EP20K100QC208-2 APEX-20K FPGA 263K Gate 4160 LE | Altera
MPN: EP20K100QC208-2 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $58.5 | $58.50 |
| 10 | $47.8 | $478.00 |
| 100 | $39.4 | $3,940.00 |
| 500 | $33.9 | $16,950.00 |
| 1,000 | $29.9 | $29,900.00 |
EP20K100QC208-2 Overview
An FPGA is an integrated circuit whose logic blocks and interconnect can be reconfigured after manufacturing, allowing hardware functions to be changed in the field or during development. The APEX-20K family occupies the programmable-logic space between CPLDs and larger array FPGAs: it combines moderate logic density, embedded memory, and wide I/O for applications such as communication bridging, industrial control, video processing, and test equipment. This EP20K100QC208-2 is an early-2000s Altera architecture now handled mainly through legacy-stock distributors.
The key features of EP20K100QC208-2 include 263,000 typical gates, 4160 logic elements, 416 LABs/CLBs, 53,248 total RAM bits, and 159 user I/O pins. The 208-lead BFQFP package enables dense board layouts with a square 28x28 mm body and gull-wing terminals. The -2 speed grade is the mainstream mid-speed ordering option in the original APEX-20K QC208 group, widely used in legacy telecom, industrial, and measurement platforms where the design is already fitted to this exact footprint.
The APEX-20K architecture uses a programmable logic core with JTAG-based in-system configuration and supports external configuration devices. The logic elements are grouped in LABs, giving a predictable route from HDL synthesis to place-and-route. With 159 I/Os, the device can bridge processor buses, memory interfaces, and peripheral logic, while the embedded RAM bits are useful for FIFOs and small frame buffers without external SRAM.
Typical applications include legacy telecommunication line-card glue logic, industrial control I/O expansion, broadcast video format bridging, test-and-measurement instrument logic, and educational FPGA prototyping. Because this is an older programmable-logic device, most current demand is for maintaining existing production systems, replacing failed boards, or supporting installed equipment rather than for new high-volume designs.
Designers must verify the exact VCC specification from the authoritative APEX-20K datasheet; one distributor listing on the 2026-09-07 search shows 1.71 V to 1.89 V, while Altera ordering conventions for a non-E APEX-20K often imply a 2.5 V family device. Use adequate VCC decoupling and confirm the configuration-device interface before committing a repair or bridged design.
This page aggregates distributor availability, package data, drop-in QC208 alternatives, and practical legacy-design notes not found in a plain manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers and buyers source this obsolete FPGA with more confidence.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K100QC208-2 — 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 EP20K100QC208-2 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Speed Grade, Device Type, Package / Case, Logic Elements / Cells.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K100QC208-1
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$21.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100QC208-1N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$51 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100QC208-2X
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$39.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100QC208-2V
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K100QC208-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Altera |
| Product Series | APEX-20K |
| Device Type | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 4160 |
| Number of LABs / CLBs | 416 |
| Total RAM Bits | 53248 |
| Number of User I/Os | 159 |
| Number of Gates | 263000 |
| Package / Case | 208-BFQFP (208-PQFP 28x28) |
| Terminal Form | Gull wing |
| Number of Terminals | 208 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 85°C (TJ) |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 1.71 V ~ 1.89 V (per one distributor listing; verify against APEX-20K datasheet) |
| RoHS Status | unknown |
| Product Lifecycle | NRND / legacy source through Rochester Electronics |
EP20K100QC208-2 208-bfqfp (208-pqfp 28x28) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K100QC208-2 (208-bfqfp (208-pqfp 28x28) 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 EP20K100QC208-2.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K100QC208-2 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Telecommunication Line-Card Logic, Industrial Control I/O Expansion, Broadcast Video Format Bridging, Test and Measurement Instrument Logic, Datacom Switch and Router Spare, Educational FPGA Architecture Study.
Legacy Telecommunication Line-Card Logic
The EP20K100QC208-2 fits legacy telecom line cards that require medium-density FPGA logic and 159 I/O lanes for bus bridging, HDLC controllers, and backplane interfaces. Its 4,160 logic elements are enough to absorb register-heavy protocol state machines, while the 53,248 RAM bits provide small FIFO or mailbox buffers between line-side and system-side buses. In an installed telecom chassis, the 208-pin PQFP package is a board-level drop-in replacement for older APEX-20K QC208 cards. The 0 °C to 85 °C rating suits air-cooled central-office rooms, but designers must verify supply voltage and configuration-device compatibility before retrofitting a line card. The biggest constraint is end-of-life availability; use Rochester-sourced stock for sparing and bridge designs rather than new high-volume production.
Recommended
Industrial Control I/O Expansion
Industrial automation panels often combine a microcontroller or PLC with a programmable-logic FPGA for flexible I/O mapping, quadrature decoding, and serial-protocol bridging. The EP20K100QC208-2 provides 159 user I/Os, making it suitable for glue logic that connects multiple sensors, relay drivers, and indicator banks to a host processor. Inside an enclosure, the commercial 0 °C to 85 °C range is acceptable when the panel is ventilated or heated. The APEX-20K device also retains JTAG-based configuration, enabling firmware updates without socket changes. For repair use, the main advantage is footprint compatibility with legacy control boards that already use a 208-QFP FPGA. Verify core voltage from the original schematic and datasheet because this architecture is no longer recommended for new designs.
Recommended
Broadcast Video Format Bridging
Broadcast and professional-video equipment from the early 2000s frequently used APEX-20K FPGAs for SDI format bridging, video timing generation, and pixel-level logic. The EP20K100QC208-2's 53,248 RAM bits can implement dual-line buffers for video sync alignment, and its 4,160 logic elements are sufficient for simple chroma-resampling or blanking insertion algorithms. Because it is a legacy FPGA, this device is most valuable for repairing installed video routers, format converters, and scan converters rather than designing new UHD/HD products. The 208-pin PQFP can route parallel digital video buses to external SRAM or ASIC companion chips. If the target board already runs APEX-20K configuration files, the -2 speed grade may meet the pixel-clock requirements of SD and early HD-SDI formats, but signal integrity and I/O standard support should be confirmed.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrument Logic
Oscilloscopes, dataloggers, and automated test equipment often use an FPGA for acquisition timing, trigger logic, and interface bridging. The EP20K100QC208-2 can replace a failed APEX-20K FPGA on existing instrument motherboards where the desired logic functions were already synthesized into the -2 device. Its 159 I/O pins allow connection to ADC/DAC front ends, SRAM, and host microcontrollers, while the embedded RAM bits support acquisition FIFOs. The commercial temperature range covers benchtop laboratory environments. For calibration equipment with long validation cycles, keeping a qualified obsolete FPGA in stock can extend instrument life. However, the lack of new-device support means any new test-instrument design should use an actively supported FPGA family; use EP20K100QC208-2 primarily for board-level repair and legacy system support.
Recommended
Datacom Switch and Router Spare
In older Ethernet switches, routers, and datacom access platforms, FPGAs were used for control-plane bridging, port-mapping logic, and protocol-handling state machines. The EP20K100QC208-2 provides 263,000 gates and 4,160 logic elements, which is useful for absorbing moderate RTL blocks that would otherwise require multiple CPLDs. The 208-PQFP package and 159 I/O pins allow easy connection to CPU buses, MAC/PHY devices, and status LEDs. Because this part is an obsolete APEX-20K device, its primary datacom role is as a form-fit-function spare for installed line cards. An engineer repairing a row of legacy switches may confidently replace an existing EP20K100QC208-2 with a QC208 speed-grade variant only after matching the configuration bitstream and supply rails. Do not use it in greenfield switch designs.
Recommended
Educational FPGA Architecture Study
Because the APEX-20K family is well documented and older, the EP20K100QC208-2 can be used to teach FPGA architecture, HDL synthesis, and JTAG configuration without the licensing or board complexity of leading-edge devices. Its 4,160 logic elements and 53,248 RAM bits are enough to implement simple processors, state machines, and small UART/FIFO exercises. The 208-QFP package, however, is harder for students to solder than smaller QFNs, so educational use should be on pre-assembled boards or with a PQFP programming adapter. The -2 speed grade is acceptable for low-clock classroom projects, and the device's predictable timing model helps students understand the relationship between speed grade, propagation delay, and routing timing closure. Instructors should still emphasize that the family is NRND and only suited for learning legacy architecture.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K100QC208-2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K100QC208-1 | EP20K100QC208-1N | EP20K100QC208-2X | EP20K100QC208-2V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP 28x28 | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP 28x28 - same | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP 28x28 - same | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP 28x28 - same | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP 28x28 - same |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 | 4160 |
| Number of LABs / CLBs | 416 | 416 | 416 | 416 | 416 |
| Total RAM Bits | 53248 | 53248 | 53248 | 53248 | 53248 |
| Number of User I/Os | 159 | 159 | 159 | 159 | 159 |
| Number of Gates | 263000 | 263000 | 263000 | 263000 | 263000 |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -1 (faster) | -1 (faster) | -2 (same) | -2 (same) |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C | Commercial 0 °C to 85 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Mainstream -2 speed grade for legacy APEX-20K QC208 boards (vs EP20K100QC208-1)
- Original non-E APEX-20K architecture, not the 1.8 V APEX-20KE family (vs EP20K100EQC208-2)
- Pin-compatible with four QC208 package variants already in XAIPART's supported MPN list (vs EP20K100FC324-2)
Design Notes
Do not assume the supply voltage is 2.5 V simply because this is a non-E APEX-20K part number. One distributor snippet on the 2026-09-07 result lists 1.71 V to 1.89 V for EP20K100QC208-2. Before board repair or new design, verify VCC from the Altera APEX-20K family datasheet and from the original equipment schematic. Applying the wrong VCCINT can damage the FPGA or cause configuration failures.
Use multiple low-ESL ceramic capacitors near the VCC pins of the 208-PQFP package, for example 10 x 0.1 uF distributed among the four sides of the package plus bulk 10 uF capacitance per supply rail. The exact number of rails depends on the APEX-20K supply scheme, which may include separate VCCINT, VCCIO, and PLL supplies if used. If the device is being retrofitted into an old board, do not add new capacitance without checking the existing power-sequencing design.
The 208-pin PQFP has gull-wing leads with a fine pitch, so footprint soldering should follow the original Altera land-pattern recommendation. If replacing a failed EP20K100QC208-2 on an existing board, inspect the PCB pads for lifted traces or solder bridges before rework. Because no 208-PQFP package SVG is available in the XAIPART diagram library, rely on the Altera datasheet land pattern for stencil aperture and paste volume; the page diagram is only a generic placeholder.
Compliance Information
The verified distributor snippets do not state RoHS, REACH, lead-free, or conflict-mineral status for EP20K100QC208-2. The N suffix on EP20K100QC208-1N generally suggests an Altera lead-free/RoHS ordering option, but this base part number requires certificate-of-compliance verification.
