EP4CGX150CF23C7 - Cyclone IV GX FPGA, 149K LE | Intel
MPN: EP4CGX150CF23C7 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $438.91 | $438.91 |
| 10 | $395.02 | $3,950.20 |
| 100 | $351.13 | $35,113.00 |
| 500 | $307.24 | $153,620.00 |
| 1,000 | $263.35 | $263,350.00 |
EP4CGX150CF23C7 Overview
A Cyclone IV GX FPGA belongs to the programmable-logic family of semiconductors that sit between fixed-function ASICs and software-defined processors; FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) provide hardware-reconfigurable logic blocks, embedded memory, DSP blocks, and high-speed transceivers that let designers implement custom digital signal processing, bus interfacing, and parallel compute pipelines without a custom mask set. Within the broader taxonomy, an FPGA is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) -> logic IC -> integrated circuit. The 'GX' suffix designates the transceiver-equipped variant, while the non-transceiver Cyclone IV E family targets cost-sensitive parallel-logic applications.
Key features of the EP4CGX150CF23C7 include eight 3.125 Gbps transceiver channels, up to 6.6 Mbits of embedded SRAM, dedicated hardware multipliers for DSP, and a flexible clock management network with PLLs distributed across the device. The 484-FBGA package provides a high I/O-to-area ratio suitable for high-density board layouts. The part supports common interfaces such as PCI Express (Gen1) hard IP, Ethernet MAC, and DDR/DDR2/DDR3 SDRAM controllers via soft IP, making it a versatile platform for bridging, aggregation, and pre-processing roles.
Architecturally, Cyclone IV GX combines a logic fabric of adaptive logic modules (ALMs), M9K memory blocks, and 18x18 hardware multipliers, all stitched together by a hierarchical routing network. The integrated transceivers are hardened for protocols like PCIe, Serial RapidIO, and Gbps Ethernet, removing the need for external PHY ICs in many designs. Static power is engineered below 1.5 W for the full chip, while dynamic power scales with toggle rate and logic utilization.
Typical applications for the EP4CGX150CF23C7 include industrial video and image processing, motor control and industrial drives, telecom line cards, test and measurement instrumentation, PCIe adapter boards, and low-cost serial-protocol bridges. Designers often pair the part with external DDR2/DDR3 memory and a handful of serializer/deserializer (SerDes) companion ICs for full system designs.
When designing with this FPGA, pay close attention to transceiver reference-clock jitter, PCB layer stack-up for 3.125 Gbps routing, and proper decoupling of the 1.2 V core rail. Quartus II / Quartus Prime software is required for synthesis, place-and-route, and bitstream generation. Engineers should validate thermal performance because BGA packages concentrate heat at the die; thermal vias under the center balls are recommended.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in package-compatible alternatives, and practical design notes for the EP4CGX150CF23C7 that complement the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CGX150CF23C7 — 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 EP4CGX150CF23C7 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, RoHS Status, Operating Temperature, PLLs.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP4CGX150CF23C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$138.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX150CF23C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$135 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX150CF23C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$210 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX150CF23I7
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$192 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX150CF23I7N
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$171 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX150CF23C7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone IV GX |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 149,760 |
| Embedded Memory | 6,635,520 bits (6.6 Mbit) |
| Number of I/O | 270 |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Process Technology | 60 nm |
| Transceivers | 8 channels, up to 3.125 Gbps |
| Package | 484-ball FBGA (F23) |
| Speed Grade | C7 (commercial, 7th speed grade) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| RoHS Status | Non-Compliant (contains lead, per digchips.com) |
| Lead Free Status | Contains Lead |
| Number of Terminals | 484 |
| Terminal Form | Ball (BGA) |
| Programmable Logic Type | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| Hard IP Block | PCIe Gen1 (per Cyclone IV GX family) |
EP4CGX150CF23C7 484-ball fbga (f23) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CGX150CF23C7 (484-ball fbga (f23) 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 EP4CGX150CF23C7.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CGX150CF23C7 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Video and Image Processing, PCIe Adapter and Endpoint Cards, Industrial Motor Control and Drives, Telecom Line Cards and Serial Protocol Bridging, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Low-Cost Serial RapidIO and Ethernet Aggregation.
Industrial Video and Image Processing
The EP4CGX150CF23C7's 149,760 logic elements and 6.6 Mbit of embedded SRAM make it well suited to multi-channel HD video pipelines, where the FPGA absorbs frame buffering, color-space conversion, and on-screen display overlay in a single device. Its eight 3.125 Gbps transceivers accept serialized camera-link or SDI input without an external PHY, reducing BOM cost for machine-vision and broadcast equipment. Designers typically place the part between high-speed image sensors and a host processor, offloading pixel-rate processing.
Recommended
PCIe Adapter and Endpoint Cards
With its hard PCIe Gen1 IP block and eight integrated transceivers, the EP4CGX150CF23C7 is a natural fit for low-cost PCIe endpoint adapter cards such as data-acquisition, protocol-bridge, or storage-controller boards. The hard PCIe IP saves 20K-30K LEs compared to a soft implementation, freeing the fabric for application logic. Cyclone IV GX reference designs in Quartus Prime provide ready-to-use PCIe x1/x4 example projects, accelerating time-to-market for adapter-card designers targeting desktop or embedded hosts.
Recommended
Industrial Motor Control and Drives
The EP4CGX150CF23C7 is widely used in industrial AC and servo drive controllers, where its hardware multipliers accelerate field-oriented control (FOC) loops and its high I/O count drives multiple PWM channels, encoder interfaces, and safety I/O simultaneously. Industrial-grade variants in the same family (e.g., the I7 speed grade) extend the operating range to -40C to +100C, suitable for cabinet-mounted drives. The low static power of Cyclone IV GX also helps meet thermal budgets in sealed enclosures without active cooling.
Recommended
Telecom Line Cards and Serial Protocol Bridging
The eight 3.125 Gbps transceivers of the EP4CGX150CF23C7 make it a flexible bridge between legacy telecom interfaces (TDM, E1/T1, Serial RapidIO) and modern Ethernet or PCIe backplanes. A single FPGA can replace multiple ASSP bridge chips, simplifying line-card BOMs and shortening design cycles for low-volume telecom equipment. The Cyclone IV GX transceiver reference designs cover CPRI, OBSAI, and Serial RapidIO, allowing rapid prototyping of wireless base-station fronthaul links.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Test-and-measurement equipment such as logic analyzers, protocol exercisers, and arbitrary waveform generators leverages the EP4CGX150CF23C7's combination of high logic density and high-speed transceivers. The FPGA implements deep capture buffers, pattern generators, and custom protocol decoders that would be impractical in fixed-function ASICs. The 484-FBGA package's high ball count supports many parallel LVDS channels for high-pin-count logic-analyzer probes, while the transceivers handle multi-Gbps serial stimulus-response paths.
Recommended
Low-Cost Serial RapidIO and Ethernet Aggregation
The EP4CGX150CF23C7 can aggregate multiple Serial RapidIO or Gigabit Ethernet links into a single high-speed uplink, supporting fan-out topologies in embedded computing and aerospace applications. Its transceiver count and logic density are sufficient to implement small switches or bridges in firmware, eliminating dedicated switching ASICs in low-channel-count systems. Quartus Prime provides IP cores for SRIO and Ethernet MAC, which together with the device's transceivers enable compact aggregation designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CGX150CF23C7 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CGX150CF23C7N | EP4CGX150CF23C8 | EP4CGX150CF23C6N | EP4CGX150CF23I7 | EP4CGX150CF23I7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) |
| Package | 484-FBGA (F23) | 484-FBGA (F23) - same | 484-FBGA (F23) - same | 484-FBGA (F23) - same | 484-FBGA (F23) - same | 484-FBGA (F23) - same |
| Logic Elements | 149,760 | 149,760 | 149,760 | 149,760 | 149,760 | 149,760 |
| Embedded Memory | 6.6 Mbit | 6.6 Mbit | 6.6 Mbit | 6.6 Mbit | 6.6 Mbit | 6.6 Mbit |
| User I/O Count | 270 | 270 | 270 | 270 | 270 | 270 |
| Transceivers | 8 ch, up to 3.125 Gbps | 8 ch, up to 3.125 Gbps | 8 ch, up to 3.125 Gbps | 8 ch, up to 3.125 Gbps | 8 ch, up to 3.125 Gbps | 8 ch, up to 3.125 Gbps |
| Speed Grade | C7 (commercial, fastest) | C7 | C8 (one grade slower) | C6 (two grades slower) | I7 (industrial temp, same speed as C7) | I7 (industrial temp) |
| Temperature Range | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | -40C to +100C (industrial) | -40C to +100C (industrial) |
| RoHS Compliance | Non-compliant (contains lead) | Compliant (lead-free) | Non-compliant | Compliant (lead-free) | Non-compliant | Compliant (lead-free) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest speed grade (C7) in the 149K-LE 484-FBGA F23 device (vs EP4CGX150CF23C8)
- RoHS non-compliant variant still in active distribution (vs EP4CGX150CF23C7N)
- Highest-density transceiver-equipped Cyclone IV in F23 package (vs EP4CGX110CF23C7N)
Design Notes
The EP4CGX150CF23C7 is a 484-ball FBGA with 1.0 mm ball pitch. A 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane directly beneath the BGA is required for transceiver signal integrity. Use a via-in-pad (VIP) process with filled and plated-over vias for the center balls to escape the power and ground rails, and assign at least 30 percent of the balls to GND to provide a low-impedance return path for the high-speed transceivers.
Although Cyclone IV GX is marketed as low power, a design utilizing all eight transceivers at 3.125 Gbps plus high logic utilization can still draw 3 to 5 W. Place thermal vias in a 4x4 grid under the BGA center balls and connect them to internal copper pours to spread heat into the PCB. Without thermal vias, junction temperatures can exceed the 0C to +85C commercial limit at high ambient. For industrial variants, a small heatsink or airflow is recommended in sealed enclosures.
At 3.125 Gbps, the transceiver reference clock must have RMS jitter below 1 ps; use a dedicated low-jitter oscillator such as a SiTime differential SiT9102 or a crystal-driven PLL. Route transceiver pairs with intra-pair skew under 5 mil, 100 ohm differential impedance, and keep the channel length-matched within 20 mil. Do not route transceiver signals over power-plane splits; continuous ground beneath the pairs is mandatory.
Decouple the 1.2 V core rail with a bulk 220 uF polymer capacitor and a 10 uF ceramic near each of the four core power ball groups; high-frequency decoupling should use 0.1 uF and 1 nF X7R ceramics placed as close as possible to each ball group. Sequence the 1.2 V core after the 2.5 V/3.3 V auxiliary rails using a power-good signal to the FPGA's nCONFIG pin to ensure clean configuration.
Common mistakes include selecting the C7 speed grade when the design's timing closure would still pass at C8 (the slower grade is cheaper and more available), failing to specify the RoHS 'N' suffix for EU production (this non-N variant is RoHS non-compliant), and using JTAG-only configuration without an external flash for production boards. Always check the OPN suffix carefully: C7/I7/C8/C6 indicate speed and temperature grades, while the trailing N indicates lead-free / RoHS compliance.
Compliance Information
Per digchips.com: Lead Free Status 'Contains Lead' and RoHS Status 'RoHS Non-Compliant'. The 'N' suffix variant (EP4CGX150CF23C7N) is the RoHS-compliant / lead-free equivalent for the same die and package. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-mineral declarations not found in the verified data.