EP3SE260F1517C2N - Stratix III E FPGA 255K LE 1517-FCBGA | Intel
MPN: EP3SE260F1517C2N ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5800 | $5,800.00 |
| 10 | $5500 | $55,000.00 |
| 100 | $5200 | $520,000.00 |
| 250 | $4950 | $1,237,500.00 |
| 500 | $4750 | $2,375,000.00 |
EP3SE260F1517C2N Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a reprogrammable logic device that combines configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated hardware IP such as block RAM, DSP blocks, and high-speed transceivers. FPGAs sit between general-purpose processors and ASICs in the semiconductor hierarchy, offering parallel processing capability, hardware-timed determinism, and post-production reconfigurability. Within Intel's programmable-logic family, the Stratix III E series targets high-performance applications such as 40G/100G wireline transceivers, ASIC prototyping, and high-throughput digital signal processing, where logic density, memory bandwidth, and pin count dominate the design trade-offs.
Key specifications include 10200 Logic Array Blocks (LABs) in the Mouser and Arrow datasheet listings, up to 16.67 Mbits of embedded memory, embedded DSP blocks supporting variable-precision multiplication, and dedicated clock management via PLLs. The device integrates high-speed serial transceivers optimized for backplane and chip-to-chip links, and supports LVDS, LVTTL, LVCMOS, and SSTL I/O standards. A rich set of intellectual property cores is available through Intel's Quartus II design suite, simplifying the implementation of memory controllers, PCIe endpoints, and protocol stacks.
Typical applications include 40G/100G optical transport line cards, ASIC prototyping and emulation, high-performance digital signal processing for radar and beamforming, broadcast video processing pipelines, and military/aerospace signal processing. Designers select this part when logic density, memory capacity, and I/O count are the primary constraints and when migration to a later Intel FPGA family such as Stratix IV, V, or 10 is not yet justified by the application's power budget.
When designing with this part, plan for a multi-rail power architecture (1.1 V core, 2.5 V/3.3 V I/O, PLL analog supply) and verify DDR3 memory interface timing in the Quartus II TimeQuest analyzer before committing the PCB layout. Thermal management at full logic utilization is critical; a heatsink and forced-air cooling are typical for production deployments.
Drop-in alternatives for EP3SE260F1517C2N — 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 EP3SE260F1517C2N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Family, Process Node, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP3SE260F1517C2G
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2050 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3SE260F1517C2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15800 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP3SE260F1517C2N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Stratix III E |
| Logic Elements | 255,000 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 10,200 |
| Total Memory Bits | 16,672,768 |
| Maximum User I/Os | 976 |
| Core Voltage | 1.1 V |
| Process Technology | 65 nm |
| Maximum Core Frequency | 600 MHz |
| Package | 1517-ball FC-BGA |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Grade | Commercial (0C to +85C) |
| Configuration Interface | Passive Serial, Fast Passive Parallel, JTAG, Active Serial |
| Lead Free | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Speed Grade | C2 |
EP3SE260F1517C2N 1517-ball fc-bga Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP3SE260F1517C2N (1517-ball fc-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 EP3SE260F1517C2N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP3SE260F1517C2N is suitable for 6 applications: 40G/100G Optical Transport Line Card, ASIC Prototyping and Emulation, Radar and Beamforming DSP, Broadcast Video Processing, Industrial Automation and Machine Vision, Military and Aerospace Signal Processing.
40G/100G Optical Transport Line Card
The EP3SE260F1517C2N is well matched to 40G and 100G optical transport line cards because its integrated multi-gigabit transceivers support backplane and chip-to-chip serial links, and its 16.67 Mbit embedded memory provides buffering for MAC-layer, OTN framer, and traffic-manager functions. The 255,000 logic elements accommodate packet-processing pipelines, FEC encoders, and OTU/ODU mapping in a single device. Designers use the device alongside external SFP+/QSFP+ optical modules; the 976 user I/Os permit a wide external data-path without bridge chips. Reference designs in Quartus II simplify OTU4/100G Ethernet MAC implementation.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Emulation
The 255,000 logic elements and 10,200 LABs of the EP3SE260F1517C2N allow partitioning of mid-size ASIC RTL into multiple Stratix III E devices for in-system emulation. The 16.67 Mbit embedded memory maps into on-chip SRAM models and transaction recorders, while 976 user I/Os support multi-FPGA interconnect topologies. The C2 speed grade maintains the timing margin required for clock-by-clock ASIC-equivalent verification. Quartus II's TimeQuest analyzer provides gate-level timing reports compatible with the ASIC sign-off flow.
Recommended
Radar and Beamforming DSP
The EP3SE260F1517C2N's dedicated variable-precision DSP blocks and 16.67 Mbit embedded memory enable real-time FFT, pulse compression, and digital beamforming for phased-array radar systems. At 600 MHz core operation, each DSP block performs 18x18 or 27x27 multiplications per cycle, supporting 40+ Gops aggregate throughput when pipelined. The 976 user I/Os connect to multiple ADC/DAC channels and LVDS sample streams from the antenna array. Designers exploit the deterministic hardware timing to meet the latency budget of adaptive beamforming algorithms.
Recommended
Broadcast Video Processing
The EP3SE260F1517C2N handles uncompressed 3G-SDI and 4K/UHD video processing pipelines, including deinterlacing, scaling, frame-rate conversion, and overlay composition. Its 255,000 logic elements implement multi-channel video processing in a single device, while the 16.67 Mbit embedded memory serves as line and frame buffers. The C2 speed grade meets the 148.5 MHz pixel clock requirement of 1080p60, and 976 user I/Os interface to HDMI, SDI, and DisplayPort bridge chips. Quartus II video IP cores reduce time-to-market for broadcast OEMs.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and Machine Vision
The EP3SE260F1517C2N is suitable for high-throughput machine-vision systems that aggregate multiple Camera Link or CoaXPress camera streams and run real-time image processing. The 16.67 Mbit embedded memory holds line and tile buffers, and the dedicated DSP blocks accelerate convolution, edge detection, and pattern-matching kernels. The 976 user I/Os support parallel LVDS and HSMC breakout configurations, simplifying multi-camera topologies. Deterministic latency and the C2 speed grade are critical for closed-loop motion-control applications where vision drives actuator feedback.
Recommended
Military and Aerospace Signal Processing
The EP3SE260F1517C2N supports cryptographic, secure-radio, and electronic-warfare subsystems where the 255,000 logic elements implement waveform synthesis, channelization, and encryption pipelines. The 16.67 Mbit embedded memory provides packet and symbol buffering, while integrated transceivers drive secure datalinks. Designers select the commercial grade for ground-station equipment and the industrial-grade -I variants for airborne platforms. Quartus II supports the IP security and tamper-detection features required for defense applications.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP3SE260F1517C2N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP3SE260F1517C2G | EP3SE260F1517C2 | EP3SE260F1152C2N | EP3SE110F1152C2N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 1517-ball FC-BGA | 1517-ball FC-BGA - same | 1517-ball FC-BGA - same | 1152-ball FC-BGA | 1152-ball FC-BGA |
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Logic Elements | 255,000 | 255,000 | 255,000 | 255,000 | 110,000 |
| Memory Bits | 16,672,768 | 16,672,768 | 16,672,768 | 16,672,768 | 9,732,096 |
| Maximum User I/Os | 976 | 976 | 976 | 744 | 744 |
| Core Voltage | 1.1 V | 1.1 V | 1.1 V | 1.1 V | 1.1 V |
| Speed Grade | C2 | C2 | C2 | C2 | C2 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Pb-free) | Compliant (Pb-free) | Non-RoHS (SnPb) | Compliant (Pb-free) | Compliant (Pb-free) |
Key Differentiators
- Same 1517-ball FC-BGA footprint with finish-code-only difference (vs EP3SE260F1517C2G)
- Highest I/O count in the Stratix III E family (vs EP3SE260F1152C2N)
- Maximum logic density for the Stratix III E speed grade (vs EP3SE110F1152C2N)
Design Notes
The EP3SE260F1517C2N requires a multi-rail power architecture: 1.1 V core, 2.5 V or 3.3 V I/O banks, and a dedicated 2.5 V PLL analog supply. Use a sequencer such as the LTC2923 to enforce power-up order, since driving I/O before the core rail can trigger latch-up. Decoupling follows the Stratix III PowerPlay recommendations: bulk caps on each rail, ceramic 0.1 uF/1 uF/10 uF mix per bank, and a 1 mF reservoir cap per Quartus II PowerPlay Early Power Estimator result.
Estimated: at full logic utilization with typical toggle rates the EP3SE260F1517C2N dissipates approximately 15 to 20 W. The 1517-ball FC-BGA has a theta_JA around 0.5 C/W with the recommended heatsink and 200 LFM airflow. Without a heatsink the device exceeds commercial junction temperature (100C) at moderate utilization. A copper-spreader lid, thermal interface material, and forced-air cooling are mandatory for production deployments.
The 1517-ball FC-BGA requires a high-density PCB stack-up: microvia build-up (e.g. 4-2-4 or 6-2-6) with 1.0 mm ball pitch escape. Differential pairs for transceivers and external memory must be length-matched to within 25 mils to meet DDR3 and OTU4 timing. Use the Quartus II Pin Planner to assign pins per bank and the IBIS model for signal-integrity simulation before committing the layout. Match the reference-stackup in the Stratix III device handbook to the PCB fabricator's process capability.
Do not select the C2 speed grade if a higher-grade part is available - the C2 grade is the slowest commercial tier and limits timing margin. Confirm that the Quartus II version supports the device (version 13.1 with legacy device support is the last release). For Last Time Buy production, secure a multi-year inventory buffer and identify a drop-in alternative such as the EP3SE260F1517C2G before issuing the BOM.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance indicated by the 'N' suffix in the part number. AEC-Q100 not applicable for FPGAs. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals statements should be requested from Intel or the franchised distributor for the specific date code.
