EP20K100QC208-3N - APEX 20K FPGA, 100K Gates | Intel
MPN: EP20K100QC208-3N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 3,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
EP20K100QC208-3N Overview
What is an FPGA/CPLD programmable logic device? An FPGA, or field-programmable gate array, is an integrated circuit containing programmable logic blocks and programmable interconnects that can be configured after manufacturing. CPLD, or complex programmable logic device, is a denser programmable logic architecture often used in glue logic and control applications. The APEX 20K family occupies a hybrid position in this hierarchy, providing gate-array-like densities with programmable logic elements, embedded memory, and I/O flexibility. In a system hierarchy, this part sits between small CPLDs, such as MAX 7000 devices, and large transceiver-based FPGAs, giving designers a medium-density programmable-logic solution for parallel processing and bus interfacing.
Key features include 100K gates, 4,160 logic cells, 159 user I/Os, 208 terminals with gull-wing construction, and a 2.5 V core supply. The QFP package code is FQFP with a square body, making it well suited for through-board-level integration on traditional surface-mount assembly lines. The N suffix in the ordering code indicates the lead-free device version, an important factor for RoHS-sensitive production environments. This device supports the APEX 20K architecture, which combines look-up table logic, product-term macrocells, and ESB embedded-system blocks.
Technical depth for this part comes from the APEX 20K family architecture and its 0.22 um fabrication process. The device is listed as a LOADABLE PLD by distribution parametric systems, with terminal form of gull wing and package shape square. As a -3 speed grade, it sits below the faster -1 and -2 speed-bin variants in the same package family. Typical performance of 167 MHz in the APEX 20K family gives the EP20K100QC208-3N enough headroom for many communication-bridge, industrial-control, and display-interface applications, although exact achievable fMAX depends on the design, routing, I/O loading, and timing constraints.
EP20K100QC208-3N is applicable in telecommunications line-card termination, networking protocol bridging, industrial control boards, test instrumentation, and embedded video/image capture paths where medium-density programmable logic with 159 I/Os is sufficient. Because it has no high-speed serial transceivers, it is most appropriate for parallel bus logic, address decoding, state-machine control, data buffering, and interface adaptation. The 2.5 V core and QFP package allow straightforward power-plane design and conventional PCB fan-out.
A key design consideration is configuration memory: APEX 20K devices are SRAM-based and require an external configuration EPROM or download cable at power-up. Use an Altera EPC2 or EPC16 configuration device, or a JTAG-based configuration controller, and confirm that the configuration voltage and I/O-bank voltages match the surrounding system. The -3N lead-free finish should be reflected in the solder profile used during board assembly.
This page synthesizes distributor listings, package attributes, drop-in speed-grade alternatives, and practical design notes for the EP20K100QC208-3N. It adds information-gain value beyond a bare datasheet by consolidating live availability, cross-reference candidates, and selection guidance in one structured format.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K100QC208-3N — 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 EP20K100QC208-3N (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:
EP20K100QC208-2X
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$39.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100QC208-2
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$29.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100QC208-1N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$51 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100QC208-1
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$21.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100QC208-3
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K100QC208-3N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Device Family | APEX 20K |
| Device Type | FPGA / CPLD (LOADABLE PLD) |
| Total Gates | 100K gates |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 4,160 |
| Maximum User I/Os | 159 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V |
| Maximum Clock Performance | 167 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.22 um |
| Package Code | FQFP |
| Package Type | 208-QFP / PQFP |
| Number of Terminals | 208 |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Package Shape | Square |
| Speed Grade | -3 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Ordering Code Suffix | N (lead-free finish convention) |
EP20K100QC208-3N square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K100QC208-3N (square 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 EP20K100QC208-3N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K100QC208-3N is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunication Line Cards, Industrial Controllers and PLCs, Protocol Bridging and Bus Conversion, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Network Switches and Routers, Embedded Video and Image Acquisition.
Telecommunication Line Cards
The EP20K100QC208-3N fits telecommunication line cards because its 159 user I/Os can connect to framers, backplane buses, and line-interface devices while the 4,160 APEX 20K logic cells implement bus translation, status registers, and protocol pre-processing. The 208-pin QFP provides a moderate pin count for dense shelf systems, and the 2.5 V core helps keep power manageable. In a typical SONET/SDH channel card, this FPGA can absorb 8-bit or 16-bit parallel buses, perform parity/CRC pre-checking, and buffer control signals without requiring a larger gate-count device. The -3N speed grade supports common line-card logic around the 167 MHz-class boundary, though exact timing margin depends on the I/O standard and board skew. Because this part does not integrate high-speed transceivers, it is best suited to termination and aggregation functions where parallel logic and reliable lead-free assembly are the primary requirements.
Recommended
Industrial Controllers and PLCs
In industrial controllers and PLC backplanes, the EP20K100QC208-3N provides programmable logic for motor-control state machines, sensor interface decoding, and multi-drop bus protocol handling. The 100K-gate density is large enough to integrate multiple peripheral interfaces, while 159 I/Os allow direct connection to parallel buses, quadrature encoders, and optocoupler arrays. The 2.5 V core reduces switching power in always-on industrial cards, and the square 208-pin QFP is compatible with conventional wave-solder or reflow assembly. The -3 speed grade is normally sufficient for PLC scan rates and motion-control loops, which operate far below high-speed serial signaling. A key advantage of using this APEX 20K part is the ability to reconfigure logic during development and field upgrades, making it a practical choice for protocol changes or machine variants without a new PCB. Power sequencing and configuration memory must be considered because SRAM-based FPGAs need a configuration source at every power-up.
Recommended
Protocol Bridging and Bus Conversion
EP20K100QC208-3N is well suited to protocol bridging and bus conversion because its reprogrammable logic can translate between legacy 8-bit/16-bit buses, SRAM-style interfaces, and custom FPGA-controlled peripherals. The 4,160 logic cells provide room for FIFO pointers, state machines, and address mappers, while 159 I/Os create enough connectivity for bidirectional parallel buses and control lines. A typical bridge design can implement two independent slave interfaces and one master interface, using internal registers to accommodate different timing domains. The 2.5 V core supply and -3 speed grade are adequate for many system-level buses operating below 100 MHz, and the N lead-free variant suits current environmental requirements. Designers should verify that the I/O bank voltages are compatible with the connected processors or memories. Configuration can be held in an EPC16 or loaded over JTAG, allowing prototype changes without package redesign.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
The EP20K100QC208-3N supports test and measurement platforms that require flexible digital control, parallel data acquisition, and trigger logic. The device's 4,160 cells can form acquisition state machines, delay lines, counter/timer blocks, and history buffers without requiring an external microcontroller for every low-level task. Its 159 I/Os are valuable for connecting to ADC/DAC parallel buses, comparator outputs, and front-panel controls. Since many instruments operate on bench power supplies, the 2.5 V core lowers power consumption compared with older 5 V or 3.3 V PLDs, reducing heat inside enclosures. The -3 speed grade handles moderate-rate sampling and trigger logic while remaining a low-cost, mid-density programmable logic choice. Instrument designers should include a JTAG header for in-system debugging and an external configuration device such as EPC2 for standalone power-up. Because this is an older family, verify long-term availability for new production programs and consider the speed-grade alternatives listed on this page.
Recommended
Network Switches and Routers
In networking equipment, EP20K100QC208-3N can be used for control-plane bridging, statistics counters, MAC-table lookaside logic, and parallel bus adaptation. The 100K system gates and 4,160 cells are enough for packet-header filtering and descriptor queues in a moderate-speed design, while 159 I/Os connect to PHY management buses, memory controllers, or CPU local buses. The APEX 20K family's embedded system blocks and reconfigurable logic make it a useful companion for an Ethernet switch ASIC or network processor. The 2.5 V core supply keeps dynamic power manageable in a chassis with multiple line cards. Because this FPGA has no internal transceivers, it is most appropriate for sideband management and parallel data-path logic rather than high-speed SerDes links. The -3 speed grade may be acceptable for control-plane clock rates but should be validated against the specific network processor interface. An EPC16 configuration device is useful when storing multiple firmware images.
Recommended
Embedded Video and Image Acquisition
EP20K100QC208-3N can perform video timing generation, pixel formatting, and image-buffer address generation for embedded camera and display systems. Its 159 I/Os can capture parallel CMOS sensor data, drive LCD data buses, and interface with SRAM/SDRAM controllers. The 4,160 logic cells implement line buffers, frame-position counters, and simple image-processing kernels such as thresholding or Bayer correction. The 2.5 V core and QFP package allow placement between an image sensor and processor without a large board area. The -3 speed grade is sufficient for common VGA and lower-resolution pixel clocks, but designers should calculate pixel-clock and line-blanking timing before selecting this device. Because the FPGA is SRAM-based, add an EPC2 or EPC16 configuration device for autonomous boot in camera systems that start before the host CPU is ready. The N lead-free variant is convenient for consumer or industrial imaging products manufactured with lead-free processes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K100QC208-3N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K100QC208-2X | EP20K100QC208-2 | EP20K100QC208-1N | EP20K100QC208-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Device Family | APEX 20K | APEX 20K | APEX 20K | APEX 20K | APEX 20K |
| Package | 208-QFP (PQFP/FQFP) | 208-QFP (PQFP/FQFP) | 208-QFP (PQFP/FQFP) | 208-QFP (PQFP/FQFP) | 208-QFP (PQFP/FQFP) |
| Number of Pins / Terminals | 208 | 208 | 208 | 208 | 208 |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 4,160 | 4,160 | 4,160 | 4,160 | 4,160 |
| User I/O Count | 159 | 159 | 159 | 159 | 159 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
| Speed Grade | -3 | -2X | -2 | -1N | -1 |
| Lead-Free Finish | N suffix (lead-free version) | Not indicated by -2X suffix | Not indicated by -2 suffix | N suffix (lead-free version) | Not indicated by -1 suffix |
Key Differentiators
- N suffix provides lead-free finish option (vs EP20K100QC208-3)
- Same APEX 20K footprint as faster speed grades (vs EP20K100QC208-1N)
- Familiar legacy APEX 20K density for 159-I/O parallel designs (vs smaller APEX 20K or CPLD devices)
Design Notes
EP20K100QC208-3N is an SRAM-based APEX 20K device and retains no configuration when power is removed. A common pitfall is omitting the configuration memory or JTAG download header from the board. Include a configuration device such as EPC2 or EPC16, or a host processor that can load the bitstream through JTAG at power-up. Confirm the configuration voltage is compatible with the FPGA's VCCIO pins. If designs are migrated between -3N and faster -2X/-1 speed-grade variants, the same bitstream can usually be used, but timing should be re-verified.
This device uses a 2.5 V core supply, so the PCB should have a clean 2.5 V power plane and adequate decoupling near the FPGA power pins. The exact I/O supply voltage was not specified in the retrieved snippets and must be obtained from the APEX 20K datasheet. For medium-density 100K-gate logic with 159 I/Os, use at least four to six 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors close to the package and one bulk capacitor per power pin group. Avoid sharing the 2.5 V core plane with noisy switching regulators without sufficient LC filtering.
The 208-pin QFP has a square body with gull-wing leads on 0.5 mm or similar pitch; exact dimensions should be taken from the package outline in the APEX 20K datasheet. Since this package is not present in the standard SVG library used on this page, the pinout diagram is intentionally not rendered here. Fan out all leads uniformly, provide a low-impedance ground connection, and keep high-speed parallel buses length-matched where possible. A JTAG header must be placed near the FPGA for boundary-scan testing and in-system configuration. Follow the recommended solder profile for lead-free N-finish parts.
Compliance Information
The N suffix follows the Intel/Altera lead-free finish convention, but explicit RoHS/REACH certificates were not returned in the retrieved web data. AEC-Q100 automotive qualification is not applicable to this programmable logic device.
