EP1K50QC208-1 ACEX-1K 50K-Gate FPGA, 208PQFP | Altera
MPN: EP1K50QC208-1 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $21.5 | $21.50 |
| 10 | $18.9 | $189.00 |
| 100 | $15.75 | $1,575.00 |
| 500 | $13.2 | $6,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $11.4 | $11,400.00 |
EP1K50QC208-1 Overview
An FPGA is a semiconductor device containing programmable logic blocks and programmable interconnect that the designer configures after manufacturing to implement custom digital hardware. The ACEX-1K family sits in the FPGA > programmable logic device (PLD) > digital integrated circuit hierarchy. It combines an embedded array for memory and specialized functions with a logic array of LEs, enabling low-cost system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) integration for moderate-complexity designs.
Key differentiating features of the EP1K50QC208-1 include 2.5V core operation, 360 LABs arranged in the ACEX-1K logic array, 40,960 bits of embedded RAM, 147 user I/O pins, and a -1 speed grade that provides the fastest timing performance in the family. The commercial temperature grade classifies this device for standard 0C to +85C applications, and the 208-pin BFQFP package supports dense board-level routing with a square gull-wing lead form.
Architecturally, the ACEX-1K device uses a LUT-based logic array plus an embedded array optimized for memory and arithmetic megafunctions. This dual-array architecture distinguishes it from simpler CPLDs and offers onboard memory without a separate RAM chip. Typical signal-chain tasks include bus interfacing, protocol conversion, and control-plane glue logic; the 250 MHz capability allows the device to bridge high-speed asynchronous buses while consuming a small board area.
Designers commonly choose EP1K50QC208-1 for legacy industrial controllers, communications line cards, test equipment front ends, video/image preprocessing sub-systems, and existing-board repair projects. Its 147 I/O pins permit parallel data buses, memory interfaces, and peripheral signalling on one package. For moderate gate-count designs, this part balances capacity, I/O, and cost.
When designing with this device, ensure 2.5V core decoupling with multiple low-ESR ceramic capacitors near the package. The FPGA is SRAM-based and must be configured from an external serial configuration source at each power-up, so reserve the configuration pins and a JTAG chain for debug.
This page provides verified distributor context, same-family pin-compatible alternatives in the 208-BFQFP footprint, practical design notes, and pricing signals not consolidated in Altera's compact datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EP1K50QC208-1 — 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 EP1K50QC208-1 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Process Technology, Mounting Type, Speed Grade, Maximum Operating Frequency, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP1K50QC208-1N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →EP1K50QC208-2
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$20.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50QC208-2N
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$27.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50QC208-3
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$12.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50QC208-3N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$13.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1K50QC208-1 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) |
| Family | ACEX-1K |
| Number of Logic Elements | 2880 |
| Number of LABs | 360 |
| Total RAM Bits | 40960 bits |
| Total Gates | 50000 (50K gates) |
| User I/Os | 147 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V |
| Process Technology | 0.22 um |
| Maximum Core Clock Frequency | 250 MHz |
| Speed Grade | -1 |
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP208) |
| Number of Pins | 208 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (Gull Wing) |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial |
| Manufacturer Status | Obsolete / Not recommended for new designs |
| RoHS Status | unknown |
EP1K50QC208-1 208-bfqfp (pqfp208) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP1K50QC208-1 (208-bfqfp (pqfp208) 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 EP1K50QC208-1.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP1K50QC208-1 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Bus Bridge and Glue Logic Replacement, Industrial Automation and Machine Control, Communication Interface and Protocol Conversion, Video and Image Signal Preprocessing, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, System-on-a-Programmable-Chip Prototyping.
Legacy Bus Bridge and Glue Logic Replacement
The EP1K50QC208-1 provides 147 user I/Os and 2,880 logic elements, which is well matched to replacing multiple small PLDs, bus transceivers, and address-decoding glue in aging boards. In a legacy bus bridge, it can combine address decoding, read/write strobe generation, wait-state insertion, and interrupt routing into one 208-pin device. Its 2.5V core and commercial temperature rating mean it fits existing 2.5V-era industrial and telecom products without changing the power rail. Designers should verify that the legacy board's other devices are compatible with the FPGA's configurable I/O banks, and confirm that the EP1K50QC208-1's 40,960 bits of RAM are sufficient for any FIFO or register-file functions previously implemented. Because this is an obsolete part, use it mainly for field-service replacement or mature products with stable forecast.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and Machine Control
For existing industrial control panels, the EP1K50QC208-1 can implement machine state logic, sensor input conditioning, interlock sequencing, and parallel data transfer to a host MCU or DSP. The device's 147 I/Os allow direct connection to optocoupler outputs, relay driver inputs, and 8/16-bit data buses. Its embedded 40,960 RAM bits buffer small measurement records or alarm logs without an external SRAM. The 2.5V core is an older logic-rail level; therefore level shifters are needed if the surrounding PLC I/O uses 24V or 5V logic. The -1 speed grade adds margin for fast scan times, but the commercial temperature range may limit deployment in unheated enclosures. In legacy production machines already using ACEX-1K, this is a direct replacement part if the original configuration bitstream is preserved.
Recommended
Communication Interface and Protocol Conversion
The EP1K50QC208-1 is suitable for protocol conversion in legacy communications equipment, such as bridging UART-style byte streams, HDLC frames, or simple parallel bus traffic. With 147 I/O pins, engineers can allocate separate ports for the incoming bus, the outgoing bus, status LEDs, and control handshakes. The 40,960 RAM bits support line buffers and packet pre-processing without tying up valuable FPGA gate resources. Its 250 MHz maximum-core frequency is adequate for moderate-rate serial transfers when the design uses oversampling and state machines rather than multigigabit transceivers, which this FPGA does not support. The device must be configured from external serial memory at every power-up, so a companion configuration device or processor-driven download is required. For line-card repair in legacy telecom systems, this part provides a socket-compatible replacement with the original or recompiled configuration.
Recommended
Video and Image Signal Preprocessing
With 2,880 LEs and 40,960 RAM bits, the EP1K50QC208-1 can handle small line buffers, windowing, thresholding, and pixel formatting in legacy video capture or display systems. Its 147 I/Os allow parallel input from analog-to-digital converters and output to display controllers or memory chips. The embedded array is useful for implementing dual-port RAM as line stores in video processing, reducing external memory parts. The -1 speed grade provides the timing headroom for pixel clocks in the tens of megahertz range. A designer should confirm the pixel data rate against the FPGA's routing/timing results after place-and-route, because ACEX-1K has no hard DSP blocks or serdes. This application fits a repair or small-batch product where the original ACEX-1K config can be reused without PCB rework.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
The EP1K50QC208-1 can act as the digital front end in bench instruments, data-acquisition cards, and legacy testers. Its 147 I/Os connect to ADC/DAC parallel interfaces, trigger comparators, front-panel switches, and status displays. The programmable logic replaces fixed CPLD/glue logic and adds moderate RAM for capture buffers. The 2.5V core must be generated or regulated from an available 3.3V rail, and I/O banks need to match the external transceiver voltage. With the -1 speed grade, engineers can implement high-speed acquisition state machines and pattern generators with acceptable timing margins for moderate test rates. As an obsolete component, usage is best limited to service, spares, or redesign validation; for new test instruments, use a modern low-cost FPGA with larger RAM and more capable I/O standards.
Recommended
System-on-a-Programmable-Chip Prototyping
Academics and legacy-system maintainers can use the EP1K50QC208-1 to prototype small SOPC designs that combine an embedded Nios or custom state machine, memory, and I/O peripherals in one device. The ACEX-1K architecture was designed for low-cost SOPC integration, and the 40,960 RAM bits plus 147 I/Os are enough for simple soft-core systems. Because the part is 2.5V-only and package fan-out is a 208-pin BFQFP, prototyping requires an adapter or legacy board that matches the old land pattern. The design flow is MAX+PLUS II or early Quartus, which is much older than current Intel FPGA tools and may run best in a virtual machine. This application is valuable for studying historical FPGA architecture, re-hosting existing IP, or reverse-engineering older products rather than starting new commercial designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1K50QC208-1 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1K50QC208-1N | EP1K50QC208-2N | EP1K50QC208-3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-BFQFP | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Speed Grade | -1 (fastest) | -1 (fastest) | -2 (middle) | -3 (slowest) |
| Number of Logic Elements | 2880 | 2880 | 2880 | 2880 |
| Total RAM Bits | 40960 | 40960 | 40960 | 40960 |
| User I/Os | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
| Lead-Free Finish | Not indicated by the non-N suffix | N suffix indicates lead-free finish | N suffix indicates lead-free finish | N suffix indicates lead-free finish |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest available speed grade in the ACEX-1K 208-BFQFP family (vs EP1K50QC208-3N)
- Embedded 40,960 RAM bits without external SRAM (vs EP1K30QC208-1)
- Same-footprint replacement family enables supply flexibility (vs EP1K50QC208-2N / EP1K50QC208-3N)
Design Notes
Estimated: A 50K-gate ACEX-1K core design at 250 MHz may draw roughly 150-400 mA from the 2.5V core depending on utilization, toggling rate, and I/O load, plus additional current on I/O supplies. Use a low-dropout regulator or small DC-DC able to supply 0.5 A with margin. Place at least one 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor near each VCC/GND pin pair and a bulk 10 uF capacitor near the package perimeter. Confirm actual current from the ACEX-1K power calculator or a prototype measurement because the web does not provide a direct Icc table for the 50K device.
The ACEX-1K is SRAM-based, so it must be reconfigured every time power is applied. Typical ACEX-1K systems use an Altera EPC configuration device or a processor that writes the bitstream through passive serial or JTAG. Reserve the dedicated nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE, DCLK, and DATA pins on the 208-pin QFP and verify they are not loaded by unrelated logic. If you replace the original -1 part with a -2 or -3 speed-grade device, re-run timing and regenerate the configuration bitstream to ensure clock constraints still close.
The EP1K50QC208-1 uses a 208-lead gull-wing QFP with very fine pitch. During board layout, keep traces from the FPGA to memory and bus interfaces length-matched for parallel signals, and provide a quiet ground plane below the device. Because this is an obsolete part, preserve legacy tooling and original netlist compatibility when replacing a soldered device. If repairing a board, inspect for solder bridges between adjacent QFP leads and use an appropriate QFP stencil. For best signal integrity, route clocks away from the configuration pins and place series terminations near the FPGA outputs for high-speed parallel buses.
Compliance Information
The verified web data does not contain a RoHS/REACH statement for the non-N EP1K50QC208-1. The -1N variant uses the Altera 'N' lead-free suffix convention, but full compliance for the standard variant should be confirmed from the original Altera/Intel datasheet or distributor compliance documentation.
