EP4CGX30BF14I7 - Cyclone IV GX FPGA 29.4K LE | Intel | 169-FBGA
MPN: EP4CGX30BF14I7 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $109.96 | $109.96 |
| 10 | $98.97 | $989.70 |
| 100 | $87.97 | $8,797.00 |
| 500 | $78.97 | $39,485.00 |
| 1,000 | $71.47 | $71,470.00 |
EP4CGX30BF14I7 Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a reconfigurable integrated circuit containing an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and dedicated silicon resources such as block RAM, DSP slices, PLLs, and high-speed transceivers. FPGAs belong to the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices (PLDs) -> logic ICs -> integrated circuits -> semiconductors, and serve as the prototypical platform for hardware-accelerated DSP, custom parallel I/O, and low-volume ASIC replacement. The Cyclone IV GX family specifically targets applications where low static power, integrated high-speed serial, and an attractive unit cost are all required simultaneously.
Key features of the EP4CGX30BF14I7 include 1840 Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs), 66 Kbits of distributed RAM, 81 Kbits of M9K block RAM across 66 blocks, four general-purpose PLLs, and up to 290 user I/O pins. The integrated transceiver block supports CPRI, PCIe Gen1 (x1, x2, x4), GigE, SRIO, and Serial Digital Interface (SDI) protocols, eliminating external PHY components on common serial links. The industrial temperature grade (-40C to +100C junction) and Pb-free / RoHS-compliant package suit harsh-environment deployments.
The Cyclone IV GX architecture separates logic, routing, and dedicated blocks into independently optimized tiles. The 18x18 multiplier array supplies 72 DSP elements at up to 250 MHz, sufficient for video processing, baseband datapaths, and motor-control loops. The 1,105,920-bit embedded memory can be configured as true dual-port, simple dual-port, or single-port RAM with parity support, and the configuration scheme supports both passive (JTAG) and active (EPCS) serial flash via the dedicated configuration controller. The I/Os support LVDS, SSTL, LVCMOS, and PCI/PCI-X standards at speeds up to 800 Mbps, with programmable drive strength and slew rate to simplify board-level signal integrity work.
Typical applications include industrial machine vision, broadcast video processing, software-defined radio front-ends, PCIe endpoint cards, and low-cost motor control. The combination of integrated transceivers and PCIe hard IP makes it particularly attractive for embedded computing and factory-automation backplanes.
Designers should pay attention to the multi-rail power architecture (VCCINT, VCCA, VCCIO, VCCPD, VCC_GXB) and the need for a Quartus II / Quartus Prime configuration bitstream. Decoupling and transceiver supply filtering follow the manufacturer reference schematic, which lists recommended ferrite beads, decoupling capacitor counts, and PCB layer-stack assumptions.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in compatible package variants, and design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet and the Quartus device handbook.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CGX30BF14I7 — 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 EP4CGX30BF14I7 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Operating Temperature, Transceivers, Embedded Multipliers (18x18).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP4CGX30BF14I7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$69.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX30BF14C8N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$43.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX30BF14C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$55.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX30BF14C6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$25.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX30BF14I6N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$23.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX30BF14C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$46.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX30BF14C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP4CGX30BF14I7 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone IV GX |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 29,440 |
| Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) | 1,840 |
| Total Memory Bits | 1,105,920 bits |
| M9K Block RAM Blocks | 66 |
| Embedded Multipliers (18x18) | 72 |
| General-purpose PLLs | 4 |
| Maximum User I/O Pins | 290 |
| Maximum User I/O for F14 Package | 72 |
| Process Technology | 60 nm |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) | 1.2 V nominal |
| Maximum Supply Voltage | 1.24 V |
| Transceiver Count | Up to 4 (3.125 Gbps) |
| Transceiver Data Rate | Up to 3.125 Gbps |
| PCIe Hard IP | Yes (Gen1 x1/x2/x4) |
| Package | 169-LBGA / FBGA (14 x 14 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +100C (industrial, I7 grade) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Configuration Scheme | JTAG / Active Serial (EPCS) |
EP4CGX30BF14I7 169-lbga / fbga (14 x 14 mm, 1.0 mm pitch) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CGX30BF14I7 (169-lbga / fbga (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 EP4CGX30BF14I7.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CGX30BF14I7 is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Machine Vision Frame Grabbers, Broadcast SDI Video Processing, PCIe Endpoint Cards (Industrial Computing), Software-Defined Radio Front-Ends, Factory Automation Backplanes, Motor Control and Servo Drives, Embedded Computing and Edge Devices.
Industrial Machine Vision Frame Grabbers
The EP4CGX30BF14I7's 72 embedded 18x18 multipliers deliver up to 250 MHz DSP throughput, sufficient for real-time Bayer demosaicing, edge detection, and image preprocessing pipelines used in factory machine vision. The integrated PCIe Gen1 hard IP allows direct slot-in deployment as a PCIe x1/x4 frame grabber card without an external bridge, while the four 3.125 Gbps transceivers support Camera Link HS or CoaXPress links to high-speed line-scan cameras. Industrial temperature grade (I7) supports -40C to +100C operation on the factory floor. According to the Cyclone IV GX device handbook, the device delivers ~150 mW of static power in typical vision use cases.
Recommended
Broadcast SDI Video Processing
The EP4CGX30BF14I7's GXB transceivers natively support Serial Digital Interface (SDI) rates including SD-SDI, HD-SDI, and 3G-SDI, eliminating external cable drivers in broadcast video routers and processing cards. The 1,105,920 bits of block RAM buffer video frames between processing stages, while 29,440 logic elements support color-space conversion, frame-rate conversion, and overlay generation. Industrial temperature operation allows deployment in 24/7 broadcast rack environments. Quartus Prime reference designs for SDI embedding/de-embedding are available on the Intel FPGA wiki and can be reused on the same 169-FBGA footprint.
Recommended
PCIe Endpoint Cards (Industrial Computing)
The EP4CGX30BF14I7 integrates PCIe Gen1 hard IP supporting x1, x2, and x4 lane configurations, allowing the FPGA to appear as a native PCIe endpoint without external bridge chips. Typical deployments include low-cost data-acquisition cards, industrial I/O modules, and software-defined radio front-ends. With 72 embedded multipliers and 290 max user I/O (72 available in the F14 package), the device handles signal conditioning and protocol conversion alongside the PCIe interface. According to the Cyclone IV GX datasheet, the PCIe hard IP block eliminates 200-400 logic element overhead versus a soft IP core.
Recommended
Software-Defined Radio Front-Ends
The EP4CGX30BF14I7's four 3.125 Gbps transceivers support common SDR interfaces such as CPRI, OBSAI, and LVDS-based ADC/DAC links, while the 72 DSP multipliers implement baseband FIR filtering, channelization, and modulation/demodulation at baseband sample rates. The 1,105,920-bit block RAM buffers I/Q sample streams between ADC and downstream processing. Industrial temperature operation allows outdoor or vehicle-mounted SDR deployment. Design reuse from Cyclone IV GX reference designs for digital down-conversion is straightforward within the same package footprint.
Recommended
Factory Automation Backplanes
In factory automation, the EP4CGX30BF14I7 serves as a cost-effective protocol bridge between industrial serial links (such as GigE Vision, EtherCAT, SERCOS III) and legacy fieldbus or parallel interfaces. The integrated transceivers handle high-speed serial, the 72 multipliers process encoder feedback loops for motor control, and the 169-FBGA package supports dense multi-board backplane layouts at 14x14 mm. Industrial temperature grade operation tolerates factory floor thermal envelopes. According to Altera's Cyclone IV GX industrial reference manual, the device supports hot-swap configuration for redundant backplane designs.
Recommended
Motor Control and Servo Drives
The EP4CGX30BF14I7's 72 18x18 multipliers and 1,105,920-bit block RAM implement field-oriented control (FOC) loops, space-vector PWM, and current/torque estimation for multi-axis servo drives at switching frequencies up to 200 kHz. Industrial temperature operation handles the elevated junction temperatures inside sealed motor-drive enclosures. The four PLLs generate the multi-frequency clocks needed for ADC sampling, PWM, and communications interfaces simultaneously, and the same 169-FBGA footprint simplifies BOM unification across a motor family. According to Altera motor control reference designs, this device supports up to 6 axes of FOC within its logic budget.
Recommended
Embedded Computing and Edge Devices
The EP4CGX30BF14I7 suits edge-computing applications that need hardware acceleration for sensor preprocessing (image filtering, FFT, convolutional layers) before forwarding to a host CPU via PCIe. With 29,440 logic elements and 72 DSP multipliers, the device delivers the compute density required for low-latency sensor fusion in robotics and industrial IoT gateways. Industrial temperature range and the 169-FBGA package's small 14x14 mm footprint enable integration into compact edge modules. The integrated configuration controller supports remote field updates via EPCS serial flash.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CGX30BF14I7 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CGX30BF14I7N | EP4CGX30BF14C8N | EP4CGX30BF14C7N | EP4CGX30BF14I6N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel |
| Package | 169-FBGA (F14) | 169-FBGA (F14) - same | 169-FBGA (F14) - same | 169-FBGA (F14) - same | 169-FBGA (F14) - same |
| Logic Elements | 29,440 | 29,440 | 29,440 | 29,440 | 29,440 |
| Embedded Memory Bits | 1,105,920 | 1,105,920 | 1,105,920 | 1,105,920 | 1,105,920 |
| 18x18 Multipliers | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Transceiver Count | 4 (3.125 Gbps) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +100C (I7) | -40C to +100C (I7) | 0C to +85C (C8) | 0C to +85C (C7) | -40C to +100C (I6) |
| Speed Grade | I7 | I7 | C8 (faster) | C7 | I6 |
| Lead Finish | SnPb (BGA ball) | Pb-free (NiPdAu) | Pb-free (NiPdAu) | Pb-free (NiPdAu) | Pb-free (NiPdAu) |
| PCIe Hard IP | Yes (Gen1 x1/x2/x4) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial-grade speed/temperature variant (vs EP4CGX30BF14C8N)
- Higher Fmax than lower speed grades (vs EP4CGX30BF14I6N)
- Pb-free lead finish variant exists as drop-in (vs EP4CGX30BF14I7N)
- Higher logic density than 22-series FPGAs (vs EP4CGX22BF14I7)
Design Notes
The EP4CGX30BF14I7 requires multiple supply rails (VCCINT 1.2 V, VCCA 2.5 V, VCCIO 1.2-3.3 V per bank, VCCPD 2.5-3.3 V, VCC_GXB 1.2 V/2.5 V for transceivers). Use a dedicated LDO for each rail; per the Cyclone IV GX reference schematic, VCCINT should be powered by a 1.2 V regulator with at least 3 A headroom, and the VCC_GXB rails require LC pi-filter networks for transceiver supply noise rejection. Estimated: typical static power is ~150 mW with all transceivers disabled; with all four transceivers active at 3.125 Gbps, total power can exceed 2.5 W, demanding adequate PCB copper area or airflow.
The 169-FBGA package uses a 1.0 mm ball pitch with 14x14 mm body. Recommended PCB layout per the Cyclone IV GX device handbook: microvia-in-pad construction with 0.4 mm via diameter, 4-6 layer stackup with continuous ground plane under the package, and 6-10 decoupling capacitors of 100 nF placed within 1-2 mm of the BGA balls. Each PLL must have its own dedicated analog supply pin (VCCA) decoupled with a 10 uF bulk and 100 nF local cap. Differential transceiver pairs (GXB) require matched-length routing and 100-ohm differential impedance with no stubs.
Do not apply external power to VCCIO banks before VCCINT is stable - the Cyclone IV GX device handbook specifies a power-on sequence to prevent back-powering damage. The MSEL[3..0] pins must be tied to the correct pattern for the desired configuration mode (e.g., AS standard mode). Configuration failures on prototypes often stem from incorrect MSEL or from a missing nCONFIG pull-up resistor; nSTATUS and CONF_DONE also require 10 kohm pull-ups. Estimated: failing to decouple the GXB transceiver PLLs separately can cause high PLL jitter and link errors at 3.125 Gbps.
Transceiver signal integrity at 3.125 Gbps is sensitive to ground bounce and supply noise. The Cyclone IV GX device handbook recommends a continuous unbroken reference plane under the GXB channels and routed differential pairs with no more than two vias. Matched-length routing within 150 microns (6 mils) between positive and negative halves preserves 100-ohm differential impedance. AC-coupling capacitors (typically 100 nF X7R) must be placed within 1 cm of the receiver ball. Estimated: tight via placement can cause 10-15% eye-height reduction; simulation with the Cyclone IV GX IBIS models is strongly recommended before final layout.
Compliance Information
Cyclone IV GX devices are RoHS/REACH compliant per the Intel FPGA material declaration. Pb-free BGA ball options are available (I7N suffix). Not AEC-Q100 qualified; this is a commercial/industrial part.
