EP4CGX22CF19C8N - Cyclone IV GX FPGA 22K LE | Intel | Altera
MPN: EP4CGX22CF19C8N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $51.87 | $51.87 |
| 10 | $47.5 | $475.00 |
| 100 | $42.1 | $4,210.00 |
| 500 | $36.8 | $18,400.00 |
| 1,000 | $32.45 | $32,450.00 |
EP4CGX22CF19C8N Overview
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device built around a matrix of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and I/O cells that can be electrically rewired to implement arbitrary digital circuits. FPGAs occupy the middle ground between fixed-function ASICs (lower cost at volume, no flexibility) and microcontrollers (software-defined, lower throughput): they deliver hardware-level parallelism and latency for DSP, signal processing, and protocol bridging while remaining fully reprogrammable. The Cyclone IV GX family specifically adds hardened 3.125 Gbps transceiver lanes and a PCIe hard IP block, making it suited to cost-sensitive wireline and industrial bridging designs.
Key specifications include 21,280 logic elements arranged into 1,330 CLB-style logic array blocks (LABs), 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers (~138 Gbps aggregate DSP throughput), and 56 Cyclone IV GX transceivers supporting data rates from 600 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps. The device supports DDR2 SDRAM interfaces up to 200 MHz and includes 4 PLLs for clock generation and synthesis. Configuration is supported through JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) and active serial/parallel flash, with built-in decompression and encryption engines.
The Cyclone IV GX architecture combines a fine-grained LAB structure with embedded multiplier blocks and dedicated memory blocks (M9K) that can be configured as RAM, ROM, or FIFO. The transceiver block embeds serializer/deserializer (SERDES), word alignment, 8B/10B encoding, and pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) generation, eliminating the need for external PHY chips in many serial protocols. The 1.0 mm pitch LBGA package provides 150 user I/Os while remaining compatible with standard 4-layer PCB assembly.
Typical applications include industrial vision and machine vision interfaces (Camera Link, CoaXPress front-ends), low-cost PCIe endpoint cards, motor control and factory automation bridges, video processing and display controllers, software-defined radio front-ends, and portable/wireless test equipment. The transceiver-rich architecture is particularly well suited to designs that previously required a dedicated PHY or an expensive mid-range FPGA.
When designing with this device, pay close attention to transceiver reference clock distribution, decoupling of the analog transceiver supply pins (VCCA_PLL, VCCA_TX/RX), and signal-integrity routing of the high-speed serial lanes. The Quartus II design suite (legacy) or Quartus Prime is required for synthesis, place-and-route, and bitstream generation, and a JTAG programmer is needed for in-system configuration.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CGX22CF19C8N — 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 EP4CGX22CF19C8N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Transceivers, Embedded Memory, PLLs, Speed Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP4CGX22CF19C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$53.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX22CF19C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$31.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX22CF19C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$26.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX22CF19C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX22CF19C8N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Device Family | Cyclone IV GX |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 21,280 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 1,330 |
| Total Memory Bits | 774,144 bits |
| Embedded Memory Blocks | M9K blocks, 36 total |
| Embedded 18x18 Multipliers | 36 |
| User I/Os | 150 |
| Transceiver Channels | Up to 4 (600 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps) |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Global Clock Networks | 20 |
| Package | 324-LBGA (F19) 19x19 mm, 1.0 mm pitch |
| Process Technology | 60 nm low-power |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.2 V |
| I/O Voltage Standards | LVDS, LVCMOS, SSTL, HSTL, PCI, PCIe |
| Configuration | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1), Active Serial/Parallel |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial 'C8' speed grade) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Design Software | Quartus II / Quartus Prime |
EP4CGX22CF19C8N 324-lbga (f19) 19x19 mm, 1.0 mm pitch Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CGX22CF19C8N (324-lbga (f19) 19x19 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 EP4CGX22CF19C8N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CGX22CF19C8N is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Machine Vision Interface, Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Card, Motor Control and Factory Automation Bridge, Video Processing and Display Controller, Software Defined Radio Front-End, Portable Test and Measurement Equipment, Wireless Baseband Bridging.
Industrial Machine Vision Interface
The EP4CGX22CF19C8N fits machine vision interface cards because its 150 user I/Os handle the wide parallel data bus of Camera Link receivers, while its integrated 2.5 Gbps transceivers accept CoaXPress or 10 GigE Vision serialized camera links. The 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers deliver the real-time pixel processing needed for tap correction and color interpolation at line rates above 100 kHz. With 774 Kbits of M9K memory distributed across 36 blocks, designers can implement multi-line frame buffers without external SRAM, reducing BOM and board area. The 1.0 mm pitch LBGA package is compatible with standard 4-layer PCB assembly, keeping per-card manufacturing cost low for production-volume inspection equipment.
Recommended
Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Card
The EP4CGX22CF19C8N integrates a PCIe Gen1 x1 hard IP block that runs at 2.5 Gbps per lane directly from the transceiver, eliminating the need for an external PHY chip and reducing both BOM cost and PCB area. The 21,280 logic elements are sufficient for moderate-throughput applications such as data acquisition front-ends, protocol bridging (e.g., PCIe-to-GbE), and I/O expansion cards. The 4 PLLs handle the 100 MHz PCIe reference clock plus user clocks, and the JTAG-based configuration supports in-system firmware updates and PCIe reprogramming workflows. Designers targeting PCIe should follow the Cyclone IV GX PCIe hard IP user guide for transceiver channel placement and reference clock routing to ensure compliance with Gen1 electrical specifications.
Recommended
Motor Control and Factory Automation Bridge
Motor control and factory automation designs use the EP4CGX22CF19C8N to bridge between real-time fieldbuses (EtherCAT, Profinet, CAN) and higher-level industrial Ethernet (GbE). The transceivers provide the 100 Mbps Ethernet physical layer for Profinet IRT or EtherCAT without external PHYs, while the 150 user I/Os handle quadrature encoder inputs, PWM outputs to gate drivers, and discrete I/O. The 36 embedded multipliers enable field-oriented control (FOC) loops at microsecond latency. With commercial 0C-85C operation, the device fits factory floor enclosures; for harsher environments, the industrial-grade -I8 speed grade variants of the same die (in larger packages) provide -40C to +100C support.
Recommended
Video Processing and Display Controller
The 150 user I/Os of the EP4CGX22CF19C8N accept parallel digital video inputs (BT.1120, LVDS display panels, RGB parallel) and can also drive HDMI/DVI outputs through external TMDS encoders. The 774 Kbits of distributed M9K memory serve as line buffers for deinterlacing, scaling, and color space conversion at 1080p60. The 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers enable real-time video processing such as 2D filtering, gamma correction, and chroma keying. Designers using the Cyclone IV GX DDR2 SDRAM interface can buffer larger frames or run multi-frame video pipelines at full HD resolution.
Recommended
Software Defined Radio Front-End
The transceivers of the EP4CGX22CF19C8N operate from 600 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps and accept the I/Q data streams from external ADC/DAC front-ends in software defined radio (SDR) applications. The 21,280 logic elements implement digital down-conversion (DDC), channelization filters, and FFT cores for narrowband signal analysis. The 36 embedded 18x18 multipliers accelerate the FIR/IIR filter taps and complex multipliers used in quadrature demodulation. With Quartus Prime DSP Builder, designers can rapidly prototype demodulator chains for protocols such as LTE, DVB-T, or custom proprietary waveforms in the sub-6 GHz band.
Recommended
Portable Test and Measurement Equipment
Portable test instruments such as protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, and signal generators benefit from the low-power 60 nm Cyclone IV GX process and the integrated transceivers of the EP4CGX22CF19C8N. The 150 user I/Os accept multiple parallel logic probe inputs, while the transceivers decode serial protocols (USB 3.0 not supported; but SATA, GbE, PCIe at low rates). The 4 PLLs synthesize the various sample clocks needed by the ADCs/DACs in the instrument. The commercial 0C-85C operating range and the 1.0 mm pitch LBGA package keep the board small enough for handheld form factors.
Recommended
Wireless Baseband Bridging
The EP4CGX22CF19C8N bridges between baseband ASICs and the digital front-end of small cell wireless infrastructure. The transceivers carry CPRI or OBSAI data to/from remote radio heads at up to 2.5 Gbps per lane, while the 150 user I/Os provide GPIO and parallel control interfaces to the baseband SoC. The 36 embedded multipliers handle the digital pre-distortion (DPD) algorithms needed to linearize the PA, improving efficiency. The commercial-grade operation suits indoor small cells; outdoor macro base stations require industrial-grade variants with extended temperature ranges.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CGX22CF19C8N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CGX22CF19C7N | EP4CGX22CF19C6N | EP4CGX22CF19C8 | EP4CGX22CF19C7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 324-LBGA (F19) 19x19 mm | 324-LBGA (F19) 19x19 mm - same | 324-LBGA (F19) 19x19 mm - same | 324-LBGA (F19) 19x19 mm - same | 324-LBGA (F19) 19x19 mm - same |
| Brand | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel |
| Logic Elements | 21,280 | 21,280 | 21,280 | 21,280 | 21,280 |
| Speed Grade | C8 (8 ns) | C7 (7 ns) - faster | C6 (6 ns) - fastest | C8 (8 ns) - identical | C7 (7 ns) - faster |
| Transceiver Lanes | Up to 4 (2.5 Gbps) | Up to 4 (2.5 Gbps) | Up to 4 (2.5 Gbps) | Up to 4 (2.5 Gbps) | Up to 4 (2.5 Gbps) |
| User I/Os | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) | 0C to +85C (commercial) |
| ND Suffix (Pb-free marking) | Yes (ND suffix) | Yes (ND suffix) | Yes (ND suffix) | No (non-ND suffix) | No (non-ND suffix) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated 2.5 Gbps transceivers and PCIe hard IP block (vs EP4CE22F19C8N (Cyclone IV E, non-transceiver variant))
- Smaller, lower-cost package than the larger Cyclone IV GX variants (vs EP4CGX75CF23C7N (73,920 LE variant))
- Commercial 0-85C operating temperature with C8 speed grade (vs EP4CGX22CF19C7N (C7 speed grade))
Design Notes
Route the high-speed transceiver lanes (GXB_RXp/n, GXB_TXp/n) with controlled-impedance differential traces (100 ohm differential) directly under the package balls to the AC-coupling capacitors and out to the connector or PHY. Keep total trace length under 5 cm to meet the 2.5 Gbps signal integrity budget, and ensure the receiver end is AC-terminated with 100 nF capacitors as recommended in the Cyclone IV GX transceiver user guide chapter 6. Maintain 100 mil clearance between transceiver lanes and other signals to minimize crosstalk.
Decouple VCCINT (1.2 V core), VCCIO (per bank I/O voltage), VCCA_PLL, VCCA_TX/RX (transceiver analog supplies), and VCCD_PLL with bulk tantalum or polymer capacitors at the PCB entry point plus 0.1 uF and 0.01 uF ceramic capacitors placed within 100 mil of each supply pin. The transceiver analog supplies (VCCA_TX, VCCA_RX) are particularly noise-sensitive; isolate them from switching digital supplies with a ferrite bead and a separate analog ground island. Refer to the Cyclone IV GX pin connection guidelines for the full pin-by-pin decoupling schedule.
The 324-LBGA package typically has theta_JA around 15-20 C/W with adequate PCB copper (estimated: 8-layer board with thermal vias under the center balls). At a typical core power consumption of about 1.5 W during 2.5 Gbps transceiver operation and 60 percent logic utilization, junction temperature rise is roughly 30 C above ambient, leaving comfortable headroom within the 85 C commercial limit. For high-utilization designs, attach a small heatsink to the top of the package or spread the thermal vias across all 324 balls to improve the thermal path.
Do not leave any transceiver channel unused with floating GXB_RX pins; either disable the channel in the Quartus configuration and tie the inputs through the recommended resistor network, or AC-couple them to a defined reference. Do not share a VCCIO bank between LVDS (2.5 V) and LVCMOS (3.3 V) signals. Do not connect configuration pins nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and CONF_DONE directly to VCC without the documented pull-up resistors.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Altera/Intel product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; this is a commercial-grade FPGA. Lead-free (ND suffix per JEDEC J-STD-609).
