EP2C5T144C7N - Cyclone II FPGA, 4,608 LEs, 144-LQFP | Altera
MPN: EP2C5T144C7N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $19.4 | $19.40 |
| 10 | $17.5 | $175.00 |
| 100 | $15.2 | $1,520.00 |
| 500 | $13.8 | $6,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $12.4 | $12,400.00 |
EP2C5T144C7N Overview
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor integrated circuit whose logic function is defined by the customer after manufacture, providing a parallel fabric of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), routing interconnect, dedicated memory blocks (M4K/M9K in Cyclone II), DSP/multiplier blocks, clock management tiles (PLLs), and programmable I/O cells (IOEs). The Cyclone II family targets cost-sensitive high-volume applications, offering SRAM-based configuration via Altera's serial configuration devices (EPCS family) with active serial (AS) or JTAG programming modes. FPGAs sit at the top of the programmable logic hierarchy: FPGA → programmable logic → digital IC → semiconductor device.
Key features of the EP2C5T144C7N include up to 89 user I/Os in the LQFP-144 footprint, 4,608 logic elements for moderate-complexity state machines and datapaths, dedicated 18 × 18 multiplier blocks for DSP-style fixed-point arithmetic, two PLLs for clock synthesis and skew management, support for common I/O standards including LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, SSTL-2, and differential LVDS pairs, and 119,808 bits of on-chip RAM distributed across M4K blocks. The part ships in a 144-LQFP package with 20 × 20 mm body, 0.5 mm pitch, surface-mount compatible.
The Cyclone II architecture combines a logic fabric organized as LABs (Logic Array Blocks, 16 LEs each) with a hierarchical routing structure and per-IOE registers for input/output pipelining. Configuration bitstream reload via JTAG enables in-field firmware updates, while the device supports hot-socketing and tri-state during configuration for in-system programming.
Typical applications for the EP2C5T144C7N include industrial control and motor drive glue logic, video processing front-ends (HDMI/DVI pixel pipelines), low-cost software-defined radio (SDR) baseband blocks, telecommunications line-card interface bridges, test & measurement fixtures, and display controllers for consumer LCD/LED panels. The 89 I/Os comfortably accommodate parallel buses such as 16-bit wide video or 32-bit memory interfaces when external serializers are used.
When designing with this part, ensure your configuration scheme (AS vs JTAG vs PS) is selected early, as the choice of boot memory (EPCS4, EPCS16, etc.) determines board cost. Decoupling follows Altera's PDN guidance: bulk 100 µF + 10 µF + 0.1 µF per supply rail. JTAG chain ordering matters when multiple Altera/Intel devices share a TCK/TMS chain.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C5T144C7N — 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 EP2C5T144C7N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Speed Grade, RoHS Status, Process Technology.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C5T144C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5T144I7N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP2C5T144I8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5T144C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C8T144C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$20.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5AT144A7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5T144C7N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone® II |
| Device | EP2C5 |
| Logic Elements | 4,608 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119,808 |
| User I/Os (this package) | 89 |
| Maximum User I/Os (device family) | 158 |
| Embedded 18×18 Multipliers | Up to 13 |
| PLLs | 2 |
| Package | 144-LQFP (TQFP), 20 × 20 mm, 0.5 mm pitch |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +85 °C (Commercial, 'C' grade) |
| Speed Grade | 7 (mid commercial) |
| Core Voltage | 1.15 V to 1.25 V |
| Process | TSMC 90 nm low-k dielectric |
| Configuration | Serial (AS) / JTAG / PS |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free, Pb-free) |
EP2C5T144C7N Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 2 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 3 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 4 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 5 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 6 | VCCIO1 — I/O bank 1 supply voltage |
| Pin 7 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 8 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 9 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 10 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 11 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 12 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 13 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 14 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 15 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 16 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 17 | VCCINT — Core voltage supply 1.15-1.25 V |
| Pin 18 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 19 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 20 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 21 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 22 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 23 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 24 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 25 | VCCIO1 — I/O bank 1 supply voltage |
| Pin 26 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 27 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 28 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 29 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 30 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 31 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 32 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 33 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 34 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 35 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 36 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 37 | TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin 38 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 39 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 40 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 41 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 42 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 43 | VCCIO2 — I/O bank 2 supply voltage |
| Pin 44 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 45 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 46 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 47 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 48 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 49 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 50 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 51 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 52 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 53 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 54 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 54 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 55 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 56 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 57 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 58 | VCCINT — Core voltage supply 1.15-1.25 V |
| Pin 59 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 60 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 61 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 62 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 63 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 2 |
| Pin 64 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 65 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 66 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 67 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 68 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 69 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 70 | VCCIO3 — I/O bank 3 supply voltage |
| Pin 71 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 72 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 73 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 74 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 75 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 76 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 77 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 78 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 79 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 80 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 81 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 82 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 83 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 84 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 85 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 3 |
| Pin 86 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 87 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 88 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 89 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 90 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 91 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 92 | VCCIO4 — I/O bank 4 supply voltage |
| Pin 93 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 94 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 95 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 96 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 97 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 98 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 99 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 100 | VCCINT — Core voltage supply 1.15-1.25 V |
| Pin 101 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 102 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 103 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 104 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 105 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 106 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 107 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 108 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 109 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 110 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 111 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 112 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 113 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 4 |
| Pin 114 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin 115 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 116 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 117 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 118 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 119 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 120 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 121 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 122 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 123 | VCCIO1 — I/O bank 1 supply voltage |
| Pin 124 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 125 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 126 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 127 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 128 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 129 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 130 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 131 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 132 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 133 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 134 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 135 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 136 | nCEO — Configuration chip enable out (multi-device config) |
| Pin 137 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 138 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 139 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 140 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 141 | TDO — JTAG test data out |
| Pin 142 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
| Pin 143 | nCONFIG — Configuration control (active-low) |
| Pin 144 | I/O — General-purpose user I/O bank 1 |
Typical Applications
EP2C5T144C7N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control & Drive Logic, Video Processing Front-End & Display Controller, Telecom Line-Card Interface Bridge, Low-Cost Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Baseband, Test & Measurement Fixture / Instrument Front-End, Consumer LCD/LED Display Controller.
Industrial Motor Control & Drive Logic
The EP2C5T144C7N fits industrial motor drive designs thanks to its 89 LVTTL/LVCMOS-capable I/Os that can simultaneously drive PWM generator outputs, encoder feedback inputs, and isolated SPI comms. With 2 PLLs the device synthesizes the switching frequency (typically 4-32 kHz) and provides deterministic phase-shifted clocks for three-phase inverter control. The 13 embedded 18×18 multipliers accelerate field-oriented control (FOC) Park/Clarke transforms, while 119,808 RAM bits buffer lookup tables for sine/cosine and SVM. The commercial 0 °C to +85 °C range and 144-LQFP hand-solder-friendly package suit panel-mount drive designs.
Recommended
Video Processing Front-End & Display Controller
For SD/HD video pipelines, the EP2C5T144C7N's 4,608 LEs and 119,808 RAM bits (26 M4K blocks) implement a video input formatter, deinterlacer, or color-space converter. The 89 I/Os comfortably accept a 16-bit wide ITU-R BT.656 bus plus control signals and output a 24-bit RGB TTL panel interface. Per the Cyclone II handbook, the device's per-IOE registers enable tap-matched pixel pipeline timing. The 2 PLLs synthesize pixel clocks (e.g., 27 MHz for SD, 74.25 MHz for 720p) from a single reference. The 144-LQFP is suited to consumer-display reference designs where cost dominates over extreme I/O counts.
Recommended
Telecom Line-Card Interface Bridge
Telecom line cards use the EP2C5T144C7N to bridge legacy TDM (T1/E1) framers to modern packet backplanes. Its 89 I/Os accommodate parallel HDLC controllers, UART streams, and SPI-managed PHYs concurrently, while 119,808 RAM bits buffer packet payloads. The Cyclone II Device Handbook documents LVDS pair support for backplane interconnect, and the 2 PLLs synthesize TDM bit clocks (1.544/2.048 MHz) from a 19.44 MHz system reference. The 144-LQFP package sits comfortably on telecom-grade line cards where board real estate is plentiful but cost is tightly controlled.
Recommended
Low-Cost Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Baseband
Entry-level SDR baseband designs leverage the EP2C5T144C7N's 13 dedicated 18×18 hardware multipliers to perform fixed-point FFT/FIR filtering at IF sample rates up to ~30 MSPS. Per the Cyclone II handbook, the device can implement a 256-point FFT in approximately 1,200 LEs and 6 multipliers, leaving room for channelization, demodulation, and protocol framing. The 89 user I/Os connect to ADC/DAC data buses and LVDS-tapped sample clocks. The 144-LQFP is widely supported by SDR reference designs and SDR#-compatible firmware projects.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Fixture / Instrument Front-End
Automated test equipment (ATE) and bench instruments use the EP2C5T144C7N as a glue-logic aggregator between mixed-signal front-ends, ADCs, and a host PC. The 89 I/Os fan out to SPI/GPIO-controlled instrumentation, while 119,808 RAM bits store captured waveform records before USB/Ethernet upload. The Cyclone II handbook documents the JTAG-based virtual JTAG (sJATG) interface for in-test configuration updates. The 144-LQFP package is hand-rework-friendly, a real advantage in lab-grade test fixtures where frequent component swaps are common.
Recommended
Consumer LCD/LED Display Controller
Consumer flat-panel displays (TVs, monitors, digital signage) use the EP2C5T144C7N as the main timing controller and on-screen display (OSD) engine. The 89 I/Os drive LVDS panel pairs (typically 4-8 lanes), the keypad/IR receiver, HDMI sideband signals, and local dimming backlight LEDs. Per the Cyclone II handbook, the device supports SSTL-2 panel interfaces common in LCD columns. The 2 PLLs synthesize pixel clocks up to 165 MHz for 1080p. The commercial temperature range and 144-LQFP package fit the cost structure of consumer TV mainboards, where Quartus II simplifies GUI integration with Nios II soft processors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C5T144C7N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C5T144C8N | EP2C5T144I7N | EP2C5T144I8N | EP2C5T144C6N | EP2C8T144C7N | EP2C5AT144A7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) |
| Package | 144-LQFP | 144-LQFP - same | 144-LQFP - same | 144-LQFP - same | 144-LQFP - same | 144-LQFP - same | 144-LQFP - same |
| Logic Elements | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 | 8,256 (+79%) | 4,608 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119,808 | 119,808 | 119,808 | 119,808 | 119,808 | 165,888 (+38%) | 119,808 |
| User I/Os | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 85 (-4) | 89 |
| Speed Grade | 7 (mid commercial) | 8 (faster) | 7 | 8 | 6 (slower) | 7 | 7 (automotive) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +85 °C (Commercial) | 0 °C to +85 °C (Commercial) | -40 °C to +100 °C (Industrial) | -40 °C to +100 °C (Industrial) | 0 °C to +85 °C (Commercial) | 0 °C to +85 °C (Commercial) | -40 °C to +125 °C (Automotive) |
| Embedded 18×18 Multipliers | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 18 (+38%) | 13 |
| PLLs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Approx Unit Price (USD, qty 1) | $19.40 | $22.50 | $24.80 | $27.90 | $17.20 | $28.10 | $31.50 |
Key Differentiators
- Wide legacy I/O voltage support (vs Lattice ECP5 (LFE5U-12F-8BG))
- Largest ecosystem of reference designs (vs Xilinx Spartan-3 (XC3S50A-4VQG100))
- 89 I/Os in LQFP-144 footprint (vs EP2C8T144C7N)
Design Notes
The Cyclone II Device Handbook specifies the EP2C5 core supply (VCCINT) at 1.15-1.25 V and four I/O bank supplies (VCCIO1-VCCIO4), each independently configurable for 1.5/1.8/2.5/3.3 V. Decoupling follows Altera's PDN guidance: one 100 µF bulk capacitor, one 10 µF ceramic per VCCINT/VCCIO rail, plus 0.1 µF high-frequency bypass placed within 5 mm of each supply pin pair. Power sequencing: VCCINT must ramp before or simultaneously with VCCIO; never apply VCCIO > VCCINT + 0.7 V or device damage may occur. Estimated: total ICCINT (core) at 100 MHz is ~80 mA typical, multiplied by VCCINT 1.2 V = 96 mW static power.
Per the Cyclone II Device Handbook, the 144-LQFP package requires 0.5 mm pitch trace/space routing on at least 4 PCB layers with a continuous ground plane beneath the device. Critical signals (clock inputs, JTAG, configuration) should be routed on the top or bottom layers with adjacent ground return vias. All 4 GND pins and the center thermal slug (if present in the variant) must connect to a low-impedance ground pour with multiple stitching vias. Length-match differential pairs (LVDS) within 0.13 mm to maintain 100 Ω impedance per the handbook's signal-integrity appendix.
Three common pitfalls documented in Altera's Cyclone II errata: (1) MSEL pins must be tied to a fixed configuration mode (AS or JTAG or PS) via 10 kΩ pull-up/down resistors — leaving them floating causes configuration failures; (2) The nCE pin must be tied low for the master device in single-FPGA chains, otherwise the device will not respond to JTAG; (3) The CONF_DONE pin needs a 10 kΩ pull-up to VCCIO — without it, Quartus programmer reports 'configuration failed' even though the bitstream is correct. Reference: Cyclone II Device Handbook Chapter 11 (Configuration).
The 144-LQFP package has a typical θJA of approximately 30-35 °C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board. Estimated: at 96 mW static + 400 mW dynamic (typical 50 MHz design utilization), the junction temperature rises ~15 °C above ambient — well within the 0-85 °C commercial range. However, industrial (-40 to +100 °C) variants at 100 MHz full utilization can approach thermal limits in still-air enclosures; a small heat-spreader copper pour of at least 1 square inch on the top layer is recommended for harsh-environment designs.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Altera/Intel product page (lead-free, Pb-free finish). The 'N' suffix denotes lead-free / RoHS compliance. AEC-Q100 not applicable — choose EP2C5AT144A7N for automotive-grade requirements. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in distributor data.
