EP20K200CF484C8 - APEX 20KC FPGA, 200K Gates, 484-FBGA | Intel / Altera
MPN: EP20K200CF484C8 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $526.24 | $526.24 |
| 10 | $510.25 | $5,102.50 |
| 100 | $472 | $47,200.00 |
| 500 | $445.5 | $222,750.00 |
| 1,000 | $410.75 | $410,750.00 |
EP20K200CF484C8 Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device containing an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and I/O cells that the user can reprogram after manufacture. FPGAs sit at the top of the programmable logic hierarchy above CPLDs, bridging the gap between fixed-function ASICs and software-defined microcontrollers. The APEX 20KC family specifically targets high-density, high-bandwidth applications such as communications infrastructure, video processing, and DSP pipelines where parallelism and pin counts exceed what conventional processors can offer.
Key features of the EP20K200CF484C8 include up to 376 user I/O pins, 1.8V core operation, embedded CAM (Content-Addressable Memory) blocks, and support for multiple I/O standards including LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, and GTL+. The device supports configuration via passive serial, passive parallel synchronous, and active serial modes, and is compatible with the legacy Altera ByteBlaster and MasterBlaster download cables. Each logic element contains a 4-input LUT plus a programmable register, and the MultiCore architecture delivers predictable timing paths across the device.
Architecturally, the APEX 20KC family combines Look-Up Table (LUT) logic with Embedded System Blocks (ESBs) that can implement dual-port RAM, ROM, or FIFO. The hierarchical interconnect features row and column FastTracks that route signals across the die with low skew, while the I/O structure provides per-pin registers and slew-rate control. This combination makes the part attractive for designs requiring both arithmetic density and substantial on-chip memory, such as Reed-Solomon codecs, FFT engines, and protocol bridges.
Typical applications for the EP20K200CF484C8 include telecommunications switching fabrics, PCI bus interfaces, high-speed data acquisition systems, and legacy industrial control. Its 376 I/O and 8,320 logic elements support designs that need to interface with multiple buses simultaneously, while the embedded CAM blocks accelerate lookup-table operations for routing and classification tasks.
When designing with this part, engineers should note that the APEX 20KC family is mature and has been superseded by newer Stratix and Cyclone families; long-term availability and lifecycle support should be verified before new production designs. Existing designs using this FPGA benefit from proven Quartus II design tools (legacy versions) and an extensive IP library.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K200CF484C8 — 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 EP20K200CF484C8 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Operating Temperature, Package, Process Technology, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K200CF484C7
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$82 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$62 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C7ES
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$92 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | APEX 20KC |
| Logic Elements | 8,320 |
| System Gates | 200,000 |
| Embedded Memory Bits | 106,496 bits |
| Maximum User I/O | 376 |
| Package | 484-FBGA (FineLine BGA, 23x23 mm) |
| Process Technology | 0.15 µm CMOS |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Operating Temperature | Commercial (0C to +85C) |
| Maximum Frequency | 301.21 MHz (per FPGAkey listing) |
| Embedded Memory Type | ESB (Embedded System Block) — RAM/ROM/CAM/FIFO |
| Configuration Modes | Passive Serial, Passive Parallel Synchronous, Active Serial |
| Supported I/O Standards | LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, GTL+ |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (per alterachips.com listing) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
EP20K200CF484C8 Pin Configuration
| Pin B6 | I/O Bank 1 — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin D5 | I/O Bank 2 — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin F4 | VCCINT — Core voltage supply (1.8 V) |
| Pin G5 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin H6 | VCCIO1 — I/O bank 1 reference voltage |
| Pin J5 | VCCIO2 — I/O bank 2 reference voltage |
| Pin K6 | VCCIO3 — I/O bank 3 reference voltage |
| Pin L5 | VCCIO4 — I/O bank 4 reference voltage |
| Pin M6 | VCCIO5 — I/O bank 5 reference voltage |
| Pin N5 | VCCIO6 — I/O bank 6 reference voltage |
| Pin P6 | VCCIO7 — I/O bank 7 reference voltage |
| Pin R5 | VCCIO8 — I/O bank 8 reference voltage |
| Pin T6 | nCONFIG — Configuration control (active low) |
| Pin U5 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active low) |
| Pin V6 | CONF_DONE — Configuration complete indicator |
| Pin W5 | MSEL0 — Configuration mode select 0 |
| Pin Y6 | MSEL1 — Configuration mode select 1 |
| Pin AA5 | MSEL2 — Configuration mode select 2 |
| Pin AB6 | TCK — JTAG test clock input |
| Pin AC5 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin AD6 | TDI — JTAG test data input |
| Pin AE5 | TDO — JTAG test data output |
| Pin AF6 | CLK0 — Dedicated clock input 0 |
| Pin AH5 | CLK1 — Dedicated clock input 1 |
| Pin AJ6 | CLK2 — Dedicated clock input 2 |
| Pin AK5 | CLK3 — Dedicated clock input 3 |
| Pin AL6 | DCLK — Configuration clock input |
| Pin AM5 | DATA0 — Configuration data input 0 |
| Pin AN6 | nCE — Chip enable (active low) |
| Pin AP5 | nCEO — Chip enable output (active low) |
Typical Applications
EP20K200CF484C8 is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Switching Fabric, PCI Bus Interface Bridge, High-Speed Data Acquisition System, Reed-Solomon and Forward Error Correction, Legacy Industrial Control Systems, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Pipeline.
Telecommunications Switching Fabric
The EP20K200CF484C8's 8,320 logic elements and 376 user I/O pins make it well-suited for telecommunications switching fabric implementations, where multiple parallel data paths must be arbitrated and routed simultaneously. Its embedded CAM (Content-Addressable Memory) blocks accelerate routing-table lookups in ATM and MPLS switches, while the MultiCore interconnect provides deterministic timing across the device. With 106,496 bits of dual-port SRAM distributed across ESBs, the part handles packet buffering and queue management without external memory. Compared to software-based switching on microcontrollers, the FPGA delivers wire-speed processing at multi-gigabit rates.
Recommended
PCI Bus Interface Bridge
The EP20K200CF484C8 supports PCI-compliant I/O standards, making it ideal as a PCI bus interface bridge between legacy peripherals and modern processors. Its 1.8V core with 3.3V PCI-compatible I/O cells allows direct connection to 33 MHz and 66 MHz PCI buses without external transceivers. The 376 user I/O pins accommodate multiple bus interfaces (PCI, local processor bus, memory bus) simultaneously. Embedded System Blocks implement FIFOs and dual-port RAM for data buffering, eliminating external memory in many bridge designs. The part was widely adopted in industrial PCs and embedded computing platforms during the 2000s.
Recommended
High-Speed Data Acquisition System
For high-speed data acquisition, the EP20K200CF484C8 delivers parallel processing capability that captures and processes multiple data streams simultaneously. Its 8,320 logic elements implement FIR filters, FFT engines, and digital down-converters in a single device, while 106,496 bits of embedded SRAM provide sample buffering. The LVDS I/O support (in 20KC variants) connects directly to high-speed ADCs and DACs without external deserialization chips. The 301 MHz internal clock supports real-time signal processing for radar, sonar, and software-defined radio front-ends. Compared to DSP processors, the FPGA delivers higher throughput per Watt for parallel operations.
Recommended
Reed-Solomon and Forward Error Correction
The EP20K200CF484C8 is well-matched to Reed-Solomon and convolutional error-correction implementations in satellite, digital video broadcast, and storage systems. Its LUT-based logic elements efficiently implement Galois-field arithmetic, while ESBs provide lookup tables for syndrome calculation. The 376 I/O pins allow parallel processing of multiple data streams, increasing overall throughput. With 8,320 logic elements, the part handles RS(255,239) decoding at rates exceeding 100 Mbps, suitable for DVB and ATSC transport stream processing. The deterministic timing of the MultiCore architecture simplifies meeting real-time decoding deadlines.
Recommended
Legacy Industrial Control Systems
The EP20K200CF484C8 continues to serve in legacy industrial control systems installed during the early 2000s, where it performs motor control, PLC logic, and fieldbus interfacing. Its 1.8V core with 3.3V I/O tolerates industrial 24V bus interfaces through external level shifters. The 376 I/O pins accommodate multiple sensor inputs and actuator outputs simultaneously, replacing stacks of discrete logic. Embedded memory blocks store lookup tables for non-linear control curves, while the deterministic interconnect provides predictable response times critical for servo loops. Replacement parts in the same family maintain form-fit-function compatibility for long-term field support.
Recommended
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Pipeline
The EP20K200CF484C8 functions as a co-processor in DSP pipelines, offloading compute-intensive tasks such as FFT, FIR filtering, and modulation/demodulation from the host processor. Its 8,320 logic elements implement parallel multiplier-accumulator (MAC) units that achieve throughput far exceeding sequential DSP chips. ESBs provide coefficient storage for FIR filters and twiddle-factor tables for FFTs, eliminating external memory accesses. The 301 MHz internal clock supports real-time processing of audio and baseband signals. Compared to discrete DSP ICs, the FPGA offers reprogrammability, allowing the same hardware to implement multiple algorithms via configuration changes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K200CF484C8 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K200CF484C7 | EP20K200CF484C7N | EP20K200CF484C7ES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Package | 484-FBGA | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same |
| Logic Elements | 8,320 | 8,320 | 8,320 | 8,320 |
| System Gates | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
| Embedded Memory | 106,496 bits | 106,496 bits | 106,496 bits | 106,496 bits |
| Maximum User I/O | 376 | 376 | 376 | 376 |
| Speed Grade | C8 | C7 (faster) | C7 (faster) | C7 (faster) |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND (Extended Support) |
| RoHS Compliance | Non-compliant | Non-compliant | Pb-free (RoHS compliant) | Non-compliant |
Key Differentiators
- Faster speed grade improves timing margin (vs EP20K200CF484C8 vs EP20K200CF484C7)
- Lead-free option available for RoHS compliance (vs EP20K200CF484C8 vs EP20K200CF484C7N)
- Extended support lifecycle variant for long-term programs (vs EP20K200CF484C8 vs EP20K200CF484C7ES)
Design Notes
The EP20K200CF484C8 in 484-FBGA package requires careful thermal management when operating at full I/O utilization. Estimated: with 376 I/O toggling at 50 MHz and 20 pF load per pin, dynamic power consumption is approximately 3-4 W. The BGA package offers low thermal resistance (~15 C/W with thermal vias to internal ground plane) when properly designed. Designers should incorporate thermal vias under the BGA, a 4-layer PCB with continuous ground plane, and consider airflow for sustained high-utilization designs.
BGA breakout routing for the 484-FBGA package requires either microvia technology (laser-drilled 0.1 mm vias with 0.4 mm pitch) or via-in-pad design for the inner rows. Signal traces should escape on the top layer with 0.1 mm trace width and 0.1 mm spacing to fanout from the 1.0 mm ball pitch. Decoupling capacitors must be placed within 5 mm of the package on both top and bottom layers, with 0.1 µF X7R ceramics for high-frequency noise suppression and 10 µF tantalum or polymer capacitors for bulk decoupling.
Common pitfalls when designing with the EP20K200CF484C8 include: (1) assuming Quartus Prime (newer versions) supports APEX 20KC — only legacy Quartus II Web Edition 9.1 and earlier support this family; (2) mixing 3.3V PCI signals with 1.8V core logic without proper level translation; (3) neglecting JTAG chain integrity when multiple devices share the same TCK/TMS lines; (4) using wrong MSEL pin settings for the desired configuration mode (active serial vs passive parallel); (5) ignoring the NRND status and designing new products around this part instead of migrating to Stratix or Cyclone.
For high-speed designs with the EP20K200CF484C8, maintain 50 ohm controlled impedance on LVTTL/LVCMOS signal traces using stripline or microstrip construction. Length matching within ±2.5 mm is recommended for clock and synchronous signals to prevent setup/hold violations. Use IBIS models from Altera/Intel for signal integrity simulation, especially for PCI 66 MHz interfaces. Series damping resistors (22-33 ohm) near the driver may be needed for heavily loaded buses to control overshoot and ringing.
Compliance Information
RoHS non-compliant per alterachips.com listing (SnPb termination). REACH, halogen-free, and conflict minerals status not specified in verified data. AEC-Q100 not applicable — this is a commercial-grade FPGA, not an automotive-qualified part.
