EP1C6F256I7L - Cyclone FPGA, 5,980 LEs, 256-BGA | Intel / Altera
MPN: EP1C6F256I7L ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $41.93 | $41.93 |
| 10 | $39.8 | $398.00 |
| 100 | $35.5 | $3,550.00 |
| 500 | $31.2 | $15,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $27.4 | $27,400.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for EP1C6F256I7L — 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:
EP1C6F256I7
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View Datasheet →EP1C6F256C8N
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View Datasheet →EP1C6F256C7N
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View Datasheet →EP1C6F256C6N
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View Datasheet →EP1C12F256I7N
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View Datasheet →EP1C20F256I7N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP4CE6F256I7N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP1C6F256I7L Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone |
| Logic Elements | 5,980 |
| Total RAM Bits | 92,160 |
| Embedded Memory Blocks | 20 M4K blocks (4 Kbit each) |
| User I/Os | 185 |
| PLLs | 2 |
| Package | 256-BGA (FBGA, 17x17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) |
| Process Technology | 0.13 µm SRAM |
| Core Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Speed Grade | I7 (-7, industrial) |
| Operating Junction Temperature | -40C to +100C |
| Configuration Modes | Passive Serial, Active Serial, JTAG |
| External Memory Support | DDR SDRAM, QDR SRAM, FCRAM |
| I/O Standards | LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, SSTL, HSTL, LVDS |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (L suffix) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EP1C6F256I7L 256-bga (fbga, 17x17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) Pin Configuration Guide
Complete pinout information for EP1C6F256I7L (256-bga (fbga, 17x17 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) package). 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 EP1C6F256I7L.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
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
EP1C6F256I7L is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control & Glue Logic, Video Frame Buffer / Display Bridging, Protocol Bridging (I2C/SPI to UART/GPIO/MIPI), Motor Control Pre-Processing, Test & Measurement Instrumentation Front-End, Low-Density DSP / Pre-Processing Front-End.
Industrial Control & Glue Logic
The EP1C6F256I7L's 5,980 LEs and 185 user I/Os make it well-suited to industrial PLC backplanes where it consolidates multiple discrete logic functions into a single reconfigurable device. Industrial temperature rating (junction -40C to +100C) and lead-free 256-BGA finish meet factory-floor reliability requirements. Placed alongside a microcontroller, the Cyclone handles custom peripheral interfaces, encoder decoding, and pulse-train generation in parallel, offloading deterministic real-time tasks from the MCU. Designers typically instantiate ALTPLL for motor-control clock generation and SOPC Builder for Nios II soft-core integration when logic capacity permits.
Recommended
Video Frame Buffer / Display Bridging
With 92 Kbit of M4K RAM (20 dual-port blocks) and DDR-SDRAM support via dedicated DQS pins, the EP1C6F256I7L can buffer video frames between sensors and LCD controllers in mid-resolution applications. The 256-BGA package exposes sufficient LVDS pairs for parallel RGB or BT.656 inputs, while ALTMEMPHY megafunctions handle DDR line-rate transfers up to 133 MHz. Compared to a CPLD, the Cyclone offers far larger FIFOs and full RGB-to-LVDS conversion without external glue logic, reducing board area and BOM cost. Quartus II video IP (VIP) simplifies color-space conversion and chroma resampling.
Recommended
Protocol Bridging (I2C/SPI to UART/GPIO/MIPI)
Engineers use the EP1C6F256I7L as a hardware-protocol bridge when off-the-shelf ICs cannot connect legacy and modern peripherals. Its 185 I/Os easily accommodate multi-master I2C, quad SPI, UART, and GPIO fan-out in a single device, while the two PLLs derive independent baud-rate clocks. The Cyclone's parallel fabric outperforms microcontroller bit-banging by 10x-100x for throughput-bound tasks such as SPI-to-parallel camera capture. Industrial temperature rating suits automotive aftermarket and factory sensor hubs.
Recommended
Motor Control Pre-Processing
The EP1C6F256I7L handles encoder quadrature decoding, Hall-sensor commutation, and PWM generation ahead of a microcontroller or DSP in servo and stepper drive systems. Two PLLs multiply a low-frequency crystal to the PWM carrier frequency and provide phase-shifted clocks for three-phase inverter timing. 185 I/Os support multi-axis drives with parallel feedback. The 100C industrial junction temperature and lead-free BGA finish withstand drive-cabinet thermal environments where convection cooling is limited.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Instrumentation Front-End
In bench instruments and data-acquisition modules, the EP1C6F256I7L acts as a programmable timing generator, trigger router, and signal-conditioning matrix. Its 92 Kbit M4K RAM captures pre-trigger samples, while 185 I/Os route multiple analog-front-end channels to an ADC. LVDS support up to 303 Mbps simplifies connection to high-speed ADCs. Compared to discrete 74-series logic, the Cyclone shrinks a typical trigger-and-timing board from 8-12 ICs to 1, improving cost and reliability. Quartus II SignalTap II provides on-chip logic-analyzer visibility.
Recommended
Low-Density DSP / Pre-Processing Front-End
Before a dedicated DSP or ARM processor takes over, the EP1C6F256I7L can perform FIR filtering, FFT pre-processing, and sample-rate conversion in parallel hardware. Its 92 Kbit of dual-port RAM holds FFT twiddle factors and overlap-save buffers, while 185 I/Os connect to parallel ADC buses. Engineers typically use the ALTMULT_ADD and ALTMULT_ACCUM megafunctions for fixed-point MAC operations, achieving 16-bit MAC throughputs of several hundred MSPS at I7 speed grade. This front-end pattern is common in SDR, audio processing, and vibration-analysis modules.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1C6F256I7L — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1C6F256I7 | EP1C6F256C8N | EP1C12F256I7N | EP1C20F256I7N | EP4CE6F256I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera |
| Package | 256-BGA (FBGA, 17x17 mm) | 256-BGA (FBGA) - same | 256-BGA (FBGA) - same | 256-BGA (FBGA) - same | 256-BGA (FBGA) - same | 256-BGA (FBGA) - same |
| Logic Elements | 5,980 | 5,980 (same die) | 5,980 (same die) | 12,060 | 20,060 | 6,272 (Cyclone IV E) |
| Total RAM Bits | 92,160 | 92,160 | 92,160 | 239,616 | 294,912 | 270,000 |
| User I/Os | 185 | 185 | 185 | 185 | 185 | 179 |
| PLLs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +100C (industrial) | -40C to +100C (industrial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | -40C to +100C (industrial) | -40C to +100C (industrial) | -40C to +100C (industrial) |
| Speed Grade | I7 (mid) | I7 | C8 (slower) | I7 | I7 | I7 |
| Ball Finish | Lead-free (Pb-free) | Tin-lead (SnPb) | Lead-free | Lead-free | Lead-free | Lead-free |
| Core Voltage | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.2 V |
Key Differentiators
- Pb-free lead-free finish in 256-BGA (vs EP1C6F256I7)
- Industrial temperature grade with I7 speed (vs EP1C6F256C8N)
- Mid-density Cyclone with 185 user I/Os (vs EP1C12F256I7N)
Design Notes
Estimated: at typical utilization (60% LE, 50% RAM, 2 PLLs, 100 MHz) the EP1C6F256I7L core draws approximately 200-350 mA from VCCINT (1.5 V), plus I/O bank current scaled by switching frequency. The 256-BGA requires a low-impedance power plane for VCCINT (1.5 V), VCCIO (per-bank, 1.5/1.8/2.5/3.3 V), and PLL analog supply. Decouple each of the four VCCIO banks with 0.1 µF and 10 µF ceramic caps within 5 mm of the BGA balls; place 1.0 µF and 0.1 µF caps directly on VCCINT and VCCA_PLL balls.
The 256-BGA at 1.0 mm pitch requires 4-6 layer PCB with via-in-pad or microvia fan-out. Recommended stack-up: signal + GND + power + GND + signal, with continuous GND plane under the BGA. Matched-length trace tuning for DDR and LVDS is essential; use the Quartus II TimeQuest timing analyzer with board IBIS models. Expose TDI/TDO/TMS/TCK balls to a JTAG header for in-system programming; expose MSEL[2:0] balls to set the configuration mode (00=AS, 01=PS, 10=JTAG-only, 11=fast AS).
Do not attempt to migrate an EP1C6F256I7L board to a Cyclone IV E (EP4CE6F256) by simple part substitution without re-running Quartus timing closure: the core voltage changes from 1.5 V to 1.2 V, the PLL parameters differ, and a few configuration pins have moved. Also avoid substituting the EP1C6F256I7 (tin-lead) onto a board designed for the L (lead-free) without checking reflow profile compatibility. Always regenerate configuration data when changing speed grade (I7 vs C8) since timing paths re-balance.
Compliance Information
L suffix confirms lead-free (Pb-free) finish for RoHS assembly. Halogen-free status not stated in available data - verified data marked [DATA_NEEDED: halogen-free]. AEC-Q100 not applicable (FPGA, not an automotive-qualified analog IC).
