EP20K60EQC208-1 - APEX 20KE FPGA 60K Gates | Altera
MPN: EP20K60EQC208-1 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $22.8 | $22.80 |
| 10 | $21.1 | $211.00 |
| 100 | $19.4 | $1,940.00 |
| 500 | $17.9 | $8,950.00 |
| 1,000 | $16.6 | $16,600.00 |
EP20K60EQC208-1 Overview
An FPGA is a semiconductor device that contains thousands or millions of programmable logic cells and programmable interconnect. Unlike a fixed-function ASIC, an FPGA can be configured after manufacturing using a bitstream that defines logic functions, memory maps, and I/O behavior. In the power electronics and embedded systems hierarchy, an FPGA sits between simple CPLDs and high-end ASSP/SoC devices; it provides design flexibility by allowing engineers to implement custom digital logic, protocol bridges, and DSP pipelines without committing to a custom mask. The EP20K60EQC208-1 belongs to Altera's APEX 20K family, which combined look-up-table logic blocks with embedded memory and high-speed interconnect.
Key features that differentiate this device include 60K usable system gates, 2,560 logic elements, 32,768 RAM bits, and 148 user I/O pins in a 208-lead BQFP package. The device is CMOS-based and operates with a 1.8 V core supply, making it suitable for low-voltage, mid-density board designs. According to available distributor listings, the speed grade supports internal operation up to 250 MHz, and the C temperature grade is specified for 0°C to 85°C operation. The package uses gull-wing square quad flat-pack construction for surface-mount assembly.
Architecturally, the EP20K60EQC208-1 uses the APEX 20K MultiCore architecture, which integrates LUT-based logic cells, embedded system blocks, and high-speed routing resources. This lets a single FPGA implement state machines, memory functions, and data-path operations on one chip, reducing board area compared with multiple smaller programmable logic devices. The device also supports system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) design flows, enabling soft processor and peripheral integration on older 1.8 V designs. Its 148 user I/O pins can connect to a wide range of board-level buses, but exact I/O standard support and drive capability must be checked in the official APEX 20K datasheet.
Typical applications include legacy telecom line-card bridging, industrial control I/O expansion, video interface conversion, digital signal pre-processing, and prototype/education boards where 1.8 V FPGA logic is acceptable. The combination of embedded RAM and 60K gates makes it particularly useful where a design needs moderate FPGA resources but cannot migrate to a newer 1.2 V or 0.9 V fabric.
A practical design consideration is that the core is 1.8 V, so the board must allocate a stable 1.8 V rail separate from any higher-voltage I/O plane. The device is a legacy APEX 20K part; for new production designs, a current Intel programmable device is usually preferred, but for repairing or maintaining existing APEX 20K systems, the EP20K60EQC208-1 remains a relevant pin-compatible target.
This page adds distributor-verified availability clues, drop-in APEX 20K alternatives, and design guidance for legacy FPGA maintenance that are not printed on a distributor cart page.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K60EQC208-1 — 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 EP20K60EQC208-1 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Supply Voltage, Operating Temperature, Typical Gates, Family, Logic Elements / Cells.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K60EQC208-1N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K60EQC208-1X
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$36 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQC208-1XN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K60EQC208-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$65.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQC208-2N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$42.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQI208-1
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP20K60EQC208-1 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Function | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| Family | APEX 20KE |
| System Gates | 60,000 |
| Logic Elements | 2,560 |
| Total RAM Bits | 32,768 |
| Number of User I/O | 148 |
| Max Clock Frequency | 250 MHz |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0C to +85C (C grade) |
| Propagation Delay | 1.72 ns |
| Technology | CMOS |
| Process Node | 0.22 um |
| Package Type | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) |
| Number of Pins | 208 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Package Shape | Square |
EP20K60EQC208-1 square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K60EQC208-1 (square 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 EP20K60EQC208-1.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K60EQC208-1 is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Telecom Line-Card I/O Bridging, Industrial Control I/O Expansion, Video and Display Interface Conversion, DSP Pre-Processing and Data Acquisition, System-on-a-Programmable-Chip Prototyping, Legacy Board Repair and Lifecycle Support.
Legacy Telecom Line-Card I/O Bridging
The EP20K60EQC208-1 fits legacy telecom and networking line-card applications where a 1.8 V FPGA must bridge TDM, Utopia, or parallel backplane buses to other board-level logic. Its 148 user I/O pins provide enough connectivity for multi-byte bus translation, while 32,768 RAM bits support small FIFO and packet buffers without external SRAM. The 60K-gate density is sufficient for state machines, address decoding, and bus arbitration. Because the device uses 1.8 V core logic, it is compatible with older networking boards that already supply this low-voltage rail. The 208-pin BQFP package is defined for surface-mount manufacturing; replacement on legacy boards is straightforward if the original footprint was designed for a standard PQFP-208. Verify I/O standard thresholds in the APEX 20K datasheet before connecting to 3.3 V backplane transceivers, and consider a level-shifting bus transceiver when mixing voltage domains.
Recommended
Industrial Control I/O Expansion
In industrial control panels and PLC-to-machine interfaces, the EP20K60EQC208-1 can implement input debounce, digital I/O expansion, encoder decoding, and interlock logic. Its 60K gates are enough for multi-channel state machines, and 148 user I/O lets one FPGA connect to a large number of optocouplers, relay drivers, and sensor inputs. The 0C to +85C commercial temperature range makes it suitable for controlled industrial cabinets, while the 1.8 V core reduces regulator stress when fed from a 1.8 V plane. For outputs driving high-side relays or valve drivers, buffer through external drivers because the FPGA itself does not source high current. The embedded RAM can hold small look-up tables or production counters. When replacing a failed board, ensure the configuration device is programmed with the same bitstream; otherwise the FPGA will not implement the desired logic.
Recommended
Video and Display Interface Conversion
The EP20K60EQC208-1 can perform low-complexity video timing generation, pixel format conversion, and display-synchronization logic in older equipment. It provides enough logic for line buffers, pixel counters, and small resampling filters, while embedded RAM assists in line buffering and frame-rate matching. The 148 I/O pins permit connection to 8-bit or 16-bit digital video buses, timing generators, and DDR DPRAM interfaces. Designers should note that video-rate data streams can exceed 250 MHz in some pixel clocks; the -1 speed grade is best used for pixel rates below that threshold. Because the FPGA core is 1.8 V, interface to 3.3 V video encoders may require series resistors or level shifter ICs. This device is practical for repairing display controllers on legacy test equipment, medical monitors, and industrial HMI boards rather than for new high-resolution video processing systems.
Recommended
DSP Pre-Processing and Data Acquisition
The EP20K60EQC208-1 can act as a pre-processing FPGA in data acquisition, medical imaging, and instrument front ends, receiving ADC samples and performing offset correction, decimation, or finite-impulse-response filter assist before a DSP. Its 2,560 logic elements and 32,768 RAM bits support moderate filter taps, histogram memory, or circular buffers. The 1.8 V core minimizes dynamic power compared with older 3.3 V programmable logic, making it viable for low-power instrument boards. The 148 user I/O can capture parallel ADC data and control multiplexers or gain amplifiers. Designers should estimate aggregate I/O toggle rates carefully and keep the FPGA configuration loaded from a separate configuration memory. Because this is an older FPGA family, contemporary DSP/SoC devices offer more performance, but the EP20K60EQC208-1 remains useful for repairing and sustaining legacy medical and instrumentation products.
Recommended
System-on-a-Programmable-Chip Prototyping
The EP20K60EQC208-1 is useful in laboratory prototyping and university design work that uses the APEX 20K MultiCore architecture to teach SOPC concepts. Its combination of logic cells, embedded memory, and many I/O pins lets students implement simple soft processors, memory-mapped peripherals, and bus controllers on a single 208-pin FPGA. The 1.8 V core supply is readily available on many bench supplies and requires only a low-cost LDO or switching regulator. Because the family is legacy, prototype boards and programing adapters are often inexpensive or available from surplus channels. The main educational caveat is that the design tool flow is older; current Intel Quartus software may require a legacy version for this device. Nevertheless, the EP20K60EQC208-1 can still serve as a hands-on introduction to FPGA architecture, state machines, and embedded memory design.
Recommended
Legacy Board Repair and Lifecycle Support
For products already deployed with APEX 20K FPGAs, the EP20K60EQC208-1 serves as a lifecycle support component enabling board repair, warranty service, and reverse-engineering documentation. Service teams can replace a faulty -1 device with the same MPN or a pin-compatible variant such as EP20K60EQC208-1N without changing the PCB. This is especially valuable when the original FPGA is no longer available through normal new-production channels but the installed base still requires maintenance. Before using the -1 as a repair part, confirm that the bitstream was compiled with compatible timing and I/O constraints; any speed-grade substitution should be validated at the board's maximum operating condition. Because PQFP-208 replacement requires careful reflow and solder inspection, the service lab should follow IPC-level rework practices. The 1.8 V core supply must also be verified on the board to avoid damage to the replacement FPGA.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K60EQC208-1 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K60EQC208-1N | EP20K60EQC208-1X | EP20K60EQC208-1XN | EP20K60EQC208-2 | EP20K60EQI208-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| System Gates | 60,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
| Logic Elements | 2,560 | 2,560 | 2,560 | 2,560 | 2,560 | 2,560 |
| Total RAM Bits | 32,768 | 32,768 | 32,768 | 32,768 | 32,768 | 32,768 |
| Number of User I/O | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V | 1.8 V |
Key Differentiators
- Fastest widely available speed grade in the 208-pin EP20K60 family (vs EP20K60EQC208-2)
- Commercial temperature grade matched to standard industrial cabinet equipment (vs EP20K60EQI208-1)
- Original non-N finish option simplifies SnPb rework for old boards (vs EP20K60EQC208-1N)
Design Notes
The EP20K60EQC208-1 uses a 1.8 V core supply. Provide a low-noise 1.8 V rail with enough current for the configured design, plus appropriate bypass capacitance at every core VCC pin. If the board also has 3.3 V or 2.5 V I/O rails, confirm the APEX 20K datasheet I/O supply limits before connecting transceivers. Do not power the core above 1.8 V; overvoltage stress can damage the FPGA even if the part appears operational during bench testing.
The 208-lead BQFP package has no exposed thermal pad, so heat removal relies on package leads and airflow. Estimated: for a 1.5 W configuration with a junction-to-ambient thermal resistance in the range commonly used for PQFP-208 packages of about 30–40 C/W, junction temperature could rise 45–60 C above ambient. For long-term reliability at the commercial 85 C maximum, keep internal power below approximately 1 W unless forced airflow is present. Use a thermal-camera check on a prototype board to validate local hot spots.
Treat the 148 user I/O pins as controlled-impedance traces when connecting to high-speed buses. Because the EP20K60EQC208-1 is a surface-mount PQFP-208, route I/O signals from the package with short stubs and avoid routing the 1.8 V core plane under noisy output groups. Add 0.1 uF low-ESL capacitors near VCC/GND pairs and a bulk capacitor at the board power entry point. For legacy repair work, use the original PCB footprint exactly; verify the replacement part orientation against pin 1 and the package dot before soldering.
Compliance Information
The N suffix variants (EP20K60EQC208-1N, -1XN) are typically lead-free/RoHS-oriented, but the original EP20K60EQC208-1 does not explicitly carry a RoHS/lead-free statement in the verified web data. AEC-Q100 is not applicable to this FPGA part type.
