EP2C5Q208C8 - Cyclone II FPGA 4608 LE | Intel
MPN: EP2C5Q208C8 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.45 | $28.45 |
| 10 | $27.9 | $279.00 |
| 100 | $27.07 | $2,707.00 |
| 500 | $26.6 | $13,300.00 |
| 1,000 | $26.2 | $26,200.00 |
EP2C5Q208C8 Overview
A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device containing configurable logic blocks and programmable interconnects that can be reconfigured after manufacturing. In the programmable-logic hierarchy, an FPGA is a type of programmable logic device (PLD), which belongs to the broader category of logic integrated circuits. Unlike a fixed-function ASIC, the EP2C5Q208C8 can implement arbitrary digital logic, from simple state machines to complete processor peripherals, by loading a configuration bitstream at power-up.
Key features include 4608 logic elements for combinatorial and sequential logic, 119808 bits of embedded RAM for FIFOs and data buffering, and 142 user I/O pins for connection to multiple logic and interface domains. The C8 speed grade and commercial temperature suffix provide a cost-oriented entry point into the Cyclone II family. The 208-pin BFQFP/PQFP package has accessible perimeter leads, which simplifies PCB layout, soldering inspection, and rework compared with fine-pitch BGA alternatives.
Cyclone II architecture is a medium-density FPGA with embedded memory blocks and programmable I/O buffers. The EP2C5Q208C8 can implement soft-core processors, parallel signal-processing datapaths, bus bridges, and controller logic. Its 90 nm process helps balance die cost and power with moderate performance. The 402.58 MHz figure quoted by FPGAkey represents an upper internal clock boundary for speed-grade -8 devices; actual achievable frequency depends on design complexity, synthesis settings, routing, and operating conditions.
Typical applications include low-cost motor-control interfaces, sensor aggregation, protocol bridging, video/display processing, and test instrumentation bring-up. The available I/O count allows parallel buses such as 8-bit or 16-bit microcontroller interfaces and multiple encoder inputs to be connected directly. With 119808 RAM bits, internal FIFOs and small frame buffers can be implemented without external memory for many designs.
Designers using EP2C5Q208C8 should provide a clean 1.2 V core rail with appropriate decoupling, follow the Intel/Altera power estimation flow in Quartus, and use a supported configuration scheme such as active serial with an EPCS configuration device. Because this -C8 variant is listed as RoHS non-compliant by a distributor, select an N-suffix device for Pb-free assembly or verify an applicable exemption.
This page synthesizes verified distributor inventory, current price references, drop-in QFP alternatives, and practical design guidance beyond the manufacturer datasheet, making it useful for legacy maintenance, lifecycle planning, and finding a direct replacement for EP2C5Q208C8.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C5Q208C8 — 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 EP2C5Q208C8 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Total RAM Bits, Speed Grade, Package, Operating Temperature, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C5Q208C8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$10.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$16.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C7
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$15.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208I8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$201.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208I8
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$8.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone II |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 4608 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119808 bits |
| Number of User I/O | 142 |
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) |
| Pin Count | 208 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Process Technology | 90 nm |
| Speed Grade | C8 |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 402.58 MHz (per FPGAkey listing) |
| RoHS Status | RoHS non-compliant (per distributor data) |
| Lead-Free Status | No (per distributor data) |
EP2C5Q208C8 208-bfqfp (pqfp) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C5Q208C8 (208-bfqfp (pqfp) 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 EP2C5Q208C8.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C5Q208C8 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation and Machine Vision, Motor Control and Motion Drives, Communication and Protocol Bridging, Video and Display Processing, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, IoT Edge Gateways and Sensor Aggregation.
Industrial Automation and Machine Vision
EP2C5Q208C8 fits industrial automation and machine-vision systems because its 142 user I/O pins can directly capture parallel camera data, quadrature encoders, and PLC-style discrete signals. The 4608 logic elements are sufficient for implementing image pre-processing, pixel counters, trigger logic, and simple state machines without external FPGA glue logic. With 119808 RAM bits, small line buffers or FIFOs can store image rows for barcode or lighting-control algorithms. The 1.2V core and 90nm process help keep power low enough for fanless industrial controllers, and the 208-pin PQFP package simplifies manual inspection in production. For timing-critical vision pipelines, the faster C7N variant may provide additional margin; for Pb-free manufacturing, choose the C8N or C7N suffix. A serial EPCS configuration device is recommended for storing the FPGA bitstream reliably in fielded industrial systems.
Recommended
Motor Control and Motion Drives
For motor control, EP2C5Q208C8 supports the high-speed digital logic needed for PWM generation, hall-sensor decoding, incremental encoder interfaces, and fault latching. With 142 I/O, designers can connect multiple power-stage gate-driver inputs and current-sensor comparator outputs directly to the FPGA. The logic elements implement dead-time generators, overcurrent trip logic, and speed-measurement state machines in parallel, which gives faster response than sequential microcontroller code. The 119808 RAM bits allow small look-up tables for S-curve acceleration profiles or position histories. The commercial-temperature C8 suffix is suitable for indoor drive cabinets with controlled ambient temperature; for drives exposed to harsh environments, an I8 industrial-temperature variant is recommended. Because FPGA outputs are not intended to drive power semiconductors directly, external gate drivers remain required, and the FPGA should be isolated as needed from the power stage.
Recommended
Communication and Protocol Bridging
EP2C5Q208C8 can act as a low-cost protocol bridge by translating between parallel microcontroller buses, UARTs, SPI, I2C-like controllers, and custom serial interfaces. Its 4608 logic elements are enough to implement simple FIFO-backed protocol converters, checksum generators, and small packet parsers. The 142 I/O pins let designers connect one side of the bridge to a 16-bit host bus and the other side to several serial peripherals or opto-isolated fieldbus transceivers. The 119808 RAM bits support packet buffers and transmit/receive FIFOs without adding external SRAM. Because the FPGA is SRAM-based and requires configuration at power-up, an EPCS serial PROM should be included in communication cards that must boot autonomously. This application benefits from the QFP package because board-level signals can be routed on all four sides and reworked easily during prototype bring-up.
Recommended
Video and Display Processing
In video and display applications, EP2C5Q208C8 provides enough logic for format conversion, timing generation, frame-rate matching, and simple overlay/pattern generation. The 119808 RAM bits can implement small line buffers, allowing row-based filtering or color-space conversion for VGA and lower-resolution display pipelines. The 142 I/O pins connect to CMOS image sensors, ADV/DSI bridges, memory-mapped host interfaces, and RGB DACs or LVDS transmitters. Because image processing often involves multiple clock domains and line-locked timing, the Cyclone II family includes clock management resources that should be configured with the FPGA's dedicated clock pins; exact PLL counts should be verified in the Cyclone II datasheet. For Pb-free display modules, an N-suffix device such as EP2C5Q208C8N is preferable. The QFP package is convenient for prototype boards where rework of fine-pitch BGA video transceivers is difficult.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
EP2C5Q208C8 suits test and measurement equipment such as logic analyzers, signal generators, data-acquisition front-ends, and bench instruments. Its logic elements can implement capture state machines, trigger condition detectors, and serial pattern generators. The 142 user I/O pins allow connection of multiple ADC/DAC parallel buses, comparator banks, trigger inputs, and host interface busses simultaneously. The 119808 RAM bits provide acquisition FIFOs and waveform lookup tables, allowing several thousand samples to be captured without external memory. The 90nm low-power process keeps self-heating low, which is useful in precision instruments with limited airflow. For benchtop products that must meet modern environmental directives, the RoHS-compliant C8N version is recommended. The 208-pin PQFP package is easy to route on low-cost two- or four-layer instrument boards, and its leaded form supports manual assembly during pre-production.
Recommended
IoT Edge Gateways and Sensor Aggregation
EP2C5Q208C8 can aggregate multiple sensor interfaces and pre-process data before handing it to an external microcontroller or network processor. In an IoT edge gateway, the FPGA can read several pulse-width outputs, SPI sensor streams, and digital temperature or pressure flags, pack them into time-stamped frames, and buffer them in internal RAM. The 4608 logic elements are enough for round-robin sensor scanning, simple protocol framing, CRC calculation, and alarm threshold logic. The 142 I/O pins make it practical to connect many industrial sensors without a large MCU. The 119808 RAM bits store short bursts of sensor data during momentary host-connectivity loss. Because edge gateways are often deployed in unconditioned enclosures, the industrial I8 temperature variant should be considered. The PQFP package permits simple board assembly and field repair, while an EPCS serial PROM stores the configuration without requiring a host to reload it at every power-on.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C5Q208C8 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C5Q208C8N | EP2C5Q208C7N | EP2C5Q208C7 | EP2C5Q208I8N | EP2C5Q208I8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Package | 208-BFQFP (PQFP) | 208-PQFP (BFQFP) - same | 208-PQFP (BFQFP) - same | 208-PQFP (BFQFP) - same | 208-PQFP (BFQFP) - same | 208-PQFP (BFQFP) - same |
| Logic Elements | 4608 | 4608 | 4608 | 4608 | 4608 | 4608 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119808 bits | 119808 bits | 119808 bits | 119808 bits | 119808 bits | 119808 bits |
| User I/O | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
| Speed Grade | C8 (-8) | C8 (-8) | C7 (-7) | C7 (-7) | I8 (-8) | I8 (-8) |
| Operating Temperature Grade | Commercial (C suffix) | Commercial (C suffix) | Commercial (C suffix) | Commercial (C suffix) | Industrial (I suffix) | Industrial (I suffix) |
| RoHS / Pb-Free Finish | RoHS non-compliant, not Pb-free | RoHS compliant, Pb-free | RoHS compliant, Pb-free | RoHS non-compliant, not Pb-free | RoHS compliant, Pb-free | RoHS non-compliant, not Pb-free |
Key Differentiators
- Non-Pb-free commercial C8 part may carry a lower price in legacy supply chains (vs EP2C5Q208C8N)
- C8 speed grade is cost-oriented and sufficient for many control and bridge designs (vs EP2C5Q208C7N)
- Commercial-temperature C8 grade is less expensive than industrial I8 variants (vs EP2C5Q208I8N)
Design Notes
Distributor data marks the EP2C5Q208C8 as RoHS non-compliant. Do not assume it is Pb-free solderable in a standard RoHS assembly line. For lead-free manufacturing, select an N-suffix part such as EP2C5Q208C8N or EP2C5Q208C7N. Also verify the C8 temperature suffix: it is not the industrial-grade variant, so do not use this exact part for -40C ambient applications unless the complete board has been separately qualified.
EP2C5Q208C8 requires a 1.2V core supply. Estimate total core current with the Intel/Altera Quartus PowerPlay power analyzer because current depends on logic utilization, clock frequency, and I/O toggling; do not rely on a single datasheet maximum for all designs. Use low-ESR ceramic capacitors near the FPGA VCC pins and a bulk capacitor near the regulator output. If a linear regulator is used, place enough copper area to dissipate the regulator loss; if a switching regulator is used, select a design with acceptable ripple and transient response for the FPGA load step.
The 208-pin BFQFP/PQFP package has leads on four sides. Route signals outward from the package rather than under it wherever possible, and add a ground/power plane between routing layers to reduce impedance. To achieve reliable solder joints, use a stencil aperture size and paste volume recommended for QFP 0.5mm-class packages; verify exact lead pitch from the Cyclone II mechanical drawing. Place decoupling capacitors within a few mm of each VCC pin and connect them directly to the power/ground planes with short vias.
Compliance Information
Electronics-capacitors.com lists EP2C5Q208C8 as RoHS non-compliant / lead-free status 'No'. For Pb-free assembly use the N-suffix variant such as EP2C5Q208C8N. AEC-Q100 is not applicable to Cyclone II FPGAs.
