EP20K100EQC208-3N FPGA - 1.8V APEX-20KE | Altera
MPN: EP20K100EQC208-3N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.42 | $18.42 |
| 10 | $16.3 | $163.00 |
| 100 | $14.18 | $1,418.00 |
| 500 | $12.1 | $6,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.85 | $10,850.00 |
| 3,000 | $9.75 | $29,250.00 |
EP20K100EQC208-3N Overview
An FPGA is an integrated circuit containing programmable logic blocks, configurable interconnect routing, and embedded memory. After manufacturing, designers load a bitstream into SRAM configuration cells to define the desired digital functions, so the same device can implement many different circuits. Within the programmable logic hierarchy, an FPGA offers more capacity than a CPLD and is used where thousands of logic elements and dense synchronous logic are required. It is part of the Integrated Circuits > FPGA & CPLD product tree. The EP20K100EQC208-3N belongs to the now-obsolete APEX-20KE family but remains important for sustaining existing hardware.
Key features of EP20K100EQC208-3N include 4,160 logic elements, 53,248 RAM bits, 151 user I/O pins, and support for a 250 MHz maximum system frequency as listed by Arrow and Lisleapex. The 1.8V core supply reduces power compared to earlier 2.5V and 3.3V FPGAs. The 208-pin BFQFP (also called PQFP-208) package provides a practical balance between I/O count and manufacturability, with gull-wing leads suitable for conventional surface-mount assembly. The -3 speed grade is the standard operational bin for legacy APEX-20KE designs.
The APEX-20KE architecture combines LUT-based logic elements with product-term macrocells and embedded system blocks, allowing it to integrate state machines, arithmetic functions, FIFOs, and memory controllers. The EP20K100EQC208-3N is SRAM-based and does not retain configuration after power-off, so it must load firmware from EPC or EPC2 configuration devices at power-up. Because the device is volatile, JTAG-based in-system programming and configuration download are both supported. The 263K system gate figure reported by Microchip USA provides a higher-level gate-count perspective needed for system-level sizing.
Typical applications include legacy telecommunications line cards, industrial control I/O modules, legacy medical diagnostic systems, university FPGA/digital design courses, ASIC prototyping, and aerospace or defense sustainment projects. In these uses, the 151 user I/O pins and embedded RAM support bus interfacing, state-machine control, and image/interface preprocessing. Its 0 °C to +85 °C commercial range is suitable for controlled indoor equipment.
Designers should provide a clean 1.8V core supply with adequate decoupling at every VCCINT pin, apply the required VCCIO voltages for the external interface standard, and include a reliable configuration memory. Because this family is obsolete, confirm final stock and ensure bitstream compatibility before using it in a new build.
This page synthesizes distributor sourcing status, pricing estimates, drop-in APEX-20KE speed-grade alternatives, and practical design guidance that are not collected in a single FPGA datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K100EQC208-3N — 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 EP20K100EQC208-3N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Family, Operating Temperature, Operating Temperature Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K100EQC208-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →EP20K100EQC208-2
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →EP20K100EQC208-2N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K100EQC208-1X
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$152 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100EQC208-1XN
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K100EQC208-3N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | APEX-20KE |
| FPGA Type | Field Programmable Gate Array |
| Number of Logic Elements | 4160 |
| Typical Gates | 100000 |
| System Gates | 263000 |
| Total RAM Bits | 53248 |
| Number of User I/O | 151 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 250 MHz |
| Speed Grade | -3 |
| Package Type | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Number of Pins | 208 |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 °C to +85 °C |
| Propagation Delay | 2.2 ns |
EP20K100EQC208-3N 208-bfqfp (pqfp-208) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K100EQC208-3N (208-bfqfp (pqfp-208) 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 EP20K100EQC208-3N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K100EQC208-3N is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Telecommunications Line Cards, Industrial Control Retrofit, Legacy Medical Diagnostic Equipment, University FPGA and Digital Logic Education, ASIC Prototyping and System Verification, Aerospace and Defense Legacy Sustainment.
Legacy Telecommunications Line Cards
The EP20K100EQC208-3N remains a practical logic device in installed telecom line cards because 151 user I/O pins can directly interface to backplane parallel buses, while 4,160 logic elements manage HDLC framing, alarm handling, and time-slot interchange. Its 1.8V core supply minimizes switching power in densely populated equipment, and the 208-pin BFQFP package is easier to inspect and rework than ball-grid-array devices. In a legacy design, it usually connects to a host CPU, line interface transceivers, and an EPC2 configuration device. Around 53,248 RAM bits support small FIFOs and register files. The -3N lead-free variant is particularly useful when RoHS-compliant repair stock is required. Because the device is SRAM-based, the configuration bitstream must be reloaded at every power-up or after a system reset, so use a reliable configuration controller.
Recommended
Industrial Control Retrofit
An EP20K100EQC208-3N often appears in 2000-era PLC or CNC I/O cards that are still producing on the factory floor. The FPGA implements parallel bus interfaces, simple sequence controllers, and safety interlock logic. Its 1.8V core reduces heat inside sealed industrial enclosures, and 151 I/O pins can monitor multiple sensor inputs and drive relay or lamp outputs through buffer stages. Retrofitting a failed FPGA requires exact timing compatibility; staying with the same APEX-20KE speed-grade family avoids redesign of the host processor interface. In this application, use a verified configuration PROM and avoid counterfeit stock. The 0 °C to +85 °C range is adequate for indoor panels, while harsher environments would require an industrial-temperature variant with a different order code.
Recommended
Legacy Medical Diagnostic Equipment
Older ultrasound, patient-monitoring, and imaging systems sometimes use the APEX-20KE family for sensor interface and digital preprocessing. The EP20K100EQC208-3N provides enough logic elements to perform scanning address generation, data crossbar, and simple DSP filters before sending data to a processor. Its 53,248 RAM bits can buffer one full frame line or sensor scan, and 151 user I/O connect to ADC outputs, memory buses, and display timing generators. Medical equipment repair is subject to strict traceability, so original silicon with the -3N lead-free suffix is preferred for upgrades claiming RoHS alignment. Because medical qualification cycles are expensive, replacing a failed EP20K100EQC208-3N with the same device or a faster pin-compatible variant is often faster and cheaper than a complete board redesign.
Recommended
University FPGA and Digital Logic Education
The EP20K100EQC208-3N is sometimes found in university digital logic and FPGA teaching laboratories, especially older boards are still maintained by instructors who wish to reuse existing printed circuit boards. With 4,160 logic elements and 151 I/O pins, students can implement finite-state machines, simple processors, and memory-mapped peripherals. The 1.8V core rail also introduces students to modern low-voltage design practice. Its 208-pin BFQFP package is less fragile than high-density BGA packages, allowing repeated handling. For educational use, the Altera Quartus toolchain supports this legacy family in older versions. However, new teaching labs should prefer current Intel/Altera devices because the obsolete software and device support make installation on modern operating systems difficult.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and System Verification
Before final ASIC fabrication, engineers traditionally mapped candidate RTL into FPGAs for in-system verification. The EP20K100EQC208-3N supports this process with 53,248 RAM bits for design memories and 151 user I/O pins for connecting to prototype interfaces. Its 100K typical gate capacity is enough to validate moderate-complexity control logic and datapath blocks. During prototype bring-up, the FPGA can be reprogrammed rapidly through JTAG, allowing logic fixes without recasting metal layers. The -3 speed grade is a conservative bin well matched to prototype clock rates. Because APEX-20KE is obsolete, this use case is mostly limited to ongoing maintenance of existing prototyping platforms; new ASIC prototyping efforts should target a modern high-capacity FPGA.
Recommended
Aerospace and Defense Legacy Sustainment
Aerospace and defense programs with long lifecycles often contain obsolete FPGAs such as the EP20K100EQC208-3N in line-replaceable units. The device is attractive for legacy sustainment because it has 4,160 logic elements, non-volatile configuration through an external PROM, and 151 I/O pins that map directly to the original PCB. The BFQFP package is leaded on all four sides, which simplifies inspection and rework in depot repair facilities. The commercial temperature range is common in tightly controlled avionics bays. When replacing this device, engineers should use the N suffix for lead-free solder compatibility if the assembly process changed, and maintain an approved configuration bitstream in trusted memory. Cross-vendor substitutes are not available because FPGAs are not pin- or bitstream-compatible across manufacturers.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K100EQC208-3N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K100EQC208-3 | EP20K100EQC208-2 | EP20K100EQC208-2N | EP20K100EQC208-1X | EP20K100EQC208-1XN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same |
| Speed Grade | -3 | -3 | -2 | -2 | -1X | -1X |
| Lead-free (N suffix) | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Number of Logic Elements | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 |
| Total RAM Bits | 53248 | 53248 | 53248 | 53248 | 53248 | 53248 |
| User I/O | 151 | 151 | 151 | 151 | 151 | 151 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8V | 1.8V | 1.8V | 1.8V | 1.8V | 1.8V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +85 °C | 0 °C to +85 °C | 0 °C to +85 °C | 0 °C to +85 °C | 0 °C to +85 °C | 0 °C to +85 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Lead-free N suffix version of the APEX-20KE FPGA (vs EP20K100EQC208-3)
- Mid-range -3 speed grade provides a favorable cost/timing balance in legacy systems (vs EP20K100EQC208-2 and EP20K100EQC208-1X)
- Same-package speed-grade family allows drop-in upgrades without board redesign (vs EP20K100EQC208-2, EP20K100EQC208-2N, EP20K100EQC208-1X and EP20K100EQC208-1XN)
Design Notes
Provide a clean 1.8V VCCINT rail for EP20K100EQC208-3N. Place a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the device and a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor close to each VCCINT pin group. Because the FPGA is SRAM-based, transient current during configuration is high; the regulator must hold 1.8V during bitstream load. Connect all GND pins to a low-impedance ground plane. The I/O rails (VCCIO) may differ from 1.8V depending on the target bus standard, so verify bank-specific VCCIO from the APEX-20KE datasheet before layout.
Do not assume a newer FPGA or a competitor FPGA can be dropped onto the same board without redesign. EP20K100EQC208-3N is pin compatible only with other EP20K100 208-pin APEX-20KE variants. For a lead-free assembly, use the N suffix variants; non-N parts with tin-lead finish may fail RoHS requirements. Device is obsolete, so source from trusted authorized distributors and verify date codes to avoid counterfeit stock.
The 208-pin BFQFP package has gull-wing leads with tight pitch. During PCB layout, use solder mask defined pads and keep the stencil aperture roughly 80% of pad width to prevent solder bridging. Add test points or vias on each JTAG line to simplify in-system programming. Since the device is quad flat pack, do not route traces under the body unless the board stackup permits; provide at least 0.2 mm spacing between adjacent traces near pins.
The EP20K100EQC208-3N has no exposed thermal pad, so heat is removed primarily through the lead frame and PCB copper. For moderate logic utilization at 1.8V, forced airflow is usually sufficient. If the board runs near 85 °C ambient, use thermal vias connected to the ground plane and add a board-level heatsink area under the package. Calculate the estimated junction temperature using the package theta-ja from the datasheet, as legacy packages often show higher thermal resistance than modern QFN packages.
Compliance Information
The N suffix conventionally indicates lead-free finish on Altera parts, but no explicit RoHS/REACH declarations were present in the verified web data. This is an obsolete device; verify compliance for your jurisdiction before committing to production.
