EP2A70B724C9N - APEX II 70K FPGA, 724-FCBGA | Intel / Altera
MPN: EP2A70B724C9N β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $285 | $285.00 |
| 10 | $268 | $2,680.00 |
| 100 | $245 | $24,500.00 |
| 500 | $220 | $110,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $195 | $195,000.00 |
EP2A70B724C9N Overview
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor integrated circuit composed of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and I/O cells that can be re-programmed to implement arbitrary digital logic functions. FPGAs sit in the digital IC hierarchy as: FPGA -> Programmable Logic Device (PLD) -> Logic IC -> Integrated Circuit -> Semiconductor. The APEX II family targets high-performance, multi-gate designs such as telecommunication infrastructure, high-speed datapath processing, and ASIC prototyping, bridging the gap between mid-range CPLDs and full custom ASICs.
Key features include 3 M system gates, 67,200 logic cells, embedded memory blocks, four phase-locked loops (PLLs) for clock management, multi-standard I/O support including LVDS, and 198 MHz internal operation. The 0.15 Β΅m process technology reduces die size while delivering low static power, and the FCBGA-724 package offers a thermal-resistance advantage suitable for high-utilization designs. Each APEX II device is built around Look-Up Table (LUT)-based logic elements combined with a hierarchical interconnect fabric optimized for predictable timing closure.
The architecture combines LUT-based logic elements, embedded system blocks (ESBs) for RAM/ROM, fast interconnect, and on-chip PLLs for clock synthesis. This combination enables designers to absorb entire subsystems β including memory controllers, datapath engines, and bus interfaces β into a single device, eliminating the need for multiple CPLDs or ASIC gates. The 3 M system-gate rating positions the EP2A70 well above mid-range FPGAs in capacity and below high-end Stratix-class devices.
Typical applications include telecommunications line cards, ASIC prototyping, high-speed image processing pipelines, network switches/routers, and DSP co-processing. The 724-pin FCBGA package supports dense I/O layouts required by parallel bus architectures and high-pin-count memory interfaces. APEX II devices are commonly deployed in designs migrated from APEX 20KE families where higher logic density or extended I/O is needed.
When designing with this part, ensure robust 1.5 V core power decoupling with low-ESR ceramic capacitors placed adjacent to every VCC/VCCIO pin pair. The FCBGA-724 package requires controlled-impedance PCB stack-up and microvia technology; reflow profile must respect the 724-ball mass and the moisture sensitivity level (MSL) preconditioning. Signal integrity at 198 MHz operation demands matched-length routing and proper termination on LVDS pairs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from the same APEX II family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers select, source, and integrate the EP2A70B724C9N efficiently.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2A70B724C9N 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 EP2A70B724C9N (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Process Technology, System Gates, Configuration Method, Maximum Internal Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2A70B724C9
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$998.27 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2A70B724C9ES
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1250 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2A70B724C8N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$240 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2A70B724C7N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$188 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2A40B724C9N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$99.5 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2A70B724C9N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | APEX II |
| Series | EP2A70 |
| Device Logic Elements | 67,200 cells |
| System Gates | 3,000,000 |
| Process Technology | 0.15 Β΅m CMOS |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.5 V nominal (1.425 V β 1.575 V) |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 198 MHz |
| User I/O Pins | 536 |
| Package | 724-pin FCBGA |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Propagation Delay | 2.87 ns |
| PLLs | 4 |
| I/O Standards | LVDS, LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, GTL+ (per APEX II datasheet) |
EP2A70B724C9N 724-pin fcbga Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2A70B724C9N (724-pin fcbga 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 EP2A70B724C9N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2A70B724C9N is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Line Card Processing, ASIC Prototyping and Emulation, High-Speed Image Processing Pipeline, Network Switch and Router Fabric, DSP Co-Processing and Acceleration, Industrial Automation and Control.
Telecommunications Line Card Processing
The EP2A70B724C9N's 3 M system gates and 67,200 logic elements make it well-suited for telecom line-card datapath processing where parallel protocol handling and high-throughput state machines are required. The 198 MHz internal frequency and 536 user I/O lines support multi-channel framers, traffic managers, and ATM/Packet-over-SONET interfaces. PLLs allow recovery of multiple telecom-grade clocks from a single reference oscillator, simplifying board-level clock trees. Compared to a CPLD stack, the APEX II absorbs the entire line-card glue logic plus protocol-aware datapath into one device, reducing board area and BOM cost in legacy telecom infrastructure.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Emulation
Engineers use the EP2A70B724C9N as an ASIC prototype platform because its 3 M system gates can map large ASIC RTL blocks at near-final timing. The 0.15 Β΅m CMOS process and APEX II architecture are well-characterized, and Quartus II provides mature synthesis, place-and-route, and timing-analysis flows that allow engineers to validate an ASIC before committing to mask costs. The 724-pin FCBGA exposes up to 536 I/O, which is enough to emulate wide ASIC busses and external memory interfaces. This drastically reduces pre-silicon verification risk by running real-world workloads on FPGA hardware months before ASIC tape-out.
Recommended
High-Speed Image Processing Pipeline
The 3 M system gates and 198 MHz fabric of the EP2A70B724C9N can absorb real-time image processing pipelines for medical imaging, machine vision, and broadcast video. Its 536 user I/O support wide parallel sensor buses, while embedded memory blocks (ESBs) provide on-chip line buffers and convolution kernels to minimize external memory accesses. The four PLLs generate pixel clocks, line-sync timing, and DDR memory clocks from a common reference. Compared with discrete DSP+ASIC solutions, a single APEX II FPGA simplifies PCB layout and allows late-stage algorithm changes by re-programming the device.
Recommended
Network Switch and Router Fabric
The EP2A70B724C9N is well-matched to mid-range network switches and routers because its 67,200 logic elements can implement multi-port MACs, lookup engines, and QoS schedulers while the 536 I/O lines provide direct parallel connectivity to PHY devices and switch fabrics. The 198 MHz fabric supports gigabit-rate packet processing with deterministic latency, and PLLs synthesize multiple port-rate clocks from one reference. The 724-pin FCBGA package also enables direct attach to high-density parallel busses like SPI-4.2 or Interlaken, which legacy switch ASICs commonly expose.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processing and Acceleration
The EP2A70B724C9N's 3 M system gates and 67,200 logic elements can implement multi-channel FIR/IIR filters, FFT engines, and radar/wireless baseband blocks as FPGA co-processors paired with a host CPU or DSP. The 198 MHz fabric and embedded ESBs allow sustained 16-bit MAC operations at sample rates suitable for voice-band, ultrasonic, and narrowband radio processing. Four PLLs generate the multiple sample-rate clocks needed in multi-mode radios. Compared with running the same workload in software, an APEX II co-processor reduces host-CPU load and improves deterministic response in real-time DSP chains.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and Control
The EP2A70B724C9N suits industrial automation controllers where deterministic, parallel I/O handling, motor-control PWM generation, and protocol bridging are required in a single device. The 536 user I/O can directly drive multi-axis stepper/servo interfaces, encoder counters, and field-bus transceivers. The 198 MHz fabric allows closed-loop control loops at sub-microsecond period, while PLLs generate precisely phased PWM carriers. Housed in a robust FCBGA-724 package, the device is appropriate for industrial-grade hardware when paired with proper thermal management and conformal coating.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2A70B724C9N β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2A70B724C9 | EP2A70B724C9ES | EP2A70B724C8N | EP2A70B724C7N | EP2A40B724C9N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Package | 724-pin FCBGA | 724-pin FCBGA - same | 724-pin FCBGA - same | 724-pin FCBGA - same | 724-pin FCBGA - same | 724-pin FCBGA - same |
| System Gates | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Logic Elements | 67,200 | 67,200 | 67,200 | 67,200 | 67,200 | 40,960 |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 198 MHz | 198 MHz | 198 MHz | slightly slower (C8 grade) | slowest (C7 grade) | 198 MHz |
| User I/O | 536 | 536 | 536 | 536 | 536 | 536 |
| Speed Grade | C9 (fastest) | C9 | C9 | C8 | C7 | C9 |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND (legacy) | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- Highest speed grade (C9) in the EP2A70 724-FCBGA family (vs EP2A70B724C8N)
- Doubled logic density over EP2A40 in the same 724-FCBGA footprint (vs EP2A40B724C9N)
- Extended-temperature C9 variant available for harsh-environment designs (vs EP2A70B724C9ES)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 198 MHz with 67,200 logic elements at typical 30% toggle rate, the EP2A70B724C9N core draws approximately 1.5β2.5 A from the 1.5 V VCCINT rail. Designers must provide low-impedance power delivery with at least four 10 Β΅F X5R ceramic capacitors and one 47 Β΅F tantalum bulk capacitor placed adjacent to the package. Independent VCCIO rails for each I/O bank are required if multiple I/O standards coexist; place 0.1 Β΅F + 10 Β΅F decoupling per VCCIO pin pair to suppress switching noise.
The 724-pin FCBGA package demands a controlled-impedance PCB stack-up with microvia technology for breakout routing. Use a 1.0 mm or 1.27 mm pitch BGA fan-out with at least two routing layers and a continuous ground plane directly under the device to control return paths. Matched-length routing (Β±50 mil tolerance) is required for any LVDS or high-speed parallel bus at 100 MHz+. Reflow profile must respect J-STD-020 moisture sensitivity; FCBGA devices typically require MSL-3 or better handling and dry-pack storage before assembly.
Estimated: at full 198 MHz operation with the entire fabric active, the EP2A70B724C9N dissipates approximately 4β6 W through its FCBGA-724 thermal pad. Designers should attach the central thermal pad to a 1 oz copper inner-plane via a 4Γ4 thermal via array (0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) to spread heat to the opposite-side copper pour. Forced-air cooling or a low-profile heatsink is recommended for ambient temperatures above 55 Β°C or for fully enclosed industrial enclosures without airflow.
Do not exceed the maximum I/O bank current limit when assigning LVDS or PCI signals to one side of the device. Configuration mode selection (PS, AS, JTAG) must be set with proper pull-up/pull-down resistors during board bring-up, or the device may fail to enter user mode. Always check the Quartus II fitter report for unrouted nets before committing to board layout β APEX II routing congestion around embedded memory blocks is a frequent cause of timing closure failures. The device is NRNR as of 2026-09-08, so production designs should plan a migration path to a Cyclone or Stratix family.
Compliance Information
Specific RoHS/REACH compliance and lead-free status not present in the verified web data. The EP2A70B724C9ES variant is typically specified for industrial/military temperature grades. Confirm with Intel (Altera) documentation or distributor CoC before compliance-critical procurement.