EP2C5Q208I8N - Cyclone II FPGA 4608 LE, 142 I/O | Intel
MPN: EP2C5Q208I8N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $290.09 | $290.09 |
| 10 | $276.33 | $2,763.30 |
| 100 | $258.78 | $25,878.00 |
| 500 | $241.12 | $120,560.00 |
| 1,000 | $223.67 | $223,670.00 |
| 3,000 | $201.45 | $604,350.00 |
EP2C5Q208I8N Overview
An FPGA is a semiconductor device containing programmable logic blocks and programmable interconnects that can be configured after manufacturing to implement arbitrary digital circuits. In the broader taxonomy, an FPGA belongs to programmable logic devices, which sit above complex PLDs and CPLDs and below full-custom ASICs. FPGAs provide rapid hardware prototyping, in-field reconfiguration, and parallel processing capabilities that microcontrollers and DSPs cannot match for high-throughput data paths.
The EP2C5Q208I8N combines 4,608 logic elements with 119,808 bits of embedded RAM, allowing moderate state machines, FIFOs, and line buffers to be implemented without external memory for small applications. The 142 user I/Os support system-level interfaces such as DDR memory buses, parallel ADCs/DACs, and general-purpose LVCMOS/LVTTL connections. The 90 nm process balances low cost with adequate logic density and power efficiency for industrial embedded systems.
The device uses SRAM-based configuration, so external non-volatile configuration memory is required at power-up. A dedicated configuration controller in the Cyclone II architecture loads the bitstream from an EPC-series or third-party serial flash device. The on-chip PLLs provide clock multiplication and phase shifting for the logic fabric, supporting typical system clocking requirements in measurement and communications equipment.
Typical applications include industrial machine control, video and imaging pipelines, communication protocol bridging, motor control, test instrumentation, and custom I/O expansion. The 208-pin PQFP package is particularly well suited for boards where low-cost assembly and accessible probing are preferred over fine-pitch BGA packaging.
When designing with the EP2C5Q208I8N, pay close attention to the 1.2 V core supply decoupling and the multiple VCCIO bank voltages. A proper power-up sequence and dedicated configuration flash are essential for reliable operation. Because the device is SRAM-based, the configuration bitstream must be reloaded after every power cycle.
This page aggregates verified distributor data, practical design guidance, Cyclone II family comparisons, and drop-in Q208 variants that are not always listed on the manufacturer datasheet summary, helping engineers make a faster sourcing decision.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C5Q208I8N — 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 EP2C5Q208I8N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Package, Total RAM Bits, Operating Temperature, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C5Q208I8
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$8.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C8N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$10.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C8
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$26.2 / 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 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | Cyclone II FPGA |
| Logic Elements | 4608 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119808 |
| Number of User I/Os | 142 |
| Package Type | 208-PQFP (BFQFP-208) |
| Pin Count | 208 |
| Logic Family | CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Process Technology | 90 nm |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 402.58 MHz |
| Speed Grade | -8 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (N suffix) |
EP2C5Q208I8N 208-pqfp (bfqfp-208) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C5Q208I8N (208-pqfp (bfqfp-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 EP2C5Q208I8N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C5Q208I8N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Machine Control and I/O Expansion, Motor Control and Power Inverter Logic, Video and Image Processing, Communication Protocol Bridging, Test and Measurement Instruments, Aerospace and Defense Subsystems.
Industrial Machine Control and I/O Expansion
The EP2C5Q208I8N fits industrial control panels by providing 142 user I/Os that can interface to optocouplers, relay drivers, incremental encoders, and sensor arrays. Its 4,608 logic elements are enough to implement parallel I/O decoding, state machines, and simple soft-core processors for non-critical control loops. The industrial temperature suffix I is a good match for factory-floor enclosures that see wide ambient swings. Distributed RAM helps buffer high-speed counter values or communication data without adding external FIFO chips. The 208-pin PQFP package is also easier to hand-assemble and probe than a dense BGA, which simplifies qualification and debugging in control systems with mixed through-hole and SMD components.
Recommended
Motor Control and Power Inverter Logic
For motor drives, the FPGA can implement PWM generation, fault detection, current-loop state machines, and encoder decoding. The 4,608 logic elements provide enough combinational resources for three-phase PWM with dead-time insertion and hardware fault latches. The 142 I/Os allow connection to gate-driver inputs, current-sense ADCs, and encoder interfaces. The industrial temperature grade helps support the warm environment near IGBT modules and power stages. Designers should carefully isolate the sensitive 1.2 V core analogue PLL supply from the switching power stage noise. The PQFP package keeps the FPGA on the same board as the gate drivers, reducing propagation delay for safety-critical shutdown signals.
Recommended
Video and Image Processing
With 119,808 RAM bits, the EP2C5Q208I8N can implement small line buffers, frame counters, and simple image filters for camera or display interfaces. The 142 I/Os are sufficient to connect to CMOS image sensors, parallel ADCs, and RGB display drivers. A typical pipeline uses the FPGA to perform Bayer interpolation, edge detection, or thresholding at pixel rates when the required filter taps fit within the logic-element budget. For larger frame stores, an external SDRAM is connected to a user I/O bank. The 208-pin PQFP format provides enough pins for 16-bit or 32-bit memory buses while still supporting video synchronisation signals and a host controller interface.
Recommended
Communication Protocol Bridging
The FPGA can act as a flexible protocol bridge between UART, SPI, I2C, and parallel buses in networking and industrial equipment. Its 4,608 logic elements allow implementation of multiple independent protocol engines, FIFO buffers, and address decoding. The 142 I/Os permit parallel host buses and multiple serial ports to be connected simultaneously. SRAM-based configuration gives designers the ability to update protocol personality in the field, but requires a configuration flash device such as an EPCS device on the board. The industrial temperature grade and PQFP package simplify deployment in outdoor communication cabinets and factory networking nodes where space is constrained.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instruments
In oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and data-acquisition systems, the EP2C5Q208I8N can handle trigger logic, sample buffering, and instrument control. The 119,808 RAM bits can store moderately deep sample buffers for single-shot measurements, while the 4,608 logic elements implement trigger state machines and post-processing. The 142 user I/Os allow connection to high-speed ADCs, DACs, external SRAM, and front-panel interface chips. The 1.2 V core and 90 nm process keep active power low enough for bench instruments with limited cooling. The 208-pin PQFP package provides enough pins for wide parallel converters and memory buses without needing costly high-density board technology.
Recommended
Aerospace and Defense Subsystems
FPGAX sources the EP2C5Q208I8N for aerospace, defense, and long-life programs because the PQFP package is more inspectable and easier to rework in high-reliability assemblies than ultra-fine-pitch BGAs. The industrial temperature grade and mature 90 nm process provide a stable platform for sensor interfaces, encryption state machines, and communication preprocessing. Although the Cyclone II is not a radiation-hardened FPGA, it can be used in non-radiation-hardened avionics boxes where the system-level shielding provides adequate protection. Designers should plan for configuration memory redundancy and use recommended power-supply filtering to meet DO-254 style development goals.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C5Q208I8N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C5Q208I8 | EP2C5Q208C8N | EP2C5Q208C8 | EP2C5Q208C7N | EP2C5Q208C7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-PQFP (BFQFP-208) | 208-PQFP (BFQFP-208) - same | 208-PQFP (BFQFP-208) - same | 208-PQFP (BFQFP-208) - same | 208-PQFP (BFQFP-208) - same | 208-PQFP (BFQFP-208) - same |
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Logic Elements | 4608 | 4608 | 4608 | 4608 | 4608 | 4608 |
| User I/Os | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 | 142 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119808 | 119808 | 119808 | 119808 | 119808 | 119808 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
| Speed Grade | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -7 | -7 |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial | Industrial | Commercial | Commercial | Commercial | Commercial |
| Lead-Free Finish (N suffix) | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade in an accessible 208-pin PQFP package (vs EP2C5Q208C8N)
- Pb-free N suffix for RoHS-sensitive assembly lines (vs EP2C5Q208I8)
- 208-pin PQFP is easier to inspect and rework than BGA equivalents (vs EP2C5F256I8N)
Design Notes
The EP2C5Q208I8N core must be powered from a clean 1.2 V rail. Place one 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor adjacent to each VCC pin and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the main core supply plane. The VCCIO supplies should be separate from the core rail and matched to the I/O standard used by each bank. If the device has PLL analog power pins, use a ferrite bead with a dedicated filter capacitor to isolate the PLL supply from digital switching noise. Estimated: a Cyclone II design using 60% logic cells may draw on the order of 100-300 mA from the 1.2 V rail depending on clock rate, but exact current should be confirmed from the power estimator in Quartus.
The 208-pin PQFP package has a 0.5 mm pitch and requires accurate footprint design. Use the IPC standard land pattern as a starting point and ensure solder paste stencil apertures are sized for a 0.5 mm pitch QFP. Exposed-pad thermal relief, if present, should be connected to the ground plane with multiple vias for heat spreading. Route high-speed clock signals away from JTAG and configuration pins to reduce noise coupling. The N suffix parts are lead-free, so use lead-free assembly profiles and confirm component moisture sensitivity level from the official package datasheet.
SRAM-based FPGAs must reload their configuration bitstream after every power-up. A common pitfall is forgetting the configuration device or attempting to configure through JTAG only during prototyping. For production boards, include an EPCS serial flash or equivalent configuration memory connected to the dedicated CONF_DONE, nCONFIG, DCLK, DATA0 pins. Also ensure the bank voltages are powered before configuration; otherwise, the device may fail to enter user mode. Confirm the I/O standard of each bank matches the transceiver or memory interface before layout freeze.
The industrial-temperature I8N device is rated for wider ambient operation, but junction temperature is still determined by package thermal resistance, airflow, and total power dissipation. For a 208-pin PQFP, the primary heat path is through the leads and surrounding copper. Estimated: if the FPGA dissipates 0.5 W and the package thermal resistance is roughly 25-35 C/W with modest airflow, the junction-to-ambient rise is between 13 and 18 C. Provide airflow or a ground-plane heat-spreading area to keep the die below the maximum junction temperature listed in the Intel datasheet.
Compliance Information
RoHS/lead-free inferred from the 'N' suffix in the Intel/Altera ordering code. No explicit REACH or conflict-minerals statement was present in the fetched data. The non-N alternatives do not carry the same lead-free designation.
