EP20K200CF484C8ES - APEX-20KC 200K Gates FPGA | Altera
MPN: EP20K200CF484C8ES ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $145 | $145.00 |
| 10 | $132 | $1,320.00 |
| 100 | $118 | $11,800.00 |
| 500 | $102 | $51,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $89 | $89,000.00 |
EP20K200CF484C8ES Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a programmable logic device whose configurable logic blocks (CLBs), interconnect, and I/O resources can be hardware-tailored after manufacture, sitting within the broader semiconductor hierarchy of programmable logic devices (PLDs) -> logic ICs -> integrated circuits. FPGAs bridge the gap between fixed-function ASICs and software-driven processors by providing deterministic parallel hardware execution. The APEX 20KC series specifically targets datapath, DSP, and memory-intensive designs with MultiCore interconnect and Look-Up Table (LUT)-based logic.
Key features include 8,320 logic elements, 106,496 RAM bits distributed across embedded system blocks (ESBs), support for LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, GTL, SSTL, HSTL, and AGP I/O standards, and four phase-locked loops (PLLs) for clock management. The device operates from a 1.8 V core supply and supports in-system programmability (ISP) via the IEEE 1149.1 JTAG interface and the Altera serial configuration scheme. The 484-FBGA FineLine BGA package provides high signal density with controlled-impedance signal paths ideal for backplane and high-speed board designs.
Architecturally, the APEX 20KC combines a hierarchical MegaLAB structure, where each MegaLAB contains 16 Logic Array Blocks (LABs) plus a single ESB. The ESB can be configured as dual-port RAM, single-port RAM, ROM, or content-addressable memory (CAM), giving the device notable flexibility for routing tables, FIFO buffers, and processor scratch-pad storage. The 4 embedded PLL blocks support multiplication, division, phase shifting, and clock skew management across up to 16 clock domains.
Typical applications include high-performance networking ASIC prototyping, telecom line-card datapath processing, industrial control and automation, military/aerospace signal processing, and PCI-bus interfaces. Engineers select the EP20K200CF484C8ES when designs require approximately 200K gates of logic with significant embedded memory and many high-speed I/O.
When designing with this part, ensure the Quartus II design toolchain version supports the APEX 20KC family; the family is legacy and Intel now marks APEX 20K parts as 'Discontinued' or 'Last Time Buy' on the latest product lifecycle pages. Plan firmware and design-token migration to Cyclone or MAX series if production continuity is required.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing snapshots, same-family drop-in alternatives, and lifecycle observations not consolidated in a single source on the open web.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K200CF484C8ES — 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 EP20K200CF484C8ES (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Package, Operating Temperature, Process Technology, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K200CF484C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$410.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C7ES
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$92 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$62 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$82 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C8ES Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | APEX-20KC |
| Family | APEX 20K |
| Logic Elements | 8,320 |
| System Gates | 200,000 |
| Embedded Memory (RAM bits) | 106,496 |
| Number of Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 104 |
| Number of Embedded System Blocks (ESBs) | 13 |
| User I/O Pins (max) | 376 |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Speed Grade | C8 (-8 commercial) |
| Package | 484-pin FBGA (FineLine BGA) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Process Node | 0.18 micron CMOS |
| Configuration Interface | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) / Altera serial |
| I/O Standards Supported | LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, GTL, SSTL, HSTL, AGP |
EP20K200CF484C8ES 484-pin fbga (fineline bga) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K200CF484C8ES (484-pin fbga (fineline bga) 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 EP20K200CF484C8ES.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K200CF484C8ES is suitable for 7 applications: Telecom Line-Card Datapath Processing, Networking ASIC Prototyping, Industrial Control and Automation, PCI Bus Interface Bridge, Military and Aerospace Signal Processing, Legacy Image and Video Processing, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
Telecom Line-Card Datapath Processing
The EP20K200CF484C8ES fits telecom line-card datapath processing because its 200K system gates and 13 embedded system blocks (ESBs) provide 106 Kbits of configurable dual-port RAM for packet buffering. The 376 user I/O pins in the 484-FBGA package support multi-interface backplane connections including UTOPIA, POS-PHY, and SPI-4.2, while 4 integrated PLLs manage the multiple clock domains typical of telecom SoC designs. The APEX-20KC architecture delivers deterministic hardware parallel processing latency needed for TDM and ATM cell processing. Compared to a microprocessor solution, the FPGA offloads header parsing and lookup operations at line rate.
Recommended
Networking ASIC Prototyping
The EP20K200CF484C8ES is widely deployed for networking ASIC prototyping where 200K gates approximate the target ASIC complexity. The 484-FBGA package exposes 376 user I/O to breadboard many PHY and SERDES interfaces, while the ESBs emulate target SRAM/TCAM blocks for routing table and queue management verification. With 4 PLLs and support for LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, GTL, SSTL, HSTL, and AGP I/O standards, the device mirrors most ASIC pad environments, allowing real-world timing and signal-integrity validation. Engineers migrate the verified design to a mask-programmed ASIC once production volumes justify the NRE cost.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation
The EP20K200CF484C8ES suits industrial control designs including PLC backplanes, motor-control loops, and process automation interfaces. Its 8,320 logic elements handle PID loops, encoder decoding, and fieldbus protocol bridging in a single device. The 376 I/O support multi-axis encoder inputs, PWM outputs, and parallel industrial buses. For harsh factory environments, the industrial-temperature variant EP20K200CF484C7N is recommended, while the C8ES variant suits commercial-temperature factory-floor cabinets. The legacy Quartus II toolchain ensures long-term firmware stability for industrial OEMs with multi-decade product lifecycles.
Recommended
PCI Bus Interface Bridge
The EP20K200CF484C8ES delivers reliable PCI 32/64-bit, 33/66 MHz bridge implementations thanks to dedicated PCI I/O standard support and 376 user I/O for sideband signals. The 4 PLLs generate the precise 33.33 MHz and 66.66 MHz PCI clocks needed for compliance testing. The ESBs implement configuration register space, scratch RAM, and DMA descriptors without external memory. Engineers use this part as a PCI-to-Local-Bus bridge, PCI arbiter, or custom PCI peripheral in legacy add-in cards still deployed in industrial PCs and instrumentation.
Recommended
Military and Aerospace Signal Processing
Defense and aerospace programs historically qualified the EP20K200CF484C8ES for radar signal processing, electronic warfare, and secure communications subsystems. The ES (extended screening) suffix indicates the part meets enhanced reliability flow requirements suitable for ruggedized military environments. Its 200K gate capacity supports FFT engines, digital down-converters, and channelizer pipelines, while 106 Kbits of ESB memory buffer sample data between processing stages. The 484-FBGA package provides the controlled-impedance signal paths needed for high-speed analog-to-digital converter interfaces, and the device's JTAG-based ISP enables field reprogrammability for mission updates.
Recommended
Legacy Image and Video Processing
Medical imaging, machine vision, and broadcast video systems leverage the EP20K200CF484C8ES for real-time pixel pipelines. Its 8,320 logic elements support color-space transforms, scaling filters, and overlay compositing in a single chip. The 13 ESBs implement line buffers and frame-store memory for pipelined image processing, while the 376 I/O connect to camera links, BT.656 video ports, and LCD panels. The deterministic hardware parallel execution of the APEX-20KC architecture delivers the consistent latency required for synchronized multi-camera systems. The 484-FBGA package keeps trace lengths short on multi-layer PCBs to preserve video signal fidelity.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Test instruments such as protocol analyzers, logic analyzer probes, and ATE pin electronics employ the EP20K200CF484C8ES for pattern generation, timing measurement, and protocol decoding. The 200K gate capacity implements complex stimulus generators and real-time protocol decoders for buses like I2C, SPI, UART, and parallel JTAG. ESBs store expected-response tables and captured trace buffers, while 4 PLLs synthesize the precise clock edges required for timing-margin testing. The 484-FBGA package supports high channel-count designs with controlled impedance, essential for maintaining signal fidelity at multi-GHz test rates.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K200CF484C8ES — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K200CF484C8 | EP20K200CF484C7ES | EP20K200CF484C7N | EP20K200CF484C7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) |
| Package | 484-FBGA | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same |
| Speed Grade | C8 (commercial) | C8 (commercial) | C7 (slower) | C7 (slower) | C7 (slower) |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0C to +85C) | Commercial (0C to +85C) | Commercial (0C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +100C) | Commercial (0C to +85C) |
| Screening | ES (extended) | Standard | ES (extended) | Standard | Standard |
| Logic Elements | 8,320 | 8,320 - same | 8,320 - same | 8,320 - same | 8,320 - same |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 106,496 | 106,496 - same | 106,496 - same | 106,496 - same | 106,496 - same |
| System Gates | 200,000 | 200,000 - same | 200,000 - same | 200,000 - same | 200,000 - same |
| User I/O (max) | 376 | 376 - same | 376 - same | 376 - same | 376 - same |
Key Differentiators
- Extended screening (ES) suffix for enhanced reliability (vs EP20K200CF484C8)
- Faster C8 speed grade for higher-performance designs (vs EP20K200CF484C7ES)
- Commercial temperature vs industrial option (vs EP20K200CF484C7N)
Design Notes
The 484-FBGA package concentrates significant thermal load; designers must implement a thermal management strategy with thermal vias under the BGA and adequate PCB copper pour to keep junction temperature within the commercial 0C to +85C range. Estimated: at typical APEX-20KC power consumption of 2-3 W static plus dynamic I/O switching, a 4-layer FR-4 board needs at least 25-30 thermal vias under the center BGA array connected to inner ground planes. Without thermal vias, junction temperature can exceed safe limits in enclosed industrial enclosures.
BGA fanout requires via-in-pad or dog-bone fanout patterns with 0.8 mm pitch ball spacing per the APEX-20KC datasheet. Use 4-layer PCB stackup with continuous ground plane for the FBGA break-out region. Place 0.1 uF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to every VCCINT and VCCIO ball, with additional bulk 10-100 uF tantalum or polymer capacitors on each supply rail. Match impedance-controlled traces for high-speed I/O signals (HSTL, SSTL, GTL).
Do not confuse APEX 20K (1.8 V core) with APEX 20KE (2.5 V core) or APEX 20KC (1.8 V core, CAM-capable). Verify MSEL[2:0] configuration mode pins match your configuration scheme (JTAG, serial, parallel). Confirm EPC configuration device family (EPC2, EPC4, EPC8, EPC16) matches the bitstream size of your design. The Quartus II toolchain version must be retained - newer Quartus Prime versions do not support APEX 20KC without legacy device support files.
Differential I/O pairs (LVDS, HSTL) must maintain 100-ohm differential impedance with matched trace lengths within 50 mils. Clock inputs should be routed with impedance-matched traces and kept short to minimize reflection. Place the JTAG TAP connector near the FPGA JTAG pins with short traces, and add a 4.7 kohm pull-up on TCK, TMS, and TDI per the IEEE 1149.1 specification. The nCONFIG and nSTATUS signals require careful handling because they initiate and report configuration status.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not explicitly stated in provided web data. APEX 20K series predates many modern compliance programs; consult Intel PSG product documentation for definitive RoHS/REACH status.
