EP2C35U484C8N - Cyclone II FPGA, 33K LE, 484-FBGA | Altera
MPN: EP2C35U484C8N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $107.82 | $107.82 |
| 10 | $95.5 | $955.00 |
| 100 | $82.3 | $8,230.00 |
| 500 | $72.1 | $36,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $64.8 | $64,800.00 |
EP2C35U484C8N Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a programmable logic device that combines configurable logic blocks, programmable interconnect, embedded memory blocks, and dedicated multipliers into a single silicon die. Cyclone II sits in the low-cost FPGA segment and is widely used in volume production as glue logic, video/display bridging, motor control, and industrial communications. Architecturally, an FPGA such as the EP2C35 belongs to the broader class of programmable logic devices (PLDs), which themselves sit above ASICs in design flexibility and below microcontrollers in per-unit cost for high-volume applications.
Key features of the EP2C35U484C8N include 33,216 logic elements arranged into logic array blocks (LABs), 483,840 bits (roughly 60 Kbytes) of M4K embedded memory, 35 embedded 18 × 18 multipliers, up to 4 PLLs, and 322 general-purpose user I/O pins spread across 8 I/O banks that support a wide range of I/O standards including LVDS, LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL, and PCI. Configuration is supported through active serial (AS), passive serial (PS), and JTAG modes.
The Cyclone II architecture uses a four-input look-up table (LUT) per logic element, a true dual-port M4K memory block (4 Kbits plus 256 parity bits), dedicated hardware multiplier blocks to accelerate DSP operations, and a flexible multi-clock network. Combined with on-chip PLLs, the EP2C35 offers a balanced resource mix for parallel arithmetic, buffering, and protocol bridging.
Typical applications for the EP2C35U484C8N include industrial motor control drives, video capture and display pipelines, telecom interface cards, factory automation controllers, and embedded system prototypes. The 322 user I/Os are sufficient for high-pin-count bridges between microcontrollers, memories, and parallel data buses.
When designing with this device, pay close attention to the 1.2 V core supply decoupling scheme, the I/O bank VCCIO planning for mixed-voltage interfacing, and the JTAG chain topology for in-system programming. Always use the latest Altera Quartus II toolchain (or the Cyclone II device support in newer Intel Quartus releases) for synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closure.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from the same Cyclone II family, and practical board-design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C35U484C8N — 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 EP2C35U484C8N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Operating Temperature, Configuration Modes, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C35U484C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$92.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C35U484C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$67.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C35U484C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$108.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C35U484C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$115.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C35U484C6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$106.22 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C35U484C8N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone II |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 33,216 |
| Embedded Memory Bits | 483,840 |
| Embedded Memory Blocks | 105 M4K blocks |
| Embedded 18x18 Multipliers | 35 |
| User I/O Pins | 322 |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Package | 484-FBGA (UBGA-484) |
| Logic Family / Process | CMOS, 90 nm |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.2 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 85 °C (Commercial, 'C' grade) |
| Speed Grade | 8 (C8) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Lead Free, UBGA package |
| Configuration Modes | Active Serial (AS), Passive Serial (PS), JTAG |
EP2C35U484C8N 484-fbga (ubga-484) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C35U484C8N (484-fbga (ubga-484) 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 EP2C35U484C8N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C35U484C8N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control Drive, Video Capture and Display Bridge, Telecom Interface Card, Factory Automation Controller, Embedded System Prototype Board, Test & Measurement Instrumentation Front-End.
Industrial Motor Control Drive
The EP2C35U484C8N fits industrial motor-control drive boards because its 35 dedicated 18 × 18 multipliers handle Field-Oriented Control (FOC) math for three-phase AC induction and PMSM motors, while 322 user I/Os drive multi-axis gate-driver signals, encoder interfaces, and protective shutoff lines simultaneously. The four on-chip PLLs generate precisely phased PWM carrier clocks for space-vector modulation, and the 105 M4K memory blocks buffer current-loop sample tables and reference ramps without external SRAM. Industrial users also benefit from the commercial 0 °C–85 °C operating range combined with the 90 nm Cyclone II die's tolerance to factory-floor thermal envelopes. Compared with a microcontroller-only solution, the parallel hardware multipliers cut the current-loop execution time by an order of magnitude, enabling higher switching frequencies for quieter torque.
Recommended
Video Capture and Display Bridge
The EP2C35U484C8N is widely used as a video-format bridge (for example, BT.656 to parallel RGB or CSI-2 to LVDS) because its 322 user I/Os accommodate the wide parallel data buses typical of camera-sensor interfaces, while the 35 multipliers and 483 Kbits of embedded memory provide the line buffers and color-space conversion math required for real-time processing. The eight I/O banks with mixed-voltage VCCIO rails let the FPGA simultaneously interface to 1.8 V MIPI bridges, 3.3 V LCD panels, and 2.5 V DDR memory without external level shifters. A typical bridge uses one PLL to de-skew the incoming pixel clock and a second PLL to generate the display-side clock, with the remaining PLLs available for audio or housekeeping tasks. Compared to an ASSP bridge, the FPGA-based approach lets designers add custom overlay, cropping, or color-correction logic in a single device.
Recommended
Telecom Interface Card
The EP2C35U484C8N suits telecom interface and line-card applications because its 322 user I/Os fan out to multiple T1/E1 framers, HDLC controllers, or low-speed SerDes lanes while the 33 K logic elements and 105 M4K memory blocks implement per-channel state machines, elastic stores, and per-channel statistics counters in a single chip. The four PLLs derive independent clocks from a single backplane oscillator, allowing the card to support multiple independent data rates across separate I/O banks without external clock buffers. Telecom customers also value the lead-free UBGA package for compliance with carrier-procurement environmental specifications, and the 90 nm Cyclone II die's proven long-term reliability in always-on central-office equipment. A typical line card uses the FPGA as a programmable channelization and protocol-conversion layer between the framer and the host CPU.
Recommended
Factory Automation Controller
The EP2C35U484C8N serves as the central logic core in factory automation controllers where it must concurrently drive stepper/servo control loops, scan discrete I/O modules over parallel buses, run deterministic serial protocols (Modbus RTU, Profibus, EtherCAT slave), and host operator-panel HMI logic. The 35 hardware multipliers accelerate the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) loops for multi-axis motion control, while 483 Kbits of M4K memory buffer PROFIsafe message frames and recipe-storage lookup tables without external memory. Its 8 I/O banks let one Cyclone II FPGA interface directly to 24 V field I/O via opto-isolators on one bank and to 3.3 V MCU backplane logic on another, simplifying board layout. Compared with a discrete PLC built from microcontrollers, the FPGA-based design delivers deterministic parallel execution and lower BOM count.
Recommended
Embedded System Prototype Board
The EP2C35U484C8N is a popular core for embedded prototyping platforms such as the Altera DE2 development board because the 33,216 logic elements, 35 multipliers, 4 PLLs, and 322 user I/Os give students and engineers a single device in which to prototype everything from custom CPUs (NIOS II) and memory controllers to video pipelines and Ethernet MACs. The 483 Kbits of embedded memory hold small instruction/data caches, while the 484-ball UBGA footprint provides generous breakout space for GPIO headers on the development PCB. Commercial 0 °C–85 °C temperature grade is suitable for lab and classroom environments, and Quartus II 13.0sp1 or Quartus Prime Standard 18.1 continues to support the device. The result is a flexible platform where one FPGA can stand in for an entire SoC during early firmware bring-up.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Instrumentation Front-End
The EP2C35U484C8N is well suited as the digital front-end of bench-top test and measurement equipment because its 322 user I/Os simultaneously drive parallel ADC/DAC converters, LCD displays, front-panel keypads, and communication ports while the 35 hardware multipliers implement digital-filtering, FFT binning, and crest-factor calculations in real time. The four PLLs derive independent sample clocks from a single reference oscillator and shift them by precisely controlled phase offsets for I/Q demodulation in vector signal analyzers. With 483 Kbits of embedded memory, the FPGA can buffer pre-trigger sample history locally without burdening the host CPU, and the 1.2 V core voltage keeps power consumption low for portable instruments. Compared with discrete DSP + MCU architectures, the FPGA-based front-end lets the instrument vendor add new measurement modes via firmware updates alone.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C35U484C8N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C35U484C8 | EP2C35U484C7N | EP2C35U484C7 | EP2C35U484C6N | EP2C35U484C6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) - same | Altera (Intel) - same | Altera (Intel) - same | Altera (Intel) - same | Altera (Intel) - same |
| Package | 484-UBGA | 484-UBGA - same | 484-UBGA - same | 484-UBGA - same | 484-UBGA - same | 484-UBGA - same |
| Logic Elements | 33,216 | 33,216 | 33,216 | 33,216 | 33,216 | 33,216 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 483,840 | 483,840 | 483,840 | 483,840 | 483,840 | 483,840 |
| User I/O | 322 | 322 | 322 | 322 | 322 | 322 |
| Speed Grade | 8 (C8) | 8 (C8) - same | 7 (C7) - faster | 7 (C7) - faster | 6 (C6) - fastest | 6 (C6) - fastest |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0 to 85 C) | Commercial (0 to 85 C) | Commercial (0 to 85 C) | Commercial (0 to 85 C) | Commercial (0 to 85 C) | Commercial (0 to 85 C) |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest logic density in the Cyclone II family (vs EP2C20F484C8N (20,000 LE Cyclone II))
- Largest user I/O count in the 484-UBGA Cyclone II line-up (vs EP2C35F672C8N (672-FBGA package))
- Speed-grade C8 — slower than C6/C7 but lowest-cost variant (vs EP2C35U484C6N (speed grade C6))
Design Notes
The Cyclone II EP2C35 requires three independent supply rails: VCCINT (1.2 V for the core), VCCIO (one per I/O bank, 1.5 V to 3.3 V depending on interfacing standard), and VCC_PLL (1.2 V, separately filtered for each PLL). Decoupling follows the Altera reference: place 0.1 µF and 0.01 µF ceramics as close as possible to every VCCINT and VCCIO pin pair, and provide a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane to keep the core-rail noise below 50 mV peak-to-peak.
The 484-UBGA package uses a 1.0 mm ball pitch, which requires microvia or via-in-pad PCB technology for reliable breakout. Escape-routing with 4-mil traces and 0.8 mm laser-drilled microvias is the typical manufacturing stack-up. Maintain a continuous reference ground plane beneath the device; do not route high-speed signals (DDR, LVDS) across power-plane splits. Follow the Cyclone II Board Layout Guidelines in the device handbook for trace impedance targets (50 ohm single-ended, 100 ohm differential).
Common Cyclone II design pitfalls include (1) leaving VCCIO banks at conflicting voltages — every bank used for LVTTL/LVCMOS at 3.3 V needs VCCIO = 3.3 V; (2) omitting the MSEL pull resistors on the configuration-mode select pins, which causes the device to fail to configure; (3) routing JTAG TCK too slowly when many devices are chained, causing BSDL boundary-scan timing errors; and (4) forgetting that configuration EPROMs for Active Serial mode must use a supported device (EPCS4/EPCS16/EPCS64). Always validate the configuration chain on a prototype before committing to the BOM.
The 322 user I/Os can include LVDS pairs across 8 I/O banks; Cyclone II supports LVDS on all I/O pins with external 100 ohm differential termination. For DDR or QDR memory interfaces, use the dedicated DQS phase-shift circuitry in the top/bottom I/O banks and match trace lengths to within ±50 ps. For clock-distribution, the four on-chip PLLs can drive global clock networks directly — always route the input reference clock through a dedicated CLK pin and avoid using regular GPIO for high-fanout clock nets.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance and lead-free terminal finish (SnAgCu balls) per Altera/Intel product declaration, indicated by the 'N' suffix. Not AEC-Q100 qualified — FPGAs are not categorized for automotive qualification in this product family. Halogen-free status was not present in the verified web data and is marked unknown.
