EP4CE30F29I8L - 28.8K Logic Elements Cyclone IV E FPGA | Intel
MPN: EP4CE30F29I8L β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $73.11 | $73.11 |
| 10 | $67.5 | $675.00 |
| 100 | $58.95 | $5,895.00 |
| 500 | $49.2 | $24,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $41.85 | $41,850.00 |
EP4CE30F29I8L Overview
A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is a semiconductor integrated circuit whose digital logic, interconnect, and routing are defined by a user-loaded configuration bitstream rather than at the factory. In the system hierarchy it sits between ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) and general-purpose CPUs: an ASIC offers the highest performance-per-watt for a fixed function, while an FPGA trades silicon efficiency for in-system reprogrammability, parallel hardware execution, and time-to-market advantages. The Cyclone IV E family targets cost-sensitive volume applications where the flexibility of programmable logic outweighs the per-unit cost savings of a custom ASIC.
Key features include 28,848 logic elements organized into 1,803 logic array blocks (LABs), 608 Kbits (66,528 bytes) of embedded RAM, 66 embedded 18x18 multipliers (DSP blocks), four general-purpose PLLs, and 20 global clock networks. The 8-input adaptive logic module (ALM) plus 9 Kbit M9K memory blocks give a balanced logic-to-memory ratio suited to digital signal processing, control, and glue-logic functions.
The architecture combines an SRAM-based configuration fabric with on-chip DSP blocks, dual-purpose LVDS-compatible I/O, and hardened memory controllers, allowing designers to implement custom datapaths, bus bridges, and video/industrial interfaces without external glue logic. Configuration is loaded via JTAG, active serial (AS), or passive parallel (PP) modes from a low-cost serial flash.
Typical applications include industrial motor control and machine vision, video processing and display bridges, telecommunications line cards, automotive driver assistance platforms, and PCI Express endpoint cards. The combination of high logic density, embedded multipliers, and PCI Express hard IP makes the EP4CE30F29I8L especially suitable for mid-volume, mid-complexity designs.
When designing with this device, respect the 1.2 V core power-up sequencing requirement (VCCINT before VCCA/VCCIO) and provide a 100 MHz reference clock to any PLL used for DDR/PCIe. Decoupling must follow the Quartus Prime power distribution network guidelines for FBGA-780, and configuration mode pins (MSEL) must be tied correctly for AS x1/x4 or JTAG boot.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CE30F29I8L 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 EP4CE30F29I8L (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Core Voltage (VCCINT), Configuration Modes, Mounting Type, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP4CE30F29I7N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$47.85 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP4CE30F29C8N
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP4CE30F29C7N
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP4CE30F29C8LN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP4CE22F17I7N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$43.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βEP4CE30F29I8L Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | Cyclone IV E |
| Family | Cyclone IV E |
| Logic Elements | 28,848 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 1,803 |
| Embedded Memory | 608,256 bits (66,528 bytes / 594 Kbit) |
| Embedded 18x18 Multipliers | 66 |
| General Purpose PLLs | 4 |
| User I/O Pins | 532 |
| I/O Banks | 8 |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.2 V |
| Auxiliary / I/O Voltages | 2.5 V / 3.0 V / 3.3 V |
| Package | 780-BGA (FBGA-780) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free) |
| Configuration Modes | JTAG / Active Serial (AS) / Passive Parallel (PP) |
| Process Node | 60 nm low-power |
| PCI Express Hard IP | Yes (PIPE Gen1) |
EP4CE30F29I8L 780-bga (fbga-780) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CE30F29I8L (780-bga (fbga-780) 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 EP4CE30F29I8L.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CE30F29I8L is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Machine Vision & Image Processing, Video Bridge & Display Controllers, PCI Express Endpoint Cards, Telecom Line Cards & Protocol Bridging, Automotive Driver Assistance Platforms.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP4CE30F29I8L is well-suited to multi-axis industrial motor control designs because it combines 28,848 logic elements with 66 embedded 18x18 hardware multipliers, allowing parallel execution of field-oriented control (FOC) loops for 3-phase PMSM and BLDC motors. Industrial servo drives typically require 1-2 DSP-rich control loops plus encoder decoding logic; the FPGA's 4 PLLs and 532 user I/O pins comfortably handle incremental encoder, resolver, and Hall-sensor interfaces simultaneously. Compared to a microcontroller-DSP combination, a single Cyclone IV E reduces BOM cost and lets the engineer implement custom fault-handling state machines. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating and FBGA-780 thermal dissipation profile meet IEC 61800 drive-standard requirements. Reference design: Cyclone IV E + TI DRV8301 three-phase gate driver.
Recommended
Machine Vision & Image Processing
The EP4CE30F29I8L's 66 multipliers and 594 Kbits of embedded RAM are sufficient to implement mid-resolution image pipelines - Sobel edge detection, color-space conversion, and histogram equalization - on a streaming basis from a parallel CMOS sensor. The 532 user I/O pins can absorb 24-bit RGB video buses plus dedicated control signals, and the four PLLs generate independent pixel clocks for camera, memory, and display domains. Industrial cameras often use Cyclone IV E as the pre-processing front-end before forwarding compressed data to a host SoC via MIPI CSI-2 bridge or GbE. The FBGA-780 package's fine-line BGA pitch supports controlled-impedance routing required for LVDS camera links.
Recommended
Video Bridge & Display Controllers
For video format conversion bridges (HDMI/DVI/VGA to LVDS, DisplayPort to MIPI DSI, etc.), the EP4CE30F29I8L provides the logic density to host multi-format color-space converters and timing controllers in a single chip. The 8-input ALM efficiently implements pixel-pipeline logic, while the 594 Kbits of block RAM store line buffers for scaling and deinterlacing operations. Designers typically instantiate Altera's VIP (Video and Image Processing) suite, which is free for Cyclone IV E devices. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature range allows deployment in kiosks, digital signage, and factory HMI panels without additional thermal management.
Recommended
PCI Express Endpoint Cards
The EP4CE30F29I8L includes a hardened Gen1 PIPE PCI Express block, enabling x1/x2/x4 endpoint designs without external PHY silicon. With 28,848 logic elements the part can implement DMA engines, custom register sets, and protocol layers (vendor-specific, custom-ASIC-like) for PCIe add-in cards used in data acquisition, software-defined radio, and industrial PCs. Reference design path: Cyclone IV E + PCIe x4 connector + 100 MHz reference clock to transceiver PLL. Compared to a soft PCIe IP on a smaller FPGA, the hard block saves 5-8K logic elements and simplifies timing closure.
Recommended
Telecom Line Cards & Protocol Bridging
Telecom line cards and protocol-conversion equipment benefit from the EP4CE30F29I8L's 28,848 logic elements, which can implement TDM-to-Ethernet bridges, custom SERDES framer logic, and bit-level protocol state machines. The 532 user I/O pins accommodate multiple SFP cages, MDIO management interfaces, and backplane serial links simultaneously. Industrial temperature rating makes the part suitable for outdoor enclosures (RRH, small-cell, base-station line cards). Reference design: Altera AN-531 (TDM bridging) and AN-486 (E1/T1 framer) demonstrate feasible implementations on Cyclone IV E.
Recommended
Automotive Driver Assistance Platforms
Although the EP4CE30F29I8L is not AEC-Q100 qualified, the industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating and Cyclone IV E's proven automotive use cases (rear-view camera overlays, sensor fusion pre-processors) make it a viable choice for development platforms and pre-production driver-assistance systems. The 66 multipliers and 594 Kbits of block RAM can host simple radar FFT pipelines or stereo-vision disparity computation, with 532 user I/O pins for multi-sensor aggregation. Reference design: Altera AN-583 radar pre-processor. For production automotive, engineers should select AEC-Q100-qualified parts or migrate to Cyclone V / Arria V families.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CE30F29I8L β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CE30F29I7N | EP4CE30F29C8N | EP4CE30F29C7N | EP4CE30F29C8LN | EP4CE22F17I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Package | 780-BGA (FBGA-780) | 780-BGA (FBGA-780) - same | 780-BGA (FBGA-780) - same | 780-BGA (FBGA-780) - same | 780-BGA (FBGA-780) - same | 256-BGA (FBGA-256) - smaller |
| Logic Elements | 28,848 | 28,848 | 28,848 | 28,848 | 28,848 | 22,320 (-23%) |
| Embedded Memory | 608,256 bits | 608,256 bits | 608,256 bits | 608,256 bits | 608,256 bits | 608,256 bits |
| User I/O | 532 | 532 | 532 | 532 | 532 | 153 |
| Multipliers (18x18) | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Speed Grade | 8 | 7 (faster) | 8 | 7 (faster) | 8 | 7 (faster) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest I/O density in the EP4CE30 family (vs EP4CE30F29 (all package variants))
- Industrial temperature range with mid-tier speed grade (vs EP4CE30F29C8N)
- Larger logic and I/O budget vs EP4CE22 (vs EP4CE22F17I7N)
Design Notes
Estimated: For a typical Cyclone IV E design at 25% toggle rate and 50% resource utilization, dynamic core current is approximately 250-400 mA from VCCINT (1.2 V). The FBGA-780 thermal pad must be soldered to a continuous ground plane with at least 8 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 1 mm pitch) to keep theta_JA below 15 C/W. Designers should follow the 'Cyclone IV Device Handbook, Power Distribution Network Design' chapter and place 0402 0.1 uF + 10 uF decoupling within 5 mm of every VCCINT/VCCIO pin group.
The FBGA-780 package uses a 1.0 mm ball pitch with 0.6 mm pad diameter - PCB fabrication must specify laser-drilled or microvia stack-ups. Per IPC-7352 guidelines, a 4-6 layer stack with 0.5 oz copper on outer layers and 1 oz on inner layers is recommended for 50 ohm controlled-impedance routing of the LVDS/PCIe clocks. Maintain at least 8 mil clearance from BGA balls for signal escape routing; 2 signal rows between power/ground vias is the practical minimum escape pattern.
Do not skip configuration mode pin (MSEL) tie-offs. The EP4CE30F29I8L's MSEL[3:0] must be hardwired to select active serial (AS) fast or standard mode, otherwise the device will fail to configure. Another common pitfall: VCCINT must reach stable 1.2 V before VCCA (2.5 V) ramps; reverse sequencing can trigger POR latch-up. Designers should also confirm the JTAG TCK does not exceed 33 MHz in AS x1 mode.
LVDS pairs on the EP4CE30F29I8L require matched-length routing (delta less than 50 mil for data, 25 mil for clock-data pairs) and 100 ohm differential impedance. Place a 100 ohm termination resistor across the LVDS receiver pins at the FPGA side; do not place series AC-coupling capacitors on the LVDS clock pair unless required by the protocol. For PCIe Gen1 hard IP, use Intel's pinout planner tool to assign the transceiver bank correctly - the F29 variant has specific GXB clock pin assignments.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Intel/Altera product page. Industrial temperature grade (I-suffix) does not imply AEC-Q100; for production automotive use, migrate to qualified parts. Halogen-free status not stated in the verified web data.
