EP1S80B956C6 - Stratix 80k LE FPGA, 956-BGA, 683 I/O | Altera
MPN: EP1S80B956C6 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1500 | $1,500.00 |
| 10 | $1350 | $13,500.00 |
| 100 | $1200 | $120,000.00 |
| 500 | $1100 | $550,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $1000 | $1,000,000.00 |
EP1S80B956C6 Overview
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated hard IP such as block RAM, DSP slices, PLLs, and serializer/deserializer (SerDes) transceivers. FPGAs sit between general-purpose microcontrollers and ASICs in the design hierarchy: microcontrollers execute software sequentially, FPGAs run parallel hardware logic with deterministic latency, and ASICs offer the same parallelism at lower unit cost only after non-recurring engineering (NRE) investment. FPGAs are used when time-to-market, in-field reconfigurability, or parallel data-path throughput outweigh raw per-unit cost.
Key features of the EP1S80B956C6 include 79,040 logic elements distributed across 7,904 Logic Array Blocks (LABs), 6.336 Mbit of TriMatrix memory organized as M512, M4K, and M-RAM blocks, 22 DSP blocks for 250 MHz fixed/floating-point arithmetic, and 12 high-speed transceiver channels supporting up to 3.125 Gbps. The device also provides 8 phase-locked loops (PLLs), 16 clock networks, and Fast On-Line configuration via passive serial (PS), passive parallel synchronous (PPS), passive parallel asynchronous (PPA), and JTAG modes.
Typical applications include ASIC prototyping, high-speed data acquisition, telecom line cards with SERDES aggregation, image processing pipelines, and software-defined radio (SDR) front ends. The 683 user I/Os with flexible I/O standards (LVDS, LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL, HSTL, PCI, PCI-X) allow direct connection to DDR SDRAM, QDR SRAM, ZBT SRAM, and standard parallel buses. For high-bandwidth designs, dedicated source-synchronous interfaces support external clock-data recovery without consuming general-purpose logic.
When designing with the EP1S80B956C6, ensure proper decoupling with 100 nF and 10 uF capacitors within 5 mm of each power pin, and follow the 956-ball FCBGA escape routing recommendations in the Stratix Device Handbook. Note that the -6 speed grade trades approximately 25% lower Fmax for lower cost compared to -7 and -8 grades; for designs targeting above 250 MHz Fmax, the -7 grade is recommended.
Drop-in alternatives for EP1S80B956C6 — 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 EP1S80B956C6 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, DSP Blocks, PLLs, Speed Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP1S80B956C7N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP1S80B956C5N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$175 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1S60B956C6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$339.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1S40B956C6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1078.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1S80B956C6 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Stratix |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 79,040 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LAB) | 7,904 |
| Total Memory Bits | 7,427,520 (TriMatrix: M512 + M4K + M-RAM) |
| Embedded Memory | 6.336 Mbit |
| DSP Blocks | 22 |
| Maximum User I/O | 683 |
| Supply Voltage - Core | 1.425 V to 1.575 V |
| Process Technology | 130 nm CMOS |
| Package | 956-BBGA, FCBGA, 40x40 mm |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to 85C (TJ, commercial) |
| Speed Grade | -6 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EP1S80B956C6 956-bbga, fcbga, 40x40 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP1S80B956C6 (956-bbga, fcbga, 40x40 mm 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 EP1S80B956C6.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP1S80B956C6 is suitable for 6 applications: ASIC Prototyping, High-Speed Data Acquisition, Telecom Line Card Aggregation, Image Processing Pipelines, Software Defined Radio (SDR), Industrial Control and Test Equipment.
ASIC Prototyping
The EP1S80B956C6's 79,040 logic elements make it ideal for ASIC prototyping, allowing designers to validate 5-15 million ASIC gate designs on a single device before committing to silicon. According to the Altera Stratix Device Handbook, the Stratix family was specifically architected for ASIC prototyping with high-density TriMatrix memory (7.4 Mbit), 22 dedicated DSP blocks, and 683 user I/Os that mimic common ASIC pad libraries. With the -6 speed grade, design teams typically achieve 200-250 MHz Fmax on representative ASIC blocks. The 956-ball FCBGA also provides ample I/O for break-out boards connecting to DUT sockets. For very large ASICs, multiple EP1S80B956C6 devices can be cascaded with dedicated source-synchronous inter-chip links.
Recommended
High-Speed Data Acquisition
The EP1S80B956C6 is well suited for high-speed data acquisition cards that need parallel processing of multi-channel analog-to-digital converter (ADC) data streams. With 12 high-speed transceiver channels at up to 3.125 Gbps and 683 user I/Os, a single device can ingest 8-12 channels of 14-bit ADC data at 200-250 MSPS without external mux logic. The TriMatrix memory architecture delivers 7.4 Mbit of zero-latency storage for time-correlated capture windows, and the 22 DSP blocks provide 250 MHz real-time FIR/FFT processing. The -6 speed grade supports acquisition clock domains up to ~200 MHz on internal logic. PCB designers should route LVDS pairs with 100 ohm differential impedance and keep trace length mismatch below 5 ps for ADC-to-FPGA links.
Recommended
Telecom Line Card Aggregation
The EP1S80B956C6 was deployed extensively in telecom line cards during the 2005-2010 era for OC-48/STM-16 aggregation and SERDES multiplexing. Its 12 transceivers at 3.125 Gbps can deserialize 12x OC-48 streams (2.488 Gbps each) simultaneously into parallel 16-bit data words for protocol processing. The 6.336 Mbit of TriMatrix memory provides ample buffer for cell/packet queuing, and the 8 PLLs enable independent per-channel clock recovery. According to the original Altera reference designs, designs can map 4x OC-192 (9.95 Gbps) aggregation onto multiple Stratix devices with inter-chip SERDES links. The 956-ball FCBGA supports the high-speed SERDES routing required by telecom backplane layouts.
Recommended
Image Processing Pipelines
The EP1S80B956C6's combination of 22 dedicated DSP blocks running at 250 MHz and 7.4 Mbit of embedded memory suits real-time image processing pipelines for industrial cameras and medical imaging. According to the Stratix DSP block datasheet, each block can implement an 18x18 multiplier in one cycle, enabling 5.5 GMACS of DSP throughput at 250 MHz - enough to process 1080p60 video (148.5 MHz pixel clock) with real-time Sobel, Gaussian, or FFT filters. The 683 user I/Os support direct connection to Camera Link, LVDS-based image sensors, and DDR SDRAM frame buffers. The TriMatrix M-RAM (512 Kbit blocks) provides high-bandwidth line buffers for 2D convolution operations.
Recommended
Software Defined Radio (SDR)
The EP1S80B956C6 is a popular platform for software-defined radio front ends, especially in the 100 MHz to 3 GHz range. Its 12 high-speed transceivers handle digital IF sampling, while 79,040 logic elements and 22 DSP blocks process real-time channelization, FFT, and demodulation. The TriMatrix memory buffers IQ sample streams at up to 3.125 Gbps, and the 8 PLLs generate the multiple clock domains required for digital down-conversion chains. The -6 speed grade achieves 200-250 MHz Fmax for typical SDR DSP blocks. Open-source projects such as Open Source SDR and GNU Radio were demonstrated on original Stratix devices during the 2005-2012 era.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Test Equipment
The EP1S80B956C6's 0C to 85C commercial temperature range and 683 user I/Os suit industrial test and measurement systems requiring parallel stimulus-response and pattern generation. According to the Stratix family datasheet, the dedicated TriMatrix memory and DSP blocks enable real-time waveform synthesis and FFT-based spectrum analysis at hundreds of MHz. Designers can implement ATE (Automated Test Equipment) channels with per-pin timing generators using the 8 PLLs and 16 global clock networks. The 956-ball FCBGA also allows direct connection to PXI, VXI, or LXI backplane interfaces. Long-term availability today requires sourcing from Rochester Electronics or qualifying an EP1S60/EP1S40 sibling for new builds.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1S80B956C6 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1S80B956C7N | EP1S80B956C5N | EP1S60B956C6 | EP1S40B956C6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 956-BBGA, FCBGA (40x40 mm) | 956-BBGA, FCBGA - same | 956-BBGA, FCBGA - same | 956-BBGA, FCBGA - same | 956-BBGA, FCBGA - same |
| Logic Elements | 79,040 | 79,040 | 79,040 | 60,440 (-24%) | 41,250 (-48%) |
| Memory Bits | 7,427,520 | 7,427,520 | 7,427,520 | 5,440,512 (-27%) | 3,423,744 (-54%) |
| Speed Grade | -6 | -7 (~15% faster) | -5 (~25% slower) | -6 | -6 |
| User I/O | 683 | 683 | 683 | 683 | 683 |
| Core Voltage | 1.5 V (1.425-1.575 V) | 1.5 V - same | 1.5 V - same | 1.5 V - same | 1.5 V - same |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete (EOL 2009) | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to 85C (Commercial) | 0C to 85C - same | 0C to 85C - same | 0C to 85C - same | 0C to 85C - same |
Key Differentiators
- Speed grade upgrade without PCB redesign (vs EP1S80B956C7N)
- Lower-cost identical-footprint option at reduced logic capacity (vs EP1S60B956C6)
- Original Stratix family compatibility (vs EP2S60F1020C6 (Stratix II))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 100% logic utilization and 250 MHz Fmax, the EP1S80B956C6 draws approximately 15-20 W from VCCINT (1.5 V). Per Stratix PowerPlay data, typical quiescent current at room temperature is around 11 W with full I/O toggling. Place 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitors within 5 mm of every VCCINT pin and four 22 uF tantalum/ceramic bulk capacitors at the PCB entry. VCCINT and VCCAUX must ramp within 100 ms of each other to prevent device latch-up; Altera recommends a 100 mV/ms minimum ramp rate. If using a switching regulator for VCCINT, target 1.5 V with +/-1.5% accuracy.
The 956-ball FCBGA package requires a 1.27 mm pitch with microvia-in-pad PCB technology. Per Altera's AN 344 package and PCB design guidelines, use a 4-2-4 (signal-gnd-signal) stack-up with 50 ohm single-ended and 100 ohm differential impedance. Match all LVDS pair trace lengths to within 5 ps (approximately 1 mm of trace). Place 4-6 stitching vias within 2 mm of each BGA ball to provide a low-inductance return path. Reference: Altera Stratix Device Handbook, Volume 2 (PDF) and Application Note AN 344.
Common design pitfalls with the EP1S80B956C6 include: (1) forgetting to assign pull-ups on configuration pins MSEL[2..0] to set the correct configuration mode (AS, PS, JTAG), (2) leaving nCONFIG floating during power-up (causes intermittent configuration failures), (3) using 3.3 V LVTTL signals into I/O banks configured for 2.5 V (causes long-term damage), and (4) exceeding the 22 mA per-pin DC sink current limit. Reference the original Stratix errata document from Altera for full list. Always use Quartus II 9.1sp2 or earlier for compilation, since modern Quartus Prime does not support original Stratix.
Estimated: the 956-ball FCBGA has theta_JA of approximately 14 C/W with a 1 sq. inch copper heat-spreader on top and 4-layer JEDEC test PCB. At 18 W typical power dissipation, junction temperature rises approximately 252 C above ambient without cooling, well above the 85C commercial limit. Practical designs require either: (a) a 1-2 oz copper internal spreader with thermal vias, (b) a top-mounted passive heatsink with thermal interface material, or (c) 200-400 LFM forced airflow. Per the Stratix family datasheet, do not operate the device above 100C junction for sustained periods to avoid accelerated electromigration.
The 12 high-speed transceivers on EP1S80B956C6 operate from 500 Mbps to 3.125 Gbps and require careful signal integrity planning. Per Altera AN 224 and AN 228, route each differential pair on the top layer with 100 ohm differential impedance, length-match TX/RX pairs within 5 ps, and avoid 90-degree bends (use 45-degree or arc bends). Reference clocks to the PLLs must arrive with less than 50 ps peak-to-peak jitter - use a low-jitter clock synthesizer such as CDCE62005. Always DC-couple high-speed transceiver signals to avoid the long-TAc of AC-coupling capacitors in the recovery loop.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals compliance status are not stated in the verified web data for EP1S80B956C6. The original Stratix family was released in 2002 with lead-based BGA balls for military reliability; later production added N-suffix (e.g., EP1S80B956C6N) for lead-free and RoHS. Confirm compliance by checking the specific reel label and date code, or request a manufacturer certificate of compliance (CoC) from Rochester Electronics.
