EP3C40U484C7 - Cyclone III FPGA 39.6K LEs 484-FBGA | Altera
MPN: EP3C40U484C7 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $78.5 | $78.50 |
| 10 | $72.1 | $721.00 |
| 100 | $65.4 | $6,540.00 |
| 250 | $60.85 | $15,212.50 |
| 500 | $56.2 | $28,100.00 |
EP3C40U484C7 Overview
A Cyclone III FPGA is a SRAM-based programmable logic device that allows designers to implement arbitrary digital logic, glue functions, and parallel processing through configurable logic blocks (LEs), dedicated DSP blocks, embedded memory blocks, and programmable I/O. Within the broader taxonomy, FPGAs sit in the programmable logic family between simple CPLDs and high-end SoC FPGAs. Cyclone III specifically targets low-static-power applications such as industrial control, video bridging, and cost-sensitive communications equipment.
Key features include 39,600 logic elements, 1,161,216 bits (approximately 113 KBytes) of embedded RAM arranged in M9K blocks, 126 dedicated 18x18 multipliers providing up to approximately 21 GMACs DSP throughput, 4 phase-locked loops for clock management, and 331 single-ended user I/Os supporting LVDS, LVTTL, LVCMOS, SSTL, and HSTL I/O standards. The 65 nm low-power process gives the family its hallmark sub-0.5 W static power consumption, far below previous Cyclone generations.
Typical applications include industrial motor control, video surveillance IP cameras, video format converters, low-cost ASIC prototyping, embedded vision, point-of-sale terminals, and portable test equipment. The high multiplier count and large memory make it well matched to moderate-performance DSP pipelines and parallel sensor aggregation.
When designing with the EP3C40U484C7, ensure that the Quartus II toolchain (13.0 or older) supports the device because later Quartus releases dropped legacy Cyclone III support. Plan JTAG/AS configuration circuitry, and respect the differential pair placement rules for LVDS channels.
Drop-in alternatives for EP3C40U484C7 — 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 EP3C40U484C7 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Process Technology, Speed Grade, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP3C40F484C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C40F484I7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$118.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C40F484C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$264 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C40U484C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$50.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C120F484I7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$84.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C40U484C7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone III |
| Logic Elements | 39,600 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 1,161,216 |
| Embedded Memory (M9K blocks) | 126 |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 126 |
| PLLs | 4 |
| User I/O Count | 331 |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Process Technology | 65 nm TSMC low-power |
| Package | 484-FBGA (UBGA) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Configuration | SRAM-based, JTAG/AS supported |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
EP3C40U484C7 484-fbga (ubga) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP3C40U484C7 (484-fbga (ubga) 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 EP3C40U484C7.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP3C40U484C7 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Video Surveillance IP Camera, Video Format Converter / Scaler, Low-Cost ASIC Prototyping, Portable Test and Measurement, Point-of-Sale Terminal.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP3C40U484C7 is well suited to multi-axis industrial servo and stepper motor control designs. The 39,600 LEs and 126 18x18 multipliers provide ample headroom for field-oriented control (FOC), space-vector PWM, and encoder quadrature decoding in a single device. With 4 PLLs, designers can synthesize independent PWM carrier frequencies per axis while keeping the FPGA in lockstep with the MCU feedback loop. The 331 user I/Os support parallel encoder interfaces, Hall sensors, resolver excitation, and SPI-connected gate drivers, reducing external logic. Cyclone III's 65 nm low-power process keeps static dissipation well below 0.5 W, allowing fanless enclosures typical of industrial drives.
Recommended
Video Surveillance IP Camera
The EP3C40U484C7 is a strong fit for HD video surveillance IP cameras requiring on-sensor pre-processing. Its 126 18x18 multipliers implement H.264 motion estimation and noise reduction kernels in real time at 720p30, while the 1,161,216 embedded memory bits buffer multiple reference frames without external SRAM. The 331 user I/Os interface easily to MIPI-CSI, BT.656, and parallel CMOS sensors. Cyclone III's low static power enables PoE-powered camera designs where thermal budget is tight. Designers also use the integrated PLLs to derive pixel clocks for both the sensor input and Ethernet MAC output, simplifying PCB layout and BOM cost.
Recommended
Video Format Converter / Scaler
The EP3C40U484C7 excels at bridging legacy analog video (VGA, component, composite) to HDMI or DisplayPort streams. Its 39,600 LEs handle 2D scaling, deinterlacing, and color-space conversion pipelines, while 126 multipliers accelerate FIR filtering for picture quality. The 484-FBGA package exposes enough user I/Os to drive both a 24-bit RGB input and a 36-bit TMDS output simultaneously. Designers integrate a soft Nios II processor to manage HDMI DDC/EDID handshaking, leveraging on-chip memory for frame-rate conversion buffers. Cyclone III's low power consumption keeps the converter board cool in AV receiver chassis.
Recommended
Low-Cost ASIC Prototyping
The EP3C40U484C7 is widely used as a low-cost ASIC prototyping vehicle before committing to a mask set. With 39,600 LEs the device emulates mid-complexity SoCs in their entirety, including soft CPU cores (Nios II/s), custom peripherals, and glue logic. The 484-FBGA ballmap gives access to 331 user I/Os, which is sufficient to bring out dozens of internal buses for logic analyzer observation. Embedded memory blocks emulate SRAMs and FIFOs at speed, while the 4 PLLs replicate the target ASIC's clock tree. Engineers can validate firmware and hardware simultaneously, de-risking the ASIC tape-out schedule.
Recommended
Portable Test and Measurement
The EP3C40U484C7 is ideal for portable logic analyzers, protocol exercisers, and arbitrary waveform generators where size, weight, and battery life matter. The 39,600 LEs implement deep capture buffers, pattern generators, and protocol decoders (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, I2S) in parallel without taxing the host MCU. The 484-FBGA's small footprint supports handheld enclosures, and Cyclone III's 65 nm low-power process keeps quiescent current under typical handheld thermal limits. With 4 PLLs the device can recover clocks from incoming data streams and generate precise stimulus waveforms simultaneously.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale Terminal
The EP3C40U484C7 fits point-of-sale (POS) terminals that need display driving, secure keypad scanning, and encrypted communication in one chip. With 39,600 LEs the FPGA implements a soft display controller, secure key management, and AES/SHA acceleration in firmware. The 484-FBGA exposes 331 user I/Os, which easily accommodates touch panel, magnetic-stripe reader, printer, and Ethernet connectivity. Low static power is critical for fanless countertop designs, while the 1,161,216 bits of RAM buffer encrypted transactions before offload to the host processor.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP3C40U484C7 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP3C40F484C8N | EP3C40F484I7N | EP3C40F484C7N | EP3C40U484C6N | EP3C120F484I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera (Intel PSG) |
| Package | 484-FBGA (UBGA) | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same | 484-FBGA - same |
| Logic Elements | 39,600 | 39,600 | 39,600 | 39,600 | 39,600 | 119,088 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 1,161,216 | 1,161,216 | 1,161,216 | 1,161,216 | 1,161,216 | 3,981,312 |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 126 | 126 | 126 | 126 | 126 | 288 |
| PLLs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| User I/O Count | 331 | 331 | 331 | 331 | 331 | 284 |
| Speed Grade | C7 (commercial) | C8 (slower) | I7 (industrial temp) | C7 (commercial) | C6 (slower) | I7 (industrial temp) |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- Same logic resources as -C8 speed grade variant at higher Fmax (vs EP3C40F484C8N)
- Wider operating temperature range than commercial-only counterparts (vs EP3C40F484C7N)
- Three times the logic capacity within the same footprint (vs EP3C120F484I7N)
Design Notes
Estimated: at full LEs utilization (~85%) and 100 MHz internal clock, the EP3C40U484C7 dissipates roughly 0.6-0.8 W static plus dynamic power, requiring thermal relief via at least 4 thermal vias under the central BGA ball grid and copper pour on top/bottom layers. Without thermal management the junction temperature can exceed 100C in enclosed industrial enclosures, so for harsh environments prefer the EP3C40F484I7N industrial variant rated to +100C ambient.
Route all 331 user I/Os in matched-length groups for LVDS or DDR2 interfaces. Place 100 nF decoupling capacitors within 3 mm of every power pin and at least 10 uF bulk capacitors near each VCCINT, VCCA, and VCCIO island. Use a 4-layer stack-up with continuous ground planes below the BGA to provide return paths for high-speed signals and to suppress SSO noise.
Do not confuse EP3C40U484C7 (UBGA, commercial) with EP3C40F484C7N (FBGA, lead-free commercial) or EP3C40F484I7N (industrial temp) when ordering - ballmap is identical but temperature grade and finish differ. Also note that newer Quartus Prime versions no longer support Cyclone III; you must use Quartus II 13.0sp1 for synthesis, fitting, and programming file generation.
LVDS channels on the EP3C40U484C7 require 100 ohm differential impedance and matched P/N trace lengths within 150 mil. Place series termination resistors as close to the FPGA TX pins as possible. Use signal integrity simulation (HyperLynx or equivalent) to verify eye masks at the receiver before committing to PCB layout.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance stated on Altera/Intel Cyclone III product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable as this is an FPGA used in industrial, consumer, and communications equipment rather than automotive safety-critical paths.
