EP20K160EQC240-2X - APEX 20KE FPGA 160K Gates 240-PQFP | Intel
MPN: EP20K160EQC240-2X ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $34.83 | $34.83 |
| 10 | $32.1 | $321.00 |
| 100 | $28.95 | $2,895.00 |
| 500 | $25.4 | $12,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $22.75 | $22,750.00 |
EP20K160EQC240-2X Overview
What is a FPGA? A Field Programmable Gate Array is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that allows designers to configure digital logic blocks and interconnect after manufacturing. FPGAs sit in the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices: PLD -> CPLD -> FPGA -> SoC FPGA. They are widely used to implement custom digital signal processing, glue logic, bus interfaces, and high-speed parallel processing pipelines that would otherwise require discrete logic ICs or ASICs.
The EP20K160EQC240-2X features the APEX MultiCore architecture combining look-up table (LUT)-based logic with embedded array blocks (EABs) for memory and arithmetic functions. It provides up to 271 user I/Os, 4 phase-locked loops, 345,600 bits of embedded memory, and supports in-system programmability via the IEEE 1149.1 JTAG interface. The -2 speed grade indicates a mid-tier performance classification within the APEX 20KE product line.
Typical applications include telecommunications backplane interfacing, custom DSP pipelines, industrial control glue logic, and legacy system prototyping. The 240-pin PQFP package enables socketed or hand-soldered assembly, which is preferred for prototype boards and legacy through-hole-friendly designs where BGA rework capability is limited.
When designing with this part, note that 1.8 V core and I/O voltages require level-shifters when interfacing to 3.3 V or 5 V logic families. The MultiCore architecture also requires Quartus II (or MAX+PLUS II for legacy flows) for place-and-route, and configuration bitstream generation from Verilog or VHDL source.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the original manufacturer datasheet. Engineers migrating designs from older Altera tools should review the Quartus II device support notes before recompiling existing APEX 20KE projects.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K160EQC240-2X — 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 EP20K160EQC240-2X (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Mounting Type, Operating Temperature, Speed Grade, User I/Os.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K160EQC240-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$108.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K160EQC240-2N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K160EQC240-2XN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K160EQC240-1X
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$110 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100EQC240-2X
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$39.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K160EQC240-2X Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | APEX-20KE |
| Logic Elements | 6,400 |
| System Gates | 160,000 |
| Embedded Memory Bits | 345,600 |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 350 MHz |
| Propagation Delay (Tpd) | 1.93 ns |
| Number of I/Os | 175 (Mouser) / 271 (datasheet summary) |
| Number of PLLs | 4 |
| Core Process Technology | 0.22 um CMOS |
| Core Voltage | 1.71 V to 1.89 V (1.8 V nominal) |
| I/O Voltage | Multi-voltage (3.3 V / 2.5 V / 1.8 V compatible) |
| Package | 240-BQFP (PQFP-240, 32x32 mm) |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (PQFP, gull-wing leads) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to 85 C (Commercial) |
| Programming Interface | IEEE 1149.1 JTAG + Altera ByteBlaster |
| Logic Family | CMOS |
EP20K160EQC240-2X 240-bqfp (pqfp-240, 32x32 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K160EQC240-2X (240-bqfp (pqfp-240, 32x32 mm) 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 EP20K160EQC240-2X.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K160EQC240-2X is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Backplane Glue Logic, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Custom DSP Pipeline Implementation, Legacy ASIC Replacement and Prototype Bring-up, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Aerospace and Defense Legacy Avionics.
Telecommunications Backplane Glue Logic
The EP20K160EQC240-2X is well suited to legacy telecom backplane interfacing where it implements custom bus-bridges between E1/T1 framers, SONET framer ASICs, and backplane serializers. Its 175 user I/Os (per the Mouser listing) provide ample fan-out for 16-32 bit parallel buses, while the 4 PLLs enable jitter-cleaned clock distribution to multiple daughter cards. The 240-PQFP package allows socketed assembly for field-replaceable units common in central-office equipment. Compared to ASIC replacement, the APEX 20KE permits last-minute protocol upgrades without respinning masks.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
In factory-automation controllers, the EP20K160EQC240-2X implements deterministic state machines, PWM generators, and motion-control glue logic between microcontrollers and power-stage drivers. The 1.8 V core voltage with multi-voltage I/O lets the FPGA directly interface 2.5 V and 3.3 V ASICs while interfacing 5 V opto-isolators through external level shifters. With 345,600 embedded memory bits, it absorbs real-time lookup tables for cam profiles and PID gains. The commercial 0-85 C temperature range covers most factory-floor cabinets, and the 240-PQFP package is hand-solderable for prototype maintenance.
Recommended
Custom DSP Pipeline Implementation
The APEX 20KE's embedded array blocks (EABs) make the EP20K160EQC240-2X effective for custom DSP pipelines such as FIR filters, FFT pre/post-processors, and baseband demodulators. Each EAB can be configured as 256x8, 512x4, 1024x2, or 2048x1 ROM/RAM, allowing coefficient storage to be tightly integrated with multiplier logic. Internal clock rates up to 350 MHz support sample rates above 100 MSPS in moderate-complexity filters. For designers modernizing legacy DSP code, the -2 speed grade provides predictable timing closure under MAX+PLUS II timing-driven compilation.
Recommended
Legacy ASIC Replacement and Prototype Bring-up
The EP20K160EQC240-2X is a frequent choice for ASIC-replacement designs where a custom mask-spin is no longer economically justified. With 160,000 system gates and 6,400 logic elements, it can replicate mid-complexity ASICs (typical gate-array ASICs in the 80K-150K usable gate range) while preserving the existing PCB footprint through the 240-PQFP package. Engineers migrating from Altera Classic or MAX series PLDs benefit from APEX 20KE's upward-compatible Quartus II toolchain, and the 240-pin BQFP allows low-cost PCB layout conversion from prior 240-pin QFP designs.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
In bench-top test equipment, the EP20K160EQC240-2X implements custom stimulus generators, protocol analyzers, and timing-measurement logic. The 4 PLLs allow precise multi-rate clocking required for parallel-serial bus monitoring (I2C, SPI, UART, proprietary buses), while 175 user I/Os enable simultaneous capture of 16+ digital channels. Embedded memory supports deep capture buffers, reducing off-chip SRAM requirements. The BQFP-240 package is convenient for low-volume instrumentation where hand-rework of prototypes is preferred over BGA rework.
Recommended
Aerospace and Defense Legacy Avionics
Although the EP20K160EQC240-2X is commercial-grade (0-85 C), it is widely used in support roles for legacy avionics and defense test rigs where a previously-validated design is being reproduced or maintained. The 240-PQFP package's gull-wing leads deliver strong mechanical-thermal performance under vibration, and the abundant 345,600-bit embedded memory allows implementation of mission-specific lookup tables without external memory. Per MIL-HDBK-454 general design guidelines, designers of fielded equipment often select this part for its mature Quartus II tool support and long-term Rochester Electronics inventory availability.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K160EQC240-2X — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K160EQC240-2 | EP20K160EQC240-2N | EP20K160EQC240-2XN | EP20K160EQC240-1X | EP20K100EQC240-2X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 240-BQFP (PQFP-240, 32x32 mm) | 240-BQFP (PQFP-240) - same | 240-BQFP (PQFP-240) - same | 240-BQFP (PQFP-240) - same | 240-BQFP (PQFP-240) - same | 240-BQFP (PQFP-240) - same |
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| System Gates | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 100,000 |
| Logic Elements | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 6,400 | 4,160 |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -1 (slower) | -2 |
| Propagation Delay (Tpd) | 1.93 ns | 1.93 ns | 1.93 ns | 1.93 ns | 2.5 ns (approx -1 grade) | 1.93 ns |
| Embedded Memory Bits | 345,600 | 345,600 | 345,600 | 345,600 | 345,600 | 212,992 |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V |
| Approx Unit Price (1 pc) | $34.83 | Similar, ~$34 | Similar, ~$34 | Similar, ~$34 | Often lower (older speed grade) | Often lower (smaller die) |
Key Differentiators
- Same 240-BQFP footprint across APEX 20KE family (vs EP20K160EQC208-3N)
- Higher logic density at same package (vs EP20K100EQC240-2X)
- -2 speed grade over -1 grade (vs EP20K160EQC240-1X)
Design Notes
The EP20K160EQC240-2X requires a clean 1.8 V core supply with at least 1.71 V to 1.89 V tolerance per the APEX 20KE datasheet. Multi-voltage I/O banks allow 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V on different banks, but each bank needs its own VCCIO rail. Estimated: at 50% toggle rate and 25 C ambient, Icc core is approximately 250-400 mA - verify with PowerPlay Early Power Estimator in Quartus II before finalizing the regulator (a TPS7A4701 1-A LDO is sufficient but operates near dropout on a 2.5 V intermediate rail). Decouple every VCC pin with a 0.1 uF X7R ceramic plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor within 5 mm of the package.
The 240-PQFP package has limited thermal dissipation. Estimated: at typical operating power of ~1 W the junction-to-ambient temperature rise on a 4-layer 2oz copper PCB is approximately 25-35 C (theta_JA approx 25-35 C/W for BQFP-240 with copper pour). Avoid placing the device near heat-dissipating components; if the application runs at sustained high toggle rates, add a small clip-on heatsink or copper spreader on the top side.
Pin 1 location on the 240-BQFP follows the JEDEC PQFP convention: pin 1 at the dot/marker, counter-clockwise numbering. Use at least 6 ground vias in the thermal pad region below the package (BQFP-240 PQFP has no center pad but still benefits from a continuous top-layer ground pour). Route all clock inputs with 50 ohm controlled-impedance traces and avoid running signal traces under the device body. JTAG pins (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) require 4.7 kohm pull-ups on TCK and TMS to avoid spurious configuration.
Common pitfalls include: (1) selecting the wrong Quartus version - Quartus Prime 14.0 and later do not include the APEX 20KE device library, so Quartus II 13.0sp1 is the final supporting release; (2) omitting the configuration PROM (EPC2/EPC4/EPC8) on first power-up leaves the FPGA in undefined state until configuration; (3) confusing the -1 and -2 speed grades results in timing closure failures at rated clock rates - always verify timing reports in Quartus TimeQuest after compilation; (4) mixing 3.3 V and 5 V signals without level shifters on multi-voltage I/O banks can permanently damage the device.
Compliance Information
RoHS/lead-free status for EP20K160EQC240-2X marked [DATA_NEEDED: RoHS / lead-free status]; the -2X suffix on Altera APEX parts conventionally indicates Pb-free finish but explicit certification document was not present in verified web data. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a commercial-grade (0-85 C) FPGA not intended for automotive safety-critical applications.
