EP2C5T144C8 - Cyclone II FPGA, 4,608 LEs, 89 I/O, 144-TQFP | Intel
MPN: EP2C5T144C8 ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $42.5 | $42.50 |
| 10 | $38.2 | $382.00 |
| 100 | $33.75 | $3,375.00 |
| 500 | $28.4 | $14,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $24.1 | $24,100.00 |
EP2C5T144C8 Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor integrated circuit composed of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated hard-IP blocks (DSP slices, block RAM, PLLs, transceivers) that the designer programs after manufacture. FPGAs sit at the top of the programmable-logic hierarchy alongside CPLDs and mask-programmed ASICs, and below them in system complexity sits the microcontroller. The Cyclone II generation occupies the low-end position in the FPGA taxonomy, prioritising logic density per dollar over raw performance.
Key features of the EP2C5T144C8 include embedded 18 x 18 multipliers (total of 13 for the EP2C5 row), M4K block RAM columns, dual-purpose PLL clock management, and support for external memory interfaces such as DDR/DDR2 SDRAM and QDRII SRAM. The 144-pin TQFP (T144) is a plastic thin quad flat pack that supports 89 user I/Os at a 22 x 22 x 1.4 mm body size and is suitable for conventional SMT assembly lines.
The Cyclone II architecture is built around four-input look-up tables (LUTs), true dual-port M4K RAM blocks with parity, and dedicated DSP blocks for 18-bit signed multiplication. Configuration is loaded from an Altera serial configuration (EPCS) device or via JTAG, with built-in decompression and encryption support. Compared with the original Cyclone, Cyclone II roughly doubles logic density and adds hardware multipliers, making it a strong fit for digital signal processing front ends that previously required a separate DSP chip.
Typical applications include digital signal processing (Dsp) front ends for video, image, and audio pipelines; industrial control and motor drive logic; communications protocol bridging (SPI, I2C, UART, PCIe soft cores); and consumer electronics that need glue logic and parallel processing under tight BOM cost. The 1.2 V core combined with low static current also makes the EP2C5T144C8 suitable for portable battery-powered embedded designs where power budget matters.
When designing with the EP2C5T144C8, plan I/O bank assignments to keep differential pairs (LVDS) on dedicated pins and respect the VCCIO bank voltage (typically 3.3 V for legacy interfaces, 1.8 V for DDR). Quartus II software handles place-and-route; for new designs consider migrating to a Cyclone IV or Cyclone 10 LP equivalent because Cyclone II is at end-of-life and supply is increasingly limited to authorized distributors and the secondary market.
This page synthesises verified distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives sourced from the Cyclone II family and authorised Altera-Intel listings, and practical design notes that are not contained in the bare datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C5T144C8 — 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 EP2C5T144C8 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, RoHS Status, Package, Operating Temperature, Process Technology.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C5T144C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5T144C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$12.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5T144C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5T144C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5T144C6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5T144C8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | Cyclone II |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 4,608 |
| Total RAM Bits | 119,808 |
| User I/Os | 89 |
| Embedded Multipliers (18 x 18) | 13 |
| PLLs | 2 |
| Global Clock Networks | 8 |
| Process Technology | TSMC 90 nm low-k |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Speed Grade | 8 (commercial) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +85 C (commercial) |
| Package | 144-pin TQFP (T144) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EP2C5T144C8 144-pin tqfp (t144) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C5T144C8 (144-pin tqfp (t144) 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 EP2C5T144C8.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C5T144C8 is suitable for 6 applications: Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Front End, Industrial Control and Motor Drive Logic, Communications Protocol Bridging, Consumer Electronics and Cost-Sensitive Glue Logic, Legacy ASIC Replacement and Board Re-Design, Embedded Education and FPGA Learning Platforms.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Front End
The EP2C5T144C8's 4,608 logic elements and 13 embedded 18 x 18 hardware multipliers make it well suited as a low-cost DSP front end for video, image, and audio pipelines where the alternative is a separate DSP processor. Its 90 nm Cyclone II architecture delivers a typical DSP throughput on the order of tens of GMACs while drawing well under 1 W of static plus dynamic power from the 1.2 V core, and the 144-TQFP package exposes 89 user I/Os for parallel video buses, audio I2S links, and SDRAM control signals. Designers typically instantiate Nios II soft cores alongside FIR/FFT pipelines; the device's hardware multiplier count is the binding constraint for a 1024-point FFT, so EP2C5T144C8 is best targeted at sub-256-tap filter chains.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Motor Drive Logic
The EP2C5T144C8 fits industrial control and motor drive logic boards that need deterministic parallel processing of quadrature encoder inputs, PWM generation, and field-oriented control loops. Its 89 user I/Os are ample for multiple encoder channels, H-bridge gate driver enables, and CAN or RS-485 transceivers, while the two on-chip PLLs allow jitter-clean generation of PWM frequencies and quadrature clocks. The commercial 0 C to +85 C temperature grade is sufficient for cabinet-mounted drives; for cabinet-free or outdoor installations, migrate to the industrial EP2C5T144I8 variant. The 144-pin TQFP is also convenient for hand-rework during prototyping, which is common in low-volume industrial design.
Recommended
Communications Protocol Bridging
Use the EP2C5T144C8 as a flexible bridge between communications protocols such as UART, SPI, I2C, parallel LVDS, and soft-core PCIe in networking and storage equipment. The 4,608 logic elements comfortably fit full hardware implementations of UART FIFOs, SPI masters, and I2C controllers with on-chip DMA, plus glue logic for PHY interface bring-up. The 119,808 bits of M4K block RAM are sufficient for deep FIFOs that decouple processor-side burst traffic from real-time PHY-side flow control; designers can also use the dual-purpose PLL to clean recovered clocks from external PHYs. The 1.2 V core combined with independent VCCIO banks supports mixed 3.3 V and 1.8 V transceiver interfaces on the same board.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics and Cost-Sensitive Glue Logic
The Cyclone II EP2C5T144C8 was specifically designed for cost-sensitive consumer electronics such as digital cameras, set-top boxes, and home appliances that need glue logic, display controllers, and parallel processing under a tight BOM. Its 144-pin TQFP package is widely supported by low-cost SMT lines, and the 1.2 V core draws minimal current from battery-powered designs. The device integrates formerly external MSI logic, microcontrollers, and small DSP chips into a single programmable part, cutting board area and inventory SKUs while still supporting hardware-accelerated functions such as JPEG encode/decode, LCD timing generation, and touch-screen controllers.
Recommended
Legacy ASIC Replacement and Board Re-Design
The EP2C5T144C8 is widely used as a drop-in replacement for aging mask-programmed ASICs and obsolete FPGA families, because its 144-pin TQFP footprint fits many older board designs and its Quartus II toolchain preserves the original Verilog/VHDL source. The Cyclone II family roughly doubled logic density over the original Cyclone and added hardware multipliers, so it absorbs what previously needed a separate DSP chip. For long-life products, designers can freeze the bitstream and source from authorised distributors even though the family is in Last Time Buy; for new boards, the EP4CE5E22C8 in Cyclone IV E is footprint-compatible on most I/O banks and offers lower static power.
Recommended
Embedded Education and FPGA Learning Platforms
Universities and training centres use the EP2C5T144C8 (and its development boards) to teach digital logic, RTL design, and embedded systems because it offers 4,608 logic elements, embedded multipliers, block RAM, and a Nios II soft processor at very low unit cost. The 144-pin TQFP exposes 89 I/Os that are easy to wire to breadboard-friendly headers, switches, and LEDs; Quartus II Web Edition (legacy) supports the device without a paid licence. Lab exercises typically include designing UART controllers, VGA timing generators, and small soft-core CPUs, all of which fit easily in the EP2C5T144C8 logic and RAM budget.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C5T144C8 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C5T144C8N | EP2C5T144C7N | EP2C5T144C7 | EP2C5T144C6N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Package | 144-pin TQFP (T144) | 144-pin TQFP (T144) - same | 144-pin TQFP (T144) - same | 144-pin TQFP (T144) - same | 144-pin TQFP (T144) - same |
| Logic Elements | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 | 4,608 |
| User I/Os | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 |
| Speed Grade | 8 (slower) | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Lead Finish | SnPb | Pb-free matte tin | Pb-free matte tin | SnPb | Pb-free matte tin |
| RoHS Status | Non-RoHS (legacy) | RoHS compliant | RoHS compliant | Non-RoHS (legacy) | RoHS compliant |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +85 C | 0 C to +85 C | 0 C to +85 C | 0 C to +85 C | 0 C to +85 C |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest cost lead-finish option for legacy SnPb boards (vs EP2C5T144C8N)
- Same-package speed grade flexibility for design trade-offs (vs EP2C5T144C7N)
- Mature Quartus II toolchain support with extensive IP library (vs Lattice ECP5 (LFE5U-12F-8BG256C))
Design Notes
Estimated: based on a Cyclone II EP2C5 static current of ~30 mA at 1.2 V core plus dynamic current proportional to toggle rate, total core power at typical 50% toggle activity is on the order of 200-400 mW. Add ~30 mA per active VCCIO bank at 3.3 V (so ~100 mW per bank at 50% toggle) for I/O power. Provide a low-impedance 1.2 V regulator with at least 500 mA headroom, decouple each VCCINT/VCCIO pin with a 0.1 uF X7R plus 10 uF bulk capacitor placed within 5 mm of the pin, and consider a ferrite bead on the 1.2 V rail if the upstream supply is shared with another high-current load.
The 144-pin TQFP has a 0.5 mm pitch and is hand-reworkable with care, but signal integrity still depends on a continuous ground reference plane on layer 2 and short, matched-length routes for differential pairs (LVDS). Place all eight global clock networks on dedicated clock pins routed to the PLLs; route JTAG signals (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) with a 4.7 kohm pull-up on TCK and TDI to keep the configuration controller in a known state at power-up. Keep high-speed I/O traces away from the PLL analog supply pins (VCCA) and route the analog supply through a ferrite from the digital 1.2 V plane.
Do not exceed the maximum VCCIO of 3.3 V per I/O bank; older Cyclone II I/Os do not tolerate 5 V inputs and require a level shifter or resistor divider for any 5 V legacy interface. Ensure the CONF_DONE pin is pulled up to 3.3 V through a 10 kohm resistor so the configuration device can detect end-of-configuration. When migrating a Quartus II design from speed grade 8 to grade 7, the bitstream is fully compatible but timing closure improves; do not mix Cyclone II and Cyclone IV generation bitstreams on the same board because the JTAG IDCODE differs.
Compliance Information
EP2C5T144C8 is the legacy SnPb lead-finish variant; the EP2C5T144C8N is the RoHS / Pb-free drop-in alternative. Cyclone II is not AEC-Q100 qualified because it targets commercial / industrial applications, not automotive. Halogen-free per Intel Cyclone II Device Handbook.
