EP2C8Q20818 - Cyclone II FPGA, 8K LEs, 208-Pin PQFP | Intel
MPN: EP2C8Q20818 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $45 | $45.00 |
| 10 | $40.5 | $405.00 |
| 100 | $36 | $3,600.00 |
| 500 | $32.4 | $16,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $28.8 | $28,800.00 |
EP2C8Q20818 Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device containing programmable logic blocks, interconnect, and I/O that the designer configures after manufacturing using a hardware description language. FPGAs sit between microcontrollers (sequential, software-driven) and ASICs (fixed-function, high-NRE); they offer hardware parallelism and reconfigurability for DSP, glue logic, and prototype-to-production bridging. Cyclone II belongs to Intel's low-cost FPGA family, hierarchically: FPGA -> programmable logic -> programmable logic IC -> integrated circuit.
Key features of the EP2C8Q20818 include 138 user I/O pins supporting multiple I/O standards (LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, SSTL, LVDS), up to 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers, 165,888 bits (approximately 20 Kbytes) of M4K embedded memory blocks, and 2 PLLs for clock management. The device supports configuration via active serial (AS), passive serial (PS), and JTAG modes, and is offered in commercial (0C to +85C) and industrial (-40C to +100C) temperature grades.
Architecturally, the EP2C8Q20818 uses 4-input look-up tables (LUTs) and embedded M4K RAM blocks, with each M4K block configurable as RAM, ROM, or shift register. The 90-nm CMOS process delivers low static and dynamic power, with multiple low-power operation modes. The device supports Nios II soft-core processor implementation, enabling custom embedded CPU integration in firmware-free logic.
Typical applications include industrial control and motor drive logic, video and image processing pipelines, consumer electronics glue logic, telecommunications interface bridging, low-cost DSP front-ends, and educational/development platforms. The Cyclone II family is also widely used in legacy designs and as a low-cost entry into FPGA development for hobbyist and academic use.
When designing with the EP2C8Q20818, ensure 3.3V tolerance on I/O banks is properly considered and that the configuration mode matches your selected EPCS or JTAG programmer. Power sequencing requirements follow the standard Cyclone II guidelines, and the device is supported by the Quartus II design software (legacy versions recommended for Cyclone II designs).
Drop-in alternatives for EP2C8Q20818 — 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 EP2C8Q20818 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Process Technology, Total RAM Bits, Speed Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2C8Q208C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$43.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C8Q208C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.43 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C8Q208C6N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP2C8Q208I8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C8Q208
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$35.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C5Q208C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2C8Q20818 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone II |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 8,256 |
| Embedded Memory (M4K blocks) | 165,888 bits |
| Embedded 18x18 Multipliers | 36 |
| User I/O Pins | 138 |
| PLLs | 2 |
| Package | 208-pin PQFP (Q208) |
| Process Technology | 90 nm CMOS |
| Configuration Modes | AS, PS, JTAG |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Voltage - I/O | 1.5V / 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V (bank-dependent) |
| Device Marking | EP2C8Q20818 |
EP2C8Q20818 208-pin pqfp (q208) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2C8Q20818 (208-pin pqfp (q208) 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 EP2C8Q20818.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2C8Q20818 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Video Processing Pipeline, Telecom Interface Bridging, Consumer Electronics Glue Logic, Education and FPGA Development Platforms, Low-Cost DSP Front-End.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP2C8Q20818 suits industrial motor control with 8,256 LEs and 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers capable of running 250 MHz, enabling precise field-oriented control (FOC) algorithms. The 138 user I/O pins accept multiple encoder standards (incremental, SSI, BISS) and drive three-phase inverter PWM signals with sub-microsecond dead-time insertion. The 165,888 bits of M4K RAM store look-up tables for sine/cosine and SVPWM waveforms entirely on-chip, eliminating external memory latency. The industrial -40C to +100C temperature grade ensures operation in motor cabinet environments. Pair with the EP2C8Q208I8N for production fleets and the EPCS4 serial configuration device for field-upgradeable firmware.
Recommended
Video Processing Pipeline
The EP2C8Q20818 implements 720p video processing with 8,256 LEs enough for color space conversion, scaling, and de-interlacing. The 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers handle real-time scaling and sharpening FIR filters at pixel-clock rates up to 108 MHz. The M4K RAM blocks serve as line buffers, with each 4-Kbit block holding a full 1280-pixel video line at 24 bits-per-pixel. The 138 I/O pins accept ITU-R BT.656, BT.1120, and RGB digital video inputs and drive HDMI/DVI transmitters through LVDS pairs. Designers pair the device with the EP2C8Q208C7N for higher Fmax in headroom-constrained designs. Quartus II's Video and Image Processing Suite provides IP blocks for common pipeline functions.
Recommended
Telecom Interface Bridging
The EP2C8Q20818 bridges legacy telecom interfaces (E1/T1, RS-232/422/485) to modern Ethernet or PCIe backplanes. The 2 PLLs synthesize 1.544 MHz, 2.048 MHz, and 8.192 MHz telecom clocks from a single 25 MHz reference. The 8,256 LEs implement UART, HDLC, and framer state machines, while the 165,888 bits of M4K RAM buffer 4 ms of E1 payload data at 2.048 Mbps. The 138 I/O pins support LVDS and LVCMOS to drive line transceivers and FPGA fabric concurrently. The industrial -40C to +100C range suits outdoor cabinet installations. The 208-pin PQFP package remains a cost-effective choice for bridge designs where high-density BGA is unnecessary.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics Glue Logic
The EP2C8Q20818 consolidates multiple discrete logic and CPLD functions in consumer devices. The 8,256 LEs replace 3-5 legacy 74-series logic chips in set-top boxes, printers, and home appliances. The 138 user I/O pins accept I2C, SPI, UART, and parallel bus signals at 1.5V/1.8V/2.5V/3.3V levels across 8 banks. The 36 embedded multipliers enable on-chip signal conditioning without external DSP. The 165,888 bits of M4K RAM store display fonts, user preferences, and audio buffers. The commercial 0C to +85C range fits indoor consumer environments, and the 208-pin PQFP provides strong thermal dissipation for moderate-power glue logic operations.
Recommended
Education and FPGA Development Platforms
The EP2C8Q20818 powers educational FPGA development boards because of its manageable 8,256 LE size, comprehensive Quartus II student support, and Altera DE2 / Cyclone II starter kit heritage. Students learn digital design, VHDL/Verilog, embedded Nios II soft-core processors, and peripheral interfacing on a non-trivial device. The 208-pin PQFP is breadboard-friendly compared to BGA packages, allowing students to access all 138 I/O pins on test headers. The 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers teach fixed-point DSP concepts, and the M4K memory blocks illustrate FIFO and dual-port RAM design. Quartus II Web Edition is free for academic use, making the platform accessible to universities worldwide.
Recommended
Low-Cost DSP Front-End
The EP2C8Q20818 implements fixed-point DSP front-end functions such as FIR filtering, decimation, and FFT pre-processing ahead of a host CPU or DSP chip. The 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers execute 250 MHz multiply-accumulate operations, supporting decimate-by-4 or higher filter chains at audio and baseband sample rates. The 165,888 bits of M4K RAM buffer filter state and intermediate FFT stages. The 138 user I/O pins accept parallel ADC data at up to 100 MHz from audio, vibration, or seismic sensors. The 2 PLLs generate independent ADC sampling and DSP clock domains, easing mixed-rate system design. The 208-pin PQFP is appropriate for moderate-density signal-conditioning boards.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2C8Q20818 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2C8Q208C8N | EP2C8Q208C7N | EP2C8Q208C6N | EP2C8Q208I8N | EP2C5Q208C8N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Package | 208-pin PQFP (Q208) | 208-pin PQFP (Q208) - same | 208-pin PQFP (Q208) - same | 208-pin PQFP (Q208) - same | 208-pin PQFP (Q208) - same | 208-pin PQFP (Q208) - same |
| Logic Elements | 8,256 | 8,256 | 8,256 | 8,256 | 8,256 | 4,608 (-44%) |
| Embedded Memory | 165,888 bits | 165,888 bits | 165,888 bits | 165,888 bits | 165,888 bits | 119,808 bits (-28%) |
| Multipliers (18x18) | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 23 (-36%) |
| User I/O Pins | 138 | 138 | 138 | 138 | 138 | 119 (-14%) |
| PLLs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Speed Grade | 8 | 8 | 7 (faster) | 6 (fastest) | 8 | 8 |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial default) | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | -40C to +100C | 0C to +85C |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Pin-to-pin identical to EP2C8Q208C8N with industrial temperature grade (vs EP2C8Q208C8N)
- Speed grade 8 with full industrial temperature qualification (vs EP2C8Q208C7N)
- More logic density than EP2C5 family in same package (vs EP2C5Q208C8N)
Design Notes
Estimated: The EP2C8Q20818 is a Cyclone II device that is no longer in production (obsolete since 2014). Before committing to a new design, confirm that your chosen Quartus II version supports Cyclone II. Quartus II 13.1 is the last fully supported version; later Quartus releases dropped Cyclone II support. Pin compatibility with Cyclone III/IV/10LP requires board redesign - the package pinouts differ even when the package (e.g. 208 PQFP) is the same. Always verify pinout against the Cyclone II pin tables in the device handbook.
Estimated: The EP2C8Q20818 has separate VCCINT (core) and VCCIO (I/O bank) supplies. Typical VCCINT is 1.2V and VCCIO ranges 1.5V-3.3V. Decoupling requires 100nF ceramic capacitors at every VCC pin and 33uF bulk tantalum at each supply rail. Power-on-reset (POR) requires VCCINT to ramp monotonically before VCCIO. Use a power sequencer or follow the Cyclone II handbook's recommended power sequencing when VCCINT and VCCIO are independent supplies.
Estimated: The 208-pin PQFP package has a theta_JA of approximately 18 C/W with 0 LFM airflow and 11 C/W with 200 LFM. At typical 0.5W-1.5W core power and 0.2W I/O power, junction temperature rise above ambient is approximately 13C-32C at room temperature. For 100% LE utilization with high toggle rates, add 0.5 sq. in. copper pour on top and bottom PCB layers around the device. The exposed die paddle is not present on PQFP - heat dissipation is through the leads and PCB copper.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free status not explicitly stated in verified data; the EP2C family was originally designed before RoHS mandates, but the N-suffixed variants (e.g. EP2C8Q208C8N) are lead-free per Altera/Intel nomenclature. AEC-Q100 not applicable for general-purpose FPGAs.
