EP1SGX40GF1020I7 - 41,250 Cells Stratix GX FPGA, 130nm, 1020-BGA | Altera
MPN: EP1SGX40GF1020I7 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1850 | $1,850.00 |
| 10 | $1720 | $17,200.00 |
| 100 | $1580 | $158,000.00 |
| 500 | $1450 | $725,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $1320 | $1,320,000.00 |
EP1SGX40GF1020I7 Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) whose logic fabric is composed of configurable logic blocks, embedded memory blocks, DSP blocks, and programmable interconnect that can be rewired after manufacturing. FPGAs sit in the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices -> programmable logic ICs -> digital ICs -> semiconductors. Unlike ASICs, FPGAs deliver hardware-level parallelism and time-to-market advantages for prototyping, low-volume production, and applications requiring late-stage design changes. The Stratix GX family specifically targets high-speed serial interfaces including multi-gigabit transceivers.
Key features include 41,250 logic cells, a combinatorial delay of 9.48 ns per CLB (per EP1SGX40 datasheet family characterization), on-chip transceiver channels with embedded physical coding sublayer (PCS) and physical media attachment (PMA) blocks, support for protocols such as PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet, Serial RapidIO, and XAUI, plus dedicated clock management circuitry and high-speed LVDS I/O. The 1020-ball FC-FBGA package provides the routing density required for hundreds of user I/O plus serial transceiver channels.
Architecturally, the Stratix GX device pairs the standard Stratix logic fabric with hard IP transceivers operating at up to 3.125 Gbps, enabling protocols such as SerialLite, SATA, and PCI Express Gen1 without external PHY chips. Designers can also exploit TriMatrix on-chip memory and DSP blocks for signal processing pipelines.
Typical applications include high-speed serial bridging cards, telecom backplane line cards, software defined radio (SDR) baseband processing, ASIC prototyping platforms, and high-performance compute accelerators. The 'GX' variant specifically suits designs needing multi-gigabit serial links.
Designers should plan thermal management carefully because FC-FBGA packages demand controlled impedance PCB stack-ups, and the I7 industrial temperature grade implies operation from -40C to +100C junction temperature.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package Stratix GX family alternatives, and design considerations not found in a single manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a faster path to validation.
Drop-in alternatives for EP1SGX40GF1020I7 — 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 EP1SGX40GF1020I7 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Series, Process Technology, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP1SGX40GF1020I6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$175 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1SGX40GF1020I5
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1325 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1SGX40DF1020I7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$188 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1SGX40FF1020I7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1500 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1SGX40FF1020I6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$950 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1SGX25FF1020I7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$210 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP1SGX40GF1020I7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Stratix GX |
| Series | EP1SGX40 |
| Logic Cells | 41,250 |
| Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) | 4,125 |
| Total RAM Bits | 3,423,744 |
| User I/O Count | 624 |
| Number of Terminals | 1020 |
| Package Type | FC-FBGA (1020-ball) |
| Package Code | BGA |
| Terminal Form | Ball |
| Package Shape | Square |
| Process Technology | 130 nm CMOS |
| Core Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Combinatorial Delay | 9.48 ns per CLB |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (I7 suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EP1SGX40GF1020I7 Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | IO — User I/O ball (function defined by Quartus pin assignment) |
| Pin B2 | VCC — Core supply 1.5V |
| Pin C3 | GND — Ground |
| Pin D4 | REFCLK — Transceiver reference clock input |
| Pin E5 | TX_P — Transceiver differential transmit positive |
| Pin F6 | TX_N — Transceiver differential transmit negative |
| Pin G7 | RX_P — Transceiver differential receive positive |
| Pin H8 | RX_N — Transceiver differential receive negative |
| Pin J9 | CONFIG — Configuration mode select |
| Pin K10 | MSEL — Configuration voltage select |
| Pin L11 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin M12 | TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin N13 | TDO — JTAG test data out |
| Pin P14 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin R15 | DONE — Configuration done indicator |
| Pin T16 | nCONFIG — Configuration active-low reset |
| Pin U17 | VCCA — Transceiver analog supply |
| Pin V18 | VCCIO — I/O bank supply |
| Pin W19 | CLK — Global clock input |
| Pin Y20 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
EP1SGX40GF1020I7 is suitable for 6 applications: Multi-Gigabit Serial Bridge Cards, Software Defined Radio (SDR) Baseband Processing, Telecom Backplane Line Cards, ASIC Prototyping Platforms, High-Performance Compute Accelerators, Industrial Imaging and Video Processing.
Multi-Gigabit Serial Bridge Cards
The EP1SGX40GF1020I7's hard IP transceivers support PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet, Serial RapidIO, and XAUI at data rates up to 3.125 Gbps, making it ideal for host bus adapter cards and protocol bridge silicon. With 624 user I/O plus dedicated transceiver channels, the device consolidates protocol bridging, packet buffering, and link-layer processing on one die. Engineers commonly use this device as a bridge between backplane serial links and parallel local bus interfaces in storage and telecom line cards.
Recommended
Software Defined Radio (SDR) Baseband Processing
The Stratix GX architecture combines 3,423,744 bits of TriMatrix memory, DSP blocks, and multi-gigabit transceivers, making the EP1SGX40GF1020I7 well-suited to software defined radio baseband pipelines. Its 41,250 logic cells can implement FFT cores, digital down-converters, and channelizers while the transceivers stream ADC data directly into the FPGA. Industrial temperature grading supports outdoor and mobile SDR deployments.
Recommended
Telecom Backplane Line Cards
With 624 user I/O and integrated multi-gigabit transceivers, the EP1SGX40GF1020I7 functions as a line-card controller for telecom backplanes. It aggregates traffic from multiple SFP/XFP optical modules, performs framing and pointer processing, and forwards data to switch fabrics. The 1020-ball FC-FBGA package provides the signal integrity needed for backplane SERDES rates. Altera's Stratix GX family was specifically designed for SONET/SDH, OTN, and Ethernet over optical infrastructures.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping Platforms
The EP1SGX40GF1020I7 offers enough logic density (41,250 cells) and memory bandwidth to prototype mid-complexity ASICs prior to tape-out. Quartus II supports rapid RTL bring-up, and the Stratix GX family shares I/O standards with later Stratix generations, easing migration. Design teams typically build multi-FPGA partitions for ASIC prototyping with the EP1SGX40 as the workhorse device on each partition board.
Recommended
High-Performance Compute Accelerators
The combination of 3,423,744 RAM bits and 41,250 logic cells makes the EP1SGX40GF1020I7 useful as a coprocessor for HPC workloads such as search acceleration, cryptography, and packet inspection. The transceivers enable direct attach to host PCIe slots, while the embedded memory blocks feed high-bandwidth systolic compute arrays. Industrial temperature grading supports ruggedized compute platforms.
Recommended
Industrial Imaging and Video Processing
The 624 user I/O pins and 3.125 Gbps transceivers allow the EP1SGX40GF1020I7 to ingest multi-stream Camera Link, CoaXPress, or HD-SDI video while performing real-time processing in DSP and memory blocks. Industrial temperature grading and the rugged FC-FBGA package suit factory-floor machine vision and medical imaging front-ends. Designers typically pair the device with external DDR memory to provide frame buffering.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP1SGX40GF1020I7 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP1SGX40GF1020I6 | EP1SGX40GF1020I5 | EP1SGX40DF1020I7 | EP1SGX40FF1020I7 | EP1SGX40FF1020I6 | EP1SGX25FF1020I7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 1020-FBGA | 1020-FBGA - same | 1020-FBGA - same | 1020-FBGA - same | 1020-FBGA - same | 1020-FBGA - same | 1020-FBGA - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Logic Cells | 41,250 | 41,250 | 41,250 | 41,250 | 41,250 | 41,250 | 25,920 (-37%) |
| Speed Grade | I7 (fastest industrial) | I6 (-1 grade) | I5 (-2 grades) | I7 same | I7 same | I6 (-1 grade) | I7 same |
| RAM Bits | 3,423,744 | 3,423,744 | 3,423,744 | 3,423,744 | 3,423,744 | 3,423,744 | 1,925,376 (-44%) |
| User I/O | 624 | 624 | 624 | 624 | 624 | 624 | 514 (-18%) |
| Core Voltage | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V | 1.5 V |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm | 130 nm | 130 nm | 130 nm | 130 nm | 130 nm |
Key Differentiators
- Highest speed grade within the Stratix GX 41k-cell industrial family (vs EP1SGX40GF1020I6)
- Largest logic density in the EP1SGX40 family for cost-effective scalability (vs EP1SGX25FF1020I7)
- Original G-feature silicon with documented transceiver channel count (vs EP1SGX40DF1020I7)
Design Notes
Estimated: the 1020-ball FC-FBGA demands an 8 to 10 layer PCB stack-up with controlled-impedance 50-ohm single-ended and 100-ohm differential traces for the transceiver channels. Use 1oz copper on outer layers with microvia stack-ups under the BGA; total via pitch under the package is typically 1mm ball pitch. Length-match all SERDES traces within the tolerance specified in the Stratix GX handbook (typically +/- 5 mil for 3.125 Gbps signals).
FC-FBGA packages dissipate significant power because core and transceiver supplies combine; estimate ~5-15W typical board power at full transceiver utilization. Provide thermal vias under the central ball array to a dedicated inner copper plane and ensure airflow of at least 200 LFM for industrial-grade operation. Use the Altera PowerPlay early power estimator spreadsheet to refine before tape-out.
Stratix GX transceivers require dedicated PLL analog supplies (VCCA_PLL) with ferrite bead isolation from digital VCC. Missing this decoupling causes link instability. Also ensure MSEL pins are tied to the correct values for the chosen configuration mode (AS, PS, JTAG, or Fast Passive Parallel) per the family datasheet - wrong MSEL settings cause configuration failures that mimic silicon defects.
Transceiver reference clocks must be sourced from low-jitter oscillators (typical phase jitter below 1 ps RMS at the SERDES baud rate) and routed as 100-ohm differential pairs. Single-ended reference clocks are not supported above 1 Gbps. Use the Altera Transceiver Toolkit during board bring-up to characterize eye margins.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not explicitly listed in Verified Web Data; Intel/Altera discontinued product documentation should be consulted. Part is obsolete.
