EP4CGX30BF14I7N - Cyclone IV GX FPGA, 30K LE, 169-FBGA | Intel
MPN: EP4CGX30BF14I7N ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $98.65 | $98.65 |
| 10 | $92.4 | $924.00 |
| 100 | $84.1 | $8,410.00 |
| 500 | $76.55 | $38,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $69.2 | $69,200.00 |
EP4CGX30BF14I7N Overview
An FPGA (field-programmable gate array) is a semiconductor device built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and dedicated hardware blocks such as multipliers, memory blocks, and (in GX variants) multi-gigabit transceivers. FPGAs sit between discrete logic and ASICs in the design hierarchy - offering ASIC-class performance with mask-charge-free reprogrammability, which makes them ideal for prototyping, low-to-medium volume production, and designs requiring post-deployment logic updates. The Cyclone IV family specifically targets cost- and power-sensitive applications such as industrial control, video bridging, and protocol conversion.
The Cyclone IV GX architecture combines a 60 nm low-power process with hardened PCI Express (x1/x2) and multi-gigabit transceivers (up to 3.125 Gbps), eliminating the need for external PHY chips in many connectivity applications. The device supports LVDS, SSTL, HSTL I/O standards and provides configurable on-chip termination. Hard IP blocks for memory controllers (DDR/DDR2/QDRII) and PCIe Gen1 reduce soft-logic overhead and simplify timing closure.
Typical applications include industrial machine vision and video bridging, factory automation backplanes with Profibus or Ethernet, low-cost PCIe endpoint cards, point-to-point serial-link aggregation, motor control and encoder interfaces, and portable test/measurement equipment. With 66 hardware multipliers and 108 KByte distributed RAM plus 540 Kbits M9K block RAM, the EP4CGX30BF14I7N balances DSP throughput with general logic capacity for mixed control-and-datapath designs.
Design consideration: the FBGA-169 package requires careful PCB stack-up planning - 1.0 mm pitch BGAs demand microvia or via-in-pad technology on standard 4-layer boards. Engineers should also budget for the transceiver reference-clock jitter budget and configure the on-chip PLL modes against the Quartus II / Quartus Prime tool's transceiver toolkit before board bring-up.
Drop-in alternatives for EP4CGX30BF14I7N — 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 EP4CGX30BF14I7N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Speed Grade, Operating Temperature, Transceivers, Embedded Memory.
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View Datasheet →EP4CGX30BF14I7N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Cyclone IV GX |
| Logic Elements (LE) | 29,440 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LAB) | 1,840 |
| Total Memory Bits | 1,105,920 bits |
| Embedded Multipliers (18 x 18) | 66 |
| User I/O Pins | 72 |
| Transceivers | Up to 3.125 Gbps GX |
| PLLs | 4 |
| Global Clock Networks | 2 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +100C (Industrial) |
| Internal Frequency (max) | 472 MHz |
| Package | 169-LBGA (FBGA), 14 x 14 mm, 1.0 mm pitch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EP4CGX30BF14I7N 169-lbga (fbga), 14 x 14 mm, 1.0 mm pitch Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP4CGX30BF14I7N (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 EP4CGX30BF14I7N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP4CGX30BF14I7N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Machine Vision and Camera Link Bridging, Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Card, Motor Control and Encoder Interface, Serial-Link Aggregation and Backplane Bridging, Portable Test and Measurement Equipment, LED Video Wall and Display Controller.
Industrial Machine Vision and Camera Link Bridging
The EP4CGX30BF14I7N's 66 hardware 18 x 18 multipliers and 1,105,920 memory bits deliver enough DSP throughput for line-scan camera preprocessing, Bayer interpolation, and histogram-based exposure control at 60 fps. Its integrated multi-gigabit transceivers (up to 3.125 Gbps) let the device directly drive Camera Link Full or CoaXPress downstream links without external PHYs. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +100C) enables deployment in factory-floor enclosures without additional thermal management.
Recommended
Low-Cost PCIe Endpoint Card
The Cyclone IV GX family includes a hard PCIe Gen1 x1/x2 IP block, allowing the EP4CGX30BF14I7N to implement a complete PCIe endpoint without consuming soft-logic resources. Combined with 30K logic elements and 540 Kbits of M9K block RAM, it supports data-acquisition FIFOs, DMA engines, and lightweight protocol stacks (custom, Ethernet, Aurora). Industrial temperature grade makes it attractive for embedded computing modules that may operate in unconditioned enclosures.
Recommended
Motor Control and Encoder Interface
With 72 user I/Os including LVDS, the EP4CGX30BF14I7N can directly interface multiple incremental encoders (RS-422 or LVDS), Hall sensors, and PWM outputs for multi-axis servo loops. Hardware multipliers accelerate field-oriented control (FOC) and PID compensation routines at sub-microsecond latency. The -40C to +100C industrial temperature range suits outdoor or cabinet-mounted motor drives where ambient temperatures can swing dramatically.
Recommended
Serial-Link Aggregation and Backplane Bridging
The integrated GX transceivers (up to 3.125 Gbps) on the EP4CGX30BF14I7N can aggregate multiple lower-speed serial links (RS-485, LVDS, Manchester) into a single high-speed fiber or copper backplane trunk. This is useful in industrial backplanes where legacy peripherals need to coexist with modern Ethernet or PCIe fabrics. The 1,105 Kbits of block RAM buffers line-rate traffic without external memory in many aggregation profiles.
Recommended
Portable Test and Measurement Equipment
Battery-powered oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and portable data loggers benefit from the Cyclone IV family's low static current (compared to high-end FPGAs). The EP4CGX30BF14I7N's transceivers handle USB 3.0 PHY substitution (over PIPE bridges), SATA, or gigabit Ethernet data pipes, while the logic and DSP capacity implements triggering, decoders, and on-screen statistics. Industrial temperature grade supports field-deployed instruments exposed to outdoor environments.
Recommended
LED Video Wall and Display Controller
Large LED video walls require multi-channel high-bandwidth video pipelines with low-latency pixel remapping. The EP4CGX30BF14I7N's 66 multipliers enable chroma scaling and brightness correction per pixel, while its memory bandwidth sustains 1080p/60 Hz pipelines. Multiple transceivers drive long-distance HDMI-to-fiber extender outputs, eliminating the need for external serializer chips. Industrial temperature grade supports outdoor display enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP4CGX30BF14I7N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP4CGX30BF14I6N | EP4CGX30BF14C8N | EP4CGX30BF14C7N | EP4CGX30BF14I7 | EP4CGX22BF14C7N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 169-LBGA (F14) | 169-LBGA (F14) | 169-LBGA (F14) | 169-LBGA (F14) | 169-LBGA (F14) | 169-LBGA (F14) |
| Brand | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Logic Elements | 29,440 | 29,440 | 29,440 | 29,440 | 29,440 | 21,280 |
| Memory Bits | 1,105,920 | 1,105,920 | 1,105,920 | 1,105,920 | 1,105,920 | 783,360 |
| Speed Grade | 7 (middle) | 6 (slowest) | 8 (fastest) | 7 (middle) | 7 (middle) | 7 (middle) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +100C (Industrial) | -40C to +100C (Industrial) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) | -40C to +100C (Industrial) | 0C to +85C (Commercial) |
| Multipliers (18 x 18) | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 44 |
| User I/O Count | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Estimated Unit Price (USD, qty 1) | 98.65 | 85.20 | 105.40 | 92.10 | 98.65 | 72.50 |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade in the Cyclone IV GX family (vs EP4CGX30BF14C7N)
- Mid-range speed grade (7) offers balanced timing-power trade-off (vs EP4CGX30BF14C8N)
- Higher logic density than smaller Cyclone IV GX parts (vs EP4CGX22BF14C7N)
Design Notes
The 169-LBGA package uses a 1.0 mm ball pitch, which on standard 4-layer FR-4 requires microvia (laser-drilled) or via-in-pad PCB technology. Designers should plan the stack-up for HDI (high-density interconnect) with sequential lamination. A solid GND plane directly under the BGA paddle and decoupling capacitors (0.1 uF plus 10 uF bulk) placed within 100 mils of each power pin are essential to meet transceiver jitter and SSN budgets.
Cyclone IV GX FPGAs require multiple supply rails: VCCINT (1.2 V core), VCCA (2.5 V analog PLL), VCCD_PLL (1.2 V digital PLL), VCCIO (variable per bank, 1.2/1.5/1.8/2.5/3.3 V), and VCC_CHAIN (transceiver-specific). Estimated: with moderate toggle rates and 50% I/O utilization, total power is approximately 1.5-2.0 W; activate Quartus PowerPlay early in the design flow to identify hot spots before PCB layout is finalized.
Do not confuse the F14 designator (14 x 14 mm BGA) with F17 or other BGA package options - the Cyclone IV GX family has multiple package codes (F14, F17, F23, F27, etc.) with different ball counts and pinouts. Mixing them will cause a complete PCB rework. Also, the I7N speed/temperature combination differs from I6N and I8N - confirm the exact speed grade in your Quartus project matches the part label to avoid timing closure surprises during hardware bring-up.
For multi-gigabit transceiver channels, route differential pairs with 100 ohm differential impedance, keep within 5 mm length mismatch, and provide continuous reference ground plane under the entire channel. Place the transceiver reference-clock crystal/oscillator within 50 mm of the CLK input pin and guard it with a Faraday-style ground ring. The transceiver toolkit in Quartus Prime provides channel pre-emphasis and equalization settings that can compensate for moderate board-level loss.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Intel product page. REACH Unaffected per third-party datasheet aggregator. AEC-Q100 not applicable for industrial-grade FPGAs - choose AEC-Q100 qualified parts only for safety-critical automotive applications. MSL-3 (168 hours) per JEDEC J-STD-033 moisture handling guidelines.
