EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES - Stratix II GX FPGA, 90K LEs, 1152-FBGA | Intel
MPN: EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1850 | $1,850.00 |
| 10 | $1750 | $17,500.00 |
| 25 | $1680 | $42,000.00 |
| 100 | $1580 | $158,000.00 |
| 250 | $1495 | $373,750.00 |
EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES Overview
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a reprogrammable semiconductor device that allows engineers to implement arbitrary digital logic using configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated hard IP such as transceivers, memory blocks, and DSP blocks. FPGAs sit between general-purpose microcontrollers and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs): unlike microcontrollers they execute logic in hardware rather than software, and unlike ASICs they can be re-programmed in the field. Stratix II GX belongs to Altera's high-end FPGA taxonomy (FPGA -> programmable logic -> logic IC -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor) and was the industry's first 90 nm FPGA with embedded transceivers.
Key features of the EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES include 12 embedded transceiver blocks supporting CPRI, OBSAI, Serial RapidIO, PCI Express, and Gigabit Ethernet protocols, 384 (18x18) multipliers for DSP workloads, an on-chip 36-block RAM architecture totalling approximately 4.5 Mbits, and a hard PCI Express x1/x4 endpoint block. The 1152-FBGA package exposes 558 user I/Os and supports hot-socketing for in-system reprogramming without board power-down.
Architecturally the device pairs an adaptive logic module (ALM) based core fabric with a row-and-column interconnect, enabling high utilisation at clock rates up to 450 MHz internally. The Stratix II GX transceiver macros embed clock-data recovery (CDR), serializer/deserializer (SERDES), and pre-emphasis/equalisation blocks that replace external PHY silicon. The 'C5' speed grade reflects a commercial temperature range (0C to +85C) with the timing closure typical of mid-tier speed bins.
Typical applications include 4G base-station baseband processing, radar and electronic-warfare front-ends, high-resolution medical imaging pipelines, high-end broadcast video routing, and ASIC prototyping for networking line cards. The combination of embedded multi-gigabit transceivers and DSP blocks makes the EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES particularly well suited to designs where parallel DSP plus serial backplane connectivity must coexist on a single device.
When designing with this FPGA, plan the power-decoupling network carefully: Stratix II GX devices can draw transient currents exceeding 20 A during configuration. Use a multi-rail power-supply architecture (typically 1.2 V core, 2.5 V/3.3 V I/O, 1.2 V PLL, and 1.2 V transceiver analog) and follow Altera's recommended power-up/-down sequencing. Quartus II software with Service Pack 2 or later is required to compile designs targeting this device.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing (as of 2026-09-09), drop-in same-package alternatives drawn from the Stratix II GX family, and practical design notes not collected in any single manufacturer document.
Drop-in alternatives for EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES — 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 EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Speed Grade, Package, Total RAM Bits, Core Voltage, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP2SGX90EF1152C5N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1380 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2SGX90EF1152C4ES
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$305 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2SGX90EF1152C4N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$695 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2SGX90EF1152C4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$890 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2SGX90EF1152C3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1280 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2SGX90EF1152C3ES
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2050 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2SGX90EF1152C3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1180 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Stratix II GX |
| Logic Elements | 90,960 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 4,520,448 |
| User I/Os | 558 |
| Number of Transceivers | 12 (up to 20 channels) |
| Transceiver Data Rate | Up to 6.375 Gbps |
| DSP Blocks (18x18 multipliers) | 384 |
| Package | 1152-FBGA (FineLine BGA) |
| Speed Grade | C5 (commercial, mid-tier) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Process Technology | 90 nm CMOS |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V (typical) |
| Configuration Method | Fast passive parallel, active serial, JTAG |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES 1152-fbga (fineline bga) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES (1152-fbga (fineline bga) 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 EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES is suitable for 6 applications: 4G/LTE Base-Station Baseband Processing, Radar and Electronic-Warfare Signal Processing, High-Resolution Medical Imaging Pipelines, Broadcast Video Routing and Processing, ASIC Prototyping for Networking Line Cards, Industrial High-Speed Test and Measurement.
4G/LTE Base-Station Baseband Processing
The EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES fits 4G/LTE base-station baseband processing because its 90,960 logic elements and 384 (18x18) DSP multipliers deliver the parallel arithmetic throughput needed for crest-factor reduction (CFR), digital pre-distortion (DPD), and multi-antenna MIMO encoding. The 12 embedded transceivers at up to 6.375 Gbps handle the CPRI link to the radio unit while the 558 user I/Os connect to external memory and backplane fabrics. In a typical RRH design the FPGA sits between the baseband ASIC and the optical CPRI interface, processing I/Q sample streams at 30.72 Msps with sample-rate conversion, filtering, and gain control all on-chip. Power consumption in this mode is typically 12-18 W, which the 1152-FBGA package can dissipate with a properly designed thermal via array on the PCB.
Recommended
Radar and Electronic-Warfare Signal Processing
The EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES is well suited to radar and electronic-warfare front-end processing because its DSP-rich architecture can sustain phased-array beamforming computations across hundreds of channels in real time. With 384 18x18 multipliers the device can compute complex FFTs, pulse-Doppler processing, and digital channeliser filterbanks at sample rates above 200 MHz. The 4.5 Mbit embedded RAM provides the on-chip buffering required for windowing and overlap-save FFT architectures without round-tripping to external memory. Its 12 transceivers at 6.375 Gbps aggregate ADC sample data from multiple A/D converters at gigasample-per-second rates, eliminating the need for a separate PHY ASIC. Designers typically use this FPGA in L-band/S-band surveillance radar and in airborne electronic-warfare ESM/ELINT receivers where size, weight, and power are constrained.
Recommended
High-Resolution Medical Imaging Pipelines
The EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES accelerates image-reconstruction pipelines in CT, MRI, ultrasound, and PET scanners because its DSP blocks perform parallel beam-forming, filtered back-projection, and image-filtering operations hundreds of times faster than a CPU. The 558 user I/Os allow direct attachment to multiple high-resolution image sensors and to DDR2 memory banks used as pixel-frame buffers. In ultrasound beamforming, the device samples 64 to 128 channels at 40 MHz and computes delay-and-sum focusing across an entire scan line in microseconds. Its PCI Express hard IP block lets it plug directly into the host workstation's PCIe slot as a co-processor card. The 1152-FBGA package supports the high pin count needed for fan-out to memory and sensor interfaces without going to a stacked-die solution.
Recommended
Broadcast Video Routing and Processing
The EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES serves as the core of professional broadcast video routers and processing frames because its 558 user I/Os can fan out to hundreds of SDI coax connectors via external serializers, while the 12 transceivers handle 3G-SDI and emerging UHD-SDI streams at up to 6 Gbps. The 90,960 logic elements comfortably implement colour-space conversion, frame-rate conversion, de-interlacing, and HDR mapping in real time for 4K workflows. With 4.5 Mbit on-chip RAM the device can buffer several lines of 4K video at 60 fps, eliminating external line buffers. Its PCI Express block lets it appear as a processing node in a host-based broadcast graphics workstation. Studios and outside-broadcast trucks rely on this FPGA's reliability and the long-term software support provided by Quartus II.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping for Networking Line Cards
The EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES is widely used as an ASIC prototype platform for networking line cards because its high logic-element count and transceiver channels allow engineers to validate complex ASIC RTL at full line-rate before tape-out. Designers map the ASIC's logic, memory, and SERDES onto the FPGA to run real Ethernet traffic, stress-test corner cases, and validate firmware against actual network conditions. The PCI Express hard IP and 12 transceivers let the prototype connect directly to a host server or to a backplane. When the design moves to silicon, the same HDL can be ported to Stratix IV/Stratix V FPGAs without logic changes, and Quartus II provides ASIC-co-design flows for RTL hand-off. The 1152-FBGA package's high I/O count supports the dozens of network PHY interfaces required for prototype line cards.
Recommended
Industrial High-Speed Test and Measurement
The EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES is used in high-end oscilloscopes, protocol analysers, and bit-error-rate testers because its DSP blocks perform real-time waveform processing on multi-gigasample ADC data streams. The 12 transceivers accept serial data directly from high-speed ADCs and DACs at rates up to 6.375 Gbps without an intermediate PHY, while the 558 user I/Os expose parallel control buses, trigger lines, and display interfaces. Engineers typically pair this FPGA with an external DDR2 memory bank to build deep-capture memory for protocol analysers spanning PCI Express, Serial RapidIO, or CPRI. The 1152-FBGA package's large ball count supports the simultaneous presence of multiple high-speed serial links, parallel acquisition buses, and host-side PCIe. Industrial test equipment vendors value the device's long-term availability and Quartus II's mature debug toolchain for logic-analyser use cases.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP2SGX90EF1152C5N | EP2SGX90EF1152C4ES | EP2SGX90EF1152C4N | EP2SGX90EF1152C4 | EP2SGX90EF1152C3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Package | 1152-FBGA (FineLine BGA) | 1152-FBGA - same | 1152-FBGA - same | 1152-FBGA - same | 1152-FBGA - same | 1152-FBGA - same |
| Logic Elements | 90,960 | 90,960 | 90,960 | 90,960 | 90,960 | 90,960 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 4,520,448 | 4,520,448 | 4,520,448 | 4,520,448 | 4,520,448 | 4,520,448 |
| User I/Os | 558 | 558 | 558 | 558 | 558 | 558 |
| Speed Grade | C5 | C5 (same) | C4 (slower by ~15%) | C4 (slower by ~15%) | C4 (slower by ~15%) | C3 (slower by ~25%) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (ES suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | Varies by lot | Yes (N suffix) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Highest-speed commercial-grade bin in the 1152-FBGA family (vs EP2SGX90EF1152C4ES)
- Standard commercial temperature grade (0C to +85C) (vs EP2SGX90EFI1152)
- Lead-free / RoHS compliant packaging (vs EP2SGX90EF1152C4 (older non-N/ES variant))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 100% resource utilisation with all 12 transceivers active at 6.375 Gbps, the EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES draws roughly 15-22 W from the 1.2 V core rail alone. Use a multi-rail architecture (1.2 V core, 2.5 V/3.3 V I/O, 1.2 V PLL, 1.2 V transceiver analog) and follow Altera's recommended power-up sequencing in the Stratix II GX handbook to avoid latch-up. Decouple each rail with a 100 uF bulk plus 10 uF + 100 nF ceramics placed within 5 mm of the corresponding balls.
The 1152-FBGA package dissipates heat primarily through the BGA balls and PCB thermal vias. Design the PCB with a full-array thermal-via pattern under the device (0.3 mm pitch, 0.2 mm finished hole, filled and capped) and at least 8 signal layers to spread heat to inner copper planes. Estimated: without thermal vias, junction-to-ambient theta_JA exceeds 15 C/W and 18 W dissipation causes 270 C junction rise above ambient, exceeding the 125 C commercial limit. With proper thermal vias, theta_JA drops below 8 C/W.
Do not assume the EP2SGX90EF1152C5ES and the EP2SGX90EF1152C5 are interchangeable without re-checking Quartus II pin assignments: the 'ES' suffix indicates extended-screening / RoHS lead-free packaging, which on rare lots uses a slightly different substrate material with measurably different thermal resistance. Use the Quartus II pin information file (the Stratix II GX 1152-FBGA pin-out CSV) before swapping inventory. Always configure the device with Quartus II 13.0 SP1 or 13.1 - later Quartus Prime releases have dropped Stratix II GX support entirely.
Route each of the 12 multi-gigabit transceiver channels with a 100 ohm differential microstrip or stripline on the top layer, with no more than two vias and no stubs. Keep AC-coupling capacitors within 8 mm of the transmitter balls, and isolate the analog transceiver power islands from the digital core with a moat and a ferrite-bead bridge. According to Altera's Stratix II GX layout guidelines, length matching within 150 mil is required for 6.375 Gbps operation.
Compliance Information
RoHS / lead-free confirmed by 'ES' suffix per Altera's product-numbering convention. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a commercial-grade FPGA, not an automotive-qualified part.
