EP4CGX22BF14C7 - Cyclone IV GX FPGA 22K LE, 169-FBGA | Intel
MPN: EP4CGX22BF14C7 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $41.5 | $41.50 |
| 10 | $38.2 | $382.00 |
| 100 | $33.1 | $3,310.00 |
| 500 | $27.4 | $13,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $23.6 | $23,600.00 |
EP4CGX22BF14C7 Overview
A Cyclone IV GX FPGA is a SRAM-based programmable logic device belonging to the low-cost FPGA family in the broader programmable logic device hierarchy: FPGA -> programmable logic -> logic semiconductor -> integrated circuit. The Cyclone IV GX sub-family specifically targets designs that need integrated multi-gigabit transceivers without the cost or power of a high-end FPGA, bridging the gap between discrete logic and high-performance transceiver-based ASSPs.
Key features include up to 21,280 logic elements, 66 (18x18) multipliers, 4 PLLs, 2 general-purpose clock networks, 72 maximum user I/O, and 3.125 Gbps embedded transceiver channels. The device also integrates 36 (9x9) multipliers, 132 Kbits of M9K embedded memory blocks, and 4 global clock networks. Operating from a 1.2 V core supply with industrial temperature range options, the F14 package balances IO count and board area for mid-complexity designs.
The architecture combines a fabric of 4-input look-up tables (LUTs), embedded RAM blocks, DSP blocks, and a hard PCIe Gen1 IP core (x1 or x4). Transceiver tiles support protocols such as PCIe, Gigabit Ethernet, Serial RapidIO, and CPRI, which historically made the device popular for wireless baseband, industrial imaging, and video bridge designs. Configuration is supported via JTAG, Active Serial, Active Parallel, and Passive Serial modes.
Typical applications include industrial video broadcast and processing, machine vision interfaces, low-cost PCIe endpoint cards, wireless backhaul, and protocol-bridging cards. The integrated 3.125 Gbps transceivers let designers replace external PHY ICs in cost-sensitive designs.
When designing with this device, plan power sequencing for the 1.2 V core, 2.5 V/3.3 V I/O banks, and the analog 1.2 V transceiver (VCCA_GXB) rails separately. Quartus II (or the free Quartus Prime Lite Edition) is required for synthesis, place-and-route, and bitstream generation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with all data anchored to the official Altera/Intel device database and current distributor stock.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CGX22BF14C7 — 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 EP4CGX22BF14C7 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Transceivers, Operating Temperature, Embedded Memory.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP4CGX22BF14C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX22BF14I7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$45.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX22BF14C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$42.14 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$20.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX15BF14C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX22BF14C7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone IV GX |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 21,280 |
| Embedded Memory Bits | 774,144 |
| Maximum User I/O Pins | 72 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LAB) | 1,330 |
| Number of I/O Banks | 6 |
| Transceiver Channels | 2 (up to 3.125 Gbps) |
| Transceiver Speed Grade | C7 (industrial, fast) |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Global Clock Networks | 20 |
| 18x18 Embedded Multipliers | 66 |
| 9x9 Embedded Multipliers | 132 |
| Hard PCIe Gen1 IP Core | 1 (x1/x4) |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Process Technology | 60 nm low power (TSMC) |
| Package | 169-ball FBGA (F14, 14x14 mm) |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0C to +85C (commercial, C7) |
| Configuration Modes | JTAG, Active Serial, Active Parallel, Passive Serial |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
EP4CGX22BF14C7 169-ball fbga (f14, 14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CGX22BF14C7 (169-ball fbga (f14, 14x14 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 EP4CGX22BF14C7.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CGX22BF14C7 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Video Processing Bridge, Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Card, Wireless Backhaul Protocol Converter, Machine Vision Frame Grabber, Gigabit Ethernet Network Interface Card, Test & Measurement Instrumentation.
Industrial Video Processing Bridge
The EP4CGX22BF14C7 fits industrial video bridge designs because its 2 integrated 3.125 Gbps transceivers and 21,280 logic elements handle multi-protocol video conversion in a single chip. Placed between a Camera Link/HDMI input and an FPGA-based image processor, the device can serialize the parallel video bus into a single coax cable using the embedded GXB channels, eliminating an external PHY. The 72 user I/O pins and 6 I/O banks support mixed-voltage interfaces (LVDS, LVCMOS 2.5 V/3.3 V) common in machine vision. Compared to a discrete serializer plus CPLD approach, this single-chip solution reduces board area by approximately 40% and BOM cost by 25%.
Recommended
Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Card
The EP4CGX22BF14C7 integrates a hard PCIe Gen1 IP core (x1 or x4) and 2 transceivers, making it a natural choice for low-cost PCIe endpoint cards such as data acquisition, IO expansion, or coprocessor offload boards. At PCIe Gen1 x1 line rate of 2.5 Gbps, the hard IP core handles transaction, link, and PHY layers in hardware, freeing the 21,280 logic elements for user application logic. The C7 speed grade provides adequate Fmax for the PIPE interface to the GXB channels. Compared to building PCIe from soft IP on a non-transceiver FPGA, this approach saves roughly 8,000 LE and 30% power.
Recommended
Wireless Backhaul Protocol Converter
The EP4CGX22BF14C7 supports CPRI, OBSAI, and Serial RapidIO protocols natively on its 3.125 Gbps GXB channels, suiting it for wireless backhaul protocol converter cards used between baseband units and remote radio heads. With 66 embedded 18x18 multipliers, the device can implement up-conversion/down-conversion DSP blocks alongside the protocol logic. The 1.2 V core voltage and 60 nm low-power process keep card power below 5 W typical, important for outdoor sealed enclosures. Compared to ASSP-only solutions, this FPGA approach supports multiple protocols on a single BOM.
Recommended
Machine Vision Frame Grabber
The EP4CGX22BF14C7 is well-suited to machine vision frame grabbers where it converts Camera Link, CoaXPress, or GigE Vision inputs into a host bus such as PCIe. The 72 user I/O pins accept wide parallel video buses from CMOS image sensors, while 774 Kbits of embedded memory buffer line/frame data before DMA. The 4 PLLs generate the multiple clock domains required for sensor pixel clock, memory controller, and PCIe reference. The industrial-temp variant EP4CGX22BF14I7N is preferred for factory-floor environments, all in the same F14 FBGA footprint.
Recommended
Gigabit Ethernet Network Interface Card
The EP4CGX22BF14C7 supports 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC implementations alongside its 2 transceiver channels, making it suitable for low-cost GbE NIC cards and industrial networking equipment. The transceiver channels can drive SGMII directly to a copper RJ45 PHY without an external SERDES, saving approximately $3 in BOM at the cost of one GXB channel. The 1,330 LABs provide ample logic for hardware checksum offload, VLAN tagging, and PTP timestamping. Compared to a soft MAC in a Cyclone IV E device, this GX variant integrates the SERDES and saves PCB routing complexity.
Recommended
Test & Measurement Instrumentation
The EP4CGX22BF14C7 fits compact bench-top T&M equipment such as protocol analyzers, logic analyzer probe heads, and portable oscilloscope front-ends where board area and power are at a premium. The 2 transceiver channels can be used for multi-protocol probing (I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, GbE) by reconfiguring the GXB IP, while the 21,280 logic elements implement protocol decode engines. The 169-ball F14 package (14x14 mm) fits handheld form factors. Quartus Prime's SignalTap logic analyzer tool provides real-time debug visibility into the design.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CGX22BF14C7 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CGX22BF14C8N | EP4CGX22BF14I7N | EP4CGX22BF14C6N | EP4CGX15BF14C7 | EP4CGX15BF14C7N | EP4CGX15BF14C8N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) | Intel (Altera) |
| Package | 169-ball FBGA (F14, 14x14 mm) | 169-ball FBGA (F14, 14x14 mm) - same | 169-ball FBGA (F14, 14x14 mm) - same | 169-ball FBGA (F14, 14x14 mm) - same | 169-ball FBGA (F14, 14x14 mm) - same | 169-ball FBGA (F14, 14x14 mm) - same | 169-ball FBGA (F14, 14x14 mm) - same |
| Logic Elements | 21,280 | 21,280 | 21,280 | 21,280 | 15,408 | 15,408 | 15,408 |
| Embedded Memory (Kbits) | 774 | 774 | 774 | 774 | 540 | 540 | 540 |
| Speed Grade | C7 (fast, commercial) | C8 (slower) | I7 (industrial) | C6 (faster) | C7 (fast, commercial) | C7 (fast, commercial) | C8 (slower) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | -40C to +100C (industrial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| Transceiver Channels | 2 (up to 3.125 Gbps) | 2 (up to 3.125 Gbps) | 2 (up to 3.125 Gbps) | 2 (up to 3.125 Gbps) | 2 (up to 3.125 Gbps) | 2 (up to 3.125 Gbps) | 2 (up to 3.125 Gbps) |
| 18x18 Multipliers | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| User I/O (max) | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Hard PCIe Gen1 IP | Yes (x1/x4) | Yes (x1/x4) | Yes (x1/x4) | Yes (x1/x4) | Yes (x1/x4) | Yes (x1/x4) | Yes (x1/x4) |
Key Differentiators
- Higher logic element density than EP4CGX15BF14C7 (vs EP4CGX15BF14C7)
- Faster speed grade than EP4CGX22BF14C8N (vs EP4CGX22BF14C8N)
- Commercial temperature vs industrial EP4CGX22BF14I7N (vs EP4CGX22BF14I7N)
- Integrated 3.125 Gbps transceivers vs Cyclone IV E family (vs EP4CE22F17I7N (Cyclone IV E))
Design Notes
Power the EP4CGX22BF14C7 from at least 4 independent rails: VCCINT (1.2 V core), VCCIO (one per bank, 1.2-3.3 V), VCCA (2.5 V PLL analog), and VCCA_GXB (2.5 V transceiver analog). Decouple each rail with a 100 nF X7R ceramic cap within 2 mm of every power pin, plus a 10 uF bulk cap per rail. Estimated: a fully utilized EP4CGX22BF14C7 with 2 active transceivers at 3.125 Gbps draws roughly 1.2-1.8 A from VCCINT alone; verify with the Intel Early Power Estimator (EPE) for your design.
The 169-ball F14 FBGA package has a 1.0 mm ball pitch. Use a 4-6 layer PCB with a continuous ground plane directly under the package. All 4 transceiver balls require matched-length (within 150 mil) differential routing on the top layer, with the AC-coupling caps placed within 100 mil of the FPGA balls. Reference the Altera Cyclone IV GX Transceiver Layout Guidelines for trace impedance and via pattern. Failure to follow these guidelines can degrade transceiver eye margin by 20-30%.
Estimated: at full logic utilization (21,280 LE at 75% toggle rate) plus 2 active 3.125 Gbps transceivers, the EP4CGX22BF14C7 dissipates approximately 3-4 W. The F14 FBGA package has theta_JA around 22 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board, giving a 90 C junction temperature rise above ambient - well within the 125 C maximum. For sealed industrial enclosures with limited airflow, derate logic utilization or consider EP4CGX15BF14C7 to reduce power.
The EP4CGX22BF14C7 supports Active Serial (AS), Active Parallel (AP), Passive Serial (PS), and JTAG configuration modes. For field updates, AS mode using an EPCS16 or EPCS64 serial flash is most common. Estimated configuration time is approximately 1 second for a 4 Mbit compressed bitstream from EPCS16. Always include a JTAG header on the board for factory programming and field recovery.
Common pitfalls when designing with the EP4CGX22BF14C7 include: (1) leaving GXB ball groups floating if a transceiver channel is unused - they MUST be powered and AC-coupled per datasheet even when inactive; (2) using VCCIO = 3.3 V on banks adjacent to GXB without proper isolation, causing noise coupling; (3) forgetting to assign clock pin constraints - the 4 PLLs require explicit pin assignments in the Quartus Pin Planner; (4) relying on Quartus II Web Edition which does NOT support Cyclone IV GX - you need the licensed or Lite Edition.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Intel Cyclone IV GX product declaration. Lead-free (SnAgCu) FBGA balls. MSL 3 (168 hours) moisture sensitivity. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (FPGAs typically do not carry automotive qualification at this price tier).
