EP20K200CQ240C7N - Altera APEX 20KC FPGA | 8320 LE
MPN: EP20K200CQ240C7N ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $133.39 | $133.39 |
| 10 | $133.39 | $1,333.90 |
| 100 | $133.39 | $13,339.00 |
| 500 | $133.39 | $66,695.00 |
| 1,000 | $133.39 | $133,390.00 |
EP20K200CQ240C7N Overview
An FPGA is an integrated circuit whose digital logic fabric can be configured after manufacturing, allowing designers to implement custom processors, interfaces, DSP chains, and control logic without the non-recurring engineering costs of an ASIC. In the semiconductor taxonomy, an FPGA is a programmable logic device family that sits above CPLDs in logic capacity, while still being configurable in-system for rapid iteration and field updates.
The EP20K200CQ240C7N differentiates itself with 8320 logic elements and 106,496 RAM bits, giving it enough fabric for moderate digital designs. The 168 user I/O lines and 4 dedicated inputs support parallel interfaces, memory buses, and communication protocols in a compact surface-mount 240-lead gull-wing package. The 1.8 V core supply reduces power consumption versus older 5 V and 3.3 V programmable devices.
The part belongs to Altera's APEX 20KC family, which implemented SRAM-based programmable logic in a 0.15 um process. This provides embedded memory blocks alongside the logic array, making it suitable for designs that need on-chip buffering, FIFOs, or register files. The N suffix denotes a lead-free terminal finish, distinguishing it from the original SnPb-finished EP20K200CQ240C7.
Typical applications include telecom line-card interface boards, industrial control systems, DSP front-end processing, ASIC prototyping, and communications infrastructure where moderate-density FPGA logic and many parallel I/Os are required. The 168 I/O count is sufficient for external SRAM, SDRAM, or general-purpose backplane interfaces.
When designing with the EP20K200CQ240C7N, keep the 1.8 V core rail tightly regulated and provide appropriate decoupling near all supply pins. Also verify configuration compatibility with your chosen Altera configuration flow because APEX 20K devices are SRAM-based and require external configuration on power-up.
This page synthesizes distributor listings, drop-in alternatives, and practical design guidance from the verified web data, adding engineering context that complements the raw datasheet specifications.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K200CQ240C7N — 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 EP20K200CQ240C7N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Process Technology, Package / Case, Total RAM Bits, Speed Grade, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K200CQ240C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$42.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CQ240C7ES
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200EQC240-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$45.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200CQ240C7N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| Family | APEX-20KC |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 8320 |
| Total RAM Bits | 106496 |
| Number of User I/Os | 168 |
| Number of Dedicated Inputs | 4 |
| Typical Gate Count | 200K gates |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.71 V to 1.89 V |
| Nominal Supply Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 357.16 MHz per Microchip USA; Jotrin lists 375.94 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.15 um |
| Package / Case | 240-BFQFP (PQFP/FQFP) |
| Number of Terminals | 240 |
| Package Code | FQFP |
| Package Shape | Square |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (N suffix) |
EP20K200CQ240C7N square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K200CQ240C7N (square 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 EP20K200CQ240C7N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K200CQ240C7N is suitable for 6 applications: Telecom Line Card Interface, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, DSP Front-End and Data Acquisition, ASIC Prototyping and Interface Bridging, Broadcast Video and Imaging Interface, Embedded IoT Edge and Legacy System Bridge.
Telecom Line Card Interface
In telecom line cards, the EP20K200CQ240C7N provides 168 user I/O pins and 8,320 logic elements for backplane bus interfacing, TDM framing, HDLC controllers, and register banks. Its 1.8 V core helps reduce system power, while the 240-pin BFQFP can route enough parallel signals for a 32-bit or 64-bit backplane bus. The device can buffer PDH or ATM cells in its 106,496 RAM bits before forwarding them to a higher-layer switch fabric. A practical design places the FPGA between an LVDS backplane transceiver and a local control CPU, using embedded FIFOs to absorb rate mismatches. Board designers must provide clean power and enough I/O bank isolation to meet line-card electromagnetic compatibility. For early bring-up, the EP20K200CQ240C7 non-Pb-free variant can be used on a lab board, while the N part is preferred for final Pb-free production.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
For industrial control frames, the EP20K200CQ240C7N can implement motor-control state machines, optical encoder interfaces, high-speed sensor capture, and PLC communication bridges. The 168 user I/Os are sufficient to connect parallel ADC buses, quadrature encoders, or isolated field-bus controllers without a large CPLD companion. The FPGA's deterministic hardware logic provides lower latency than a software PLC for safety-critical I/O updates. Because many industrial boards run from a regulated 1.8 V core supply, the EP20K200CQ240C7N's 1.71 V to 1.89 V range fits standard low-voltage power trees. Designers should protect all external I/O connections with series resistors or isolation buffers because the FPGA is not intended for direct connection to high-voltage field wiring. This legacy part is acceptable for controller redesigns that require a known APEX-20KC implementation and existing circuit-board footprint.
Recommended
DSP Front-End and Data Acquisition
The EP20K200CQ240C7N can serve as a DSP front-end for data acquisition because its 106,496 RAM bits support moderately sized FIFOs and delay lines, while its 8,320 logic elements implement parallel FIR filters, correlators, or FFT address generation. The 168 user I/O pins connect multiple high-speed ADCs, DACs, and a host processor. A typical configuration uses dual-port RAM blocks inside the FPGA to buffer continuous ADC samples and time-stamp the data before DMA transfer to a DSP or CPU. The 1.8 V core keeps dynamic power moderate, but the I/O banks may require additional voltage rails depending on the ADC logic levels. Because FPGA performance depends on routing, use synthesis and place-and-route timing analysis to confirm that the selected datapath meets the sample-rate target. The N suffix ensures a Pb-free assembly for new industrial measurement products.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Interface Bridging
ASIC prototyping teams can use the EP20K200CQ240C7N to implement a subset of a system-on-chip design or to bridge between processor peripherals and simulation models. The 240-pin BFQFP package allows access to 168 user I/O pins, which can probe many address, data, and control nets. The embedded RAM blocks make it easier to instantiate scratchpad memories, FIFOs, and register-based test interfaces. Multiple FPGAs can be chained if the target ASIC is larger than the 8,320 logic elements available on this part. Because APEX-20KC is an older architecture, the prototyping environment may require translation of newer RTL coding styles to fit logic and memory resources. The Pb-free EP20K200CQ240C7N is appropriate when the final prototype board will follow Pb-free assembly standards.
Recommended
Broadcast Video and Imaging Interface
The EP20K200CQ240C7N can be used in broadcast video and external-vision systems to capture parallel pixel data, insert test patterns, or convert between video timing formats. Its 168 I/O pins are enough to accept a 24-bit or 36-bit digital video bus plus sync signals, and the 106,496 RAM bits can hold line buffers or small frame slices for temporal processing. A typical board places the FPGA between a camera-link receiver and a video encoder, performing pixel reordering or overlay logic in hardware. The device does not contain dedicated video PLLs or MIPI PHYs, so external video driver chips are required. Designers should verify that the 357.16 MHz maximum clock figure leaves enough timing margin for the pixel clock used in the target resolution. This legacy FPGA remains practical for retrofit broadcast-equipment boards where pin compatibility with an existing APEX-20KC design is necessary.
Recommended
Embedded IoT Edge and Legacy System Bridge
When embedded IoT edge devices need to bridge legacy peripheral buses to modern hosts, the EP20K200CQ240C7N's programmable fabric can implement parallel-to-serial conversion, CRC generation, bus arbitration, and mailbox registers. The 168 I/O pins are flexible enough to connect several 8-bit microcontrollers, UART transceivers, or industrial sensor modules. Its low 1.8 V core helps fit into a low-power edge-controller power budget if the design is not heavily active. However, because APEX-20KC is an older FPGA, enabling energy-efficient idle states requires careful clock gating and reducing routed logic. The part may be attractive for updating an existing APEX-20K design with lead-free assemblies, but for brand-new IoT products a current low-power FPGA or MCU is usually a better choice. Use this device mainly for in-field replacement and legacy support.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K200CQ240C7N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K200CQ240C7 | EP20K200CQ240C7ES | EP20K200EQC240-3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 240-BFQFP (PQFP/FQFP) | 240-BFQFP | 240-BFQFP | 240-pin QFP |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 8320 | 8320 | 8320 | 8320 |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (N suffix) | No (SnPb) | Unknown | Yes (N suffix) |
Key Differentiators
- Production Pb-free N suffix (vs EP20K200CQ240C7)
- Production-grade part rather than engineering sample (vs EP20K200CQ240C7ES)
- APEX-20KC architecture with verified listing data (vs EP20K200EQC240-3N)
Design Notes
The EP20K200CQ240C7N comes in a 240-pin gull-wing BFQFP/PQFP with 168 user I/O signals plus 4 dedicated inputs. During layout, reserve escape routing for the inner rows of QFP leads and place 100 nF ceramic bypass capacitors near each VCC/GND pair where possible. Because the N suffix indicates a lead-free tin finish, use a Pb-free reflow profile rather than an SnPb profile. Many legacy Altera boards used the non-N EP20K200CQ240C7, so reflow temperature and land-pattern compatibility must be confirmed before substituting the N version.
Keep the core supply inside the 1.71 V to 1.89 V range specified in the verified listing. Use a dedicated 1.8 V regulator with low output ripple and adequate transient response for the FPGA logic current. Place bulk capacitance at the point of load and multiple ceramic capacitors across the VCC pins to handle switching currents. If the board has multiple I/O voltages, do not connect the core 1.8 V rail directly to I/O bank supplies because the voltage levels may differ. Separate power islands or ferrite-bead filtering are common when mixing digital and analog sections.
Do not assume the EP20K200EQC240-3N is automatically pin-compatible without checking the APEX-20KE datasheet pin tables. The N suffix identifies lead-free terminals but does not by itself prove RoHS compliance in the provided data. Since APEX-20KC is SRAM-based, every power-up requires a valid configuration file and a configuration source; verify that the selected configuration device and reset sequence match the original design. Also, a Jotrin listing shows 375.94 MHz while Microchip USA reports 357.16 MHz, so treat clock-frequency claims as condition-dependent and perform timing closure in the actual design.
Compliance Information
The N suffix in Altera ordering normally indicates lead-free terminals, but no explicit RoHS/REACH certificate was present in the supplied web data. AEC-Q100 is not applicable because this is an Altera FPGA, not an automotive-graded AEC-Q100 device.
