EP20K100CT144C9 - 100K-Gate APEX-20K FPGA 93 I/O 144-LQFP | Altera
MPN: EP20K100CT144C9 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.5 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $25.2 | $252.00 |
| 100 | $22.4 | $2,240.00 |
| 500 | $20.1 | $10,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $18.75 | $18,750.00 |
EP20K100CT144C9 Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a programmable logic device consisting of an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), embedded memory blocks, programmable interconnect, and I/O cells - all controlled by user-defined SRAM or antifuse configuration. FPGAs occupy the middle ground between fixed-function ASICs and smaller CPLDs, offering hardware-level parallelism, in-system reprogrammability, and on-chip memory. They sit within the broader taxonomy of programmable logic devices -> logic semiconductors -> integrated circuits, and are used wherever deterministic, high-throughput parallel processing is required.
Key features of the EP20K100CT144C9 include 4,160 logic elements distributed across 26 LABs (Logic Array Blocks), embedded ESB (Embedded System Block) memory totaling 53,248 RAM bits, four Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) for clock management, and support for multiple I/O standards including LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, and SSTL. The device is fabricated on a 0.22 um CMOS process with a 2.5 V core supply and 3.3 V I/O supply, supporting in-system programmability via the IEEE 1149.1 JTAG interface.
The APEX-20K architecture combines Look-Up Table (LUT)-based logic with embedded memory and dedicated high-speed paths, making the EP20K100CT144C9 a strong fit for telecom line cards, DSP co-processing, protocol bridging, and high-speed glue logic. The four PLLs allow multi-domain clock generation, while the 93 single-ended I/O pins provide ample connectivity for memory, microprocessors, and standard bus interfaces such as PCI and ISA.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, telecommunications interface cards, PCI-based data-acquisition boards, and embedded DSP front-ends. The combination of moderate logic density, embedded RAM, and a low-cost 144-LQFP plastic package makes it well suited for prototype and low-volume production where BGA reflow or fine-pitch assembly is undesirable.
When designing with this part, ensure the 2.5 V VCCINT and 3.3 V VCCIO rails are decoupled with 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors placed as close to each supply pin as possible, and that JTAG chain integrity is verified before configuring the device. The -9 speed grade indicates moderate static timing performance; consult the APEX-20K datasheet for detailed timing closure on register-to-register paths above 100 MHz.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the original Altera datasheet, helping sourcing engineers evaluate second-source options and design trade-offs for legacy APEX-20K designs.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K100CT144C9 — 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 EP20K100CT144C9 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Process Technology, Package, Operating Temperature, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K100CT144C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$185 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CT144C8ES
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$62.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CT144C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CT144C7ES
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$64 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CF144C9
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$49 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CF144C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$36 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CF144C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$28.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CT144C9 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | APEX-20K |
| Device Logic Elements | 4,160 |
| Typical Gates | 100,000 |
| Embedded Memory (RAM bits) | 53,248 |
| Maximum User I/O | 93 |
| Package | 144-LQFP |
| Speed Grade | -9 |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (Commercial) |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 2.5 V |
| I/O Voltage (VCCIO) | 3.3 V |
| Process Technology | 0.22 um CMOS |
| Number of PLLs | 4 |
| Configuration Method | SRAM / JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EP20K100CT144C9 144-lqfp Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K100CT144C9 (144-lqfp 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 EP20K100CT144C9.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K100CT144C9 is suitable for 6 applications: Telecom Line Card Interface, Industrial Automation Controller, PCI Data Acquisition Board, DSP Co-Processor Front-End, Legacy Embedded Computing Platform, Network Router Switch Fabric Glue Logic.
Telecom Line Card Interface
The EP20K100CT144C9 fits telecom line cards because its 93 user I/O and four PLLs support multi-domain clock generation for T1/E1 framers and serializer-deserializer links. The 53,248 bits of embedded RAM buffer HDLC frames or ATM cell payloads without external FIFOs, while the 4,160 logic elements implement glue logic, bus arbitration, and protocol state machines. At 0C to +85C commercial temperature and 2.5 V core supply, the part is well matched to central-office ambient conditions, and the 144-LQFP package simplifies rework on legacy line-card designs that already use through-hole-friendly assembly. Designers migrating to higher-density Cyclone or Arria FPGAs can keep the EP20K100CT144C9 as a maintenance spare.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Controller
For industrial PLCs and machine controllers, the EP20K100CT144C9 delivers 4,160 logic elements enough to implement ladder-logic replacement, encoder quadrature decoding, and PID loops in hardware. The 93 I/O pins interface directly to 24 V opto-isolated field-side drivers via external level shifters, and the 53,248-bit ESB memory holds look-up tables for motion trajectories. Commercial 0C to +85C operation covers most factory-floor enclosures, while the JTAG-based in-system programmability supports field firmware updates. The 144-LQFP's 0.5 mm pitch is friendly to two-layer boards used in cost-sensitive industrial designs.
Recommended
PCI Data Acquisition Board
The EP20K100CT144C9 is well suited to legacy 33 MHz/32-bit PCI target designs because its 4,160 logic elements comfortably absorb the PCI protocol engine plus FIFO control and DSP pre-processing. The four PLLs derive the 33 MHz PCI clock and per-channel sampling clocks from a single crystal, while the 53,248-bit embedded RAM serves as DMA scatter-gather descriptors. The 144-LQFP exposes 93 I/O - enough for 16 analog input channels at 5-bit control plus a parallel host port and trigger lines. Engineers targeting the industrial-instrumentation market can keep the EP20K100CT144C9 as a stable, long-life controller for low-volume PCI products.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processor Front-End
The EP20K100CT144C9 works as a pre-DSP front-end in audio and baseband designs where its 4,160 logic elements implement FIR filters, mixers, and sample-rate converters before handing data to a dedicated DSP. The 53,248 bits of embedded RAM hold filter coefficients and delay lines without external SRAM, and the four PLLs synthesize the multiple clock domains needed by sigma-delta modulators and DAC interfaces. At 2.5 V core and 3.3 V I/O, the part interfaces directly to LVCMOS DSP hosts, and the JTAG chain simplifies in-system debugging alongside the DSP's emulator port. The 144-LQFP package keeps the BOM cost low for moderate-volume audio products.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded Computing Platform
The EP20K100CT144C9 fits legacy VME, ISA, and PC/104 single-board computers where 100,000-gate density, 93 I/O, and 144-LQFP package combine with low core voltage to replace multiple 74-series glue-logic chips. Its embedded RAM supports boot-ROM caching and DMA descriptor queues, and JTAG-based programming aligns with manufacturing flows already familiar to embedded OEMs. Because the device is obsolete but still widely available on the secondary market, design teams can continue to support long-life defense and aerospace programs without forcing a board re-spin. Use the EP20K100CT144C8 if timing closure is the limiting factor.
Recommended
Network Router Switch Fabric Glue Logic
In small-form-factor routers and access switches, the EP20K100CT144C9 provides header parsing, queue management, and bus arbitration between PHY, switch ASIC, and CPU subsystems. Its 4,160 logic elements and 53,248-bit embedded RAM allow packet descriptor FIFOs to be absorbed on-chip, reducing external memory cost. The four PLLs derive 25 MHz MII, 125 MHz GMII, and 156 MHz SERDES reference clocks from a single 25 MHz crystal, while the 93 I/O pins expose management interfaces (I2C, MDIO, GPIO) and LED drivers. For new designs, target the faster -8 or -7 speed-grade variants in the same package.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K100CT144C9 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K100CT144C8 | EP20K100CT144C8ES | EP20K100CT144C7 | EP20K100CF144C9 | EP20K100CF144C8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-LQFP | 144-LQFP | 144-LQFP | 144-LQFP | 144-LQFP | 144-LQFP |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Speed Grade | -9 (slowest) | -8 (faster) | -8 ES | -7 (fastest) | -9 | -8 |
| Logic Elements | 4,160 | 4,160 (same die) | 4,160 (same die) | 4,160 (same die) | 4,160 (same die) | 4,160 (same die) |
| Typical Gates | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Embedded RAM (bits) | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 |
| Maximum User I/O | 93 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 93 |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C ES | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Same-die drop-in speed grade flexibility (vs EP20K100CT144C8)
- Engineering sample access for prototyping (vs EP20K100CT144C7ES)
- FPGA-package variant F with same I/O count (vs EP20K100CF144C9)
Design Notes
The EP20K100CT144C9 requires a tightly regulated 2.5 V VCCINT rail and 3.3 V VCCIO rail. Place 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitors as close to every VCCINT/VCCIO pin as possible, with bulk 47 uF tantalum or polymer caps at the regulator output. The estimated core current is approximately 50-100 mA during configuration and 200-500 mA in full logic utilization, so size the 2.5 V regulator for at least 1 A to handle inrush. Power sequencing should hold VCCINT within +/-5% tolerance before any JTAG operation, per the APEX-20K datasheet.
The 144-LQFP package has 0.5 mm pitch leads, which is the upper boundary for hand-soldering but fine for reflow. Recommended PCB layout: 4-layer stackup with continuous ground plane under the device, 0.2 mm trace/space to fan out I/O banks, and matched-length routing on clock pairs feeding CLK0-CLK3. Keep JTAG chain signals away from switching I/O banks to avoid coupling noise into the configuration interface. Estimated: the 144-LQFP exposes approximately 31 mm x 31 mm of board area including lead fan-out.
Common pitfalls when designing with the EP20K100CT144C9 include: (1) using LVTTL signals on banks configured for 3.3 V PCI without re-encoding the I/O standard, leading to input threshold violations; (2) ignoring CONF_DONE timing during multi-device JTAG chains, causing configuration failure on slave devices; (3) assuming SRAM-based FPGAs retain configuration through power cycles - they do not, so an external configuration PROM is mandatory for production use; (4) overlooking the need for a power-on-reset supervisor on nCONFIG to ensure clean configuration start.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH status not confirmed in verified web data; the EP20K100CT144C9 pre-dates RoHS compliance era and may be non-compliant. Industrial temperature variants exist as EP20K100EI family.
