EP3SE50F780I3N - Stratix III E FPGA, 47.5K Logic Elements, 780-FBGA | Intel
MPN: EP3SE50F780I3N β Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1850 | $1,850.00 |
| 10 | $1780 | $17,800.00 |
| 100 | $1695 | $169,500.00 |
| 500 | $1620 | $810,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $1550 | $1,550,000.00 |
EP3SE50F780I3N Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a type of programmable logic device that allows engineers to implement custom digital circuits by configuring an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated hard IP blocks such as DSP slices, M20K memory blocks, transceivers, and PLLs. FPGAs sit within the semiconductor hierarchy: programmable logic -> logic IC -> integrated circuit, and serve as the highest-density reconfigurable digital fabric between microcontrollers and custom ASICs. Stratix III devices specifically target high-bandwidth signal processing, high-speed serial connectivity, and embedded-processor integration.
Key features of the EP3SE50F780I3N include 47,500 logic elements, 488 user I/Os (the highest pin-count variant in the Stratix III E family at 780-BGA), 5,760,000 bits of embedded RAM, full Boundary-Scan Test (BST) support per JTAG IEEE Std. 1149.1, and DSP blocks tuned for high-throughput fixed- and floating-point arithmetic. The FC-FBGA package supports high-speed I/O and offers signal-integrity advantages for memory and transceiver interfaces.
Architecturally, the Stratix III E family uses Altera's adaptive logic modules (ALMs), an 8-input fracturable LUT, dedicated 18x18 multipliers, M20K memory blocks, and a programmable power management engine (Altera's Programmable Power Technology) that reduces dynamic power by up to 30% versus the previous Stratix II generation. Device configuration is supported through JTAG IEEE 1149.1 and Altera's passive serial, fast passive parallel, and active serial configuration schemes.
Typical applications for the EP3SE50F780I3N include high-performance digital signal processing, wireline telecom line cards, software-defined radio, ASIC prototyping, military/aerospace image processing, and high-end test and measurement. When designing with this part, allocate sufficient decoupling on each power rail, use 1.0 V core and 0.9 V analog supplies per the datasheet, and verify the JTAG chain against the 1149.1 boundary-scan architecture before board bring-up.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family and cross-family drop-in alternatives, lifecycle guidance, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, supporting engineers who must replace, second-source, or qualify the EP3SE50F780I3N for new programs.
Drop-in alternatives for EP3SE50F780I3N 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 EP3SE50F780I3N (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Speed Grade, RoHS Status, Operating Temperature, Embedded Memory Bits.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP3SE50F780I3G
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1082.02 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP3SE50F780I3
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View Datasheet βEP3SE50F780C4N
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$1430 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP3SL50F780C4L
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$571.45 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP3SE110F780I3N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1950 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP3SE50F780I3N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Family | Stratix III E |
| Logic Elements | 47,500 |
| Embedded Memory Bits | 5,760,000 bits |
| User I/O Pins | 488 |
| Package | 780-ball FC-FBGA (Fine-pitch Chip-Scale BGA) |
| Process Technology | 65 nm |
| Core Voltage | 0.9 V |
| Operating Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Configuration Interface | JTAG IEEE Std. 1149.1 (BST), Passive Serial, Fast Passive Parallel, Active Serial |
| Boundary-Scan Support | Yes (IEEE 1149.1) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lifecycle Status | Last Time Buy (Stratix III family EOL announced) |
| Supply Type | Tray (per JAK Electronics listing) |
EP3SE50F780I3N 780-ball fc-fbga (fine-pitch chip-scale bga) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP3SE50F780I3N (780-ball fc-fbga (fine-pitch chip-scale 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 EP3SE50F780I3N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP3SE50F780I3N is suitable for 6 applications: High-Performance Digital Signal Processing, ASIC Prototyping and Emulation, Wireline Telecom Line Cards, Military and Aerospace Signal Processing, Software-Defined Radio Baseband, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
High-Performance Digital Signal Processing
The EP3SE50F780I3N's 47,500 logic elements and Stratix III E family's enhanced DSP blocks make it well-suited for high-throughput DSP workloads. The E variant packs more 18x18 multipliers and M20K memory blocks than the L variant, delivering higher DSP bandwidth for FFTs, FIR filters, and forward-error-correction pipelines. With 0.9 V core operation and industrial temperature grade, the part handles signal-processing cards in outdoor or ruggedized telecom platforms.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Emulation
The EP3SE50F780I3N is widely used as an ASIC prototyping vehicle because it offers 47,500 logic elements, 5,760,000 bits of embedded memory, and 488 user I/Os in a single FC-FBGA package. Engineers can map large RTL blocks, run gate-level simulations at hardware speed, and validate system behavior before committing to a mask set. The 780-ball BGA exposes enough I/O to mimic multi-million-gate ASICs in multi-FPGA partition flows.
Recommended
Wireline Telecom Line Cards
The EP3SE50F780I3N is a strong fit for wireline line cards handling packet classification, traffic shaping, and HDLC/framer glue logic. The 488 I/O pins of the 780-ball FC-FBGA expose enough LVDS and HSTL I/O for multi-port SGMII and SPI-4.2 interfaces. Industrial temperature grade and 0.9 V core operation suit central-office deployments, while the Stratix III E DSP blocks can accelerate packet-header parsing in software-defined networking equipment.
Recommended
Military and Aerospace Signal Processing
The EP3SE50F780I3N's industrial temperature grade and high DSP throughput suit radar, electronic-warfare, and secure-communications preprocessing. The 780-ball FC-FBGA provides extensive I/O for ADAS-style sensor fusion, beamforming front-ends, and real-time image processing. Its Altera heritage (now Intel) provides legacy design files across multiple programs, supporting long-lifecycle aerospace procurement with explicit Last Time Buy planning.
Recommended
Software-Defined Radio Baseband
The EP3SE50F780I3N accelerates SDR baseband processing by mapping digital down-conversion, channelization, and demodulation onto DSP slices and parallel logic. The 5,760,000-bit embedded memory buffer enables sample-rate conversion and pulse-shaping without external SRAM. The 780-ball FC-FBGA exposes LVDS and differential I/O for high-speed ADC/DAC interfaces typical in SDR front-ends.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
The EP3SE50F780I3N's high logic density and abundant memory suit test and measurement instruments such as protocol analyzers, BERT equipment, and arbitrary waveform generators. The 488 I/Os of the FC-FBGA package support parallel stimulus/response buses, while the embedded DSP blocks accelerate real-time correlation and pattern-matching. Industrial temperature grade suits laboratory and production-floor environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP3SE50F780I3N β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP3SE50F780I3G | EP3SE50F780C4N | EP3SL50F780C4L | EP3SE110F780I3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 780-ball FC-FBGA | 780-ball FC-FBGA (same) | 780-ball FC-FBGA (same) | 780-ball FC-FBGA (same) | 780-ball FC-FBGA (same) |
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Logic Elements | 47,500 | 47,500 | 47,500 | 47,500 | 110,000 |
| Family Variant | Stratix III E (DSP-enhanced) | Stratix III E (DSP-enhanced) | Stratix III E (DSP-enhanced) | Stratix III L (logic-optimized) | Stratix III E (DSP-enhanced) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (-40C to +100C) | Industrial (-40C to +100C) | Commercial (0C to +85C) | Commercial (0C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +100C) |
| Speed Grade | 3 | 3 | 4 (faster) | 4 | 3 |
| Core Voltage | 0.9 V | 0.9 V | 0.9 V | 0.9 V | 0.9 V |
Key Differentiators
- Stratix III E DSP-enhanced variant (vs EP3SL50F780C4L)
- Industrial temperature grade at speed grade 3 (vs EP3SE50F780C4N)
- Same-footprint upgrade path to 110K logic elements (vs EP3SE110F780I3N)
Design Notes
Decouple each Stratix III power rail (VCCINT 0.9 V, VCCIO 1.2-3.0 V per bank, VCCPD, VCCAUX, VCCBAT) with the capacitor network recommended in the Stratix III Power Management chapter. Place 0.1 uF and 10 uF ceramics within 100 mils of each pin pair. Use PowerPlay Early Power Estimator before layout to size the regulator; at maximum DSP throughput the EP3SE50F780I3N can draw 5-10 W from VCCINT alone. Sequence rails as documented in the datasheet to avoid latch-up.
The 780-ball FC-FBGA package requires a multilayer PCB with microvia stack-ups. Per JEDEC/IPC-9701, design 1-2-1 or 1-2-1-2-1 stack-ups with laser-drilled microvias on the top/bottom and filled/via-in-pad for the BGA pads. Match trace impedance to 50 ohm single-ended / 100 ohm differential for high-speed transceiver and LVDS pairs. Keep at least 4-6 ground return vias stitched around the BGA perimeter to provide a low-impedance return path.
Do not apply power before the configuration is complete and the CONF_DONE pin goes high - earlier transitions can corrupt the FPGA state. Wire the JTAG chain with TRST properly tied through the recommended resistor network; floating TRST can randomly put the device in test mode. When migrating from EP3SE50F780I3N to the EP3SE50F484I3N or another footprint, verify the Quartus II pin-out file (.pin) for every pin - same silicon, different package, different ball-to-pin mapping.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free status confirmed by Altera/Intel product page and DigiKey listing. AEC-Q100 not applicable (commercial/industrial FPGA, not automotive). Conflict-minerals compliance per Intel's CMRT disclosure.
