EP20K100CT144C8ES - APEX-20K FPGA 4160 LE 53Kb RAM 144-LQFP | Intel
MPN: EP20K100CT144C8ES ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $95 | $95.00 |
| 10 | $85.5 | $855.00 |
| 100 | $76 | $7,600.00 |
| 500 | $68.4 | $34,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $62.5 | $62,500.00 |
EP20K100CT144C8ES Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that combines configurable logic blocks, programmable interconnects, and embedded memory resources on a single semiconductor die. FPGAs sit in the broader hierarchy of digital ICs -> programmable logic -> PLD -> FPGA, alongside CPLDs (Complex PLDs) and SPLDs (Simple PLDs). APEX-20K was Intel's (formerly Altera) first-generation architecture to combine look-up-table (LUT) logic with embedded array blocks (EABs) acting as dual-port RAM, ROM, or multiplier primitives, enabling soft-core CPU implementation, DSP pipelines, and high-bandwidth glue logic on a single chip.
Key features of the EP20K100CT144C8ES include 93 user-configurable I/O pins with support for multiple I/O standards, 4,160 logic elements distributed across 416 LABs (Logic Array Blocks), and 53,248 RAM bits organized in EAB blocks. The device is configured via a serial or byte-wide configuration interface, supports JTAG boundary-scan (IEEE 1149.1) for board-level testing, and operates from a 1.8V core supply with multi-voltage I/O support. The 144-LQFP package provides a 0.5 mm lead pitch and a 20x20 mm body suitable for cost-sensitive prototyping boards.
From an architectural standpoint, the APEX-20K family uses a MultiCore architecture where each Logic Array Block contains ten Logic Elements, each LE comprising a 4-input LUT, a programmable register, and dedicated carry-chain logic. The embedded array blocks (EABs) provide 2,048 bits of dual-port RAM each and can be cascaded to build wider or deeper memory structures, supporting FIFO buffers, lookup tables, and small data-path scratch memories.
Typical applications include telecommunications line cards, industrial control and factory automation glue logic, prototyping of ASIC designs before mask production, DSP co-processing pipelines, and legacy system upgrades where a 5V-tolerant I/O environment is needed. The wide package and configurable I/O standards make the EP20K100CT144C8ES a flexible platform for mixed-voltage designs.
When designing with this engineering-sample device, note that the 'ES' suffix signals pre-production silicon - Intel/Altera datasheet errata may apply and long-term supply is not guaranteed. Use the device only for prototyping and qualification work; transition to the production-grade suffix before any volume commitment. Quartus II (or the older MAX+PLUS II for legacy APEX support) is the recommended toolchain.
This page synthesizes distributor inventory data, drop-in same-package alternatives from the APEX-20K family, and practical design notes drawn from the Intel APEX-20K datasheet that are not aggregated on any single distributor listing.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K100CT144C8ES — 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 EP20K100CT144C8ES (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Operating Temperature, Process Technology, Typical Gates.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K100CT144C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$185 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CT144C7ES
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$64 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CT144C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CT144C8ES Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Series | APEX-20K |
| Device Family | EP20K100 |
| Logic Elements | 4,160 |
| LABs/CLBs | 416 |
| Total RAM Bits | 53,248 |
| Number of I/O Pins | 93 |
| Package Type | 144-LQFP |
| Package Code | TQFP-144 |
| Lead Pitch | 0.5 mm |
| Body Size | 20 mm x 20 mm |
| Speed Grade | C8 |
| Suffix | ES (Engineering Sample) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (per Altera APEX-20K datasheet commercial grade) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Configuration Interface | Serial / Byte-wide / JTAG |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 Hours) |
EP20K100CT144C8ES tqfp-144 Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K100CT144C8ES (tqfp-144 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 EP20K100CT144C8ES.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K100CT144C8ES is suitable for 6 applications: ASIC Prototyping and Pre-Silicon Validation, Telecommunications Line Card Glue Logic, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Legacy System Maintenance and Field Replacement, DSP Co-Processing and Filter Pipelines, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
ASIC Prototyping and Pre-Silicon Validation
The EP20K100CT144C8ES is well-suited for ASIC prototyping because its 4,160 logic elements and 53,248 bits of embedded RAM can emulate moderate-complexity ASIC blocks before tape-out. The MultiCore architecture combines LUT-based logic with embedded array blocks, allowing designers to instantiate soft cores, custom DSP datapaths, and FIFO buffers on a single die. Placed on a validation board, the FPGA runs at lower clock frequencies than the target ASIC but enables software/firmware development months ahead of silicon availability. The 144-LQFP package is hand-solderable on prototype boards.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line Card Glue Logic
Telecommunications line cards require flexible glue logic to bridge backplane interfaces, ASICs, and physical-layer transceivers - a classic use case for the EP20K100CT144C8ES. With 93 user I/O supporting LVTTL, LVCMOS, and PCI I/O standards, the FPGA can implement custom protocol bridges, clock-domain crossing FIFOs, and per-channel state machines between a switch fabric ASIC and SFP/optical transceivers. The 53,248 bits of dual-port RAM in the EAB blocks are ideal for small packet buffers and lookup tables. The industrial operating temperature range supports central-office deployments.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
In factory automation systems, the EP20K100CT144C8ES serves as a programmable logic controller (PLC) front-end, implementing custom encoder/counter interfaces, motor-control timing logic, and safety interlocks. The 93 user I/O easily handle multiple quadrature encoder inputs, pulse-train outputs, and discrete I/O from sensors. Embedded EAB RAM is large enough to buffer position trajectories and recipe parameters. The LQFP package withstands industrial thermal and vibration environments when properly board-mounted, and the legacy APEX architecture has decades of proven field reliability in factory-floor installations.
Recommended
Legacy System Maintenance and Field Replacement
Many deployed industrial, military, and aerospace systems built in the 2000s use APEX-20K FPGAs that now require component-level repair. The EP20K100CT144C8ES (and its production sibling EP20K100CT144C8) provides form, fit, and function replacement for failed boards without redesign. According to the Altera APEX-20K datasheet, the configuration bitstream is identical between speed-grade variants within the same package, enabling field technicians to swap C7/C8 parts and re-program with the original JEDEC/POF file. Drop-in compatibility is critical for legacy avionic and medical equipment where full board redesign is cost-prohibitive.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processing and Filter Pipelines
Although modern FPGAs dominate DSP today, the EP20K100CT144C8ES is adequate for moderate-complexity DSP co-processing such as FIR filters, FFT pipelines, and audio sample-rate converters. The EAB blocks implement fast shift-register-based multipliers and dual-port coefficient memory. Placed alongside a microcontroller or DSP processor, the FPGA offloads computation-intensive kernels, freeing the host CPU for control-loop work. The 4,160 logic elements support approximately 100-200 18x18-bit multiplier-equivalents in fabric, sufficient for audio-bandwidth and slow-control signal processing applications.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Test equipment manufacturers historically deployed APEX-20K FPGAs as pattern generators, custom timing engines, and protocol analyzers. The EP20K100CT144C8ES with its 93 I/O can drive multi-channel digital stimulus, capture timing waveforms, and implement proprietary bus protocol logic (I2C, SPI, CAN, parallel buses). Embedded RAM buffers store captured trace data. The JTAG interface simplifies board-level bring-up. Per the Altera APEX-20K datasheet, the device supports live reconfiguration via JTAG, allowing test engineers to swap stimulus patterns in-circuit during automated test program execution.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K100CT144C8ES — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K100CT144C8 | EP20K100CT144C7ES | EP20K100CT144C7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Package | TQFP-144 (LQFP) | TQFP-144 (LQFP) - same | TQFP-144 (LQFP) - same | TQFP-144 (LQFP) - same |
| Logic Elements | 4,160 | 4,160 | 4,160 | 4,160 |
| LABs/CLBs | 416 | 416 | 416 | 416 |
| Embedded RAM Bits | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 |
| User I/O Pins | 93 | 93 | 93 | 93 |
| Speed Grade | C8 | C8 | C7 (faster) | C7 (faster) |
| Silicon Status | Engineering Sample (ES) | Production | Engineering Sample (ES) | Production |
Key Differentiators
- Identical die and package as production-grade sibling (vs EP20K100CT144C8)
- Lower-cost C8 speed grade vs faster C7 (vs EP20K100CT144C7ES)
- Larger TQFP-144 package than competing APEX-20K BGA options (vs EP20K100CB356C8 (BGA-356))
Design Notes
The 'ES' (Engineering Sample) suffix indicates pre-production silicon that has NOT been fully qualified for volume manufacturing. Per Altera's silicon qualification policy, ES parts are intended only for evaluation, prototyping, and design verification - they must NOT be used in production shipments without explicit written approval from Altera/Intel. Long-term supply, full temperature characterization, and parametric datasheet guarantees may differ between ES and production silicon. Plan to transition to the EP20K100CT144C8 (no ES suffix) for any design moving to production.
The 144-LQFP package has a 0.5 mm lead pitch requiring careful PCB layout: use 0.5 mm-pitch land patterns with at least 8-10 mil trace-to-pad clearance, and ensure the thermal pad area beneath the package has a copper pour stitched with thermal vias to a solid inner ground plane. The 20x20 mm body dissipates moderate power under typical APEX-20K utilization; provide adequate copper area around the package to keep junction temperature within the 0C to +85C commercial range. The TQFP leads are gull-wing and are robust to standard reflow profiles (peak 245-260C per JEDEC J-STD-020).
APEX-20K family is supported only by legacy toolchains: Altera Quartus II version 6.0 or earlier, or MAX+PLUS II. Modern Intel Quartus Prime versions (17.0 and later) do NOT support APEX-20K devices. Engineers maintaining APEX-20K designs must retain legacy tool installations and a supported JTAG programmer (ByteBlaster II or USB-Blaster with legacy drivers). When migrating a design, recompile the legacy project in MAX+PLUS II and export the .pof bitstream - do not attempt to import the project into Quartus Prime, which will silently drop APEX-20K targets.
Compliance Information
Compliance information was not present in the verified web data - all fields marked unknown. The APEX-20K family predates widespread RoHS transition; pre-2010 production parts are typically SnPb finish unless explicitly relabeled RoHS. Contact Intel Programmable Solutions Group for a compliance certificate if needed.
