EP2C20F484I8 - Cyclone II FPGA 18,752 LEs 484-FBGA | Intel / Altera
MPN: EP2C20F484I8 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $48.5 | $48.50 |
| 10 | $43.2 | $432.00 |
| 100 | $38.75 | $3,875.00 |
| 500 | $34.1 | $17,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $30.5 | $30,500.00 |
EP2C20F484I8 Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor integrated circuit built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and embedded memory and DSP resources that can be re-programmed by the designer after manufacture. FPGAs occupy the top tier of the digital programmable logic hierarchy: FPGA -> programmable logic -> ASIC alternative -> digital IC. They are valued for parallel processing, deterministic latency, hardware flexibility, and rapid time-to-market versus application-specific fixed-function ASICs.
Key features of the EP2C20F484I8 include 18,752 logic elements distributed across 1,196 logic array blocks (LABs), embedded multiplier blocks for low-cost DSP, 4 phase-locked loops (PLLs) for clock management, support for external memory interfaces including DDR/DDR2 SDRAM and QDRII SRAM, and a flexible LVDS/LVCMOS/LVTTL I/O standard mix. The device is offered in the -I8 speed grade with industrial temperature range (-40C to +100C junction).
The Cyclone II architecture combines a four-input lookup table (LUT)-based logic fabric with M4K embedded memory blocks and embedded 18 x 18 multipliers. Designers use the Altera/Intel Quartus II design suite for synthesis, place-and-route, timing closure, and bitstream generation. The -I8 industrial-grade speed bin balances timing margin against power consumption for cost-sensitive designs.
Typical applications include industrial motor control, video surveillance and image processing, automotive infotainment prototypes, communications line cards, low-cost ASIC prototyping, and consumer electronics such as digital displays and set-top boxes. The 315 I/O count supports wide parallel buses and high-speed LVDS interfaces commonly needed in video and industrial control.
When designing with this part, allocate sufficient decoupling (100 nF + bulk) near each power pin, follow the Cyclone II board design guidelines for BGA breakout and impedance-controlled routing, and validate the design in the Quartus II toolchain with industrial-grade timing models. Note that Cyclone II is a mature legacy family - confirm long-term availability before committing to new designs.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes that are not readily available from the manufacturer datasheet alone, giving procurement and engineering teams a faster path to qualification and sourcing decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C20F484I8 — 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 EP2C20F484I8 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Process Technology, Speed Grade, RoHS Status, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C20F484I8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$49.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C20F484C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$23.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C20F484I6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$47.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C20F484C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$68.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C15AF484I8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$38.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CE20F484I7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP2C20F484I8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone II |
| Manufacturer | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Logic Elements | 18,752 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 1,196 |
| Total RAM Bits | 239,616 |
| User I/Os | 315 |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Maximum Internal Clock Frequency | 402.58 MHz |
| Process Technology | 90 nm CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Speed Grade | I8 (industrial) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +100C (industrial) |
| Package | 484-pin FBGA (FineLine BGA) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lead-Free | Yes (per Altera product page) |
EP2C20F484I8 Pin Configuration
| Pin AA1 | I/O Bank 1 — User I/O - refer to Cyclone II Device Handbook pin tables for exact function |
| Pin AA2 | I/O Bank 1 — User I/O |
| Pin AB1 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (1.2 V) |
| Pin AB2 | GND — Ground |
| Pin E11 | VCCA_PLL1 — PLL1 analog supply |
| Pin F11 | GNDA_PLL1 — PLL1 analog ground |
| Pin W12 | VCCA_PLL4 — PLL4 analog supply |
| Pin Y12 | GNDA_PLL4 — PLL4 analog ground |
| Pin H5 | nCONFIG — Configuration control (active low) |
| Pin H6 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active low) |
Typical Applications
EP2C20F484I8 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Video Surveillance & Image Processing, Automotive Infotainment Prototyping, Communications Line Card Glue Logic, Low-Cost ASIC Prototyping, Consumer Display & Set-Top Box Designs.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP2C20F484I8 fits industrial motor control because its 315 user I/Os comfortably handle quadrature encoder inputs, PWM channels, gate-driver signals, and isolated communication interfaces on a single device. With 18,752 logic elements and embedded multipliers, it can implement field-oriented control (FOC) state machines and space-vector modulators without external DSP. Industrial temp grade (-40C to +100C) supports cabinet-mounted drives. Power dissipation at 1.2 V core is moderate enough for fan-less enclosures, and Quartus II IP cores simplify integration with Hall sensors and resolver front-ends.
Recommended
Video Surveillance & Image Processing
The EP2C20F484I8 suits video surveillance designs because its 18,752 LEs, embedded 18 x 18 multipliers, and LVDS I/O capability support real-time image-processing pipelines at D1/720p resolutions. The 484-FBGA package exposes 315 I/Os to interface parallel image sensors and DDR2 SDRAM frame buffers. At 402 MHz internal clock, the device sustains typical video-processing throughput for motion detection and H.264 pre-processing. Engineers can leverage Altera's video and DSP IP suite in Quartus II to shorten development cycles for IP-camera and DVR platforms.
Recommended
Automotive Infotainment Prototyping
The EP2C20F484I8 works well as a prototyping platform for automotive infotainment, where parallel LVDS links to displays, CAN/LIN bus controllers, and audio CODEC interfaces benefit from the 315 available I/Os. The 18,752 logic-element fabric holds display controllers, audio DSP chains, and connectivity stacks. Industrial temp grade suffices for cabin environments; for under-hood AEC-Q100 needs, validate against newer Cyclone IV or Cyclone 10 LP parts. Quartus II supports automotive IP for faster proof-of-concept cycles.
Recommended
Communications Line Card Glue Logic
The EP2C20F484I8 serves as flexible glue logic on communications line cards, bridging framer/mapper ASICs, packet processors, and backplane transceivers through its 315 I/Os and four PLLs. Its 18,752 LEs handle protocol encapsulation, SERDES aggregation, and timing-distribution functions at line-card densities. Industrial temp grade supports central-office and outdoor-cabinet deployments. The 4 PLLs enable multiple clock domains for hybrid TDM/Ethernet fabrics.
Recommended
Low-Cost ASIC Prototyping
The EP2C20F484I8 is widely used for ASIC prototyping because its 18,752 logic elements, embedded multipliers, and 239,616 RAM bits provide ample capacity for partitioning mid-complexity ASIC RTL. The 484-FBGA package offers fast I/O access for logic-analyzer and pattern-generator probing. Quartus II supports incremental compilation, enabling multi-engineer RTL bring-up. Designers can re-target verified RTL to lower-cost Cyclone IV E or Cyclone 10 LP parts for production, keeping the prototype platform pin-compatible.
Recommended
Consumer Display & Set-Top Box Designs
The EP2C20F484I8 powers consumer display controllers and set-top box (STB) mainboards because its 315 I/Os drive HDMI/LVDS bridges, flash storage, and tuner interfaces on a single chip. At 1.2 V core, the device delivers adequate performance for video decode assist and on-screen-display overlays while keeping BOM and power low. Quartus II reference designs accelerate HDMI receiver and scaler implementations. For high-volume STB designs, validate long-term supply given Cyclone II NRND status.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C20F484I8 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C20F484I8N | EP2C20F484C8N | EP2C20F484I6N | EP2C20F484C6N | EP2C15AF484I8N | EP4CE20F484I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 484-FBGA | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same |
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) |
| Logic Elements | 18,752 | 18,752 | 18,752 | 18,752 | 18,752 | 15,408 (-18%) | 18,752 (Cyclone IV E) |
| Speed Grade | I8 (industrial) | I8 | C8 (commercial) | I6 (slower) | C6 (slower) | I8 | I7 (Cyclone IV E) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +100C | -40C to +100C | 0C to +85C | -40C to +100C | 0C to +85C | -40C to +100C | -40C to +100C |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (per Altera) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) |
| User I/Os | 315 | 315 | 315 | 315 | 315 | 315 | 328 |
| Process / Family | 90 nm Cyclone II | 90 nm Cyclone II | 90 nm Cyclone II | 90 nm Cyclone II | 90 nm Cyclone II | 90 nm Cyclone II | 60 nm Cyclone IV E |
Key Differentiators
- Mid-density Cyclone II with full 484-FBGA I/O access (vs EP2C15AF484I8N)
- Industrial temperature grade for harsh environments (vs EP2C20F484C8N)
- Drop-in pin compatibility with Cyclone IV E successor (vs EP4CE20F484I7N)
Design Notes
The EP2C20F484I8 requires a clean 1.2 V core supply; per the Cyclone II Device Handbook, place 0.1 uF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to every VCCINT pin and bulk 22-100 uF tantalum or ceramic caps at board entry. Add dedicated 2.5 V VCCIO supplies if any I/O bank uses LVCMOS25 or LVDS. PLL analog supplies (VCCA_PLL) must be filtered through ferrite beads and decoupled with 0.1 uF + 10 uF capacitors to achieve low PLL jitter.
The 484-FBGA package requires 0.8 mm or 1.0 mm ball pitch (verify exact mechanical spec from the package outline drawing). Use a 4-6 layer PCB with dedicated ground and power planes; route all differential pairs (LVDS) with 100 ohm differential impedance and matched lengths (within 20 mil). Provide microvia-in-pad or dog-bone fan-out for BGA escape routing. Refer to the Cyclone II board design guidelines for trace-width and via-stub recommendations.
At typical utilization (60-70% logic, 50% toggle rate) and 1.2 V core, the EP2C20F484I8 dissipates roughly 1-2 W - the FBGA-484 thermal resistance is sufficient for natural-convection cooling in most enclosures. For enclosed industrial cabinets above +60C ambient, add a thermal pad under the package connected to an internal ground plane to spread heat. Use the Quartus II PowerPlay analyzer to estimate worst-case power before finalizing the mechanical design.
Do not assume Cyclone II and Cyclone IV E bitstreams are interchangeable - even with pin-compatible packages, configuration files and JTAG IDs differ. When migrating between families, re-run synthesis and place-and-route in the target device library. Also, confirm MSL (Moisture Sensitivity Level) handling for the FBGA package - typical MSL3 requires pre-bake before reflow if the factory floor exposure exceeds the rated floor life.
Compliance Information
Lead-free per Altera product page; RoHS and REACH compliance inferred from standard Cyclone II family declarations. AEC-Q100 not qualified - use Cyclone IV E or newer for automotive.
