interlocks with deterministic timing that microcontrollers cannot match. Its 160 user I/O accommodate parallel fieldbus transceivers, isolated inputs, and encoder banks from the single Q240 package, while 516,096 bits of M9K memory buffer command queues and recipe tables without external SRAM. Designers typically pair it with gate drivers and current-sense ADCs on the same board, using the internal PLL to derive tightly phased PWM carriers. The 65-nm fabric keeps static power low for fanless cabinets, and the peripheral PQFP I/O ring simplifies replacement in legacy through-hole-style industrial boards.

📺

Video and Image Processing

For video pipelines, the EP3C16Q240C8N provides enough fabric to implement color-space conversion, scaling, deinterlacing, and test-pattern generation, while the 516,096-bit M9K memory array holds multi-line buffers needed for horizontal filtering and scan conversion at SD and early HD resolutions. Up to 160 user I/O support parallel BT.656/BT.1120 video buses, camera link style parallel interfaces, and sync generation, with clock networks and PLLs cleaning up pixel-clock jitter. The Q240 peripheral package eases length-matched routing of parallel video buses compared with fine-pitch BGAs. For higher-resolution multi-stream designs requiring serialization, designers migrate up the Cyclone family, but for cost-sensitive display controllers this device hits the capacity and memory balance.

🌐

Communications Protocol Bridging

The EP3C16Q240C8N serves as a protocol bridge between legacy parallel buses (PCI-style local buses, microprocessor memory maps, backplane interfaces) and modern serial peripherals, using its 15,408 LEs for FIFOs, address decoders, and packet framing logic. The M9K memory blocks implement elastic buffers that absorb clock-domain differences between two interfaces, and multiple PLLs generate independent clocks for each domain. With 160 I/O, a single device can terminate two wide parallel buses simultaneously. The commercial temperature PQFP-240 package suits telecom rack cards and network appliances with controlled environments, and JTAG configuration simplifies field firmware updates of the bridge personality during manufacturing and service.

🔧

Test and Measurement Instrumentation

In bench and production test equipment, the EP3C16Q240C8N implements timing generators, edge counters, pattern generators, and acquisition state machines with sub-10-ns determinism. The 15,408-LE fabric holds channel serialization logic for multi-channel digital acquisition, while M9K blocks capture triggered waveform segments of up to tens of kilobytes per channel internally before offload. Its PLLs synthesize sample clocks from a single reference, and the 160 user I/O interface ADC parallel buses, relay control arrays, and front-panel indicators from one package. The PQFP-240 leads simplify prototype rework during instrument bring-up, and JTAG-based configuration lets engineering teams iterate FPGA personalities without socketing parts.

💊

Medical Device Digital Logic

Portable and benchtop medical devices use the EP3C16Q240C8N for sensor interfacing, digital filtering, and display control, exploiting the low static power of the 65-nm process for battery-operated designs. The 15,408 LEs implement FIR and decimation filters for physiological signals, and the 516,096-bit M9K memory buffers patient-data frames for transfer to a host processor. Its deterministic fabric avoids software-timing hazards in safety-relevant paths, complementing a supervising MCU. The commercial-grade PQFP-240 suits patient-adjacent equipment used in controlled clinic environments; designs requiring industrial temperature span should select the Q240 industrial variant. Compliance-driven teams value the long lifecycle and stable, documented bitstream tooling.

🎥

Security and Surveillance Systems

The EP3C16Q240C8N acts as the video front-end engine in surveillance equipment, performing sensor-interface deserialization, exposure control, motion detection pre-processing, and OSD overlay generation. Its 160 user I/O connect CMOS sensor parallel interfaces and panel drivers, while the M9K blocks hold reference frames for motion-block comparison at CIF/VGA resolutions. The 15,408-LE fabric leaves room for UART/SPI control bridges to system processors and for crypto-lite watermarking logic. Low static power suits always-on recording devices, and the PQFP-240 package tolerates the thermal profile of sealed camera enclosures in commercial installations. For analytics-heavy multi-sensor NVRs, designers step up in logic density rather than change architecture.

What are the key specifications of EP3C16Q240C8N that engineers should know?
The EP3C16Q240C8N is an Altera Cyclone III FPGA with 15,408 logic elements, 516,096 bits of embedded M9K memory, and a maximum of 160 user I/O pins in a 240-pin PQFP (240-BFQFP, 32x32 mm) package. It uses a 65-nm process, commercial temperature range, and speed grade 8. According to the Altera datasheet, the maximum I/O count includes clock input pins and can be reduced by the chosen configuration scheme.
What is the price of EP3C16Q240C8N?
Unit pricing for the EP3C16Q240C8N typically falls in the tens of US dollars range at quantity 1, with meaningful discounts at 100-piece and 1000-piece volume breaks as of 2026-09-14. Because FPGA pricing varies significantly with stock position across brokers and franchised distributors, check the XAIPART price table on this page, which aggregates DigiKey, Mouser, and Octopart data for the current quantity-break pricing.
Where to buy EP3C16Q240C8N online?
The EP3C16Q240C8N can be purchased from XAIPART and from franchised distributors including DigiKey (product page ships same day when in stock), Mouser, and broker channels listed on Octopart. According to icDirectory, about 12,000 pieces were reported in stock as of September 2025, and Heisener reported over 53,000 pieces, so availability is generally good. Always verify date codes and traceability when buying from non-franchised sources.
Is EP3C16Q240C8N in stock?
Yes, the EP3C16Q240C8N is broadly available. Distributor aggregators report tens of thousands of pieces in stock across channels: Heisener listed 53,376 pieces and icDirectory reported in stock (September 2025 update). DigiKey lists the part as buy-now with same-day shipping when inventory is on hand. Confirm the exact lot date codes before ordering for production programs.
What is the difference between EP3C16Q240C8N and EP3C25Q240C8N?
The difference is logic capacity within the same 240-pin PQFP package: the EP3C16Q240C8N provides 15,408 logic elements, while the EP3C25Q240C8N provides roughly 24,624 logic elements (about 60% more fabric). Both share speed grade 8, the Cyclone III architecture, and the same footprint, so the EP3C25 can be a drop-in upgrade if your design has grown out of 15K LEs, provided the larger device's pinout file is reimported in Quartus.
What is the difference between EP3C16Q240C8N and EP3C10E144C8?
These parts differ in both capacity and package. The EP3C16Q240C8N offers 15,408 LEs in a 240-pin PQFP with up to 160 I/O, while the EP3C10E144C8 offers fewer LEs in a 144-pin EQFP with fewer available I/O. Per the ETEI comparison, they differ in package type, I/O count, and footprint, so the E144 part is NOT pin-compatible and requires a PCB redesign - it is a functional substitute only, not a drop-in replacement.
When should I choose EP3C16Q240C8N over EP3C5Q240C8N?
Choose the EP3C16Q240C8N when your design needs more than the EP3C5's 5,632 logic elements or when the M9K memory demand exceeds the smaller device's budget. Both use the identical 240-pin PQFP footprint and Cyclone III tool flow, so upgrading costs only a recompile. If your utilization estimates are below 4,000 LEs with modest memory, the EP3C5Q240C8N saves cost; above that, the EP3C16 provides headroom for future feature growth without a board respin.
Is EP3C16Q240C8N suitable for video processing applications?
Yes, the EP3C16Q240C8N is well suited to low- and mid-range video processing. Its 516,096 bits of embedded M9K memory can hold line buffers for scan-rate conversion, and its 160 user I/O can interface with parallel video buses, LVDS-style receivers in supported banks, and memory for frame handling in smaller formats. For high-resolution multi-channel designs requiring gigabit transceivers, step up to a device family with serial transceivers, since Cyclone III Q240 parts have no SERDES.
What is the best drop-in replacement for EP3C16Q240C8N?
The best drop-in replacement is a same-family, same-package variant such as the EP3C16Q240C7N, which is pin-identical but carries a faster speed grade 7, useful if timing closure becomes marginal at grade 8. For capacity changes, the EP3C25Q240C8N is a drop-in upgrade with more logic elements. No cross-brand pin-compatible equivalent for the 240-pin PQFP Cyclone III footprint was found in the cross-reference data, so drop-in options are limited to the Cyclone III Q240 family.
What is the best Altera equivalent for EP3C16Q240C8N from another vendor?
No true cross-brand, pin-compatible equivalent exists in the verified cross-reference data: Xilinx (now AMD) and Lattice FPGAs use different packages and pinouts, so any cross-brand migration such as moving to a Xilinx Spartan-class device requires a new footprint, pin assignment, and RTL/toolflow migration to Vivado or ISE-compatible tooling. Treat cross-brand options as functional substitutes only; for true drop-in replacement, stay within the Altera Cyclone III Q240 family.
Where to download the EP3C16Q240C8N datasheet PDF?
The EP3C16Q240C8N datasheet PDF is available from Altera's official repository at alterasemi.com/datasheet/alterasemi/EP3C16Q240C8N.pdf, and mirrored on aggregator sites such as alldatasheet.com and datasheets.com. The Altera document covers the Cyclone III device family datasheet plus the separate Altera Device Package Information Data Sheet, which defines the Q240 package thermal, mechanical, and I/O pin numbering. For design work, always use the version hosted on the manufacturer domain to ensure you have the latest revision.
Where can I find the EP3C16Q240C8N pinout?
The complete 240-pin pinout of the EP3C16Q240C8N is defined in the Altera Cyclone III pin connection and package information documents, since QFP pin functions are assigned per-bank and depend on your I/O voltage standards and configuration scheme. According to Altera, the maximum I/O count of 160 includes clock inputs and varies with the configuration scheme. Use the Quartus II pin planner to export your project-specific pinout file rather than relying on generic pin lists.
How do I configure the EP3C16Q240C8N at power-up?
Configure the EP3C16Q240C8N using active serial (AS) mode with an Altera EPCS serial configuration device, passive serial (PS) from a host processor or CPLD, or via JTAG for in-system programming and debugging. In AS mode, the EPCS device holds the compressed bitstream and loads it at power-up, with data compressed to reduce configuration time and memory. Per Altera's documentation, your chosen scheme also affects how many package pins remain available as user I/O on the Q240 package.
Is the EP3C16Q240C8N still in production or obsolete?
The EP3C16Q240C8N remains in active production. According to Jotrin Electronics, the lifecycle status of the EP3C16Q240C8N from Intel/Altera is currently Active, and DigiKey lists it as an orderable, shipping part as of the latest verification on 2026-09-14. Nevertheless, the Cyclone III family is a mature 65-nm product line, so for new designs consider Intel Agilex-free entry families or Cyclone IV for roadmap longevity, while Cyclone III remains a safe choice for maintaining existing products.

Dados de referência de engenharia para EP3C16Q240C8N — comparação, orientação de projeto e informações de conformidade.

Guia de seleção

Choose the EP3C16Q240C8N when your design needs roughly 10K-15K logic elements, substantial M9K buffering, and 100+ I/O in a cost-effective, reworkable PQFP-240 footprint for commercial-temperature products such as industrial control, video front-ends, and test equipment. Choose the EP3C16Q240C7N as a direct drop-in if grade 8 timing closure is marginal at high clock rates. Choose EP3C25Q240C8N when utilization risks exceeding 80% of 15K LEs, and EP3C10Q240C8N for cost-down if the design fits. Choose EP3C16Q240I7N for industrial ambient temperatures. Do NOT choose this family when gigabit transceivers, hard IP blocks, or very high I/O counts are required - cross-brand pin-compatible alternatives do not exist, so any vendor migration means a board redesign.

Comparação com alternativas

Parâmetro Este produto EP3C16Q240C7N EP3C25Q240C8N EP3C10Q240C8N EP3C5Q240C8N EP3C16Q240I7N
Package 240-BFQFP (PQFP-240, 32x32 mm) 240-BFQFP - same footprint 240-BFQFP - same footprint 240-BFQFP - same footprint 240-BFQFP - same footprint 240-BFQFP - same footprint
Brand Altera Altera Altera Altera Altera Altera
Speed Grade 8 7 (faster) 8 8 8 7 (faster)
Temperature Grade Commercial (C) Commercial Commercial Commercial Commercial Industrial (I)
Configuration Support AS, PS, JTAG AS, PS, JTAG AS, PS, JTAG AS, PS, JTAG AS, PS, JTAG AS, PS, JTAG

Principais diferenciais

  • Largest logic capacity in Q240 footprint (vs EP3C10Q240C8N)
  • Cost-optimized speed grade (vs EP3C16Q240C7N)
  • Commercial grade economics (vs EP3C16Q240I7N)
  • Hand-assembly-friendly package (vs BGA-packaged Cyclone devices)

Notas de projeto

Cyclone III devices require sequenced core and I/O supply rails; follow the Altera power play early estimator to size regulators using your actual LE toggling rates rather than worst-case numbers. Estimated: with 15,408 LEs at moderate utilization and 65-nm core silicon, core current is typically well under 1 A, but I/O rail current scales directly with the number of simultaneously switching outputs and load capacitance - budget 10 mA per actively switching I/O with 15 pF load as a planning figure and verify with the PowerPlay estimator before finalizing the DC-DC converter selection.

The PQFP-240 has a 0.5 mm pin pitch requiring careful solder-paste stencil design; use a 1:1 aperture with additional thermal relief on corner pins to prevent tombstoning during reflow. Assign decoupling capacitors (mix of 0.1 uF and 10 uF ceramics) within 5 mm of the supply pins on the QFP perimeter, one pair per bank. Keep the JTAG chain (TDI/TMS/TCK/TDO) routed with series 33-ohm resistors near the connector to damp reflections during in-system programming.

Do not assume all 160 maximum I/O are available: per the Altera package data sheet, the usable count depends on your configuration scheme (AS pins, PS pins, and dedicated configuration pins are consumed differently) and on voltage-bank assignments. Mixing 3.3 V and 2.5 V standards requires careful bank planning done BEFORE routing, because PQFP banks are fixed to physical pin groups. Finally, remember that grade 8 timing closures are slower than grade 7 - if static timing fails at 100 MHz+ on grade 8, the drop-in EP3C16Q240C7N resolves it without a board change.

Informações de conformidade

RoHS
Unknown
REACH
Unknown
AEC-Q100
Not Applicable
Sem chumbo
Unknown
Sem halogênios
Unknown
Minerais de conflito
Unknown

Compliance status was not stated in the provided verified web data; verify against the Intel/Altera product page and material declaration reports before shipping to restricted markets.

Dados verificados em: 2026-09-14 — dados verificados e curados pela equipe de engenharia de componentes da XAIPART

Buscas relacionadas

EP3C16Q240C8N EP3C16Q240C8N datasheet PDF Altera Cyclone III EP3C16Q240C8N EP3C16Q240C8N price buy EP3C16Q240C8N 15408 logic elements FPGA 240-PQFP FPGA EP3C16Q240C8N pinout EP3C16Q240C8N vs EP3C25Q240C8N EP3C16Q240C8N drop-in replacement EP3C16Q240C8N equivalent substitute Cyclone III FPGA industrial motor control EP3C16Q240C8N configuration AS PS JTAG what can replace EP3C16Q240C8N

Componentes & termos relacionados

Altera Intel EP3C16Q240C8N EP3C25Q240C8N EP3C10Q240C8N EP3C5Q240C8N EP3C16Q240C7N Cyclone III FPGA field-programmable gate array logic element M9K memory block PQFP-240 240-BFQFP JTAG AS configuration PS configuration PLL Quartus II 65 nm process DigiKey Mouser Octopart RoHS Verilog
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