EP3C55U484C7 - Cyclone III FPGA, 55K LEs, 484-FBGA | Intel
MPN: EP3C55U484C7 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $34.2 | $342.00 |
| 100 | $29.85 | $2,985.00 |
| 500 | $26.4 | $13,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $23.1 | $23,100.00 |
EP3C55U484C7 Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a programmable logic device containing configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated hard IP such as block RAM (BRAM), DSP blocks, PLLs, and high-speed transceivers. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, FPGAs sit above general-purpose MCUs in design flexibility and below ASICs in unit-cost efficiency, making them ideal for parallel processing, custom datapaths, and hardware-accelerated computation. The Cyclone III family specifically targets cost-sensitive, power-conscious applications such as industrial control, video processing, and communications infrastructure where ASIC NRE costs are prohibitive.
Key features of the EP3C55U484C7 include 327 maximum user I/O pins, 4 PLLs, support for external memory interfaces including DDR/DDR, DDR2, and QDR II SRAM, and built-in configuration options such as Active Serial (AS), Passive Serial (PS), and JTAG. The device provides up to 20 global clock networks and supports hot-socketing for in-system reprogrammability without board-level shutdown.
Typical applications span industrial motor control, video surveillance and image processing pipelines, software-defined radio (SDR) baseband, low-cost ASIC prototyping, and embedded PCIe bridging. The high logic density combined with embedded DSP blocks and BRAM makes it suitable for digital signal processing functions where deterministic latency is required.
When designing with this FPGA, ensure proper power sequencing on the VCCINT (1.2 V) and VCCA/VCCIO rails, and place decoupling capacitors close to the BGA balls per Altera's recommended PCB layout guidelines. Designers must also provision for a JTAG download cable header for configuration and debugging. As of 2026-09-09, distributors including DigiKey and Octopart list the EP3C55U484C7 with active inventory.
Drop-in alternatives for EP3C55U484C7 — 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 EP3C55U484C7 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Logic Elements, Speed Grade, Family, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP3C55U484C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$119.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C55U484C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$274.0589 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C55U484C6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$102.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C40U484C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$71.04 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C40U484C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$119.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3C55U484C7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | Cyclone III |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 55,856 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 3,488 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 2,396,160 |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 156 |
| Maximum User I/O Pins | 327 |
| Number of PLLs | 4 |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 437 MHz |
| Process Technology | 65 nm CMOS |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| I/O Bank Voltages | 1.2 V / 2.5 V / 3.0 V / 3.3 V |
| Package | 484-ball UBGA (Ultra-FineLine BGA) |
| Package Dimensions | 19 x 19 mm |
| Ball Pitch | 0.80 mm |
| Speed Grade | C7 (Commercial) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (Commercial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EP3C55U484C7 Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | I/O — User I/O bank 1 |
| Pin B1 | I/O — User I/O bank 1 |
| Pin AA1 | I/O — User I/O bank 8 |
| Pin AB1 | I/O — User I/O bank 8 |
| Pin AA22 | I/O — User I/O bank 8 |
| Pin AB22 | I/O — User I/O bank 8 |
| Pin VCCINT_PINS | VCCINT — Core 1.2 V supply pins |
| Pin VCCA_PINS | VCCA — Analog PLL 2.5 V supply pins |
| Pin VCCIO_BANK1 | VCCIO1 — I/O bank 1 supply (1.2/2.5/3.0/3.3 V) |
| Pin VCCIO_BANK8 | VCCIO8 — I/O bank 8 supply (1.2/2.5/3.0/3.3 V) |
| Pin GND_PINS | GND — Common ground |
| Pin TCK | TCK — JTAG clock |
| Pin TMS | TMS — JTAG mode select |
| Pin TDI | TDI — JTAG data in |
| Pin TDO | TDO — JTAG data out |
| Pin nCONFIG | nCONFIG — Configuration reset (active low) |
| Pin nSTATUS | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active low) |
| Pin CONF_DONE | CONF_DONE — Configuration complete |
| Pin MSEL0 | MSEL0 — Configuration mode select bit 0 |
| Pin MSEL1 | MSEL1 — Configuration mode select bit 1 |
| Pin MSEL2 | MSEL2 — Configuration mode select bit 2 |
| Pin DCLK | DCLK — Configuration clock input |
| Pin DATA0 | DATA0 — Configuration data bit 0 |
Typical Applications
EP3C55U484C7 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Video Surveillance and Image Processing, Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Baseband, ASIC Prototyping and Emulation, Embedded Display and Touch Controllers, Industrial Communication Gateways.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP3C55U484C7 fits industrial motor control due to its 156 embedded 18x18 multipliers for field-oriented control (FOC) math and 327 user I/O pins to interface PWM outputs, encoder feedback (QEP), and resolver inputs. The 55K logic elements and 2.4 Mbit BRAM handle multi-axis control loops with deterministic cycle times. Its 65 nm low-power CMOS process reduces heat dissipation in enclosed IP65 enclosures, while the industrial 0-85C temperature grade tolerates factory-floor environments. The 4 PLLs generate the precise clock trees required for synchronized multi-axis sampling at 10-20 kHz, and 437 MHz maximum frequency enables single-cycle MAC operations at the control loop rate. The 19x19 mm UBGA footprint suits compact integrated drive electronics (IDE) form factors.
Recommended
Video Surveillance and Image Processing
The EP3C55U484C7 is well-suited to multi-channel video surveillance systems processing D1 to 720p streams from multiple cameras. Its 55K logic elements handle H.264 baseline encode at 30 fps per channel with 4-channel simultaneous capability, while the 156 DSP blocks accelerate DCT/IDCT and motion estimation kernels. The 2.4 Mbit embedded memory functions as line buffers and reference frame cache, eliminating external SRAM in compact designs. DDR/DDR2 external memory interfaces support main-stream video frame buffers. The 327 user I/O pins accommodate parallel video input from CMOS sensors, HDMI/DVI outputs, and Ethernet MAC connections for IP cameras. Low-power 65 nm technology is critical for fanless PoE-powered designs where the FPGA shares thermal budget with image sensor and power supply.
Recommended
Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Baseband
The EP3C55U484C7 serves as an SDR baseband processor for narrowband to mid-bandwidth waveforms up to 20 MHz instantaneous bandwidth. Its 156 18x18 multipliers implement FFT (up to 1024-point) and channelization filters, while 2.4 Mbit BRAM holds FFT working sets and channelization filter taps. 437 MHz core clock rate supports real-time DDC/DUC at typical LTE/WiFi symbol rates. The 4 PLLs derive sample clocks for ADC/DAC interfaces and symbol-rate clocks independently. The device supports LVDS and LVPECL I/O standards on the 327 user I/Os for direct ADC/DAC connection. Low static power of the 65 nm Cyclone III process is advantageous in battery-backed tactical and portable SDR equipment where total system energy budget is constrained.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Emulation
The EP3C55U484C7 provides a high-volume, low-cost platform for ASIC prototyping and pre-silicon validation of moderate-complexity ASIC designs. With 55K logic elements, 2.4 Mbit embedded memory, and 156 DSP blocks, it accommodates RTL designs of approximately 20-25K ASIC gates with full visibility through JTAG. The 327 user I/O pins enable breakout of standard interfaces (DDR2, USB, Ethernet MAC) for system-level test. Multi-FPGA partitioning with EP3C55 devices creates scalable ASIC prototypes that run at 50-100 MHz for software bring-up and verification. Quartus Prime supports incremental compilation and time-budget closure for iterative refinement. The mature Cyclone III tooling ecosystem includes reference flows for ARM Cortex-M and Cortex-R emulation used in IoT ASIC development.
Recommended
Embedded Display and Touch Controllers
The EP3C55U484C7 is suitable for embedded display controllers driving TFT-LCD panels up to 1366x768 (WXGA) resolution with capacitive touch overlay processing. Its 55K logic elements implement timing controller (TCON) signal generation, color depth enhancement, and adaptive backlight dimming algorithms. The 2.4 Mbit BRAM serves as frame buffer for partial-screen updates and gesture recognition scratch memory. 327 user I/Os handle RGB/LVDS panel interfaces, I2C/SPI touch controller links, and backlight driver control. Low power consumption supports always-on display applications in industrial HMI panels. The C7 speed grade supports 60-75 Hz refresh rates at WXGA resolution through the dedicated PLLs that generate pixel clocks independently from the system control logic.
Recommended
Industrial Communication Gateways
The EP3C55U484C7 functions as a multi-protocol industrial gateway supporting EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, and Modbus TCP simultaneously. Its 55K logic elements implement the protocol stacks in hardware for deterministic cycle times below 100 us, critical for industrial automation. The 4 PLLs generate independent clocks for each Ethernet MAC interface running at 100 Mbit/s or 1 Gbit/s. The 156 DSP blocks accelerate any signal processing for line monitoring and predictive maintenance. The 327 user I/Os interface to RS-485, RS-232, CAN, and SPI-based sensor buses. Extended 0-85C temperature range and mature 65 nm technology ensure long-term availability for factory-automation OEMs requiring 10-15 year product lifecycles.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP3C55U484C7 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP3C55U484C8N | EP3C55U484C6N | EP3C55U484C6 | EP3C40U484C8N | EP3C40U484C7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | UBGA-484 (19x19 mm) | UBGA-484 (19x19 mm) - same | UBGA-484 (19x19 mm) - same | UBGA-484 (19x19 mm) - same | UBGA-484 (19x19 mm) - same | UBGA-484 (19x19 mm) - same |
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Logic Elements | 55,856 | 55,856 | 55,856 | 55,856 | 39,600 | 39,600 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 2,396,160 | 2,396,160 | 2,396,160 | 2,396,160 | 1,161,216 | 1,161,216 |
| 18x18 Multipliers | 156 | 156 | 156 | 156 | 126 | 126 |
| Max User I/O | 327 | 327 | 327 | 327 | 331 | 331 |
| Speed Grade | C7 (~437 MHz) | C8 (~370 MHz) | C6 (~500 MHz) | C6 (~500 MHz) | C8 (~370 MHz) | C7 (~437 MHz) |
| PLLs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V | 1.2 V |
Key Differentiators
- Highest available performance within same-package UBGA-484 family (vs EP3C55U484C8N)
- Maximum logic resources for UBGA-484 footprint (vs EP3C40U484C7N)
- Lower power versus Cyclone IV/10LP at similar density (vs EP4CE55F23I7N)
Design Notes
The EP3C55U484C7 requires separate supply rails for VCCINT (1.2 V core), VCCA (2.5 V analog PLL), and VCCIO (1.2/2.5/3.0/3.3 V per bank). Power sequencing must follow Altera's recommended sequence: VCCINT first, then VCCA, then VCCIO. Each VCCINT ball should have a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor placed within 50 mil trace length, plus bulk decoupling per Altera's PDN design guide. Estimated quiescent current at 1.2 V core is approximately 350-450 mA depending on logic utilization.
The 484-ball UBGA at 0.80 mm pitch requires PCB design rules with via-in-pad recommended for breakout routing. Use 4-6 layer stack-up with dedicated ground and power planes. Escape routing must use dog-bone or via-in-pad patterns; signal trace impedance of 50 ohm single-ended should be maintained for LVDS pairs. Power plane islands should be created for VCCINT and VCCA domains to reduce switching transients. Thermal vias under the BGA are recommended even for commercial temperature designs.
Common pitfalls with the EP3C55U484C7 include: (1) forgetting to strap MSEL pins for the correct configuration mode (AS/PS/JTAG), which causes configuration failures; (2) neglecting configuration CRC and error checking, leading to silent bit errors; (3) undersized cooling for designs using >60% logic utilization with sustained switching; (4) using nCONFIG reset without proper pull-up to VCCIO; (5) failing to enable the JTAG IDCODE instruction before board bring-up, complicating debug. Always verify configuration mode and JTAG chain integrity before logic debug.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Intel/Altera product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - not intended for automotive. Lead-free ball finish.
