EP20K60EQC208-2N - 60K Gate APEX 20KE FPGA | Intel
MPN: EP20K60EQC208-2N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $58.25 | $58.25 |
| 10 | $54.1 | $541.00 |
| 100 | $48.75 | $4,875.00 |
| 500 | $44.3 | $22,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $42.1 | $42,100.00 |
EP20K60EQC208-2N Overview
A field-programmable gate array is an integrated circuit that can be reconfigured after manufacturing to implement arbitrary digital logic. FPGAs sit above simple programmable logic devices in the digital logic hierarchy, offering gate counts in the tens of thousands or more, embedded memory, and flexible I/O. The APEX 20KE family combines FPGA lookup-table logic with product-term support, creating a system-on-a-programmable-chip architecture that designers can use for protocol bridging, DSP front ends, and custom interface logic.
Key features of the EP20K60EQC208-2N include 60,000 typical gates, 2,560 logic elements, 148 user I/O pins, and a 1.72 ns propagation delay reported by DigChip. The family is fabricated in 0.22 um CMOS and is specified for operation from 0 to 85 °C. The 208-pin square PQFP package measures 28 mm by 28 mm and uses gull-wing terminals, making it suitable for conventional surface-mount assembly.
Architecturally, APEX 20KE devices integrate look-up-table logic, product-term macrocells, and embedded memory blocks, allowing the same device to handle register-intensive state machines and data-path functions. The -2 speed grade is a mainstream performance option between the slower -3 grade and the faster -1 or -1X grades. The N suffix indicates lead-free finish, which is important for RoHS-oriented production lines.
Typical applications include telecom and line-card bridging, industrial control logic, display and video interface controllers, and high-speed ADC/DAC front-end aggregation. The 148 user I/Os are sufficient for 16-bit or 32-bit parallel buses plus control signals. The 200 MHz internal clock capability also supports moderate-rate packet processing and custom coprocessing tasks.
When designing with the EP20K60EQC208-2N, confirm the FPGA configuration method during schematic design and provide adequate decoupling on the 1.8 V core rail. Because this is an older APEX 20KE part, avoid assuming indefinite factory availability for high-volume new designs unless the supply chain has been explicitly validated.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, package-specific guidance, speed-grade comparisons, and practical design notes that are not always visible on a manufacturer datasheet. The data is maintained as of 2026-09-08 and reflects current web sources.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K60EQC208-2N — 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 EP20K60EQC208-2N (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:
EP20K60EQC208-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$65.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQC208-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$53.33 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQC208-1X
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$36 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQC208-1
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$16.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQC208-2XN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$27.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K60EQC208-2N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | APEX 20KE |
| Series | APEX-20KE |
| Logic Elements | 2560 |
| Typical Gates | 60000 |
| Technology | 0.22 um CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V nominal |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.71 V to 1.89 V |
| Package / Case | 208-BFQFP |
| Supplier Device Package | 208-PQFP (28x28) |
| Number of Pins | 208 |
| Number of User I/Os | 148 |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 200 MHz |
| Propagation Delay | 1.72 ns |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 to 85 °C (32 to 185 °F) |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Package Shape | Square |
| Terminal Form | Gull wing |
EP20K60EQC208-2N square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K60EQC208-2N (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 EP20K60EQC208-2N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K60EQC208-2N is suitable for 6 applications: Telecom and Packet Line Cards, Industrial Automation Controllers, Display and Video Interface Controllers, Medical Equipment Data Interface, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Legacy System Service and Refurbishment.
Telecom and Packet Line Cards
The EP20K60EQC208-2N fits telecom line cards that need protocol bridging, packet classification, or channel aggregation without using a large ASIC. Its 60,000 typical gates and 148 user I/Os can implement FIFO-based receive paths, HDLC/PPP framing state machines, and simple Ethernet MAC-side glue logic. The 200 MHz internal clock rating provides headroom for 32-bit datapath operations at typical line rates below gigabit speeds. APEX 20KE embedded memory blocks can buffer small packets or hold lookup tables, while the -2 speed grade balances timing margin against cost. For a 208-pin PQFP, the 0.5 mm-class lead pitch requires controlled-impedance PCB layout for the high-speed clock and data bus. This component is best used in telecom designs where legacy APEX 20KE code can be reused rather than redesigned on a new FPGA.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Controllers
The EP20K60EQC208-2N can implement PLC-style logic, quadrature decoder interfaces, and industrial protocol bridging in equipment that operates inside a controlled 0 to 85 °C enclosure. Its 148 I/O pins permit multiple parallel sensor/timer interfaces, and the 2560 logic elements are enough for several state-machine-based axis controllers or a fieldbus bridge. The 1.8 V core lowers dynamic power compared with older 5 V CPLDs, but the IQ current of an APEX 20KE part still requires planned power supply margin. When replacing legacy APEX 20KE sockets in existing industrial boards, the 208-PQFP footprint and drop-in compatible EP20K60EQC208-2 variant simplify transfers. Avoid this family for new equipment needing -40 °C operation unless the design stays inside the commercial temperature limit.
Recommended
Display and Video Interface Controllers
In display and video systems, the EP20K60EQC208-2N can act as a timing controller, pixel-format converter, or LVDS/TTL bridge between image sensors and display panels. The 148 user I/Os provide enough parallel RGB or YCbCr buses for several 8-bit or 16-bit pixel channels. Internal logic elements implement line buffers, gamma-correction lookup tables, and synchronization counters. The 200 MHz internal frequency supports pixel clocks in the hundreds of millions of pixels per second range depending on bus width, making it suitable for VGA through HD-class video preprocessing. Embedded memory in the APEX 20KE architecture can hold small scan-line delay buffers. If a legacy display controller already uses APEX 20KE source code, this 208-pin PQFP package remains a practical drop-in for service and repair.
Recommended
Medical Equipment Data Interface
The EP20K60EQC208-2N can serve as a data-formatting FPGA in medical imaging, patient-monitor, or diagnostic cartridges where moderate logic density and parallel I/O are needed. The device supports custom data deserialization, temperature-compensated look-up tables, and system health monitoring logic. Its 60,000 typical gates and 2,560 logic elements can host a small 8-bit or 16-bit bus bridge between an analog-front-end ADC and an embedded processor. The 0 to 85 °C rating is acceptable for many benchtop hospital devices with forced airflow. Because this is an older FPGA family, designers targeting new medical equipment should evaluate field-programmable alternatives with wider long-term availability; the EP20K60EQC208-2N is best suited for legacy-board repair or designs where program code is already frozen.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
The EP20K60EQC208-2N is useful in test and measurement front ends that combine logic analyzers, data-acquisition controllers, and external trigger/alarm systems. The 208-pin PQFP exposes enough I/O to connect to acquisition ASICs, memory banks, and a host processor bus simultaneously. The 2560 logic elements can implement acquisition state machines, decimation filters, and histogram counters. With a memory-mapped interface, an external CPU can configure the APEX 20KE core at startup. The high 200 MHz internal frequency supports oversampling logic for measurement-while-processing tasks. The -N lead-free finish eases compliance for new test equipment manufacturing while still using legacy HDL resources. If speed margin is not critical, the slower EP20K60EQC208-3N can be used to reduce performance overspecification.
Recommended
Legacy System Service and Refurbishment
The EP20K60EQC208-2N serves as a service replacement for installed APEX 20KE based systems that need the original 208-pin PQFP footprint and lead-free finish. In refurbishment projects, exact drop-in compatibility is essential, and the EP20K60EQC208-2, EP20K60EQC208-3N, and other 208-pin variants offer procurement flexibility when one suffix is unavailable. Electrical compatibility with existing configurations should be checked using the original Quartus/MAX+PLUS project timing report. Because this FPGA is not a modern high-density device, the main benefit in legacy service is retaining the original PCB and firmware while replacing the failed component. Confirm stock availability before starting maintenance because N-suffix APEX 20KE products are periodically only available through specialty distributors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K60EQC208-2N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K60EQC208-2 | EP20K60EQC208-3N | EP20K60EQC208-1X | EP20K60EQC208-1 | EP20K60EQC208-2XN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP |
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Typical Gates | 60000 | 60000 | 60000 | 60000 | 60000 | 60000 |
| Logic Elements | 2560 | 2560 | 2560 | 2560 | 2560 | 2560 |
| User I/Os | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.71 V to 1.89 V | 1.71 V to 1.89 V | 1.71 V to 1.89 V | 1.71 V to 1.89 V | 1.71 V to 1.89 V | 1.71 V to 1.89 V |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -2 | -3 | -1X | -1 | -2XN |
Key Differentiators
- Lead-free N-suffix finish reduces RoHS compliance risk on solder lines (vs EP20K60EQC208-2)
- Faster -2 speed grade than the -3 inventory variant (vs EP20K60EQC208-3N)
- Better established availability than faster -1/-1X suffix parts (vs EP20K60EQC208-1X)
Design Notes
Do not trust generic aggregate-page package data for this part. The EP20K60EQC208-2N is a 208-pin BFQFP/PQFP package, not a BGA-356. Some third-party template data lists 356 pins because of confused database entries. Always verify the package against the Intel APEX 20KE family datasheet or the distributor product page before creating a PCB footprint.
The EP20K60EQC208-2N core supply is 1.8 V nominal with a 1.71 V to 1.89 V validated range. Use a separate low-noise 1.8 V rail with appropriate bulk and ceramic decoupling capacitors distributed around the package. Since APEX 20KE is not a low-quiescent-current device, calculate the total core current from the design timing report rather than assuming a fixed value from the maximum internal frequency alone.
The 208-pin PQFP package has a large plastic body but no exposed thermal pad, so cooling relies primarily on package surface area, PCB copper, and airflow. For high-toggle-rate designs, estimate junction temperature using the thermal resistance from the manufacturer datasheet, then derate if the equipment operates near the 85 °C commercial maximum. When servicing older boards, verify that the original heatsink or fan arrangement is still functional.
Compliance Information
The N suffix on the EP20K60EQC208-2N indicates a lead-free finish in Intel/Altera ordering terminology, but no explicit RoHS/REACH certification statement was present in the retrieved web data. AEC-Q100 does not apply to this FPGA.