EP20K400GC655-1X - 400K-Gate APEX 20K FPGA | Altera
MPN: EP20K400GC655-1X ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $193.04 | $193.04 |
| 10 | $193.04 | $1,930.40 |
| 100 | $193.04 | $19,304.00 |
| 500 | $193.04 | $96,520.00 |
| 1,000 | $193.04 | $193,040.00 |
EP20K400GC655-1X Overview
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K400GC655-1X — 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 EP20K400GC655-1X (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Family, Process Technology, Mounting Type, Package Type, Speed Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K400GC655-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$135 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K400GC655-1V
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$555 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K400GC655-2
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$80 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K400GC655-3
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$310 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K400GC655-1X Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | Altera APEX 20K |
| Device Type | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| Technology | CMOS |
| Gate Count | 400K gates |
| Logic Elements | 16640 cells |
| Maximum System Frequency | 250 MHz |
| Propagation Delay | 2.5 ns |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage | 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Number of User I/O | 496 |
| Number of Dedicated Inputs | 6 |
| Number of Terminals | 655 |
| Package Type | CPGA-655 (Ceramic Pin Grid Array) |
| Package Body Material | Ceramic |
| Process Technology | 0.22 um |
| RoHS Status | unknown |
EP20K400GC655-1X ceramic Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K400GC655-1X (ceramic 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 EP20K400GC655-1X.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K400GC655-1X is suitable for 6 applications: Networking and Telecom Line-Card Control, Aerospace and Defense Signal Processing, ASIC Prototyping and FPGA Verification, High-Performance Instrumentation, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Legacy System Sustainment and Replacement.
Networking and Telecom Line-Card Control
The EP20K400GC655-1X provides 400K gates, 16,640 logic elements, and 496 I/O lines, which makes it suitable for line-card control-plane functions such as packet-classification state machines, register interfaces, PHY management bridges, and reset sequencing. Its 2.5V core with 2.5V/3.3V I/O tolerance allows direct connection to legacy 3.3V Ethernet PHYs and 2.5V network processors without extensive level shifting. In a telecom shelf, the FPGA can aggregate link status and implement fault-monitoring logic between a host CPU and several PHYs. Because the part does not contain hard transceivers, designers must add external SERDES or Ethernet PHYs for the data path. The high number of user I/O and the 250MHz system frequency enable dense parallel control logic while preserving deterministic timing through the APEX 20K MultiCore fabric. Separate core and I/O supplies should be decoupled near the package, and configuration data must be loaded from EPC2 or external flash at every power-up.
Recommended
Aerospace and Defense Signal Processing
In aerospace and defense systems, the EP20K400GC655-1X is valued for its ceramic 655-pin CPGA package, which provides mechanical robustness and better thermal characteristics than plastic packages in rugged environments, although the exact military temperature range is not stated in the fetched data. The 400K gates and embedded memory can implement telemetry formatting, sensor-interface timing, framing logic, and moderate-rate digital control functions. The 496 user I/O allow direct connection to data converters, backplane interfaces, and legacy 3.3V processor buses. The MultiCore product-term logic is efficient for combinatorial state machines used in safety and interlock logic. For new defense designs, however, the age and end-of-life status of APEX 20K create a supply-chain risk, so avionics integrators should qualify an obsolescence-mitigation plan or use a newer radiation-tolerant FPGA family. System-level signal integrity on the large PGA socket is critical because of dense switching output banks.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and FPGA Verification
The 400K-gate capacity and 16,640 logic elements allow the EP20K400GC655-1X to serve as an ASIC prototyping or verification vehicle when the target design is partitioned to fit available LUT, product-term, and memory resources. Because the APEX 20K MultiCore architecture integrates different logic styles, designers can exercise mixed register-based data paths and combinatorial control functions before committing to an ASIC. The 655-pin ceramic package exposes 496 I/O pins, enabling many simulation and test observation signals to be brought out to headers or logic analyzers. For clocks, the 250MHz system frequency defines the boundary for prototyping; higher-speed ASIC blocks must be down-clocked or partitioned across multiple FPGAs. JTAG download through a ByteBlaster or compatible cable is the simplest method during bring-up. Always add an EPC2 or external flash configuration source if the prototype is expected to power-cycle independently.
Recommended
High-Performance Instrumentation
The EP20K400GC655-1X can support high-performance instrumentation timing and data-interface logic because its 250MHz fabric clock and 496 I/O pins allow parallel word generation, digital pattern sequencing, and synchronization of multiple ADC/DAC devices. The 400K gates provide enough density for digital filtering or pulse-timing state machines while retaining FPGA reprogrammability. Its 2.5V core and 2.5/3.3V I/O levels make it convenient to interface with common high-speed converter digital outputs. However, instrument designers should check that 250MHz is adequate for their sample-clock domain; faster conversion streams may require a newer FPGA with gigabit transceivers. Board layout must control ground bounce when many output pins switch simultaneously; ceramic PGA decoupling and plane capacitance are required. Since APEX 20K parts are no longer mainstream, validate lifetime availability before using this device in an instrument expected to ship for many years.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
For industrial control, the EP20K400GC655-1X can consolidate multiple CPLDs and small FPGAs into one APEX 20K device by implementing deterministic control state machines, motion-control interlock logic, position-capture counters, and parallel I/O expansion within a single 400K-gate fabric. The 496 user I/O lines connect to encoder interfaces, backplane connectors, and industrial microcontrollers, while the 2.5V/3.3V I/O supplies allow direct interfacing to common 3.3V MCUs and bus transceivers. External isolation or optocouplers are still required to protect against harsh electrical transients because the FPGA is not intrinsically safe. The ceramic package is durable in vibration-prone industrial racks, but the obsolete APEX 20K family is not recommended for new factory-automation products. If legacy equipment already uses EP20K400GC655-1X, stock the same-package EP20K400GC655-1 or -2 variants as service spares.
Recommended
Legacy System Sustainment and Replacement
The EP20K400GC655-1X is often needed for sustaining legacy military, telecom, and medical systems that were designed during the APEX 20K era and must remain in service for many years. In this role, the FPGA performs the same logic functions as the original build, and the ceramic 655-pin CPGA package is required to match the original board socket. Because the exact -1X suffix may be unavailable, the same-family CPGA-655 speed-grade variants EP20K400GC655-1, EP20K400GC655-1V, EP20K400GC655-2, and EP20K400GC655-3 provide possible drop-in spares after speed-grade verification. For sustainment programs, purchase life-of-type inventory through brokers such as Rochester Electronics and store devices with ESD protection. Re-engineering to a modern FPGA should account for different pinout, configuration, I/O standards, and logic architecture; it is not a component-level substitution.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K400GC655-1X — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K400GC655-1 | EP20K400GC655-1V | EP20K400GC655-2 | EP20K400GC655-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | CPGA-655 | CPGA-655 | CPGA-655 | CPGA-655 | CPGA-655 |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Gate Count | 400K gates | 400K gates (same family) | 400K gates (same family) | 400K gates (same family) | 400K gates (same family) |
| Logic Elements | 16640 | 16640 (same family) | 16640 (same family) | 16640 (same family) | 16640 (same family) |
| User I/O Count | 496 | 496 (same package) | 496 (same package) | 496 (same package) | 496 (same package) |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.5 V | 2.5 V (same family) | 2.5 V (same family) | 2.5 V (same family) | 2.5 V (same family) |
| Speed-Grade Suffix | -1X | -1 | -1V | -2 | -3 |
| Package Body Material | Ceramic | Ceramic | Ceramic | Ceramic | Ceramic |
Key Differentiators
- The -1X suffix is documented in web data with 250 MHz system operation and 2.5 ns propagation delay. (vs EP20K400GC655-1)
- The EP20K400GC655-1X uses a 655-terminal ceramic CPGA package and 496 user I/O lines. (vs EP20K400GC652-1XV)
- The APEX 20K MultiCore architecture integrates LUT, product-term, and embedded memory logic in one device. (vs EP20K400GC655-3)
Design Notes
The EP20K400GC655-1X has separate 2.5V core and 2.5/3.3V I/O supply requirements. Ensure the core supply tolerances and the I/O bank voltage are established before configuration, because FPGA I/O buffers will not operate correctly until the VCCO rails are valid. Use low-impedance power planes under the ceramic PGA socket and place multiple 0.1uF and 10uF ceramic capacitors around the package perimeter. If the system has hot-swap requirements, sequence the 2.5V supply before or simultaneously with the 3.3V I/O supply and follow legacy Altera power-up recommendations.
This 655-pin ceramic PGA package is usually mounted in a pin-grid-array socket or soldered through-hole. Maintain the recommended drilled-hole pattern and keep signal traces away from the large number of simultaneously switching output pins. Provide a solid ground plane and bypass each supply pin group with ceramic capacitors near the socket. Fanout the many I/O signals on inner layers to avoid routing congestion on the top layer. Use the verified CPGA-655 footprint from the board design, since the part is not compatible with QFN or BGA land patterns.
The EP20K400GC655-1X is an SRAM-based APEX 20K FPGA; it loses configuration when power is removed. Always include an EPC2/EPC16 configuration device or external flash plus a configuration controller. Do not assume EP20K400GC655-1 or -1V is identical to -1X until you verify the Altera speed-grade and suffix definitions. Because the part is old, confirm the exact marking and request life-cycle or last-time-buy information before placing production orders. Also verify the supply chain through Rochester Electronics or brokers, as typical distributors may not stock the exact ceramic-package suffix.
Compliance Information
No compliance declarations were included in the 2026-09-08 fetched web data for EP20K400GC655-1X. The older ceramic-package APEX 20K part predates common RoHS/REACH data disclosure, so request a certificate of compliance from the distributor before RoHS-restricted production use.
