EP20K300EQC240-3N - 300K-Gate APEX 20KE FPGA, 240-PQFP | Intel / Altera
MPN: EP20K300EQC240-3N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $285 | $285.00 |
| 10 | $256.5 | $2,565.00 |
| 100 | $228 | $22,800.00 |
| 250 | $210 | $52,500.00 |
| 500 | $195 | $97,500.00 |
EP20K300EQC240-3N Overview
An FPGA is a programmable logic device that contains an array of configurable logic blocks (LABs), embedded memory, and programmable interconnects that engineers can reconfigure after manufacture to implement custom digital hardware. The APEX 20KE family belongs to the MultiCore architecture tier of PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices) — sitting within the wider taxonomy: FPGA → Programmable Logic → Logic IC → Integrated Circuit. It introduced system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) integration by combining look-up table (LUT) based logic with embedded memory blocks, enabling single-chip implementation of glue logic, datapath, and control state machines.
Key headline specifications for the EP20K300EQC240-3N include 300,000 system gates, 11,520 logic cells (LES), 152,832 bits of embedded RAM, a maximum internal operating frequency of 299 MHz, and a propagation delay of 1.68 ns. The device exposes 152 user I/Os and supports MultiVolt I/O for interfacing with 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V, and 5.0 V logic families. The "-3" speed grade and the "N" suffix designate the commercial temperature range (0 °C to 85 °C).
The APEX 20KE architecture combines four-input LUTs with distributed and column-based embedded memory (ESBs — Embedded System Blocks), giving designers a flexible mix of logic and on-chip RAM without needing an external memory companion. The 0.22 µm CMOS process, quad flat pack packaging, and 1.8 V core make this part representative of late-1990s / early-2000s mid-density programmable logic, suitable for datapath, telecom interface, and embedded control designs that pre-date modern Cyclone or Lattice ECP5 deployments.
Typical applications include telecommunications line-card glue logic, PCI / ISA bridge controllers, industrial automation controllers, video processing front-ends, custom DSP datapaths, and military / aerospace systems requiring long-lifecycle programmable logic with PQFP through-hole-friendly packaging for reworkability.
When designing with this part, plan for a Quartus II (or legacy MAX+PLUS II) tool flow with configuration via a serial configuration device such as the EPC2 or EPC8. The 240-pin PQFP footprint gives generous board-level routing room but occupies more PCB area than modern BGA equivalents; thermal management is generally passive because the CMOS core dissipation is modest at typical 150–250 MHz operation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing snapshots from DigiKey and Mouser, same-family APEX 20KE drop-in alternatives (drawn from the XAIPART Site MPN list), and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K300EQC240-3N — 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 EP20K300EQC240-3N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Family, Operating Temperature, Package / Case, Series, Core Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K300EQC240-2X
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$140 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K300EQC240-2XN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$12.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K300EQC240-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$89 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K200EQC240-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$45.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K160EQC240-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$92.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K300EQC240-3N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | APEX 20KE |
| Family | APEX 20K MultiCore |
| Logic Cells / Elements | 11,520 LES |
| System Gates | 300,000 |
| Embedded Memory (RAM bits) | 152,832 bits |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 299 MHz |
| Propagation Delay (tPD) | 1.68 ns |
| Maximum User I/O | 152 |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Process Technology | 0.22 µm CMOS |
| Speed Grade | -3 |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 85 °C (Commercial) |
| Package | 240-pin PQFP (240-BFQFP) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (Gull-Wing) |
EP20K300EQC240-3N 240-pin pqfp (240-bfqfp) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K300EQC240-3N (240-pin pqfp (240-bfqfp) 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 EP20K300EQC240-3N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K300EQC240-3N is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Line-Card Glue Logic, PCI / ISA Bridge Controllers, Industrial Automation Controllers, Video Processing Front-Ends, Custom DSP Datapath Implementation, Legacy Avionics and Long-Lifecycle Embedded Systems.
Telecommunications Line-Card Glue Logic
The EP20K300EQC240-3N's 300K system gates and 152 user I/Os fit telecom line-card glue logic that must bridge a network processor to multiple PHY / framer ICs. With 299 MHz internal Fmax and 152,832 bits of embedded RAM, the device can implement custom serial protocols, FIFO buffering for cell / packet payloads, and timing-critical state machines without off-chip memory. The 240-pin PQFP footprint gives generous board routing room for BGA-averse legacy backplane designs. MultiVolt I/O support lets the FPGA sit directly on a 3.3 V or 5 V bus, eliminating level-shifters when interfacing to classic telecom ASICs.
Recommended
PCI / ISA Bridge Controllers
With 11,520 logic elements and 152 I/Os, the EP20K300EQC240-3N can implement a full custom PCI 2.2 or ISA bus bridge plus local peripheral controllers on a single device. The 1.68 ns propagation delay supports 33 MHz PCI target / master operation comfortably with margin. Embedded ESBs deliver FIFO memory for transaction buffering without needing an external SRAM companion. The commercial 0–85 °C temperature range suits desktop and embedded PCI platforms. Quartus II IP cores provide pre-verified PCI target functions that drop directly onto this APEX 20KE silicon.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Controllers
Industrial PLCs, motor controllers, and HMI subsystems benefit from the EP20K300EQC240-3N's 300K-gate capacity combined with up to 152 industrial I/O lines for sensors, actuators, encoder feedback, and fieldbus glue logic. The 1.8 V core and 0.22 µm CMOS process deliver predictable thermal behavior under continuous 24/7 industrial duty. The 240-PQFP package simplifies rework on long-lifecycle industrial designs where field replacement matters more than PCB area. Designers can implement deterministic state machines for safety interlocks using the FPGA's predictable LUT-based logic and the Quartus II TimeQuest timing analyzer.
Recommended
Video Processing Front-Ends
The EP20K300EQC240-3N's 152,832 bits of embedded RAM combined with 11,520 logic elements handle line / frame buffers and pixel-processing pipelines for mid-resolution video front-ends. The 299 MHz internal rate supports 27 MHz video pixel clocks with significant timing margin for de-interlacing, scaling, and color-space conversion pipelines. The 152 user I/Os accommodate parallel RGB / YCbCr video buses plus control I2C, GPIO, and sync lines. The 240-PQFP's gull-wing leads ease inspection and rework on prototype video boards where signal-integrity tuning is iterative.
Recommended
Custom DSP Datapath Implementation
The APEX 20KE MultiCore architecture integrates LUT-based logic with dedicated carry chains and embedded memory, making the EP20K300EQC240-3N a viable platform for custom fixed-point DSP datapaths such as FIR filters, FFT butterflies, and Reed-Solomon codecs. Designers can map multiplications into shift-and-add trees across the 11,520 LEs while using the embedded ESBs as coefficient ROM or delay-line RAM. The 299 MHz internal rate supports audio-band DSP at sample rates well above 100 kHz. Quartus II's DSP IP library provides FIR and FFT megafunctions parameterized for this device family.
Recommended
Legacy Avionics and Long-Lifecycle Embedded Systems
The PQFP-240 EP20K300EQC240-3N remains in service across legacy avionics, railway signaling, and long-lifecycle industrial platforms where redesign and re-qualification of the FPGA are economically impractical. The 1.8 V core and 0.22 µm process are mature and well-characterized, with predictable single-event-upset behavior in benign-radiation environments. PQFP packages are preferred in these applications for ease of board-level inspection and rework versus BGA. The APEX 20KE family is widely supported by long-term Quartus II maintenance releases for defense and aerospace users.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K300EQC240-3N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K300EQC240-2X | EP20K300EQC240-2XN | EP20K300EQC240-2 | EP20K200EQC240-3N | EP20K160EQC240-3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera |
| Package | 240-PQFP (240-BFQFP) | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same |
| Logic Elements | 11,520 LES | 11,520 LES - same | 11,520 LES - same | 11,520 LES - same | 8,320 LES (-28%) | 6,400 LES (-44%, pin-compatible logic-down) |
| Embedded Memory | 152,832 bits | 152,832 bits - same | 152,832 bits - same | 152,832 bits - same | 106,496 bits (-30%) | 81,920 bits |
| Maximum Frequency | 299 MHz | ~250 MHz | ~250 MHz | ~250 MHz | ~299 MHz | ~299 MHz |
| Speed Grade | -3 | -2X | -2X N | -2 | -3 | -3 |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.8 V - same | 1.8 V - same | 1.8 V - same | 1.8 V - same | 1.8 V - same |
| User I/O | 152 | 152 - same | 152 - same | 152 - same | 152 - same | 152 - same |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 85 °C (Commercial) | 0 °C to 85 °C | -40 °C to 100 °C (Industrial) | 0 °C to 85 °C | 0 °C to 85 °C | 0 °C to 85 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Highest speed grade available in the 300K-gate PQFP-240 APEX 20KE family (vs EP20K300EQC240-2X)
- Largest logic capacity in the APEX 20KE PQFP-240 family (vs EP20K200EQC240-3N)
- Commercial temperature rating suits cost-sensitive telecom / industrial designs (vs EP20K300EQC240-2XN)
Design Notes
Estimated: The 240-pin PQFP has 0.5 mm lead pitch and gull-wing terminations. Place at least 6 ground and 4 VCCINT (1.8 V) pins with low-impedance PCB pours directly under the package. Use a 4-layer stackup with continuous ground plane beneath the device for the MultiVolt I/O banks; do not route high-speed signals over split planes because MultiVolt reference noise couples into LVTTL outputs.
Configuration mode must be selected via MSEL0/MSEL1 pins at power-up; mixing active-serial (EPC2 / EPC8) with passive-serial JTAG requires correct MSEL strapping. Leaving MSEL floating causes configuration failures that look like silicon damage. Always include a JTAG header on prototype boards for ByteBlaster / USB-Blaster in-system programming — without it, every change requires pulling the configuration PROM.
MultiVolt I/O banks must each have their own VCCIO rail (1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V, or 5.0 V) decoupled with 0.1 µF ceramic plus 10 µF bulk per bank. Place the VCCIO pins on quiet supplies if they interface to noise-sensitive analog; the PQFP-240 pinout assigns specific banks to specific I/O groups per the APEX 20KE datasheet. Tying unused I/O to ground through Quartus II's default assignment reduces SSO noise and avoids floating-input shoot-through current.
Estimated: APEX 20KE 0.22 µm CMOS core dissipation at 250 MHz with 60% toggle rate is approximately 1.5–2.0 W. The PQFP-240 has theta_JA around 25–30 °C/W with no airflow, yielding a 50 °C junction rise at 2 W — within the 85 °C commercial limit with modest copper pour. Add a small clip-on heatsink or 200 LFM airflow for industrial-temperature -2XN variants.
Compliance Information
Compliance status for APEX 20KE parts must be verified per lot — Altera / Intel APEX 20KE family predates RoHS standardization for some order codes. The -3N commercial variant may be supplied in lead-bearing or lead-free finish depending on distributor stock date. Engineers should request a RoHS / lead-free declaration from the distributor before placing production orders.
