EP20K30EQC208-2 - APEX 20KE FPGA, 30K Gates, 208-PQFP | Intel
MPN: EP20K30EQC208-2 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.73 | $11.73 |
| 10 | $10.55 | $105.50 |
| 100 | $9.41 | $941.00 |
| 500 | $8.55 | $4,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.92 | $7,920.00 |
EP20K30EQC208-2 Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a programmable logic device that contains an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and I/O cells, allowing engineers to implement arbitrary digital logic that would otherwise require multiple discrete MSI/LSI components. APEX 20KE sits in the high-density programmable-logic hierarchy: programmable logic device (PLD) -> CPLD/FPGA -> high-density SRAM-based FPGA -> system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) platform. APEX 20KE was the industry's first PLD family to integrate LUT logic, product-term logic, and embedded memory into one MultiCore architecture, enabling SOPC integration on a single chip.
Key features of the EP20K30EQC208-2 include 125 user I/O pins, 4 dedicated inputs, 24576 bits of embedded SRAM, a maximum clock frequency of 160 MHz, and a pin-to-pin propagation delay of 2.69 ns. The device operates from a 1.71 V to 1.89 V core supply with LVDS-compatible I/O support. Hot-socketing support, in-system programmability via the IEEE 1149.1 JTAG interface, and built-in PCI compliance make the part suitable for plug-in card designs.
The MultiCore architecture blends MegaLAB structures that group 16 Logic Elements with 1 Embedded System Block, allowing designers to mix register-intensive datapath logic, product-term control logic, and dual-port RAM within the same array. The 2.69 ns speed grade (-2 suffix) is the mid-tier timing bin; slower -1 and faster -3 grades also exist in the family.
Typical applications include telecommunications interface cards, industrial control and factory automation, PCI bridge logic, network switching fabric glue logic, and legacy system upgrades where high-density programmable logic is required. The wide PQFP-208 footprint and SRAM-based configuration also make it well suited to evaluation platforms and ASIC prototyping.
When designing with EP20K30EQC208-2, plan a stable 1.8 V core rail with bulk decoupling near the package and 0.1 uF ceramics at each supply pin; SRAM-based FPGAs require all supplies present before configuration is attempted, so a proper power-on-reset and CONFIG_DONE monitoring are essential. Operating junction temperature must stay within the industrial range, and JTAG programming requires the Altera (now Intel) Quartus II / Quartus Prime toolchain for bitstream generation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with cross-references to XAIPART site MPNs that share the APEX 20KE family.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K30EQC208-2 — 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 EP20K30EQC208-2 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Family, Package, Total Gates, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K30EQC208-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$34.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQC208-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$65.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K30EQC208-2X
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K100EQC208-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →EP20K200EQC208-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$65 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K30EQC208-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | APEX 20KE |
| Device Logic | FPGA (SRAM-based) |
| Typical Gates | 30,000 |
| Logic Elements | 1,200 |
| Embedded Memory (RAM bits) | 24,576 |
| Maximum User I/O | 125 |
| Dedicated Inputs | 4 |
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) |
| Speed Grade | -2 (2.69 ns pin-to-pin) |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.71 V to 1.89 V |
| I/O Standard | LVDS-compatible, 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V (per bank) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 160 MHz |
| Propagation Delay | 2.69 ns |
| Configuration Interface | IEEE 1149.1 JTAG, Passive serial, Active serial |
| Process Technology | 1.8 V CMOS, MultiCore architecture |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (PQFP with gull-wing leads) |
EP20K30EQC208-2 208-bfqfp (pqfp-208) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K30EQC208-2 (208-bfqfp (pqfp-208) 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 EP20K30EQC208-2.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K30EQC208-2 is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Interface Cards, PCI Bridge and Add-in Card Logic, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Network Switching Fabric Glue Logic, ASIC Prototyping and Logic Emulation, Legacy System Upgrades and Drop-in Replacement.
Telecommunications Interface Cards
The EP20K30EQC208-2 fits telecommunications interface cards because its 30K gates and 1,200 logic elements provide sufficient capacity for protocol glue logic, framing, and channel aggregation on T1/E1, ISDN, and early Ethernet line cards. The 125 user I/Os in the 208-BFQFP package allow direct connection to multiple physical-layer transceivers without external mux logic, while the 1.8 V core and LVDS-capable I/O simplify interfacing to low-voltage serializer/deserializer chips. With 24,576 bits of embedded RAM, designers can implement small FIFOs and look-up tables for protocol conversion without consuming external SRAM. The 160 MHz maximum clock frequency supports typical telecom data rates including 155 MHz STM-1 tributary paths. Compared to discrete MSI logic, this single FPGA reduces board area and improves time-to-market for legacy telecom infrastructure.
Recommended
PCI Bridge and Add-in Card Logic
The EP20K30EQC208-2 is well suited to PCI bridge and add-in card designs because APEX 20KE devices are PCI-compliant out-of-the-box and the 208-BFQFP package provides enough I/O for 32-bit PCI plus sideband signals. The 30K gates are sufficient for a basic PCI target or initiator state machine, bus arbiter, and configuration-space registers. Hot-socketing support prevents backplane latch-up when the card is inserted into a live PCI slot, while JTAG configuration allows post-manufacturing bitstream updates. Designers benefit from the 2.69 ns propagation delay for sub-33 MHz PCI timing margins. The 24576 bits of embedded memory also support small transaction buffers and command FIFOs required for PCI bus mastering.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
Industrial control and factory automation systems use the EP20K30EQC208-2 for PLC logic, motor-control glue, and sensor-interface aggregation because the part combines register-intensive datapath logic and product-term control logic in a single MultiCore architecture. The 125 I/Os handle multiple encoder, limit-switch, and relay outputs without external multiplexers, while the 1.8 V core with 3.3 V-tolerant I/O banks interconnects directly to industrial 24V optically-isolated I/O modules after level shifting. With 160 MHz clock capability, real-time control loops run predictably. The MultiCore LUT plus product-term combination is uniquely suited to mixing arithmetic PID calculations with state-machine sequencing. Replacement inventory remains available through Rochester Electronics for legacy factory lines that cannot redesign.
Recommended
Network Switching Fabric Glue Logic
The EP20K30EQC208-2 is appropriate for network switching fabric glue logic because the MultiCore architecture integrates both register-rich datapath and product-term control blocks, ideal for cell/frame forwarding, header parsing, and lookup arbitration. 24576 bits of embedded memory handle small CAM lookups and statistics counters, while the 125 user I/Os connect directly to multiple PHY/MAC devices or fabric serializer channels. The 2.69 ns propagation delay at -2 speed grade meets typical 10/100 Mbps Ethernet and Fast Ethernet backplane timing budgets. Designers can implement flow-control, queue management, and OAM functions on a single chip instead of multiple discrete CPLDs, reducing BOM cost and PCB complexity in legacy edge switches and routers.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Logic Emulation
The EP20K30EQC208-2 fits ASIC prototyping and logic-emulation platforms because the 30K-gate capacity matches mid-complexity ASIC designs and the MultiCore architecture allows mixing of synthesized RTL blocks with hand-tuned glue logic. Multiple EP20K30 devices can be JTAG-chained to emulate larger ASICs, and the 208-BFQFP package simplifies socketed or clip-on adapters on prototype boards. The 1.8 V core and LVDS I/O support modern ASIC signalling. Quartus II synthesis and timing analysis flow directly into the FPGA, providing accurate pre-silicon validation. Compared to gate-array emulation, the APEX 20KE offers faster compile times and in-system reprogrammability for iterative design refinement.
Recommended
Legacy System Upgrades and Drop-in Replacement
The EP20K30EQC208-2 is the default drop-in replacement for older APEX 20K (non-E) and APEX 20KE designs already on production boards because the 208-BFQFP footprint, pinout, and bitstream-compatibility family guarantee PCB reuse. Industrial and telecom customers with long-lifecycle products (10-20 year service) use EP20K30EQC208-2 as a form-fit-function substitute when original stock is exhausted. Same-package speed-grade variants (-1, -2, -3) and higher-density family members (-60, -100, -200) all share the 208-BFQFP pinout, enabling inventory flexibility. The 1.8 V core supply and JTAG configuration are unchanged across the family, simplifying long-term spare-part provisioning for legacy systems still in field deployment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K30EQC208-2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K30EQC208-1 | EP20K60EQC208-2 | EP20K30EQC208-2X | EP20K100EQC208-3 | EP20K200EQC208-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same | 208-BFQFP - same |
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) - same | Intel (Altera) - same | Intel (Altera) - same | Intel (Altera) - same | Intel (Altera) - same |
| Typical Gates | 30,000 | 30,000 - same | 60,000 (+100%) | 30,000 - same | 100,000 (+233%) | 200,000 (+567%) |
| Logic Elements | 1,200 | 1,200 - same | 2,560 (+113%) | 1,200 - same | 4,160 (+247%) | 8,320 (+593%) |
| Embedded Memory (RAM bits) | 24,576 | 24,576 - same | 40,960 (+67%) | 24,576 - same | 53,248 (+117%) | 106,496 (+333%) |
| Speed Grade | -2 (2.69 ns) | -1 (slower) | -2 (same) | -2X (faster) | -3 (fastest) | -3 (fastest) |
| Maximum User I/O | 125 | 125 - same | 204 | 125 - same | 246 | 382 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.71 V to 1.89 V | 1.71 V to 1.89 V - same | 1.71 V to 1.89 V - same | 1.71 V to 1.89 V - same | 1.71 V to 1.89 V - same | 1.71 V to 1.89 V - same |
| Configuration Interface | JTAG / passive serial / active serial | JTAG / serial - same | JTAG / serial - same | JTAG / serial - same | JTAG / serial - same | JTAG / serial - same |
| Lifecycle Status | NRNR | NRNR | NRNR | NRNR | NRNR | NRNR |
Key Differentiators
- Mid-tier -2 speed grade with 2.69 ns propagation delay (vs EP20K30EQC208-1)
- Right-sized 30K-gate density at lowest cost in 208-BFQFP APEX 20KE family (vs EP20K60EQC208-2)
- MultiCore architecture combining LUT, product-term, and embedded memory (vs EP20K30EQC208-2X)
Design Notes
The EP20K30EQC208-2 requires a stable 1.8 V core rail (1.71 V to 1.89 V) plus I/O bank supplies. Place a 100 uF bulk capacitor near the package plus 0.1 uF ceramics at every VCC pin. SRAM-based APEX 20KE devices will not configure until all rails are within spec, so sequence the supplies and hold nCONFIG low until the rails stabilize. Use a supervisor IC (e.g., TPS3808) to monitor VCC and release nCONFIG only after the rail is in regulation.
The 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) is a 1.0 mm or 0.5 mm pitch gull-wing package with substantial lead length - route signals on inner layers to escape from the lead footprint. Provide a solid ground plane on layer 2 directly under the package to control impedance and reduce SSN. Allow at least 8 mil trace width and 8 mil clearance for the 0.5 mm pitch variant. Add stitching vias around the perimeter every 200 mil to tie the ground plane together.
Do not apply I/O signals before VCC is stable - the SRAM configuration cells can latch into an indeterminate state, causing configuration failures on the next POR. Always monitor the CONF_DONE pin and cycle nCONFIG if CONF_DONE does not assert within the configuration timeout. For JTAG programming, ensure TCK frequencies stay below 10 MHz for reliable boundary-scan operation, and use the Altera ByteBlaster or USB-Blaster with Quartus II 9.0 to 13.0sp1.
Estimated: at maximum toggle rate with 125 I/Os switching at 10 MHz, the EP20K30EQC208-2 can dissipate up to 1.5 W. The 208-BFQFP package has theta_JA around 25 C/W in still air on a 4-layer board, giving a 38 C junction-temperature rise. For enclosed enclosures or industrial temperature-range designs, ensure 100 CFM airflow or attach a clip-on heatsink. Estimated values are based on typical APEX 20KE power-consumption curves - refer to the family datasheet for exact thermal metrics.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free status was not present in the verified web data and is set to unknown. AEC-Q100 is not applicable for FPGAs (automotive-grade parts are qualified separately). Compliance should be confirmed with the authorized distributor (Rochester Electronics) or the legacy Altera/Intel product records before use in regulated end products.