EP2C20Q240I8N - Cyclone II FPGA, 18,752 LE, 240-Pin PQFP | Intel
MPN: EP2C20Q240I8N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $34.2 | $342.00 |
| 100 | $28.95 | $2,895.00 |
| 500 | $24.8 | $12,400.00 |
| 1,000 | $21.4 | $21,400.00 |
EP2C20Q240I8N Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a reconfigurable semiconductor device whose logic function is defined by the user after manufacture. FPGAs sit within the broader hierarchy: programmable logic device -> programmable logic -> digital IC -> semiconductor. Cyclone II is positioned in the low-cost, high-volume tier of the FPGA taxonomy, targeting price-sensitive applications that still require the parallelism and flexibility of programmable hardware versus fixed-function ASICs. EP2C20Q240I8N delivers up to 402.5 MHz internal operation, combining DSP-friendly embedded multipliers and plentiful logic resources.
Key features include 18,752 logic elements, 1,196 LABs, 142 maximum user I/O pins, and an array of embedded 18 x 18 multipliers and M4K RAM blocks. The 240-pin PQFP footprint exposes the part to through-hole-style lead processes while still enabling surface-mount assembly on conventional reflow profiles, making it well suited for legacy as well as new industrial designs.
Architecturally, the Cyclone II family uses a 90 nm process node with a 4-input look-up table (LUT) fabric, embedded multiplier blocks, and abundant tri-stated routing. The EP2C20Q240I8N is the higher-density variant of the family, providing roughly 50 percent more logic and memory resources than the EP2C8 sibling while sharing the same Quartus II design flow, IP library, and configuration schemes.
Typical applications include industrial motor control, video processing pipelines, low-cost DSP co-processing, communications glue logic, and PCI/PCI Express bridging. Engineers choose EP2C20Q240I8N when they need mid-range FPGA density with a manageable pin count and the broad third-party IP ecosystem that surrounds the Cyclone II family.
When designing with EP2C20Q240I8N, plan the PCB for a 28 mm x 28 mm PQFP with 0.5 mm pitch; signal integrity on high-speed clocks is sensitive to trace length matching. Use the Quartus II design software (legacy support required) to take advantage of pre-verified IP cores and the full toolchain.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives drawn from the Cyclone II family, and PCB-layout design notes that the manufacturer datasheet alone does not aggregate, giving procurement and design teams a single decision-ready reference.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C20Q240I8N — 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 EP2C20Q240I8N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Mounting Type, Logic Elements, Maximum Internal Frequency, Maximum User I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C20Q240C8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$13.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C20F484I8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$49.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C20Q240I8N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone II |
| Manufacturer | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 18,752 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LAB) | 1,196 |
| Maximum User I/O Pins | 142 |
| Logic Family | CMOS |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 402.5 MHz |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.2 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +85 °C (industrial) |
| Package Type | PQFP-240 (Plastic Quad Flat Pack) |
| Package Body Size | 28 mm x 28 mm |
| Terminal Pitch | 0.50 mm |
| Terminal Form | Gull-wing |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EP2C20Q240I8N 28 mm x 28 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C20Q240I8N (28 mm x 28 mm 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 EP2C20Q240I8N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C20Q240I8N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Video Processing Pipelines, Low-Cost DSP Co-Processing, Communications Glue Logic, PCI / Local Bus Bridging, Test & Measurement Front-End.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP2C20Q240I8N's 18,752 logic elements and 1,196 LABs deliver sufficient density for multi-axis servo loops, PWM generation, encoder feedback, and field-oriented control (FOC) algorithms in industrial motor drives. Its 142 user I/O pins accommodate multiple encoder inputs, current-sense ADCs, and gate-driver signals without external muxing, while the 240-pin PQFP keeps the assembly line accessible for through-hole-friendly industrial PCBs. Built-in 18 x 18 embedded multipliers accelerate Park/Clarke transforms and PI controller math.
Recommended
Video Processing Pipelines
Cyclone II's embedded memory and multiplier blocks enable real-time deinterlacing, scaling, color-space conversion, and on-screen-display overlay in cost-sensitive video applications. The EP2C20Q240I8N's 402.5 MHz internal frequency supports SD/HD pixel-clock processing, and its 142 I/O comfortably handle ITU-R BT.656, BT.1120, and LVDS video buses. PQFP-240 keeps the BOM and assembly cost low versus BGAs, which is critical for consumer-grade video appliances.
Recommended
Low-Cost DSP Co-Processing
The EP2C20Q240I8N pairs with a host microcontroller or DSP to offload compute-intensive kernels such as FFTs, FIR/IIR filters, and Reed-Solomon codecs. Its 18 x 18 embedded multipliers and M4K RAM blocks implement high-throughput MAC pipelines while keeping the BOM cost low; PQFP-240 simplifies prototyping and rework versus fine-pitch BGAs. Designers use Cyclone II as a DSP coprocessor in audio baseband, software-defined radio front-ends, and image preprocessing.
Recommended
Communications Glue Logic
Bridge legacy parallel buses, implement UART/SPI/I2C controllers, and add protocol conversion between microcontrollers and PHYs using the EP2C20Q240I8N. The 142 user I/O and 1.2 V / 3.3 V mixed-voltage support make it ideal for gluing 3.3 V peripherals to 5 V or 1.8 V ASICs in telecom and networking line cards. Cyclone II also implements small custom packet processors for low-end switches.
Recommended
PCI / Local Bus Bridging
The EP2C20Q240I8N implements PCI 32-bit/33 MHz target and initiator interfaces, local bus glue, and DMA engines for legacy industrial cards. The 240-pin PQFP gives access to the 32-bit PCI bus plus control signals, while the 18,752 LEs handle transaction-state machines and scatter-gather DMA. This remains a popular retrofit design for ISA-to-PCI and PC/104-to-PCI bridges in long-life industrial PCs.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Front-End
Build custom logic analyzers, protocol exercisers, and stimulus generators using the EP2C20Q240I8N's high-speed I/O and configurable logic. Cyclone II supports LVDS and other high-speed signaling through its I/O elements, while 1,196 LABs implement parallel stimulus patterns and signature-analyzer logic. The PQFP-240 package supports hand-rework-friendly prototypes common in T&M lab environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C20Q240I8N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C20Q240C8N | EP2C20F484I8N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Package | PQFP-240 | PQFP-240 - same | FBGA-484 - different |
| Family | Cyclone II | Cyclone II | Cyclone II |
| Logic Elements | 18,752 | 18,752 | 18,752 |
| Logic Array Blocks | 1,196 | 1,196 | 1,196 |
| Maximum User I/O | 142 | 142 | 315 |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +85 °C (industrial) | 0 °C to +85 °C (commercial) | -40 °C to +100 °C (industrial) |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- Higher density in the Cyclone II family at 18,752 LE (vs EP2C15AF256I8N)
- Industrial temperature grade in PQFP-240 footprint (vs EP2C20Q240C8N)
- Through-hole-friendly PQFP for legacy industrial designs (vs EP2C20F484I8N)
Design Notes
The EP2C20Q240I8N uses a 240-pin PQFP with 28 mm x 28 mm body and 0.50 mm pitch. Route power (VCCINT 1.2 V, VCCIO 3.3 V) with wide traces or pours; place decoupling capacitors (0.1 µF + 10 µF bulk) within 5 mm of every supply pin. Keep clock traces short and length-matched; add a ground pour under the package for thermal dissipation and signal-integrity shielding.
Do not confuse the 'I8' industrial temperature suffix with 'I8N' (the latter includes a specific speed grade and Pb-free packaging). Verify the full ordering code matches your thermal and assembly requirements. Also note that Cyclone II is NRND; plan a migration path to Cyclone IV E or Cyclone V for production longevity.
PQFP gull-wing leads benefit from a small thermal relief pattern on the land to balance solderability and thermal mass. Use a reflow profile consistent with JEDEC J-STD-020 for the device's MSL rating. Route high-speed I/O (LVDS, clock) on the inner layers with a continuous reference plane; keep differential pairs length-matched within 150 mil.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Intel/Altera Cyclone II product family documentation. AEC-Q100 is not applicable for commercial/industrial-grade FPGAs; halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified data.
