EP4CGX15BF14C8 - 14.4K LEs Cyclone IV GX FPGA | Intel | 169-LBGA
MPN: EP4CGX15BF14C8 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $528.59 | $528.59 |
| 10 | $489 | $4,890.00 |
| 100 | $432.5 | $43,250.00 |
| 500 | $388.75 | $194,375.00 |
| 1,000 | $351.2 | $351,200.00 |
EP4CGX15BF14C8 Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a programmable logic device that combines configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated silicon blocks such as transceivers, BRAM, and DSP slices. FPGAs sit in the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices (PLD) -> FPGA -> SRAM-based FPGA -> low-power FPGA. Cyclone IV GX devices are SRAM-based, volatile-configuration FPGAs requiring an external configuration memory (typically EPCS or EPCQ serial flash) at every power-up.
The 3.125 Gbps embedded transceivers are the most distinctive feature of the Cyclone IV GX family compared with the transceiver-less Cyclone IV E devices, enabling protocols such as PCIe Gen1, Gbps Ethernet, and serial RapidIO without external PHY chips. The 60 nm process and 1.2 V core rail keep the device's dynamic power low for the logic density provided. The 14 mm x 14 mm 169-ball FBGA footprint balances high I/O count with PCB-routing feasibility for two-layer to six-layer boards, which is unusual for an FPGA of this density.
Typical applications include industrial video bridging, machine-vision interfaces, low-cost PCIe endpoint cards, motor-control and factory-automation controllers, and wireless backhaul baseband preprocessing where a small number of high-speed serial lanes are required alongside general-purpose logic. The integrated transceivers and PCI Express hard IP allow a single-chip implementation that would otherwise require an external PHY plus a smaller FPGA.
When designing with this device, plan for a JTAG or AS configuration interface and observe the 169-ball BGA escape rules in PCB layout - trace-impedance-controlled routing is required on transceiver channels. Engineers should also evaluate migration to Cyclone 10 GX or Cyclone V GX for newer designs; the Cyclone IV GX family is mature but is no longer the recommended choice for new product development. Always verify temperature-grade and lead-free compliance against your end-equipment requirements before volume commitment.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in package-compatible alternatives, and practical design considerations not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CGX15BF14C8 — 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 EP4CGX15BF14C8 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Operating Temperature, Transceivers, Embedded 18x18 Multipliers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP4CGX15BF14C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$20.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$28.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C6
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX22BF14C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14A7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$31.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone IV GX |
| Logic Elements (LEs) | 14,400 |
| Embedded Memory Bits | 552,960 bits |
| Transceivers | Up to 72 (3.125 Gbps, family maximum) |
| Process Technology | 60 nm |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Package | 169-LBGA, 14 mm x 14 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Device Type | FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per DigiKey listing) |
EP4CGX15BF14C8 169-lbga, 14 mm x 14 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CGX15BF14C8 (169-lbga, 14 mm x 14 mm 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 EP4CGX15BF14C8.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CGX15BF14C8 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Video Bridge / Machine Vision Interface, Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Card, Factory Automation / Motor Controller, Wireless Backhaul Baseband Preprocessing, Test & Measurement Front-End, LED Display and Video Wall Controller.
Industrial Video Bridge / Machine Vision Interface
The EP4CGX15BF14C8 is well suited for industrial video bridging and machine-vision interface cards where Camera Link, CoaXPress, or GigE Vision protocols must be serialized into a host PCIe link. Its integrated 3.125 Gbps transceivers enable a single-chip implementation of the serial-interface PHY, while 14,400 logic elements are sufficient for image-line buffers, pixel-processing pipelines, and protocol-framing state machines. The 169-ball LBGA's 0.8 mm pitch is compatible with standard 4-layer FR-4 stack-ups, keeping the per-board cost low for high-volume industrial cameras. Power consumption stays below 1.5 W typical at moderate toggle rates, allowing fan-less enclosure designs.
Recommended
Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Card
For low-cost PCIe Gen1 x1 endpoint cards, the EP4CGX15BF14C8 integrates the PCIe hard IP and a 2.5 Gbps capable transceiver in a single chip, eliminating an external PHY. With 552,960 bits of embedded memory, the device can host DMA descriptor FIFOs and small data buffers without external SRAM. The commercial 0C-85C temperature range covers server-room and most industrial-PC environments. Designers should allocate at least 4 user I/O banks for the PCIe x1 lane plus sideband signals (PERST#, REFCLK+, REFCLK-) and verify reference-clock jitter against the PCIe CEM specification.
Recommended
Factory Automation / Motor Controller
Factory automation controllers and motor-drive front-ends leverage the EP4CGX15BF14C8's combination of 14,400 LEs for state-machine and PID-loop logic, plus integrated transceivers for EtherCAT or SERCOS III master interfaces. The 1.2 V core and selectable I/O standards allow direct connection to 3.3 V logic-level encoders and 5 V tolerant signal chains through external resistors. The 169-ball LBGA package supports industrial -40C-100C screening by selecting the I-grade variant (EP4CGX15BF14I8), which shares the same footprint. Hardware-multiplier blocks enable field-oriented control (FOC) math without soft-DSP IP overhead.
Recommended
Wireless Backhaul Baseband Preprocessing
In small-cell and wireless-backhaul equipment, the EP4CGX15BF14C8 performs baseband preprocessing such as CPRI framing, scrambling, and rate matching before forwarding to a baseband SoC. Its transceivers handle up to 3.125 Gbps CPRI line rates, removing the need for an external SerDes chip and reducing BOM cost by $5-$15 per board. The 14,400 LEs accommodate the CPRI PHY layer and basic framer-MAC bridging. For higher CPRI rates (4.9 Gbps, 9.8 Gbps), the Cyclone V GX or Cyclone 10 GX family is recommended; the EP4CGX15BF14C8 is best suited for LTE small-cell rather than 5G NR deployments.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Front-End
Test-and-measurement instruments such as benchtop oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and logic analyzers use the EP4CGX15BF14C8 as a high-speed signal-conditioning front-end. Its transceivers capture and reserialize multi-Gbps data streams (USB 3.0, SATA, PCIe Gen1) for analysis by an embedded host processor. The 14,400 LEs are sufficient for protocol-decoding state machines and trigger logic, while 552,960 bits of M9K memory buffer pre-trigger samples. The compact 14 mm x 14 mm BGA enables portable, USB-powered form factors with hand-held enclosures.
Recommended
LED Display and Video Wall Controller
LED display controllers and video-wall processors use the EP4CGX15BF14C8 to receive video over HDMI, DisplayPort, or proprietary serial links and re-drive large LED panels with high refresh rates. The transceivers handle incoming serial video streams at up to 3.125 Gbps, while 14,400 LEs drive the LED-matrix multiplexing logic. The 169-ball LBGA's manageable 0.8 mm pitch supports a 2-layer to 4-layer PCB for low-cost controller cards. For 4K@60 LED walls requiring more bandwidth, the Cyclone V GX or Cyclone 10 GX device family is recommended over the EP4CGX15BF14C8.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CGX15BF14C8 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CGX15BF14C7N | EP4CGX15BF14C7 | EP4CGX15BF14C6N | EP4CGX15BF14C6 | EP4CGX22BF14C8N | EP4CGX15BF14A7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Package | 169-LBGA (14x14 mm) | 169-LBGA (14x14 mm) - same | 169-LBGA (14x14 mm) - same | 169-LBGA (14x14 mm) - same | 169-LBGA (14x14 mm) - same | 169-LBGA (14x14 mm) - same family | 169-LBGA (14x14 mm) - same |
| Logic Elements | 14,400 | 14,400 | 14,400 | 14,400 | 14,400 | 21,280 (+48%) | 14,400 |
| Speed Grade | C8 | C7 | C7 | C6 | C6 | C8 | A7 (automotive) |
| Transceivers | Up to 72 (3.125 Gbps family max) | Same (3.125 Gbps family max) | Same | Same | Same | Same family, more transceivers possible | Same |
| Process / Core Voltage | 60 nm / 1.2 V | 60 nm / 1.2 V | 60 nm / 1.2 V | 60 nm / 1.2 V | 60 nm / 1.2 V | 60 nm / 1.2 V | 60 nm / 1.2 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | 0C to +85C | -40C to +125C (automotive) |
| Lead-free / RoHS | RoHS (per DigiKey listing) | Yes (N suffix = Pb-free) | Likely (verify lot) | Yes | Likely (verify lot) | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated 3.125 Gbps transceivers in 14 mm x 14 mm BGA (vs Cyclone IV E (no transceivers))
- Commercial temperature range (vs EP4CGX15BF14A7N (automotive -40C to +125C))
- 14,400 LEs at lower cost than higher-density options (vs EP4CGX22BF14C8N (21,280 LEs))
Design Notes
The EP4CGX15BF14C8 requires a monotonic 1.2 V core ramp with a 0.1 ms/V to 100 ms/V slew rate. Use a sequencer such as the EN63A0QI or a discrete MOSFET-based soft-start circuit to meet this requirement. Decoupling: place 100 nF X7R 0402 capacitors within 5 mm of every VCCINT/VCCA pin, and bulk-decouple each power rail with a 10 uF X5R 0805 ceramic plus a 47 uF tantalum or polymer at the regulator output. Estimated: total inrush at cold-start may reach 2 A for 100 us; size the input fuse accordingly.
Transceiver channels on Cyclone IV GX require 100-ohm differential impedance with intra-pair length matching of <150 mil (0.15 mm tolerance) for 3.125 Gbps. Reference clock traces must be length-matched to within 50 mil of the relevant transceiver clock pin, with a guard ground via stitch every lambda/20. Use via-in-pad or microvia technology for BGA escape on a 4-layer FR-4 stack-up; standard through-via stubs degrade the 3.125 Gbps eye by 8-12%.
Do not mistake the F14 suffix for a 14-ball BGA - it denotes the 169-ball 14x14 mm FineLine BGA (the 'F' = FineLine, '14' = a family code). Verify the pin-count against the package diagram before PCB layout. Also note that the C8 speed grade requires Quartus II 13.0 or later for timing-closure; older Quartus versions do not include C8 timing models and will reject the device.
PCIe Gen1 endpoint implementations on Cyclone IV GX require the on-chip PCIe hard IP block to be instantiated with the altgx_reconfig block during bring-up. Without proper reconfig-controller initialization, the transceiver does not lock to the PCIe 2.5 Gbps line rate and link training fails. Allocate at least 1.2K LEs for the PCIe soft IP wrapper, leaving 13.2K LEs for user logic. JTAG chain: include the JTAG header on every prototype board - configuration failure is the most common bring-up issue and JTAG is the fastest debug path.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per DigiKey product listing. AEC-Q100 not applicable for commercial-grade C8 variant; automotive screening available on A7N option. Halogen-free and conflict-mineral status not explicitly stated in the verified distributor data - confirm with manufacturer for compliance-critical applications.
