EP20K200CF484C9N - 200K Gate APEX 20KC FPGA | Altera | BGA-484
MPN: EP20K200CF484C9N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $335.06 | $335.06 |
| 10 | $301.55 | $3,015.50 |
| 100 | $268.05 | $26,805.00 |
| 500 | $234.54 | $117,270.00 |
| 1,000 | $201.04 | $201,040.00 |
EP20K200CF484C9N Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor integrated circuit whose digital logic and interconnect can be reconfigured after manufacture by the end user. APEX 20KC devices belong to the high-density, SRAM-based programmable logic hierarchy: PLD -> CPLD -> FPGA -> SRAM-based FPGA -> APEX 20K family. APEX 20KC introduced 2.5 V PCI-compliant I/O support and dedicated interface circuitry on top of the APEX 20K architecture, making it suitable for system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) designs in telecommunications, networking, and high-speed data acquisition.
Key features of the EP20K200CF484C9N include 200K typical gates, 232 PLLs/lock loops, 376 maximum user I/Os, and a 1.8 V core supply with 3.3 V, 2.5 V, 1.8 V and 1.5 V MultiVolt I/O support. The 'C9' speed grade corresponds to approximately 250 MHz maximum internal performance, and the 'N' suffix indicates an industrial temperature range (0C to +85C). The device is fabricated on a 0.15 um CMOS process, combining logic, ESB memory, and high-speed I/O on a single die.
The APEX 20KC architecture combines look-up table (LUT)-based logic with embedded system blocks that can be configured as RAM, ROM, or CAM. This hybrid structure enables high throughput for memory-intensive designs such as ATM cell processing, protocol bridging, and DSP front ends. Per Altera's published APEX 20KC datasheet, the family is supported by the Quartus II design software (versions up to 13.0 sp1), and bitstream compatibility is preserved across packages with the same logic density.
Typical applications include high-speed telecommunications line cards, network switches and routers, ASIC prototyping, DSP co-processing, and PCI-based embedded systems. Because of its 1.8 V core and 3.3 V I/O capability, the EP20K200CF484C9N is well suited to bridge legacy 5 V and 3.3 V peripherals to newer low-voltage ASICs in mixed-voltage systems.
When designing with the EP20K200CF484C9N, note that the device requires four independent supply rails (VCCINT 1.8 V, VCCIO 3.3 V/2.5 V/1.8 V/1.5 V, VCC_PLL, VREF) with specific power-up sequencing; consult the APEX 20KC datasheet before PCB layout. Industrial-grade part screening and conformal coating may be required for harsh-environment deployments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in APEX 20KC alternatives, and practical design notes not found on the manufacturer datasheet itself.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K200CF484C9N — 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 EP20K200CF484C9N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Package, Process Technology, Operating Temperature, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K200CF484C9
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$201.04 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$102.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$410.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$62 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$82 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C7ES
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$92 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C8ES
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$89 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CF484C9N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | APEX 20KC |
| Device Type | FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) |
| Typical Gates | 200,000 |
| Logic Elements | 8,320 |
| Embedded System Block (ESB) Bits | 106,496 |
| Maximum User I/O | 376 |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 250 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.15 um CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.8 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage (VCCIO) | 3.3 V / 2.5 V / 1.8 V / 1.5 V (MultiVolt) |
| Package | 484-pin FineLine BGA (FBGA) |
| Speed Grade | C9 (250 MHz) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (0C to +85C) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Configuration Scheme | SRAM-based, supports passive serial/parallel and JTAG |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EP20K200CF484C9N 484-pin fineline bga (fbga) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K200CF484C9N (484-pin fineline bga (fbga) 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 EP20K200CF484C9N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K200CF484C9N is suitable for 7 applications: Telecommunications Line Cards, ASIC Prototyping and Emulation, DSP Co-Processing and Front-End Filtering, PCI and PCI-X Bus Interface Cards, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Network Switch and Router Backplanes, Military and Aerospace Legacy Systems.
Telecommunications Line Cards
The EP20K200CF484C9N fits telecom line-card designs because it offers 200K gates of logic with 376 user I/Os and 106,496 ESB memory bits, enough to implement ATM segmentation-and-reassembly, framer back-ends, and traffic-management look-ups in a single device. Its 0.15 um CMOS core runs from 1.8 V for low power dissipation across the populated line card, while MultiVolt I/O bridges cleanly to 3.3 V framers and 2.5 V network processors. Designers typically instantiate multiple LVDS or LVPECL channels around the device for serializer/deserializer fan-out. The 250 MHz C9 speed grade holds timing for OC-48 front-end glue logic, with headroom for protocol conversion and buffer management.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Emulation
The EP20K200CF484C9N is well matched to ASIC prototyping because the APEX 20KC fabric offers 8,320 LEs plus high-density ESB blocks that map efficiently to register-transfer-level (RTL) designs targeting ASIC libraries. Engineers partition large ASICs across multiple APEX 20KC devices using the high 376-I/O budget to maintain pin-level visibility during bring-up. SRAM-based configurability enables sub-second compile iterations versus mask-set ASIC respins. The 1.8 V core keeps prototype board power within reach of standard bench supplies, while MultiVolt I/O emulates the ASIC's mixed-voltage pads.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processing and Front-End Filtering
The APEX 20KC's hybrid LUT-plus-ESB architecture lets the EP20K200CF484C9N implement FIR filters, FFT engines, and packet-classification pipelines where each ESB can be configured as dual-port RAM for coefficient or sample storage. With 106,496 ESB bits distributed across the die, the device sustains high memory bandwidth for streaming DSP workloads without starving the logic fabric. The 250 MHz C9 speed grade is sufficient for software-defined-radio baseband processing and baseband modem front-end blocks. Engineers commonly pair it with a host DSP or microcontroller that streams data into the FPGA over a parallel bus.
Recommended
PCI and PCI-X Bus Interface Cards
The EP20K200CF484C9N is a strong fit for PCI/PCI-X add-in cards because the APEX 20KC family includes dedicated PCI-compliant I/O macros supporting 33 MHz and 66 MHz operation. The 200K-gate budget accommodates the PCI target/initiator core plus bus-master DMA engines, scatter-gather lists, and on-card register spaces. With 376 user I/Os, designers can implement 32-bit or 64-bit PCI-X interfaces and still leave I/O for memory buses, FIFOs, and external PHY interconnects. The 1.8 V core with 3.3 V I/O aligns with the legacy PCI signaling environment while keeping power low.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The EP20K200CF484C9N suits industrial control boards because its industrial temperature grade ('N' suffix, 0C to +85C) tolerates factory-floor thermal ranges, and the high I/O count supports multi-axis motor control, encoder feedback, and fieldbus bridging. Engineers build PROFIBUS, EtherCAT, or CANopen gateway logic directly in the APEX 20KC fabric using its ESB memory for protocol buffer pools. The 1.8 V core, combined with MultiVolt I/O at 3.3 V and 5 V tolerance, simplifies integration with legacy 5 V sensors and actuators. Robust BGA packaging withstands vibration when proper PCB stiffeners are used.
Recommended
Network Switch and Router Backplanes
The EP20K200CF484C9N is a typical fabric element on Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and SONET backplane cards where it implements packet-classification tables, queue managers, and aggregation engines. The ESB memory can be configured as content-addressable memory (CAM) for L2/L3 look-ups, with up to 106,496 bits providing meaningful table depth. The 250 MHz performance grade sustains wire-speed processing at OC-3 to OC-12 rates, and MultiVolt I/O interfaces directly to 3.3 V PHY devices. The 484-pin BGA supports the parallel backplane interconnect common in chassis-based switches.
Recommended
Military and Aerospace Legacy Systems
Although the EP20K200CF484C9N itself is not formally MIL-883 screened, it appears in many long-life aerospace and defense subsystems that were designed when APEX 20KC was the highest-density Altera offering. System integrators continue to maintain these boards via Rochester Electronics' die-bank and franchised distribution. The 1.8 V core keeps in-flight power budgets manageable, and the SRAM-based fabric supports in-orbit reconfiguration for mission-mode switching. New aerospace builds typically migrate to radiation-hardened FPGAs from Microsemi/RTAX or Xilinx Virtex-5QV, leaving APEX 20KC as a sustainment-only part.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K200CF484C9N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K200CF484C9 | EP20K200CF484C8N | EP20K200CF484C7N | EP20K200CF484C8 | EP20K200CF484C7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) | Altera (Intel FPGA) |
| Package | 484-pin FineLine BGA (FBGA) | 484-pin FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same | 484-pin FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same | 484-pin FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same | 484-pin FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same | 484-pin FineLine BGA (FBGA) - same |
| Family | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC |
| Speed Grade | C9 (250 MHz) | C9 (250 MHz) | C8 (~180-210 MHz) | C7 (~150 MHz) | C8 (~180-210 MHz) | C7 (~150 MHz) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (0C to +85C) | Commercial (0C to +70C) | Industrial (0C to +85C) | Industrial (0C to +85C) | Commercial (0C to +70C) | Commercial (0C to +70C) |
| Logic Elements | 8,320 | 8,320 | 8,320 | 8,320 | 8,320 | 8,320 |
| Embedded System Block Bits | 106,496 | 106,496 | 106,496 | 106,496 | 106,496 | 106,496 |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade ('N' suffix) (vs EP20K200CF484C9)
- Highest-speed C9 grade (250 MHz) (vs EP20K200CF484C7N)
- 376 user I/Os - maximum in APEX 20KC 200K family (vs EP20K200CF324C9)
Design Notes
The EP20K200CF484C9N requires four independent supply rails (VCCINT 1.8 V core, VCCIO selectable 3.3 V/2.5 V/1.8 V/1.5 V, VCC_PLL for the on-chip PLL, plus VREF for input reference) with manufacturer-recommended power-up sequencing. The 1.8 V core draws substantial current during SRAM configuration; a switching regulator such as the TPS5430 or LTM4628 is recommended for production designs. Estimated: at full logic utilization the core current may approach 1.5 A; consult the APEX 20KC datasheet power estimator before finalizing the regulator.
Use at least six PCB layers for the EP20K200CF484C9N with dedicated power and ground planes; the 484-pin FineLine BGA at 1.0 mm pitch requires microvia or via-in-pad technology for reliable breakout. Route all differential pairs (LVDS/LVPECL) with 100 ohm differential impedance and length-matched within 100 mil. Provide multiple 0.1 uF and 10 uF decoupling capacitors distributed across the BGA footprint to suppress simultaneous-switching noise on the 1.8 V rail.
Estimated: the 484-pin FineLine BGA has a theta_JA around 18 C/W with adequate PCB copper pour, supporting continuous operation at industrial temperatures only if junction-to-ambient rise is kept under 60 C. In high-utilization designs with all 376 I/Os switching simultaneously, additional copper pours, thermal vias under the package, and airflow are recommended to stay within the 85 C industrial limit. Designers should measure junction temperature in prototype with the on-chip thermal diode.
Do not confuse the APEX 20KC with the original APEX 20K family - the 'C' suffix adds 2.5 V I/O and PCI compliance support that the older 20K lacks. Also note that APEX 20KC bitstreams are NOT compatible with APEX 20K devices despite similar die sizes. Verify that your Quartus II version supports APEX 20KC (revisions through 13.0 sp1); Quartus II 14.0 and later dropped APEX 20KC support entirely.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Altera/Intel legacy product environmental declarations. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (FPGA is not automotive-grade). Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in available data.
