EP3C120F780C7AD - Cyclone III FPGA 119K LE FBGA-780 | Intel
MPN: EP3C120F780C7AD β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $185 | $185.00 |
| 10 | $172.5 | $1,725.00 |
| 100 | $158 | $15,800.00 |
| 250 | $148.5 | $37,125.00 |
| 500 | $139 | $69,500.00 |
EP3C120F780C7AD Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that allows designers to configure digital logic blocks, interconnect, and I/O after fabrication. FPGAs sit within the broader hierarchy: programmable logic -> logic IC -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor, occupying the same engineering space as CPLDs, but offering far higher logic density, embedded RAM/DSP blocks, and high-speed transceivers in larger devices. Cyclone III specifically targets cost-sensitive, power-conscious volume applications such as video processing, motor control, automotive driver assistance, and industrial communication.
Key features of the EP3C120F780C7AD include 119,088 logic elements (LEs), 3,981 Kbits (approximately 498 Kbytes) of embedded RAM organized as M9K blocks, 288 18x18 hardware multipliers for DSP, and four PLLs. The device supports LVDS, LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL, and HSTL I/O standards across up to 20 global clock networks, with user I/O counts in the 400+ range depending on package pinout. Configuration is supported through JTAG, Active Serial, and Passive Serial modes, with on-chip encryption (AES) for design security.
The Cyclone III architecture uses a logic-element fabric with 8-input adaptive look-up tables (ALUTs), each capable of implementing any 6-input function or two independent 4-input functions. Embedded M9K memory blocks support true dual-port, simple dual-port, and single-port modes with parity bits, enabling efficient buffering, FIFO, and shift-register implementations. The DSP blocks natively support 18x18 multiplication with optional add/subtract/accumulate, eliminating the need for soft-multiplier inference in DSP pipelines.
Typical applications for the EP3C120F780C7AD span HD video bridging and image processing, industrial motor control and servo drives, automotive infotainment and driver-assistance modules, telecommunications line cards, software-defined radio (SDR) baseband, and embedded industrial protocols such as EtherCAT, PROFINET, and EtherNet/IP. The combination of high logic count, on-chip DSP, and low power also makes it suitable for portable medical instrumentation and handheld test equipment.
When designing with the EP3C120F780C7AD, plan the power budget across core, I/O, and PLL rails. Use the Quartus II PowerPlay early power estimator before layout to size decoupling and rail sequencing. Maintain controlled-impedance PCB traces for high-speed LVDS links, and route clock and PLL analog supplies through dedicated ferrite filters to minimize jitter.
Drop-in alternatives for EP3C120F780C7AD 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 EP3C120F780C7AD (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Configuration Modes, Process Technology, Operating Temperature, Speed Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP3C120F780I7
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$610 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP3C120F780I7N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$198.45 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP3C120F780C8N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βEP3C120F780C6N
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP3C120F780C7AD Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone III |
| Device | EP3C120 |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 119,088 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 3,981,312 (498 Kbytes total) |
| Embedded Memory Blocks | M9K x 432 |
| 18x18 Multipliers | 288 |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Global Clock Networks | 20 |
| Maximum User I/O | 531 |
| Process Technology | 65 nm low-power |
| Package | FBGA-780 (F780) |
| Package Dimensions | 29 mm x 29 mm, 1.0 mm pitch |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V (nominal) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Configuration Modes | JTAG, Active Serial, Passive Serial |
| Design Security | AES 128-bit |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EP3C120F780C7AD 29 mm x 29 mm, 1.0 mm pitch Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP3C120F780C7AD (29 mm x 29 mm, 1.0 mm pitch 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 EP3C120F780C7AD.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP3C120F780C7AD is suitable for 6 applications: HD Video Processing and Bridging, Industrial Motor Control, Automotive Infotainment, Software-Defined Radio Baseband, Telecommunications Line Cards, Medical Imaging and Instrumentation.
HD Video Processing and Bridging
The EP3C120F780C7AD is well-suited for HD video processing and format bridging designs. With 119,088 logic elements, 288 18x18 multipliers, and 531 maximum user I/Os, the device can absorb full HD video pipelines including deinterlacing, scaling, color space conversion, and frame-rate conversion. The 432 M9K blocks provide sufficient line buffers for multi-tap filtering without external memory in many cases. Designers commonly pair it with external DDR2 SDRAM for frame buffering, using the dedicated DDR controller hard IP. Cyclone III's low 65 nm core power keeps thermal budgets manageable in fanless industrial display products such as digital signage controllers and video walls.
Recommended
Industrial Motor Control
The EP3C120F780C7AD excels in multi-axis industrial motor control applications where it can implement field-oriented control (FOC), space-vector PWM, encoder feedback decoding, and EtherCAT/PROFINET slave interfaces on a single chip. The 288 dedicated 18x18 multipliers handle Park and Clarke transforms at high PWM switching frequencies with deterministic latency. Four PLLs allow independent clock domains for the control loop, communication stack, and ADC sampling. Industrial servo drives built on this device typically achieve sub-microsecond current loop periods, while the 531 available user I/Os simplify direct connection to multi-axis power-stage gate drivers and feedback peripherals.
Recommended
Automotive Infotainment
The EP3C120F780C7AD serves as a video and audio processing hub in mid-tier automotive infotainment head units, where it bridges LVDS camera inputs, MOST or Ethernet automotive networks, and LVDS or RGB display outputs. With 119,088 logic elements and 531 user I/Os, it can simultaneously drive a 720p display, process rear-view camera input, and run CAN/LIN network stacks. The 1.2 V core at 65 nm low-power process keeps junction temperatures manageable in the confined head-unit enclosure. Designers also leverage the device's AES-128 configuration encryption to protect OEM IP from unauthorized bitstream cloning.
Recommended
Software-Defined Radio Baseband
The EP3C120F780C7AD is widely deployed in software-defined radio (SDR) baseband processing, particularly for narrowband and wideband receivers up to about 50 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth. The 288 18x18 multipliers enable efficient polyphase filter banks, FFT/iFFT engines, and digital down-conversion. The 432 M9K blocks serve as data buffers and FIFOs between the ADC, the DSP pipeline, and the host processor interface. With four PLLs and 20 global clock networks, the device supports multiple sample-rate domains for cascaded decimation stages. Reference designs from Altera/Intel demonstrate complete DDC and DUC implementations consuming approximately 60-70 percent of the device's logic resources.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line Cards
The EP3C120F780C7AD integrates seamlessly into telecom line cards for protocols such as T1/E1, DS3/E3, and Ethernet aggregation. Its 531 user I/Os accommodate dozens of SERDES-less serial interfaces with on-chip oversampling and clock-data recovery (CDR) using LVDS I/O. The device's M9K memory blocks implement elastic stores, channel-associated signalling buffers, and HDLC controllers in hardware. Combined with four PLLs for independent clock-tree synthesis, the EP3C120F780C7AD reduces bill-of-materials cost in multi-channel aggregation equipment where an ASIC would be uneconomical at low-to-medium volumes.
Recommended
Medical Imaging and Instrumentation
The EP3C120F780C7AD is used in portable medical imaging devices such as handheld ultrasound probes and point-of-care diagnostic instruments. Its 288 hardware multipliers implement real-time beamforming and signal conditioning for phased-array transducers, while the 432 M9K blocks hold scan-line buffers and FIR filter coefficients. The 65 nm low-power process keeps battery drain modest, an important factor in battery-powered cart-based ultrasound. Designers pair the FPGA with high-speed ADCs and a small ARM-based host processor for user interface and DICOM networking, achieving a compact, low-power, and deterministic imaging pipeline.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP3C120F780C7AD β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP3C120F780I7 | EP3C120F780I7N | EP3C120F780C8N | EP3C120F780C6N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | FBGA-780 (F780) | FBGA-780 - same | FBGA-780 - same | FBGA-780 - same | FBGA-780 - same |
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Logic Elements | 119,088 | 119,088 | 119,088 | 119,088 | 119,088 |
| Embedded Memory (Kbits) | 3,981 | 3,981 | 3,981 | 3,981 | 3,981 |
| 18x18 Multipliers | 288 | 288 | 288 | 288 | 288 |
| PLLs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Speed Grade | C7 (speed grade 7) | I7 (speed grade 7) | I7 (speed grade 7) | C8 (speed grade 8, faster) | C6 (speed grade 6, slower) |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +100C) | Industrial (-40C to +100C) | Commercial (0C to +85C) | Commercial (0C to +85C) |
| Lead-Free (RoHS) | Yes | Varies by suffix | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Highest logic density in Cyclone III family (119,088 LE) (vs EP3C120F484I7N)
- Commercial temperature grade at mid speed grade (C7) (vs EP3C120F780C8N)
- Same-package industrial alternative available (vs EP3C120F780I7N)
Design Notes
Estimated: The EP3C120F780C7AD has a nominal core voltage of 1.2 V and a typical dynamic power consumption around 0.5 W to 1.5 W depending on utilization and clock rate. Use the Quartus II PowerPlay Early Power Estimator before layout to size the core regulator and decoupling. Provide at least four 0.1 uF decoupling capacitors per power pin group, plus bulk 47 uF to 100 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitors near each supply pin. Place PLL analog supplies on dedicated ferrite-filtered rails to minimize jitter. Sequence the core, I/O, and PLL supplies according to Intel's Cyclone III power-up sequencing guidelines to avoid latch-up.
The FBGA-780 package uses 1.0 mm ball pitch, requiring a 4-layer or 6-layer PCB with microvia or via-in-pad construction for reliable breakout. Use a symmetric stackup with continuous ground planes beneath the device to provide a low-impedance return path for high-speed LVDS and DDR signals. Length-match LVDS pairs within 5 mils and route clock traces with controlled 50 ohm impedance. Refer to the Cyclone III device pin connection guidelines for proper connection of unused pins and configuration pins.
Estimated: For high-speed LVDS interfaces, maintain 100 ohm differential impedance and place the differential termination resistor within 200 mils of the FPGA receiver pins. For DDR2/DDR3 memory interfaces, use the Cyclone III external memory interface toolkit and adhere to the read/write timing budgets. Enable on-chip dynamic phase shift (DPS) for fine-tuning of DDR capture clocks at runtime. Avoid routing high-speed signals across split power planes or through signal vias near clock pins.
Do not leave CONFIG_DONE, nSTATUS, or nCONFIG floating; follow the JTAG configuration schematic in the Cyclone III handbook exactly. Ensure the MSEL[3..0] pins are correctly set for the chosen configuration mode (AS, PS, or JTAG). When using the AES-128 design security feature, manage the 256-bit key file carefully - a lost key cannot be recovered. Finally, be aware that the C7 speed grade is mid-range; designs targeting Fmax above 250 MHz internal should consider the C8 speed grade drop-in alternative for margin.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance per Intel Cyclone III product page. AEC-Q100 qualification not applicable for FPGAs in this family - automotive customers should verify against the latest Intel automotive-grade product list. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the public datasheet.
