EP20K600CF33C-7ES - APEX 20KC 600K Gates FPGA | Altera | 1020-FBGA
MPN: EP20K600CF33C-7ES β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $156.1 | $156.10 |
| 10 | $148.2 | $1,482.00 |
| 100 | $139.5 | $13,950.00 |
| 500 | $132.1 | $66,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $125.8 | $125,800.00 |
EP20K600CF33C-7ES Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a programmable logic device containing configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and embedded memory, arranged in a hierarchical architecture. FPGAs sit within the wider taxonomy of programmable logic devices (PLDs) -> programmable logic -> logic semiconductors. The APEX 20KC family was Altera's first multi-gate-array architecture to embed system-on-chip features such as Look-Up Table (LUT) logic, embedded array blocks (EABs), and high-speed I/O, predating the modern Stratix series and now under Intel's FPGA portfolio following the 2015 Altera acquisition.
Key features include 311,296 typical gates (600K maximum), 24,320 logic elements, 32 embedded system blocks, 4 phase-locked loops, and up to 704 user I/Os. The EP20K600CF33C-7ES supports in-circuit reconfiguration via enhanced configuration devices (EPC16, EPC8, EPC4) and is supported by the legacy Altera Quartus II design software (versions 6.x and earlier for full APEX support). The "33" code indicates a 33 MHz PCI reference, while "C" denotes commercial temperature grade and "7" indicates speed grade -7. The "ES" suffix denotes an engineering sample / special product variant.
Architecturally, the APEX 20KC device combines four types of building blocks: MegaLAB structures (grouping 16 Logic Array Blocks), Logic Array Blocks (LABs) containing 10 Logic Elements each, Embedded System Blocks (ESBs) for RAM/ROM/CAM functions, and FastTrack interconnect. Each Logic Element contains a 4-input LUT, a programmable register, carry chain, and cascade chain logic. The 0.15 Β΅m process technology keeps the typical quiescent power well within the 1.71 V to 1.89 V core supply envelope.
Typical applications include high-throughput telecommunications line cards, PCI bus bridging designs, custom DSP acceleration, industrial control logic, and legacy ASIC prototyping. The 1020-ball FC-FBGA package requires high-density multi-layer PCB routing with controlled-impedance traces and matched-length clock distribution to fully exploit the device's 375 MHz internal performance.
Designers should note that the EP20K600CF33C-7ES is part of a mature, end-of-life product family. Modern replacements include the Altera/Intel Cyclone IV/V or Stratix series for new designs, with pin-compatible alternatives limited within the same APEX 20KC family. Power supply sequencing and decoupling per the Altera AN-161 application note are required for reliable operation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric data, and drop-in alternatives within the APEX 20KC family that are not consolidated on any single manufacturer or distributor datasheet page.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K600CF33C-7ES β 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 EP20K600CF33C-7ES (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Speed Grade, Configuration Method, Device Type, Operating Temperature, PLLs.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K600CF33C-7
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K600CFC1020-7ES
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K600CF33C-8ES
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K600CF1020C8ES
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K600CF1020C7ES
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K600CF33C-7ES Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | APEX 20KC |
| Maximum Logic Elements | 24,320 |
| Typical Gates | 600,000 |
| Maximum User I/O Pins | 704 |
| Embedded System Blocks | 32 |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Process Technology | 0.15 Β΅m CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V nominal (1.71 V to 1.89 V) |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 Β°C to 85 Β°C (Commercial) |
| Speed Grade | 7 |
| Maximum Internal Clock Frequency | 375.94 MHz (typ) |
| Package | 1020-ball FC-FBGA (flip-chip) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Mounting Style | SMD/SMT |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Series | APEX 20KC |
| Configuration Method | SRAM-based, EPC16/EPC8/EPC4 supported |
EP20K600CF33C-7ES 1020-ball fc-fbga (flip-chip) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K600CF33C-7ES (1020-ball fc-fbga (flip-chip) 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 EP20K600CF33C-7ES.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K600CF33C-7ES is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Line Card Interface, PCI Bus Bridge and Expansion Logic, Custom DSP Accelerator Card, Industrial Control and Automation Logic, Legacy ASIC Prototyping Platform, High-Speed Data Acquisition Backplane.
Telecommunications Line Card Interface
The EP20K600CF33C-7ES delivers 24,320 logic elements and 704 user I/Os, the headroom required for multi-channel telecom line cards that aggregate T1/E1, T3/E3, and serial backplane traffic. Its 4 PLLs synthesize independent clock trees per channel, while the 32 embedded system blocks (ESBs) implement 32 Kbits of FIFO memory per block, ideal for elastic buffering across parallel bus interfaces. The 1.6 ns propagation delay per logic element at speed grade 7 keeps data-path latency below 50 ns even when chaining four LABs together. Commercial-grade 0 Β°C to 85 Β°C operation matches central-office ambient.
Recommended
PCI Bus Bridge and Expansion Logic
The '33' in EP20K600CF33C-7ES indicates a PCI-33 reference that matches the PCI Local Bus Specification 2.1 33 MHz interface. The device's 704 I/Os permit the integration of a primary PCI bus plus multiple secondary PCI or cPCI bridges, custom scatter-gather DMA engines, and 64-bit bus extension logic. Speed grade 7 provides 375 MHz internal clock performance, sufficient for protocol conversion, payload reassembly, and zero-wait-state memory-mapped transactions. Multi-voltage I/O banks at 3.3 V or 5 V enable mixed-rail PCI backplane designs without external level shifters.
Recommended
Custom DSP Accelerator Card
The APEX 20KC's 24,320 logic elements deliver 4.8 GMACs of DSP throughput when configured as multiplier-accumulator pipelines, sufficient for 1024-point FFTs, Viterbi decoders, and adaptive filter cores. The 32 ESBs at 32 Kbits each provide 1 Mbit of on-chip data memory, replacing external SRAM for working-set storage and reducing board complexity. Four PLLs generate the multiple sample-rate clocks needed for mixed-rate audio/video pipelines, while 704 I/Os handle parallel data bus interfaces to external ADC/DAC converters.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation Logic
The EP20K600CF33C-7ES anchors legacy industrial controllers with 704 I/Os that drive discrete I/O racks, quadrature encoders, motor-control PWM channels, and multi-axis servo interfaces from a single device. The 0.15 Β΅m CMOS process and 1.8 V core keep typical power dissipation within thermal envelopes for sealed control cabinets, while the commercial 0 Β°C to 85 Β°C temperature grade covers factory-floor conditions. EPC16 serial configuration enables field firmware updates via JTAG without removing the controller from service.
Recommended
Legacy ASIC Prototyping Platform
The EP20K600CF33C-7ES, with 600K typical gates and 24,320 LEs, was widely used by ASIC designers as a pre-silicon validation vehicle for gate-array netlists. The 1.6 ns propagation delay at speed grade 7 makes it a realistic proxy for 0.18 Β΅m gate-array silicon, while the SRAM-based configuration allows rapid design iteration during pre-tapeout verification. Quartus II synthesis flow supports flat or hierarchical netlist imports from Synopsys DC and Cadence RTL Compiler, enabling drop-in verification of multi-million-gate ASIC designs.
Recommended
High-Speed Data Acquisition Backplane
The EP20K600CF33C-7ES hosts up to 704 LVTTL/LVCMOS I/O at 3.3 V, sufficient for aggregating 14-bit ADC outputs at 100 MSPS across 16 parallel data buses. The 32 ESBs provide dual-port RAM buffers that decouple the ADC sampling clock from the FPGA's internal clock, eliminating timing-closure headaches in mixed-clock designs. Speed-grade 7 supports 375 MHz internal performance for real-time FFT preprocessing, decimation, and trigger logic, all inside the 1020-ball FC-FBGA envelope that fits standard 6U VME and CompactPCI card geometries.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K600CF33C-7ES β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K600CF33C-7 | EP20K600CFC1020-7ES | EP20K600CF33C-8ES | EP20K600CF1020C8ES | EP20K600CF1020C7ES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 1020-ball FC-FBGA | 1020-ball FC-FBGA | 1020-ball FC-FBGA | 1020-ball FC-FBGA | 1020-ball FC-FBGA | 1020-ball FC-FBGA |
| Maximum Logic Elements | 24,320 | 24,320 | 24,320 | 24,320 | 24,320 | 24,320 |
| Typical Gates | 600 K | 600 K | 600 K | 600 K | 600 K | 600 K |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V |
| Speed Grade | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 (slower) | 8 (slower) | 7 |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial 0 to 85 Β°C | Commercial 0 to 85 Β°C | Commercial 0 to 85 Β°C | Commercial 0 to 85 Β°C | Commercial 0 to 85 Β°C | Commercial 0 to 85 Β°C |
| Embedded System Blocks | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest-density APEX 20KC device with 600K gates and 24,320 logic elements (vs EP20K400CF672C-7ES)
- Speed grade 7 (faster) versus speed grade 8 alternatives in the same package (vs EP20K600CF33C-8ES)
- Engineering-sample variant with screened silicon (vs EP20K600CF33C-7)
Design Notes
The EP20K600CF33C-7ES requires a tightly regulated 1.8 V core (range 1.71 V to 1.89 V) with Β±5 % tolerance per the Altera APEX 20KC datasheet. Power-on sequencing must bring VCCINT up before or simultaneously with VCCIO to prevent I/O driver latch-up. Use a dedicated switching regulator with a minimum of 20 Β΅F bulk plus 0.1 Β΅F decoupling per pin group. The 1020-ball FC-FBGA package requires high-density PCB design with ENIG surface finish and controlled-impedance 50 Ξ© trace routing for LVTTL/LVCMOS signals.
Estimated thermal dissipation: at full logic utilization (24,320 LEs) the APEX 20KC dissipates approximately 2.0 W at 1.8 V core (manufacturer datasheet typical). The 1020-ball FC-FBGA package's exposed die attach pad requires direct soldering to a PCB thermal plane with at least 4 thermal vias per pad corner for heat extraction. Designers should aim for a theta-JA of 15 C/W or better; without a thermal plane junction temperature may exceed the 125 Β°C commercial maximum during sustained 375 MHz operation.
PCB layout for the 1020-ball FC-FBGA requires microvia technology (laser-drilled 4-mil vias with 8-mil pads) and 0.5 mm or 1.0 mm BGA pitch routing. Matched-length clock traces within Β±50 mil keep clock skew within the device's PLL tolerance window. Use buried vias and blind-via fanout for breakout layers; place decoupling 0402 ceramic capacitors within 100 mils of every VCCINT/VCCIO ball pair. Refer to the Altera AN-161 (PCB Layout for High-Density BGA Packages) application note for trace-routing recommendations.
Do not assume EPC16/EPC8/EPC4 configuration devices work without a proper JTAG chain validation: verify the nCONFIG, CONF_DONE, and nSTATUS signal pull-ups are 10 kΞ© to 3.3 V before power-up. The APEX 20KC will not initialize if MSEL pins are not set correctly for the chosen configuration mode (AS, AP, PS, JTAG). Also note that Quartus II support for APEX 20KC ends at version 9.0 SP2; later Quartus versions drop the family entirely. Always retain the original Quartus II project archive for the lifetime of the design.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Altera product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - commercial temperature grade only. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified web data.
