EP1K100QC208-3N - ACEX-1K FPGA 100K Gates | Altera
MPN: EP1K100QC208-3N β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $35 | $35.00 |
| 10 | $31.5 | $315.00 |
| 100 | $27 | $2,700.00 |
| 500 | $23 | $11,500.00 |
| 1,000 | $19.5 | $19,500.00 |
EP1K100QC208-3N Overview
An FPGA is a semiconductor device whose logic fabric and routing can be reprogrammed in-system to implement arbitrary digital functions. ACEX-1K sits between simple CPLDs and dense high-end FPGAs: it provides SRAM-based look-up table logic with embedded array blocks (EABs) for on-chip memory, making it useful for protocol bridging, video timing, and custom peripheral controllers. In the device hierarchy it belongs to programmable logic devices (PLDs), specifically SRAM-based FPGAs, and the package family is plastic quad flat pack (PQFP/BFQFP) in a surface-mount form.
Key features include 4,992 logic elements arranged in 624 logic array blocks, 49,152 RAM bits usable as FIFOs or dual-port RAM, 147 user I/O pins that can connect to 2.5V/3.3V logic systems, built-in JTAG boundary-scan test circuitry compliant with IEEE Std. 1149.1-1990, and the -3 speed grade rated for a 200MHz internal clock.
The device uses a 2.5V CMOS core with a low-power SRAM-based configuration cell. The ACEX-1K architecture combines look-up-table logic with dedicated carry chains for arithmetic and embedded array blocks for efficient memory. This structure allows compact implementations of counters, state machines, small processors, and bus interfaces. The 208-pin BFQFP provides 147 accessible I/O pins, with the remaining pins allocated to power, ground, configuration, and JTAG functions. Its square gull-wing package can be assembled on standard PCB processes without a BGA socket or interposer.
Typical applications include communications line cards, industrial control bridging, scan-rate conversion, display timing controllers, and glue-logic replacement in legacy digital systems. Because the 100K typical gate count and 49,152 bits of RAM are large for its era but moderate today, engineers often use the EP1K100QC208-3N to prototype digital logic before migrating to a current FPGA, or to patch an existing ACEX-1K board without changing the PCB.
One important design consideration is decoupling and I/O voltage. Core and I/O supplies should be filtered with 0.1uF ceramic capacitors, and the 2.5V core must reach all power pins with a low-impedance plane. If configuration data is stored in an external EPROM, the EPC2/EPC16 configuration device must be selected for ACEX-1K compatibility.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet. It enables engineers to compare EP1K100QC208-3N with higher speed grades, verify package compatibility, and plan a trustworthy upgrade path for existing ACEX-1K hardware.
Drop-in alternatives for EP1K100QC208-3N β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with EP1K100QC208-3N (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Process Technology, Package, Family, Speed Grade, Total RAM Bits.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP1K100QC208-2N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$16.42 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP1K100QC208-1N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$16.29 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP1K100QC208-2
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$17.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP1K100QC208-1
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$20.85 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP1K100QC208-3
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$60.04 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP1K100QC208-3N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Series | ACEX-1K |
| Device Type | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| Number of Logic Elements | 4992 |
| Number of LABs | 624 |
| Embedded RAM Bits | 49152 |
| Total Typical Gates | 100K |
| Number of User I/Os | 147 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V |
| Maximum Internal Clock Frequency | 200 MHz |
| Package Type | 208-BFQFP |
| Number of Pins | 208 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| JTAG Boundary Scan | IEEE Std. 1149.1-1990 compliant built-in BST |
| Lead-Free Version | Yes (N suffix) |
EP1K100QC208-3N 208-bfqfp Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP1K100QC208-3N (208-bfqfp 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 EP1K100QC208-3N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP1K100QC208-3N is suitable for 6 applications: Telecom Line Card Bridge, Industrial I/O and Motor Control Glue Logic, Scan Converter and Display Timing Controller, Data Acquisition Front-End Controller, Legacy System Bridge and End-of-Life Maintenance, FPGA Education and Prototyping Platform.
Telecom Line Card Bridge
In telecom central-office line cards, EP1K100QC208-3N can act as a protocol-bridge FPGA between legacy time-division multiplexed (TDM) buses and modern packet backplanes. Its 147 user I/Os can implement a 16-bit data bus plus address decoding, control strobes, and interrupts while leaving spare pins for status LEDs and test headers. The 49,152 RAM bits are enough for small channel FIFOs, and its 100K typical gates fit a time-slot interchange or simple HDLC controller. Running at a 200MHz internal clock budget, the 2.5V-core device minimizes heat in dense cards. Typically paired with an EPC2 configuration PROM and programmed via JTAG, the -3N speed grade is adequate for most TDM line-card control-plane logic; if margin is needed, the -2N is a pin-compatible upgrade.
Recommended
Industrial I/O and Motor Control Glue Logic
Industrial PLC and motor-control cards often need flexible glue logic between sensors, ADCs, and a host microcontroller. The EP1K100QC208-3N provides 4,992 logic elements and 147 I/Os, enough to decode quadrature encoder pulses, generate PWM timing, and implement state machines without occupying the main CPU. Because the ACEX-1K supports a 2.5V core with I/O banks that can connect to 3.3V logic, it interfaces directly with common MCU peripherals through level-appropriate buffers; check the exact I/O tolerance in the datasheet. Designers use EPC2 configuration memory to load logic at power-up. For factory applications, the -3N's conservative speed grade reduces power and EMI, and for timing-critical paths the -2N can drop in with no PCB change.
Recommended
Scan Converter and Display Timing Controller
In a scan-rate converter or display timing controller, EP1K100QC208-3N can buffer lines and generate timing. Its 49,152 RAM bits support line buffers for simple scaling or horizontal/vertical timing corrections, while 147 I/O pins connect to ADCs, SDRAM, and display driver chips. The 200MHz internal clock allows moderate pixel-rate processing, but designers should partition memory-intensive frames to external SDRAM because embedded RAM is limited. The 208-BFQFP package fits typical video PCB assembly, and I/O banks can be configured to 3.3V or 2.5V levels. For designs initially mastered on -3N, later moving to EP1K100QC208-2N or -1N provides extra timing headroom while retaining pin compatibility and the same physical footprint.
Recommended
Data Acquisition Front-End Controller
In data-acquisition and industrial monitoring systems, EP1K100QC208-3N can sequence multiple ADCs and preprocess samples before DMA transfer to a processor. The FPGA's 100K typical gates are sufficient for FIFO control, channel multiplexing, averaging filters, and trigger logic. 147 I/Os easily connect to eight or more parallel ADCs, and 49,152 RAM bits buffer burst samples. Because -3N runs at 200MHz, sample rates below 100MHz are comfortably timed. The 2.5V core must be accompanied by proper decoupling, and I/O threshold selection must match converter logic levels. This FPGA is an excellent gate-array replacement for legacy boards where fixed logic is no longer available.
Recommended
Legacy System Bridge and End-of-Life Maintenance
EP1K100QC208-3N is often used as a bridge to extend the life of legacy Altera ACEX-1K systems. If an existing board originally used EP1K100QC208-3 or another ACEX-1K device in the same 208-BFQFP footprint, this -3N part is a direct drop-in for non-lead-free designs that need RoHS-compliant material. The 147 I/O pins, 49,152 RAM bits, and 4,992 logic elements are pin-compatible and code-compatible within the same package family. Designers can refresh spares and avoid a full board redesign. Since the family is obsolete, cross-brand substitution is not pin-compatible, so creating an adapter or using remaining stock of the -3N is the practical path for legacy hardware maintenance.
Recommended
FPGA Education and Prototyping Platform
Because ACEX-1K devices are old but widely documented, EP1K100QC208-3N is used in education and prototyping to teach FPGA design. It supports classic Altera design flows, JTAG download, and the Quartus II environment, and its 208 pins are easy to route on two-layer boards. The part has enough resources for a simple soft-core processor, LED controllers, UARTs, and bus exercises. Its 2.5V core means the proto board must include a 2.5V regulator, not just 3.3V. Pair with EPC2 for configuration memory; in a classroom, JTAG programming from a USB-Blaster is preferred.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1K100QC208-3N β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1K100QC208-2N | EP1K100QC208-1N | EP1K100QC208-2 | EP1K100QC208-1 | EP1K100QC208-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 208-BFQFP | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same |
| Speed Grade | -3 | -2 | -1 | -2 | -1 | -3 |
| Logic Elements | 4992 | 4992 | 4992 | 4992 | 4992 | 4992 |
| Embedded RAM Bits | 49152 | 49152 | 49152 | 49152 | 49152 | 49152 |
| User I/Os | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 |
| Number of LABs | 624 | 624 | 624 | 624 | 624 | 624 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
| Lead-Free (N Suffix) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Key Differentiators
- Lead-free N suffix adds RoHS assembly compatibility (vs EP1K100QC208-3)
- Conservative -3 speed grade balances power and cost (vs EP1K100QC208-1N)
- Drop-in compatibility with faster ACEX-1K devices (vs EP1K100QC208-2N)
Design Notes
Estimated: With 4,992 logic elements toggling at 20-40% activity, the 2.5V core current may be in the 250-500mA range. Provide a 2.5V supply with at least 1A margin and low-ESR bulk capacitance. Thermal dissipation is then roughly 0.6-1.3W; a modest copper pour or airflow is adequate for commercial environments. Actual current depends on configuration and routing; use the ACEX-1K power estimator in Quartus II for final values.
Place a 0.1uF ceramic capacitor next to each power pin group and 4.7-10uF bulk capacitors on the 2.5V rail. VCCIO pins should be connected to the correct I/O bank supply; if using 3.3V I/O, add 0.1uF decoupling near the bank pins. Keep the EPC2 configuration clock trace short and away from high-speed I/O to avoid startup configuration errors.
Unused ACEX-1K inputs should not be left floating; configure them as inputs with pull-ups or drove them to a known level. Also, confirm whether your assembly line is RoHS-compliant - the -3N suffix is required for lead-free soldering, while the non-N EP1K100QC208-3 may contain tin-lead finish. When switching between -3N and -2N/-1N speed grades, re-run timing analysis because the faster device can have different switching characteristics.
For buses using many of the 147 I/Os, add series termination resistors of 22-33 ohm close to the FPGA outputs to reduce ringing. Avoid a single long trace across the BFQFP package when driving multiple receivers; use a daisy-chain or fanout buffer. Since ACEX-1K is an older CMOS device, fast edge rates can cause crosstalk if parallel outputs switch simultaneously without ground vias.
Compliance Information
The N suffix indicates a lead-free (Pb-free) version of EP1K100QC208-3. Additional RoHS/REACH certification status was not explicitly provided in the fetched data.
