EP20K100CQ208C8ES - APEX 20K FPGA 4160 LE | Intel
MPN: EP20K100CQ208C8ES ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
EP20K100CQ208C8ES Overview
An FPGA is a reconfigurable integrated circuit containing programmable logic fabric, programmable interconnect, and configurable I/O blocks. Unlike a fixed-function ASIC or MCU, an FPGA can implement many different digital logic functions by loading a configuration bitstream at power-up. An APEX 20K FPGA sits above simple CPLDs in capacity and is often used for protocol bridging, digital signal preprocessing, and bus interface aggregation. In a system hierarchy, an FPGA is one type of programmable logic device, often accompanied by configuration memory such as EPC2 or EPCS devices.
The data captured for EP20K100CQ208C8ES confirms 4160 logic elements and 159 user I/O lines. The 208-pin QFP package provides a surface-mount footprint suitable for dense board layouts where ball grid arrays are not preferred. The package is available in tray format, and the MSL 3 rating means devices require baking if exposed to humidity before reflow. These facts make the part usable for legacy board repair, replacement inventories, and maintenance of existing APEX 20K systems.
The APEX 20K architecture combines lookup-table-based logic elements with embedded memory-oriented blocks. For this specific ordering code, the maximum system gates, embedded RAM bits, core voltage, speed grade, and temperature grade are not explicitly stated in the captured web data. Engineers should verify those parameters from the Altera/Intel APEX 20K family datasheet before using the device in a timing-sensitive or supply-rail-sensitive design.
Typical legacy applications include telecom line cards, Ethernet interface bridging, industrial controller backplanes, and high-channel-count test equipment. The 159 I/O pins provide enough connectivity for a wide parallel bus, address decoding, or an external memory interface, while the 4160 logic elements implement medium-density glue logic, state machines, and DSP supervision logic.
The most important design consideration is lifecycle: Intel has classified the APEX 20K series as obsolete and recommends Cyclone IV family devices for new designs. Cyclone IV is not pin-compatible with the QFP208 footprint and requires board migration. For existing EP20K100CQ208C8ES boards, the practical action is to qualify a same-family QFP208 spare such as EP20K100CQ208C8 or EP20K100CQ208C7ES.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, package data, ordering-code variants, lifecycle guidance, and design caveats that are not all included in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers make faster sourcing and obsolescence decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K100CQ208C8ES — 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 EP20K100CQ208C8ES (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Family, Process Technology, Embedded RAM Bits.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K100CQ208C8
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$13.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CQ208C7ES
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$48 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CQ208C7
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$22.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CQ208C8ES Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Logic Elements/Cells | 4160 |
| Number of User I/O | 159 |
| Package / Case | 208-pin QFP (BFQFP) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Moisture Sensitivity Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete |
EP20K100CQ208C8ES 208-pin qfp (bfqfp) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K100CQ208C8ES (208-pin qfp (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 EP20K100CQ208C8ES.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K100CQ208C8ES is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Telecom Line Cards, Legacy Networking and Protocol Bridging, Industrial Control Retrofit, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Broadcast and Medical Imaging Backplanes, FPGA Replacement Qualification and Prototyping.
Legacy Telecom Line Cards
EP20K100CQ208C8ES is suitable for legacy telecom line-card designs already qualified around the APEX 20K FPGA. In this application, the 4160 logic elements can implement HDLC framing, time-slot interchange, status monitoring, and medium-density protocol glue. The 159 user I/O lines allow connection to line-card backplane buses, control microprocessors, and external memories through parallel interface signals. The 208-pin QFP package is a board-friendly surface-mount format for existing through-hole-free manufacturing lines. For repair and fleet sustainment, keeping a qualified same-family QFP208 spare such as EP20K100CQ208C8 reduces downtime when the exact C8ES code is unavailable. The main design caution is thermal management and configuration-device compatibility, which should be preserved exactly from the original Altera reference design.
Recommended
Legacy Networking and Protocol Bridging
In obsolete networking equipment, EP20K100CQ208C8ES can be used for protocol bridging, address translation, and bus width conversion between the main processor and PHY-side devices. Its 4160 logic elements are sufficient for stateful FIFO controllers, simple packet parsers, and scheduler logic when external memory is used for queues. The 159 I/O pins provide the parallel bus interface and control signals needed to connect legacy ASICs and NPUs. Because the device is obsolete, this use case is limited to installed-base repair, spares provisioning, and redesign transition. Engineers should verify the I/O voltage compatibility and configuration device used on the original board before replacing with any QFP208 alternative. For new networking designs, Cyclone IV or a current Intel FPGA is preferred, but a full PCB migration is required.
Recommended
Industrial Control Retrofit
EP20K100CQ208C8ES fits in industrial control retrofit applications where an older APEX 20K FPGA must be replaced to keep a production machine running. The 4160 logic elements can handle interlock logic, emergency-stop sequencing, and multiple UART or parallel interfaces in older PLC and CNC modules. The 159 I/O lines allow direct connection to optocoupler arrays, relay drivers, and legacy bus transceivers. In these environments, the main value is form-fit-function preservation: a 208-pin QFP package can be soldered into the original PCB with no layout change. For extended machine life, qualified same-family spares are critical because the manufacturer no longer supports new APEX 20K design starts. Power sequencing and configuration memory should be verified before field installation.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Older test and measurement instruments often use medium-density FPGAs like EP20K100CQ208C8ES for acquisition timing, trigger logic, and display memory control. The confirmed 4160 logic elements are adequate for high-speed counter/state machines and simple DSP control logic, while the 159 user I/O pins provide parallel data paths to ADCs, DACs, SRAM, and front-panel controllers. The 208-pin QFP is practical for instruments that avoid BGA rework and prefer a conventional surface-mount package. When maintaining these instruments, the exact C8ES ordering code may be in the original service BOM, so sourcing the same suffix is useful for obsolescence risk reduction. Alternatively, EP20K100CQ208C8 offers a same-package drop-in that can reduce the need for engineering change orders.
Recommended
Broadcast and Medical Imaging Backplanes
Legacy broadcast switchers and medical imaging systems used APEX 20K FPGAs for bussing, timing recovery, and control-plane logic before moving to newer FPGA families. EP20K100CQ208C8ES with 4160 logic elements and 159 I/O can still serve in those installed systems by connecting between backplane buses, video clocking devices, and host processors. The 208-pin QFP provides a moderate pin count suitable for a 32-bit data bus plus control lines without requiring a large BGA. In medical imaging maintenance, using a same-family QFP208 spare like EP20K100CQ208C8 can keep a scanner or ultrasound backplane alive while the system is scheduled for full electronics modernization. Compliance and EMC requirements for each system must be checked during requalification.
Recommended
FPGA Replacement Qualification and Prototyping
Engineers managing obsolete APEX 20K systems can use EP20K100CQ208C8ES as a reference device for replacement qualification testing. Because the part has 4160 logic elements and 159 I/O in a 208-pin QFP, it can be mounted in test sockets and exercised with the original bitstream to compare timing margins across same-family alternatives such as EP20K100CQ208C8 and EP20K100CQ208C7ES. This FPGA is also useful for building a bench fixture that emulates legacy bus behavior while a replacement FPGA is validated. The intent is not to recommend new designs, but to give maintenance teams a realistic hardware tool for lifecycle assessment. Always confirm the configuration bitstream, supply voltages, and I/O standards before moving from qualification into production repair.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K100CQ208C8ES — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K100CQ208C8 | EP20K100CQ208C7ES | EP20K100CQ208C7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-pin QFP (BFQFP) | 208-pin QFP (BFQFP) | 208-pin QFP (BFQFP) | 208-pin QFP (BFQFP) |
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Device Family | APEX 20K | APEX 20K | APEX 20K | APEX 20K |
| Logic Elements/Cells | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 |
| User I/O Count | 159 | 159 | 159 | 159 |
| Ordering Suffix | ES after C8 | C8 only | C7ES | C7 only |
| MSL Rating | 3 (168 hours) | Not stated in source | Not stated in source | Not stated in source |
| Lifecycle | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Exact C8ES ordering-code stock supports revision-locked BOMs (vs EP20K100CQ208C8)
- Same 208-pin QFP package as the original legacy footprint (vs EP20K100CQ208C7ES)
- Clear obsolete lifecycle status reduces design-risk ambiguity (vs New Intel Cyclone IV FPGAs)
Design Notes
Do not design EP20K100CQ208C8ES into new production. The APEX 20K family is obsolete, and Intel recommends Cyclone IV for migration, but Cyclone IV is not a pin-compatible 208-QFP drop-in. For legacy repair, verify that any alternate such as EP20K100CQ208C8 or EP20K100CQ208C7ES has the same configuration bitstream equivalent, speed grade, and I/O timing before assembly.
The 208-pin QFP package requires good thermal design. Because the captured data does not include a device thermal resistance value, use conservative power-estimation methods and validate junction temperature on the actual board. Provide a low-resistance ground/thermal pad path if the QFP has an exposed thermal pad, add copper pours beneath the package, and never exceed the maximum junction temperature specified in the APEX 20K datasheet. This is especially important inside sealed telecom or industrial enclosures.
For legacy board repair, copy the original PCB decoupling and layer stack rather than inventing a new layout. APEX 20K devices require clean supply rails for core and I/O voltages, so place high-frequency ceramic capacitors close to the FPGA supply pins and keep the ground plane continuous. Verify the exact configuration device and pull-up resistors used by the original bitstream; a memory device mismatch is a common cause of power-up failure when substituting QFP208 variants.
Compliance Information
Compliance status was not stated in the captured 2026-09-07 distributor data. APEX 20K is an obsolete FPGA family; RoHS and material compliance should be verified from the supplier certificate or Intel's product compliance documentation before export to regulated regions.
