EP2C8F256C7N - Cyclone II FPGA 8K LE 182 I/O | Altera
MPN: EP2C8F256C7N β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.66 | $11.66 |
| 10 | $10.69 | $106.90 |
| 100 | $9.72 | $972.00 |
| 500 | $8.94 | $4,470.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.31 | $8,310.00 |
EP2C8F256C7N Overview
An FPGA is an integrated circuit whose logic fabric can be reprogrammed after manufacturing, allowing hardware designers to implement custom digital functions, parallel processing datapaths, and glue logic without committing to an ASIC. FPGAs sit above simple programmable logic devices (CPLDs) and below custom silicon, offering flexibility and rapid iteration for communications, industrial, video, and test systems. Within the Altera programmable logic family, Cyclone II was optimized for cost-sensitive applications.
The EP2C8F256C7N provides 8,256 logic elements for combinatorial and sequential logic, 165,888 bits of embedded RAM for FIFOs and buffers, and 182 user I/Os configurable for LVTTL, LVCMOS, and other I/O standards. The 256-ball FineLine BGA package keeps board area small while enabling 182 user I/O connections on a low-cost four-layer PCB. Its commercial temperature grade covers typical indoor/consumer installations, and the N suffix indicates lead-free, RoHS-friendly finish.
Altera/Intel Cyclone II FPGAs use a predictable architecture with embedded memory, dedicated carry chains, global clocks, and configuration from external serial configuration devices. The speed grade 7 bin occupies a middle point in the family, offering adequate timing performance for mainstream control and DSP-oriented functions while reducing cost relative to faster -6 devices. This architecture is supported in Intel/Altera Quartus for synthesis, fitting, and timing analysis.
Typical applications include industrial motor control, video frame capture, test-and-measurement front ends, and communication line cards. In an image-processing design, for instance, the 182 I/Os can interface with CMOS image sensors and memory buses while the embedded RAM buffers pixel lines for filtering. The high usable I/O count makes the EP2C8F256C7N a universal bridge between mixed-signal front ends and digital back ends.
A key design consideration is the selection of power supplies: separate the core rails, I/O rails, and PLL supplies with adequate decoupling, and follow Intel/Altera pin-connection guidelines for the 256-LBGA ball map. If RoHS compliance is required, avoid the leaded-solder C7 variant and choose the N version featured here.
This page provides distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical FPGA design notes that supplement the manufacturer Cyclone II datasheet, helping engineers compare parts, verify availability, and plan configuration and power delivery.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C8F256C7N β 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 EP2C8F256C7N (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Speed Grade, RoHS Status, Process Technology, Configuration Modes.
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EP2C8F256C7
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$18.2 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2C8F256C8N
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View Datasheet βEP2C8F256C8
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$28.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2C8F256C6N
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$31.2 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2C8F256C6
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$8.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP2C8F256C7N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | Cyclone II |
| Number of Logic Elements/Cells | 8256 |
| Total RAM Bits | 165888 |
| Number of I/O | 182 |
| Package / Case | 256-LBGA |
| Package Code | F256 |
| Speed Grade | 7 |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (C) |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (suffix N) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Configuration Memory | External serial configuration (EPCS/EPCQ) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (N suffix) |
EP2C8F256C7N f256 Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C8F256C7N (f256 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 EP2C8F256C7N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C8F256C7N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Video Image Acquisition and Processing, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Broadcast Video Processing, Distributed Communications and Ethernet Switch, Medical Device Control and Monitoring.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP2C8F256C7N fits industrial motor control because 182 user I/Os can capture resolver/encoder feedback, generate six-step PWM gate signals, and communicate with host controllers through UART or parallel buses. Its 8,256 logic elements provide enough fabric for cascaded PID loops, fault logic, and commutation state machines without adding an external MCU for low-level motor tasks. The embedded 165,888 RAM bits can store lookup tables for sine commutation or small data buffers. When placed on a 4-layer industrial PCB, the 256-LBGA package supports dense routing of analog and digital domains. A practical consideration is to isolate I/O ground planes for noisy power stage transients and to follow the Cyclone II pin-connection guidelines for every unused ball.
Recommended
Video Image Acquisition and Processing
The EP2C8F256C7N is well-suited for video image acquisition because its 182 I/Os can connect directly to parallel CMOS sensors, DDR/DDR2 memory interfaces, and video DACs. Inside the FPGA, 8,256 logic elements can implement Bayer demosaicing, simple filters, and line/frame synchronization logic. The 165,888 RAM bits serve as line buffers for streaming video, allowing a compact two-line filter core to run at pixel clock rates without an external FIFO. Its commercial speed grade 7 normally supports common pixel rates up to 75-150 MHz, depending on design complexity, so it fits VGA and lower-resolution HD processing. A design tip is to instantiate an Altera PLL for clean pixel-clock generation and to use the embedded memory efficiently for multi-line windows.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
The EP2C8F256C7N fits test-and-measurement instrumentation because it can combine high-I/O data acquisition front ends, digital triggering, and measurement state machines in one programmable device. Its 182 I/Os can interface to high-speed ADCs, DACs, and comparator banks, while the 8,256 logic elements implement custom trigger logic, averaging, and peak-detect algorithms. The 165,888 RAM bits allow small acquisition buffers, control registers, and calibration tables. Designers can rapidly adapt the FPGA for different instrument modes without a new PCB layout, which is important for benchtop meters, data loggers, and spectrum analyzers. Power integrity should be emphasized: separate analog and digital supplies, minimize BGA via inductance, and verify each I/O bank voltage meets the chosen ADC interface standard.
Recommended
Broadcast Video Processing
The EP2C8F256C7N supports broadcast video processing tasks such as frame synchronization, color-space conversion, and simple scaling. The 165,888 bits of embedded RAM allow FIFO buffering and line delays, while 8,256 logic elements can process per-pixel arithmetic, timing recovery state machines, and ancillary data insertion. With 182 user I/Os, the FPGA can connect to SDI receiver/transmitter PHYs, video encoders/decoders, and external DDR memory controllers. In broadcast equipment, this Cyclone II part is often used as a glue logic or pre-processing stage before an ASIC or larger FPGA. A practical design step is to check timing margins at your desired video clock and to provide separate clean clock domains for input, output, and system control using available PLL resources.
Recommended
Distributed Communications and Ethernet Switch
The EP2C8F256C7N can serve as a communications controller for Ethernet switch fabric interfaces, port controller logic, and protocol framing. Its 182 user I/Os connect to PHYs, MAC controllers, and backplane transceivers, while 8,256 logic elements are sufficient for packet parsing, address lookup tables, and simple QoS logic. The 165,888 RAM bits hold descriptor rings, MAC address tables, and packet buffers for small-frame handling. In low-port-count switches or media converters, this FPGA reduces BOM cost and allows late protocol changes. Designers should place clock and reset generation carefully, use on-chip memory inference instead of distributed logic for FIFOs, and verify that I/O standards on each side of the PHY interface are compatible with the recommended bank voltages.
Recommended
Medical Device Control and Monitoring
The EP2C8F256C7N is used in non-implantable medical equipment for real-time control, data acquisition, and display management. Its deterministic FPGA fabric supports time-critical tasks like motor control for infusion pumps, ECG signal preprocessing, and sensor fusion. The 165,888 bits of embedded RAM store calibration tables and temporary samples, while 8,256 logic elements implement digital filters or protocol engines. 182 I/Os connect to force sensors, optical encoders, isolated ADCs, and graphic LCD modules. Medical equipment designers must emphasize isolation, predictable power sequencing, and compliance documentation; the Pb-free N version satisfies modern lead-free manufacturing requirements. Verify long-term availability carefully because this older Cyclone II family is nearing end-of-life and may not be suitable for new medical product designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C8F256C7N β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C8F256C7 | EP2C8F256C8N | EP2C8F256C8 | EP2C8F256C6N | EP2C8F256C6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 256-LBGA (F256) | 256-LBGA (F256) | 256-LBGA (F256) | 256-LBGA (F256) | 256-LBGA (F256) | 256-LBGA (F256) |
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Logic Elements | 8256 | 8256 | 8256 | 8256 | 8256 | 8256 |
| Total RAM Bits | 165888 | 165888 | 165888 | 165888 | 165888 | 165888 |
| Number of I/O | 182 | 182 | 182 | 182 | 182 | 182 |
| Speed Grade | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (C) | Commercial (C) | Commercial (C) | Commercial (C) | Commercial (C) | Commercial (C) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes (N) | No (leaded) | Yes (N) | No (leaded) | Yes (N) | No (leaded) |
Key Differentiators
- Speed grade 7 with Pb-free finish in the same 256-LBGA package (vs EP2C8F256C8N)
- RoHS-compliant N finish without sacrificing package or logic (vs EP2C8F256C7)
- Balanced cost/performance for mainstream designs (vs EP2C8F256C6N)
Design Notes
Cyclone II devices require separate core, I/O, and PLL power supplies with carefully placed decoupling capacitors. Place 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors next to each VCC and VCCIO ball cluster and use a 10 uF bulk capacitor close to the BGA. Route power through dedicated planes and always follow the Intel/Altera Cyclone II pin-connection guidelines for the 256-LBGA ball map so every unused ball is treated exactly as the datasheet specifies.
The 256-LBGA package has a lower thermal resistance when airflow or a moderate PCB copper area is provided under the BGA. Use thermal vias from the ground pad or power planes near the package to improve heat spreading. Before finalizing the design, estimate power with the Quartus Power Analyzer and verify the junction temperature does not exceed the commercial-grade limit under worst-case ambient conditions.
For a 256-ball BGA, ensure the PCB layout includes solder-mask-defined pads, correct ball-diameter land pattern, and via fanout with sufficient trace width for the selected I/O standards such as LVTTL and LVCMOS. Maintain controlled impedance for high-speed clock and LVDS-style signals, and route sensitive differential pairs away from switching power supplies. Consult the Cyclone II hardware design checklist before release.
Compliance Information
N suffix indicates a lead-free/RoHS-compliant BGA finish. No explicit REACH, halogen-free, or conflict-mineral statements were found in the verified web data for this MPN.
