EP20K200CQ208C8ES - APEX 20KC FPGA 200K Gates 208-BFQFP
MPN: EP20K200CQ208C8ES ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $285 | $285.00 |
| 10 | $245 | $2,450.00 |
| 100 | $195 | $19,500.00 |
| 500 | $165 | $82,500.00 |
| 1,000 | $142 | $142,000.00 |
EP20K200CQ208C8ES Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device containing programmable logic blocks, configurable interconnect, and I/O cells that engineers can reconfigure after manufacturing to implement custom digital circuits. FPGAs sit within the broader hierarchy: programmable logic -> logic IC -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor. APEX 20KC extends Altera's APEX 20K MultiCore architecture with CAM (Content Addressable Memory) support and LVDS-capable high-speed I/O.
Key features include 106,496 RAM bits of embedded system memory distributed across ESBs (Embedded System Blocks), 4 phase-locked loops (PLLs) for clock management, MultiVolt I/O supporting 1.8 V/2.5 V/3.3 V interfaces, and JTAG-based IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan testing. The device supports hot-socketing insertion and in-system programmability via Altera's serial configuration (EPC16, EPC8) or JTAG chains.
The APEX 20KC architecture combines four types of building blocks - LUTs for logic, ESBs for memory/PLL, FastTrack interconnect, and MegaLAB structures - enabling designs that mix datapath, control, and memory. The 200K-gate capacity positioned this family as a mid-density workhorse for telecom, networking, and DSP-intensive applications in the early 2000s.
Typical applications include telecommunications line cards, network switches and routers, DSP co-processing, industrial control systems, and military/aerospace prototyping. The BFQFP-208 footprint was widely supported by JTAG programmers and Altera's ByteBlaster/USB-Blaster download cables.
When designing, account for the BFQFP-208 thermal envelope (typical θJA ≈ 30 °C/W) and provide adequate decoupling (100 µF bulk + 0.1 µF ceramic per supply pin group). Configuration must complete within the device's POR (power-on reset) window; ensure VCCINT reaches 1.71 V before MSEL pin states are sampled.
This page synthesizes distributor stock levels, parameter cross-references, and design guidance not consolidated in the original datasheet, enabling faster design-in for both new designs and legacy board replacements.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K200CQ208C8ES — 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 EP20K200CQ208C8ES (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Typical Gates, Family, Process Technology, Speed Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K200CQ208C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CQ208C7ES
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$20.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CQ208C8ES
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Contact for price
View Datasheet →EP20K100CQ208C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$13.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K100CQ208C7ES
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$48 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CQ208C8ES Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | APEX-20KC |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 8320 |
| System Gates | 200,000 |
| Embedded RAM Bits | 106,496 |
| Number of I/O | 136 |
| Number of Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 144 |
| Number of PLLs | 4 |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 301.21 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.15 µm CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.71 V to 1.89 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +85 °C (TJ) (commercial) |
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL) | 3 (168 hours) |
| Configuration Method | Serial / JTAG (EPC8, EPC16) |
EP20K200CQ208C8ES 208-bfqfp (pqfp) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K200CQ208C8ES (208-bfqfp (pqfp) 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 EP20K200CQ208C8ES.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K200CQ208C8ES is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Line Cards, Network Switch / Router Control Plane, DSP Co-Processing / FIR Filter Acceleration, Industrial Control Systems, Military / Aerospace Prototyping, Test & Measurement Instrumentation.
Telecommunications Line Cards
The EP20K200CQ208C8ES fits telecom line-card designs where 200K gates and 136 I/Os deliver protocol bridging, framing/deframing, and link-layer processing for T1/E1/DSL aggregation. With 301.21 MHz internal frequency and four PLLs, it can clock independent TDM streams. The 106,496 embedded RAM bits absorb packet buffers and de-jitter FIFOs without external SRAM. Altera's CAM blocks enable TCAM-like lookup for routing tables, a feature that set APEX 20KC apart from contemporaries.
Recommended
Network Switch / Router Control Plane
In network switch and router control-plane designs, the EP20K200CQ208C8ES provides 200K gates of programmable logic for forwarding-table management, route-processor glue logic, and management-Ethernet handling. The 4 PLLs synchronize the MAC, PHY, and CPU bus interfaces independently; 136 user I/Os accommodate multi-port Fast Ethernet and GMII sidebands. APEX 20KC's MultiVolt I/O supports mixed 1.8V/2.5V/3.3V signaling in mixed-voltage backplanes, critical for legacy switch ASIC interfacing.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processing / FIR Filter Acceleration
The EP20K200CQ208C8ES accelerates DSP workloads such as multi-channel FIR filters, FFT pre/post-processing, and adaptive equalization in software-defined-radio and baseband designs. The 8320 LEs and 106,496 RAM bits implement distributed-arithmetic FIR with 100+ taps across multiple channels at sample rates up to 150 MHz. APEX 20KC's Carry-Chain and Cascade Chain dedicated routing minimize adder-tree latency, a key advantage over generic FPGA DSP implementations.
Recommended
Industrial Control Systems
For industrial PLC designs, the EP20K200CQ208C8ES provides 200K gates of deterministic logic for motion-control sequencers, encoder counters, and proprietary fieldbus bridging. The 136 I/Os handle multiple quadrature encoders, stepper-motor pulse trains, and digital I/O banks. APEX 20KC's PLL-driven clock tree allows deterministic sampling of encoder feedback independent of CPU load. The 208-BFQFP package is mechanically robust for screw-down heatsink attachment in industrial enclosures.
Recommended
Military / Aerospace Prototyping
While the commercial-grade EP20K200CQ208C8ES itself operates 0-85°C, the same die forms the basis for military temperature-screened variants used in avionics and aerospace prototypes. The 200K-gate capacity accommodates MIL-STD-1553 / ARINC-429 protocol bridging, radar DSP pre-processing, and reconfigurable mission logic. FPGAs were a key technology for fast prototyping of military avionics upgrades where ASIC lead-times are prohibitive.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Instrumentation
Test and measurement instruments (logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, arbitrary waveform generators) leverage the EP20K200CQ208C8ES's 200K gates for high-speed state-machine control, trigger sequencing, and pattern generation. The 301.21 MHz max frequency supports real-time pattern generation at 200+ MHz, while 136 I/Os provide multi-channel probe interfacing. The BFQFP-208 footprint is easy to probe for bench characterization and rework, which is critical in low-volume test-equipment production.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K200CQ208C8ES — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K200CQ208C8 | EP20K200CQ208C7ES | EP20K100CQ208C8ES | EP20K100CQ208C8 | EP20K100CQ208C7ES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) - same | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) - same | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) - same | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) - same | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Family | APEX-20KC | APEX-20KC | APEX-20KC | APEX-20KC | APEX-20KC | APEX-20KC |
| System Gates | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Logic Elements | 8,320 | 8,320 | 8,320 | 4,160 | 4,160 | 4,160 |
| Speed Grade | C8 (ES suffix) | C8 (no ES) | C7 (-1) | C8 (ES) | C8 (no ES) | C7 (-1) |
| User I/O | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 | 136 |
| Embedded RAM Bits | 106,496 | 106,496 | 106,496 | 53,248 | 53,248 | 53,248 |
| Process Technology | 0.15 µm CMOS | 0.15 µm CMOS | 0.15 µm CMOS | 0.15 µm CMOS | 0.15 µm CMOS | 0.15 µm CMOS |
Key Differentiators
- Highest logic density in 208-BFQFP package tier of APEX 20KC (vs EP20K100CQ208C8ES)
- Enhanced (ES) speed-bin screening (vs EP20K200CQ208C8)
- Highest fmax within the C8 / ES speed-bin tier (vs EP20K200CQ208C7ES)
- CAM/ESB feature support for lookup-table applications (vs EP20K100CQ208C8ES)
Design Notes
Estimated: At typical core activity (15% toggle rate, 1.8V VCCINT) the EP20K200CQ208C8ES draws approximately 0.5-1.0 A from VCCINT; pair a 100 µF tantalum bulk capacitor with 0.1 µF X7R ceramic bypass per VCCINT pin group. VCCIO banks should each have their own 0.1 µF + 10 µF decoupling to minimize simultaneous switching noise on 3.3 V outputs. Power-on-reset (POR) requires VCCINT to reach 1.71 V before MSEL pins are sampled - ensure 5 ms ramp time minimum.
BFQFP-208 has 0.5 mm pin pitch and 30.6 mm body. Route signal traces on inner layers to escape the dense pin field; use via-in-pad only if the assembly house supports it. Keep four-layer stackup with continuous ground plane directly beneath the package to provide low-impedance return paths. JTAG chain signals (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO, nTRST) should be length-matched within 25 mm and routed away from clock I/O banks to avoid false triggers.
Estimated: The 208-BFQFP package has θJA of about 25-35 °C/W (depends on PCB copper area). At 1.5 W dissipation, junction temperature rises roughly 50 °C above ambient. Attach a small heatsink or aluminum plate for designs running above 1 W. Avoid placing the device near board edges or in dead-air enclosures without forced airflow, especially in industrial operating profiles approaching 85 °C ambient.
LVDS I/O pairs must be placed on adjacent pins in the same I/O bank and use the differential routing channel with 100 Ω differential impedance. APEX 20KC supports up to 16 LVDS channels per bank depending on bank location. Use series-termination resistors (33-68 Ω) on high-speed outputs longer than 50 mm, and consider IBIS simulation for any signal exceeding 100 MHz to verify ringing and crosstalk margins.
Critical pitfalls: (1) Do not hot-plug VCCINT - use the recommended power-sequencing circuit with nSTATUS / CONF_DONE monitoring. (2) MSEL pins must not float - tie high or low via 1 kΩ resistor. (3) Configuration data CRC errors after init often indicate VCCINT droop during configuration - check bulk capacitance. (4) When migrating from -2 to -1 speed grade (C7 vs C8), reduce target fmax by 10-15% in Quartus timing analysis. (5) Do not exceed 136 user I/O - exceeding package I/O count during pin assignment will silently fail at compile.
Compliance Information
APEX 20KC family predates Altera's transition to lead-free packaging (2006). Most EP20K200 ordering codes are Pb-bearing and may require exemption. Modern 'ES' suffix parts (post-2006) are typically lead-free. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is an FPGA, not an automotive qualified IC. RoHS/REACH status not stated in available distributor data.
