EP2C5Q208C7N - Cyclone II FPGA, 142 I/O | Altera
MPN: EP2C5Q208C7N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $20.31 | $20.31 |
| 10 | $19.75 | $197.50 |
| 100 | $18.92 | $1,892.00 |
| 500 | $17.85 | $8,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $16.9 | $16,900.00 |
EP2C5Q208C7N Overview
A field-programmable gate array is an integrated circuit whose digital logic functions can be configured after fabrication using a hardware description language such as Verilog or VHDL. Unlike a microcontroller, an FPGA implements parallel hardware paths, so control, protocol, and DSP functions can operate simultaneously. In the programmable logic hierarchy, an FPGA belongs to the larger programmable logic device family and is one of the most flexible digital building blocks available, often replacing discrete 74-series logic, CPLDs, ASIC prototypes, and custom state machines.
The EP2C5Q208C7N provides several important features for embedded and industrial designs. Its 4,608 logic elements are enough for multi-channel control state machines, bus-interface glue logic, and small image-processing pipelines. The 119,808 bits of embedded RAM support FIFOs, small line buffers, and register-file structures, while the 142 user I/O pins allow direct connection to many ADCs, DACs, sensors, and parallel buses. Datasheets.com lists a maximum internal clock frequency of 402.58 MHz for the device, and the C7 speed grade provides additional timing margin over C8 versions.
Altera designed the Cyclone II family to balance performance, density, and cost. The EP2C5 is the smallest mainstream Cyclone II device, offering a practical migration path into higher-density EP2C8, EP2C20, and EP2C35 parts if a design outgrows the available logic and RAM. The 1.2 V core reduces dynamic power compared with earlier 1.5 V or 2.5 V FPGA families, and the commercial 0°C to 85°C operating temperature range covers most indoor and industrial equipment. The 208-pin QFP package provides a convenient board-level footprint without the high layer-count requirements of a fine-pitch BGA.
Typical applications include industrial motor-control interfaces, display timing control, protocol bridging between serial and parallel standards, data-acquisition sequencing, and custom glue logic. In each case, the FPGA's parallel execution and deterministic timing improve system responsiveness over software-only alternatives. The embedded PLL and clock-routing resources let designers synthesize several internal clock domains from one external oscillator.
When using EP2C5Q208C7N, remember that an FPGA is volatile: configuration data must be loaded from an external EPCS, EPCQ, or JTAG source after power-up. Connect the dedicated MSEL pins to select the intended configuration mode, and provide clean 1.2 V core power with adequate decoupling. The device has no internal flash for permanent program storage, so a configuration memory device should be treated as part of the bill of materials.
This page synthesizes distributor inventory, price snapshots, same-family QFP-208 drop-in alternatives, and practical design guidance that are gathered for the EP2C5Q208C7N and are useful for engineers evaluating new or replacement FPGA designs.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C5Q208C7N — 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 EP2C5Q208C7N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Total RAM Bits, Package, Maximum Clock Frequency, Number of Logic Elements.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C5Q208C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$26.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$10.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208I7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP2C5Q208I8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$201.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C7N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| FPGA Family | Cyclone II |
| Number of Logic Elements | 4,608 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119,808 bits |
| Number of User I/O Pins | 142 |
| Maximum Internal Clock Frequency | 402.58 MHz |
| Process Technology | 90 nm |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Package / Case | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) |
| Package Pins | 208 |
| Logic Family | CMOS |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0°C to 85°C (commercial C-grade) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Speed Grade | C7 |
EP2C5Q208C7N 208 Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C5Q208C7N (208 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 EP2C5Q208C7N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C5Q208C7N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Motor Control, Machine Vision and Image Preprocessing, Protocol Interface Bridging and I/O Expansion, Test and Measurement Data Acquisition, Digital Signal Processing in Audio and Video, Custom Digital Glue Logic Replacement.
Industrial Automation Motor Control
EP2C5Q208C7N fits industrial motor-control applications because its 142 user I/Os can connect encoder feedback, Hall sensors, and six-step or three-phase PWM outputs, while its 4,608 logic elements implement dead-band insertion, commutation state machines, and current-loop sequencing. In a typical BLDC or PMSM drive, the FPGA sits between a host microcontroller and gate-driver ICs, accepting PWM command words through a serial or parallel interface and generating complementary outputs with programmable dead time. PLL-generated clocks keep the PWM carrier synchronized, and the 1.2 V core reduces power consumption on densely packed controller boards. The on-chip RAM is small, so high-resolution commutation look-up tables should remain in the host MCU or in external configuration memory rather than in distributed FPGA memory.
Recommended
Machine Vision and Image Preprocessing
The EP2C5Q208C7N is useful in compact machine-vision front ends because its logic elements can perform real-time thresholding, edge detection, pixel formatting, and region-of-interest extraction before streaming data to a processor. The 119,808 bits of embedded RAM can form small line buffers for 3x3 or 5x5 convolution windows, although full-frame frame buffers must live in external SDRAM. Its 142 I/Os connect directly to CMOS image sensors and bridge chips using parallel data buses, frame-valid, line-valid, and pixel-clock signals. The 402.58 MHz max clock and PLL resources allow pixel and line timing to be generated locally. A typical system places the FPGA between a 12-bit image sensor and an application processor, reducing interrupt load and standardizing the sensor output for different host interfaces.
Recommended
Protocol Interface Bridging and I/O Expansion
EP2C5Q208C7N can bridge multiple serial protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, and parallel FIFO interfaces because the FPGA fabric can instantiate several protocol controllers simultaneously. The 142 user I/Os make it practical to connect many low-speed peripherals, optocouplers, and legacy bus devices to one mid-speed FPGA. The C7 speed grade ensures predictable timing for interface-rate conversion, and 90 nm manufacturing keeps unit cost low for high-volume network modules. In a common design, the FPGA performs packet packing, CRC generation, address decoding, and level translation between a host processor and multiple field devices. Because the device is SRAM-based, configuration should be reloaded from an external memory at power-up; this is typically acceptable in industrial gateways and protocol converters.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Data Acquisition
In test and measurement equipment, EP2C5Q208C7N provides deterministic parallel timing for multiple ADC and DAC devices, trigger logic, and data-packing functions. The 4,608 logic elements can implement decimation filters, sample counters, and burst-capture control without consuming processor cycles. The 142 I/Os allow many analog front-end channels to connect directly to parallel ADCs, while internal RAM buffers moderate-size sample bursts before transfer to a host controller. The commercial 0°C to 85°C range is usually sufficient for benchtop instruments and laboratory equipment. A practical architecture uses the FPGA to generate sample clocks, manage acquisition windows, and format data into a FIFO for USB or Ethernet transfer; the C7 speed grade gives margin for high-speed interface logic and clock-domain crossing.
Recommended
Digital Signal Processing in Audio and Video
EP2C5Q208C7N can handle small digital signal-processing tasks such as audio sample-rate conversion, digital filters, delay lines, and video timing manipulation. Its programmable logic allows designers to instantiate multiple arithmetic chains that run in parallel, removing the sequential bottleneck of a DSP or MCU. The embedded RAM can act as coefficient tables, FIFO buffers, or line stores for video, and the 402.58 MHz clock ceiling provides ample margin for standard-definition and low-resolution video pixel rates. For clean audio, keep the FPGA power planes separate from analog audio rails and use appropriate decoupling. The main limitation is logic and memory density: very large FIR filters or full HD line buffers exceed the device capacity, so use EP2C5Q208C7N for preprocessing or interface formatting rather than massive filter banks.
Recommended
Custom Digital Glue Logic Replacement
EP2C5Q208C7N can replace large numbers of discrete 74-series logic chips, PAL devices, and CPLDs in legacy systems because each logic element can implement a small state machine or combinational function, and the FPGA fabric connects thousands of elements with programmable routing. The 208-pin QFP package makes board integration straightforward for bus interfacing, and the 142 I/Os handle address decoding, chip-select generation, interrupts, and data-path muxing. Unlike a CPLD, the FPGA is volatile and needs a configuration source, but once loaded it can reproduce many custom-ASIC-like behaviors without committing to a masked device. The C7 speed grade supports typical control-bus timing at 33 MHz to over 100 MHz, depending on routing. For moderate-density glue logic, this approach reduces part count and improves design flexibility.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C5Q208C7N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C5Q208C7 | EP2C5Q208C8 | EP2C5Q208C8N | EP2C5Q208I7N | EP2C5Q208I8N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logic Elements | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119,808 | 119,808 | 119,808 | 119,808 | 119,808 | 119,808 |
| User I/O Count | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 |
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) | 208-BFQFP (PQFP-208) |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Speed Grade | C7 | C7 | C8 | C8 | C7 | C8 |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0°C to 85°C) | Commercial (0°C to 85°C) | Commercial (0°C to 85°C) | Commercial (0°C to 85°C) | Industrial | Industrial |
| Lead-Free / RoHS Finish | Yes (N suffix) | No (no N suffix) | No (no N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) |
Key Differentiators
- C7 speed grade provides higher timing margin than the C8 QFP-208 variants in the same Cyclone II family. (vs EP2C5Q208C8N)
- Lead-free N suffix makes it directly suitable for RoHS-compliant production without a separate finish conversion step. (vs EP2C5Q208C7)
- Commercial temperature grade offers a broader supply ecosystem and generally lower project cost than industrial variants when deployed in indoor equipment. (vs EP2C5Q208I7N)
Design Notes
Always decouple the 1.2 V core rail with multiple ceramic capacitors placed close to the FPGA package, because switching activity can create fast current transients. A typical Cyclone II design uses a 10 uF bulk capacitor plus 0.1 uF and 0.01 uF capacitors per power pin group. Plan separate power planes or at least low-impedance traces for the 1.2 V core, I/O banks, and any PLL analog supply pins. The datasheet's recommended decoupling network is more authoritative than generic bypass rules; follow it for reliable configuration and operation.
EP2C5Q208C7N is an SRAM-based FPGA, so it must be configured after every power-up using an external EPCS device, an EPCQ device, or JTAG. Set the MSEL pins according to the selected configuration mode before releasing nCONFIG high. If using active serial configuration, connect the serial clock and data lines to the EPCS/EPCQ device with short traces and keep the configuration clock clean. Missing or incorrectly strapped MSEL pins are a common cause of device not configuring.
The EP2C5Q208C7N is rated for 0°C to 85°C commercial operation, but total junction temperature depends on logic utilization, I/O toggling rate, ambient temperature, and airflow. A small Cyclone II design at moderate utilization typically does not need a large heatsink in a 208-pin QFP, but verify with the device power calculator rather than assuming low power. If the system is enclosed without airflow, add a small fan or keep the I/O voltage and clock frequencies conservative to reduce dynamic power.
Compliance Information
The N suffix in Altera ordering commonly indicates lead-free/RoHS-compliant finish, but the captured distributor snippets did not explicitly state RoHS qualification, REACH status, or conflict-minerals data. Verify compliance against the Intel/Altera product documentation before claiming regulatory compliance.
