EP4CGX15BF14C6 - Cyclone IV GX FPGA, 14.4K LEs, 169-BGA | Intel
MPN: EP4CGX15BF14C6 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $34.2 | $342.00 |
| 100 | $28.9 | $2,890.00 |
| 500 | $24.1 | $12,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $21.5 | $21,500.00 |
EP4CGX15BF14C6 Overview
What is an FPGA? A field-programmable gate array is a programmable logic device that contains an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and I/O resources that can be customized after manufacturing. Cyclone IV GX belongs to Intel's (formerly Altera's) low-cost, low-power FPGA family, with GX variants adding integrated transceivers for high-speed serial protocols. FPGAs sit between fixed-function ASICs and microcontrollers in the design hierarchy, offering hardware-level parallelism with full design reconfigurability.
Key features include up to 72 user I/O pins, 3.125 Gbps transceiver channels, embedded multipliers (DSP blocks), and a 1.2 V core supply with multi-voltage I/O support. The device supports common interfaces such as PCIe Gen1, Gigabit Ethernet, and DDR2 SDRAM controllers. The 169-ball FBGA package balances board area with thermal performance and is widely supported by mainstream PCB fabrication processes.
The Cyclone IV GX architecture combines a logic fabric with hard IP blocks for memory controllers and transceivers, eliminating the need for external PHY components in many designs. Compared to the non-GX Cyclone IV E, the GX variant trades some logic capacity for integrated serial transceivers, which reduces BOM cost and board complexity.
Typical applications include industrial motor control, video surveillance equipment, low-cost PCIe endpoint cards, communications line cards, and automotive infotainment prototypes. The integrated transceivers make it especially attractive for any design requiring point-to-point high-speed serial links without an external PHY.
Designers should use the Quartus Prime design software for synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closure. The FBGA-169 footprint requires careful PCB layout with microvia technology on standard 4-layer boards, and signal integrity simulation is recommended for transceiver channels operating above 1 Gbps.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in compatible FPGAs in the same package, and design considerations not collected in any single manufacturer document, giving engineers a single reference for evaluation and sourcing decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CGX15BF14C6 — 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 EP4CGX15BF14C6 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Operating Temperature, Transceivers, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP4CGX15BF14C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14I7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$23.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14A7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$31.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$20.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$28.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C6 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone IV GX |
| Logic Elements | 14,400 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 900 |
| Total Memory Bits | 552,960 bits |
| User I/O Pins | 72 |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Process Technology | 60 nm |
| Package | FBGA-169 (14 x 14 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (Commercial) |
| Speed Grade | C6 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 |
| Typical Max Frequency | 472.5 MHz |
EP4CGX15BF14C6 fbga-169 (14 x 14 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CGX15BF14C6 (fbga-169 (14 x 14 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) 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 EP4CGX15BF14C6.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CGX15BF14C6 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Video Surveillance and Image Processing, Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Cards, Communications Line Cards, Automotive Infotainment Prototyping, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
Industrial Motor Control
The EP4CGX15BF14C6 fits industrial motor control applications thanks to its 14,400 logic elements, 72 user I/Os, and integrated 3.125 Gbps transceivers for encoder feedback or networked communication. With 60 nm low-power process technology and 1.2 V core voltage, the device delivers deterministic logic processing for PWM generation, FOC (field-oriented control) algorithms, and safety interlocks. The C6 speed grade provides timing margin for 472.5 MHz operation, supporting multiple simultaneous control loops. The FBGA-169 footprint is compatible with industrial-grade PCB stackups including ENIG finish and 4-layer FR-4 substrates commonly used in motor drive boards.
Recommended
Video Surveillance and Image Processing
The EP4CGX15BF14C6 suits video surveillance pipelines because its 14,400 logic elements and embedded multipliers handle real-time image preprocessing, motion detection, and basic video analytics. The integrated transceivers support high-speed camera link interfaces (CamLink, CoaXPress lite) and network uplinks, while 72 user I/Os accommodate parallel sensor interfaces such as BT.656 or LVDS. With 552,960 bits of embedded memory, the FPGA buffers multiple image frames for difference detection. The FBGA-169 14x14 mm footprint fits compact surveillance camera mainboards while leaving room for image sensor and power management ICs.
Recommended
Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Cards
The EP4CGX15BF14C6 is well matched to PCIe Gen1 endpoint designs because the Cyclone IV GX family integrates PCIe hard IP cores alongside 3.125 Gbps transceivers, eliminating external PHY devices. With 14,400 logic elements, the FPGA handles protocol logic, DMA engines, and modest custom register maps for x1 Gen1 endpoint cards. The C6 speed grade provides comfortable timing margin for the PCIe 2.5 Gbps physical layer, while the FBGA-169 footprint supports standard add-in card form factors. Designers pair this part with downstream serializer/deserializer interfaces or external DDR2 memory for buffering.
Recommended
Communications Line Cards
The EP4CGX15BF14C6 addresses communications line card designs through its integrated 3.125 Gbps transceivers, which support protocols such as Gigabit Ethernet, Serial RapidIO, and basic SONET/SDH interfaces. With 72 user I/Os, designers connect to TDM buses, SPI/I2C management interfaces, and external PHY or framer devices. The 60 nm low-power process keeps board thermal design manageable in multi-port line cards where multiple FPGAs share a backplane. The FBGA-169 package supports standard telecom PCB stackups and is compatible with industrial temperature grade variants for outdoor deployment.
Recommended
Automotive Infotainment Prototyping
The EP4CGX15BF14C6 is attractive for automotive infotainment prototyping due to its transceiver-rich architecture, supporting MOST bus, Ethernet AVB, and LVDS display interfaces commonly used in cabin electronics. With 14,400 logic elements, the device handles video scaling, audio mixing, and HMI state machines. While the C6 speed grade is commercial temperature (0C to +85C), designers can migrate to the EP4CGX15BF14A7N automotive variant on the identical FBGA-169 footprint for production. Integrated multipliers accelerate audio DSP effects without external processor loading.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
The EP4CGX15BF14C6 fits test and measurement instrumentation because its 3.125 Gbps transceivers capture high-speed serial data streams while 72 user I/Os interface with analog front ends, ADCs, and DACs. The 14,400 logic elements implement custom trigger logic, deep state machines, and protocol-aware decoders for protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, and parallel bus analysis. With 552,960 bits of embedded memory, the FPGA buffers captured samples before forwarding to a host processor. The FBGA-169 footprint supports benchtop and portable instrument form factors, and the C6 speed grade provides timing margin for precision timing applications.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CGX15BF14C6 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CGX15BF14C8N | EP4CGX15BF14I7N | EP4CGX15BF14A7N | EP4CGX15BF14C7N | EP4CGX15BF14C6N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Package | FBGA-169 (14x14 mm) | FBGA-169 - same | FBGA-169 - same | FBGA-169 - same | FBGA-169 - same | FBGA-169 - same |
| Logic Elements | 14,400 | 14,400 | 14,400 | 14,400 | 14,400 | 14,400 |
| Speed Grade | C6 | C8 (slower) | I7 (industrial) | A7 (automotive) | C7 (slightly slower than C6) | C6 (same) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | -40C to +100C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Automotive) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) |
| User I/O Pins | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Total Memory Bits | 552,960 | 552,960 | 552,960 | 552,960 | 552,960 | 552,960 |
| RoHS / Lead-Free | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant |
| Unit Price (qty 1, as of 2026-09-10) | $38.50 | $34.80 | $42.10 | $48.50 | $36.90 | $39.20 |
Key Differentiators
- C6 speed grade provides timing margin advantage over C8 in same package (vs EP4CGX15BF14C8N)
- Commercial temperature grade reduces cost vs industrial/automotive variants (vs EP4CGX15BF14I7N)
- Integrated 3.125 Gbps transceivers eliminate external PHY (vs EP4CE40F29C8N)
Design Notes
The FBGA-169 package uses 1.0 mm ball pitch, which is compatible with standard 4-layer PCB fabrication using microvia (laser-drilled) stackup technology. Designers should follow Intel's Cyclone IV GX hardware design guidelines for escape routing - typically 4 traces between balls using 0.1 mm via pitch. Thermal vias under the package center (BGA thermal pad array) are required to meet the 1.2 V core power dissipation budget at full utilization.
The Cyclone IV GX core operates at 1.2 V with multi-voltage I/O support (1.2 V, 1.5 V, 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V). Designers must provide separate regulator rails for VCCINT (core), VCCA (PLL analog), and VCCIO (I/O banks) with proper decoupling per the Cyclone IV GX power management application note. A bulk capacitance of at least 100 uF plus 0.1 uF/10 nF high-frequency decoupling near each power pin is recommended.
For transceiver channels operating above 1 Gbps, controlled-impedance routing (100 ohm differential) with matched length pairs is mandatory. According to Intel's Cyclone IV GX transceiver user guide, AC-coupling capacitors are required on each serial link and must be placed near the FPGA pin. Reference clocks to transceivers need dedicated low-jitter sources to meet PCIe and Gigabit Ethernet jitter budgets.
Common pitfalls when designing with the EP4CGX15BF14C6 include: (1) confusing C6/I7/A7 speed/temperature grades when ordering - always verify the suffix; (2) omitting JTAG pull-up resistors on TCK/TMS/TDI which can cause configuration failures; (3) using non-MSL3 handling procedures for the FBGA-169 which has MSL3 moisture sensitivity; (4) underestimating configuration time when designing system bring-up timing.
The EP4CGX15BF14C6's commercial temperature grade (0C to +85C) limits the device to benign thermal environments. For enclosed industrial cabinets, junction temperature can rise rapidly when utilization exceeds 70%. Thermal simulation using the Cyclone IV GX power estimator is recommended before committing to PCB layouts. Estimated junction-to-ambient thermal resistance from the package datasheet must be derated based on copper pour area and airflow.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Altera/Intel product page. AEC-Q100 qualification applies only to the EP4CGX15BF14A7N automotive variant. Conflict minerals reporting compliant per Intel policy.
