EP20K400CB652C7ES - APEX 20KC 400K Gates FPGA | Altera
MPN: EP20K400CB652C7ES ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $385 | $385.00 |
| 10 | $340 | $3,400.00 |
| 100 | $295 | $29,500.00 |
| 500 | $250 | $125,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $215 | $215,000.00 |
EP20K400CB652C7ES Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor integrated circuit that can be reconfigured by the customer after manufacture to implement arbitrary digital logic. The APEX 20KC family belongs to the broader taxonomy: FPGA -> programmable logic device (PLD) -> logic IC -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor. APEX 20KC devices combine look-up table (LUT) based logic elements with embedded dual-port RAM blocks, providing a flexible platform for ASIC prototyping, glue logic, and high-speed datapath design.
Key features include 488 inputs, 484 I/O lines, 16640 logic cells, 1.4 ns propagation delay, 375.94 MHz internal performance, 1.8 V core voltage, surface-mount 652-BGA packaging, and the C7 speed grade. The device supports in-system programmability via the IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) interface and configuration via the Altera passive serial or passive parallel modes, allowing engineers to reflash the bitstream through ByteBlaster or MasterBlaster cables.
The APEX 20KC architecture integrates multi-level interconnect (FastTrack) that connects logic elements and embedded array blocks (EABs) with predictable timing. Each logic element contains a 4-input LUT, a programmable register, and carry chain logic, while each EAB provides up to 2,048 bits of dual-port RAM, suitable for FIFO and small cache applications.
Typical applications include telecommunications line cards, industrial automation controllers, ASIC prototyping, high-speed image processing pipelines, and DSP preprocessing front-ends. The high I/O count also suits memory-controller and bus-bridge designs.
When designing with this legacy BGA, ensure 4-layer PCB stack-up with continuous ground plane for thermal dissipation, controlled-impedance traces for LVTTL/LVCMOS I/O, and JTAG test access at the board edge for boundary-scan compliance.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K400CB652C7ES — 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 EP20K400CB652C7ES (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Process Technology, Series, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K400CB652C7
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K400CB652C8ES
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K400BC652-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$108 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K400BI652-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$108.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K300EBC652-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$215 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K400CB652C7ES Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | APEX 20KC |
| Family | FPGA APEX 20KC |
| System Gates | 400,000 |
| Logic Cells | 16,640 |
| Number of Inputs | 488 |
| Number of I/O Lines | 484 |
| Number of Outputs | 484 |
| Propagation Delay | 1.4 ns |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 1666.6 MHz |
| Internal Performance | 375.94 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.15 µm |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Package Type | BGA (S-PBGA-B652) |
| Number of Terminals | 652 |
| Package Body Material | Plastic / Epoxy |
| Surface Mount | Yes |
| Speed Grade | C7 |
EP20K400CB652C7ES plastic / epoxy Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K400CB652C7ES (plastic / epoxy 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 EP20K400CB652C7ES.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K400CB652C7ES is suitable for 6 applications: ASIC Prototyping Platform, Telecommunications Line Card, Industrial Automation Controller, High-Speed Image Processing Pipeline, DSP Preprocessing Front-End, Legacy Memory Controller / Bus Bridge.
ASIC Prototyping Platform
The EP20K400CB652C7ES delivers 400K system gates and 16,640 logic elements, providing enough logic capacity to prototype medium-complexity ASICs before committing to mask sets. With 1.4 ns propagation delay and 375 MHz internal performance, the device accurately models datapath timing for many production ASICs. Engineers map RTL via Quartus II synthesis and verify functional correctness before tape-out.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line Card
The 484 user I/O count supports wide parallel LVTTL buses common in telecom line cards, including Utopia-style interfaces to network processors. The 1.8 V core reduces power dissipation versus older 5 V FPGAs, while the embedded dual-port EAB RAM blocks enable FIFO queues for cell/packet buffering. JTAG boundary-scan support simplifies board test.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Controller
The EP20K400CB652C7ES is widely deployed in factory-automation controllers where its high I/O count interfaces to multi-axis motor drives, sensor arrays, and PLC backplanes. The BGA-652 package with industrial temperature grade (verified for the -2 variant) supports harsh factory environments. EAB-based dual-port RAM implements high-speed register buffering.
Recommended
High-Speed Image Processing Pipeline
With 484 I/O and 16,640 logic elements, the EP20K400CB652C7ES can ingest wide parallel pixel streams from image sensors at 75 MHz+ while running pipelined preprocessing kernels. The 1.4 ns LUT delay supports single-cycle multiply-accumulate in soft logic, and EABs implement line buffers and small frame caches. Industrial cameras and machine-vision platforms historically deployed this part.
Recommended
DSP Preprocessing Front-End
The 375.94 MHz internal performance of the EP20K400CB652C7ES allows implementation of FIR filters, FFT butterflies, and correlators in soft logic. Combined with 488 inputs, the device interfaces directly to high-speed ADCs for radar, sonar, or software-defined-radio front-ends. The 1.4 ns propagation delay enables 8-tap FIR designs at 100 MHz+ sampling rates.
Recommended
Legacy Memory Controller / Bus Bridge
The 484 I/O count and 1.8 V core make the EP20K400CB652C7ES an excellent bridge between legacy 5 V or 3.3 V peripheral buses and modern low-voltage processors. EAB dual-port RAM implements FIFO bridges, while JTAG boundary scan simplifies bring-up. Designers pair this part with PCI bus bridges and SDRAM controllers in legacy compute platforms.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K400CB652C7ES — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K400CB652C7 | EP20K400CB652C8ES | EP20K400BC652-1 | EP20K400BI652-2 | EP20K300EBC652-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | BGA-652 (S-PBGA-B652) | BGA-652 - same | BGA-652 - same | BGA-652 - same | BGA-652 - same | BGA-652 - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| System Gates | 400,000 | 400,000 | 400,000 | 400,000 | 400,000 | 300,000 |
| Logic Cells | 16,640 | 16,640 | 16,640 | 16,640 | 16,640 | 11,520 |
| I/O Lines | 484 | 484 | 484 | 488 | 488 | 488 |
| Speed Grade | C7 | C7 | C8 | -1 (fastest) | -2 | -1 |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V |
| ES Screening | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- ES-screened variant with enhanced quality assurance (vs EP20K400CB652C7)
- Higher gate density than EP20K300 family in identical BGA-652 footprint (vs EP20K300EBC652-1)
- C7 speed grade balances timing margin and power (vs EP20K400CB652C8ES)
Design Notes
The BGA-652 package requires a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane beneath the device to spread heat. Estimated: at 1.8 V core drawing 0.5 A typical and 1 A worst case, dissipation is approximately 0.9-1.8 W. Provide at least 1 square inch of internal copper pour plus thermal vias to the bottom layer for safe operation. No external heatsink is required at typical loads.
Use 4-layer stack-up with dedicated power and ground planes. Decoupling: place 0.1 µF X7R ceramic bypass capacitors on every VCCINT and VCCIO pin pair within 100 mils. Add four bulk 10 µF tantalum or polymer capacitors around the BGA perimeter. Route LVCMOS outputs with 50 Ω controlled impedance to minimize reflections on parallel buses.
Always verify the configuration mode pins MSEL0/MSEL1 before power-up. Mistakenly selecting passive parallel mode when only passive serial is wired will leave the FPGA unconfigured. Boundary-scan (JTAG) access at the board edge is mandatory for production test - omitting it can render the board untestable. The APEX 20KC family is not supported in Quartus versions newer than 13.0 SP1.
Place configuration EEPROM or flash within 4 inches of the FPGA DATA and DCLK pins to minimize signal integrity issues during programming. Add 4.7 kΩ pull-up resistors on nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and CONF_DONE lines per Altera reference design. The 27×27 mm BGA land pattern requires 0.8 mm pitch and NSMD (non-solder-mask-defined) pads.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in verified web data. APEX 20KC family predates mandatory RoHS adoption (2006), so most date-coded units are non-RoHS. Confirm with distributor when purchasing.
