EP610DI-30N - Classic 16-Macrocell EPLD, 30ns CDIP-24 | Altera
MPN: EP610DI-30N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $32.64 | $32.64 |
| 10 | $28.9 | $289.00 |
| 100 | $24.5 | $2,450.00 |
| 500 | $20.1 | $10,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $17.8 | $17,800.00 |
EP610DI-30N Overview
An EPLD (Erasable Programmable Logic Device) is a type of non-volatile programmable logic IC that predates modern CPLDs and FPGAs. Positioned in the taxonomy as EPLD -> CPLD -> programmable logic -> logic IC, the EP610 family pioneered the AND/OR fixed-architecture with sum-of-products logic feeding an output macrocell, providing predictable, deterministic timing that rivals discrete TTL glue logic but with much higher integration density.
Key features include 16 macrocells, each with programmable I/O polarity, output enable, and feedback, 24 dedicated input pins, a 5 V ±5% supply, and TTL-compatible inputs/outputs. The EP610DI-30N ships as a UV-erasable windowed ceramic DIP, allowing engineers to erase and reprogram the device during development cycles - a significant advantage over one-time-programmable (OTP) plastic-DIP variants. According to the Rochester Electronics datasheet reference, the device is qualified for industrial-temperature operation.
The architecture uses a CMOS AND array feeding an OR array into output macrocells, providing predictable tPD timing independent of routing. The 30 ns tPD (suffix -30) places the EP610DI-30N in the mid-speed tier of the Classic EPLD family; faster -25 and -20 grades exist for more demanding glue-logic applications, while slower -35 and -40 grades serve cost-sensitive designs.
Typical applications include 5 V bus-interface decoding (e.g., address decoding in 8086/68k/Motorola microprocessor systems), state-machine replacement for discrete 74LS glue logic, custom peripheral controllers in legacy industrial equipment, and prototyping logic for designs that later migrate to a pin-compatible OTP or masked variant. The device is also commonly used to repair or extend legacy boards originally built with the plastic-DIP OTP EP610PC variant.
When designing with this device, place 0.1 µF decoupling capacitors within 50 mm of each VCC pin and route ground returns directly to the system ground plane. Note that the windowed ceramic package adds significant vertical clearance (~6 mm) versus plastic DIP - account for this in mechanical enclosures. The EP610DI-30N is widely available through authorized distributors like Rochester Electronics as a long-lifecycle sustainment part for legacy systems.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives (EP610DI-25, EP610DI-20, EP610PC variants), and practical design notes beyond the bare datasheet, helping engineers source a pin-compatible EPLD for legacy 5 V logic designs.
Drop-in alternatives for EP610DI-30N — 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 EP610DI-30N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Propagation Delay (tPD), Family, Supply Voltage (VCC).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP610DI-30
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$23.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610DI-25
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610DC-35
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610DC-30
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610DC-25
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610DI-30N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | EPLD (Erasable Programmable Logic Device) |
| Family | Altera Classic EP610 |
| Macrocells | 16 |
| Usable Gates | 300 |
| Propagation Delay (tPD) | 30 ns |
| Maximum Frequency | 33.3 MHz (system); 100 MHz (pipelined) |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 5 V ±5% |
| Package | CDIP-24 (Ceramic DIP, windowed) |
| Pin Count | 24 |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C (industrial) |
| Process Technology | CMOS |
| Programming Method | UV-erasable (windowed ceramic) |
| Mounting Type | Through-hole (DIP) |
EP610DI-30N Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 2 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 3 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 4 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 5 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 6 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 7 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 8 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 9 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 10 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 11 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 12 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 13 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 14 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 15 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 16 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 17 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 18 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 19 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 20 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 21 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 22 | I/O — Macrocell input/output pin |
| Pin 23 | VCC — +5 V supply |
| Pin 24 | VCC — +5 V supply |
Typical Applications
EP610DI-30N is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy 5 V Bus Address Decoding, State-Machine Replacement for 74LS Glue Logic, Legacy Industrial Controller Peripheral Interface, Vintage Computer / Retrocomputing Reproduction, Bus Arbitration and Interrupt Controller, Repair and Sustainment of Obsolete Equipment.
Legacy 5 V Bus Address Decoding
The EP610DI-30N's 16 macrocells and 30 ns tPD make it ideal for replacing discrete 74LS glue-logic in legacy 8086/68k/Motorola microprocessor bus-decoding circuits. Its 5 V TTL-compatible I/O and predictable propagation delay let engineers replace 4-6 TTL packages with a single EPLD, reducing PCB area while preserving 5 V signaling. Placed between the microprocessor address bus and peripheral chip-select pins, the EP610DI-30N decodes the upper address lines into individual chip-selects without the timing uncertainty of cascaded gates. Industrial field: programmable logic -> CPLD -> EPLD; this is the canonical use case.
Recommended
State-Machine Replacement for 74LS Glue Logic
Engineers use the EP610DI-30N to replace 2-4 74LS-series TTL packages implementing a custom state machine in legacy designs. Each macrocell provides a D flip-flop with feedback, enabling compact 4-state or 8-state sequencers in a single 24-pin device. The 30 ns tPD is comfortable for machines clocked at 8-10 MHz, and the UV-erasable windowed package allows iterative development - erase, reprogram, retest. The CDIP-24 footprint matches socketed 74LS designs, simplifying mechanical integration.
Recommended
Legacy Industrial Controller Peripheral Interface
The EP610DI-30N is widely deployed as a custom peripheral interface controller in legacy industrial controllers built around 8051, Z80, or 68k microprocessors. Its 16 macrocells provide enough logic capacity to implement parallel-port expansion, encoder counters, or PWM generation, while the 5 V supply matches the surrounding TTL/CMOS ecosystem. The industrial -40°C to +85°C temperature rating suits factory-floor environments. Because the EP610 family is obsolete, Rochester Electronics sustains long-lifecycle inventory specifically for these industrial programs.
Recommended
Vintage Computer / Retrocomputing Reproduction
Retrocomputing enthusiasts reproducing 1980s and 1990s computer motherboards (e.g., original IBM PC-clone designs, Apple II peripherals, classic arcade boards) use the EP610DI-30N as an authentic replacement for the original Altera Classic EPLDs. The windowed ceramic DIP provides the correct visual and electrical signature, and the 5 V-only supply matches vintage power rails. Pin-compatible alternatives like the EP610PC-30 are often used where UV erasure is not required.
Recommended
Bus Arbitration and Interrupt Controller
The EP610DI-30N's predictable 30 ns tPD suits multi-master bus-arbitration logic where propagation delay directly affects arbitration timing. Each macrocell can implement a priority encoder or Daisy-Chain arbiter stage, and the device's TTL outputs drive standard bus transceivers without additional buffering. The 16-macrocell capacity supports up to 8 simultaneous request/grant pairs. Industrial application domain: programmable logic for legacy VMEbus, Multibus, or STD-bus systems.
Recommended
Repair and Sustainment of Obsolete Equipment
The EP610DI-30N is the canonical repair part for industrial and military equipment originally built around the Altera Classic EPLD family. Because Altera (now Intel FPGA) has discontinued the EP610 line, Rochester Electronics serves as the qualified long-lifecycle sustainment supplier. Each EP610DI-30N is traceable to its original Altera wafer lot, and the windowed package allows field engineers to verify and reprogram logic during repair cycles. This application domain - sustainment of legacy equipment - is the primary use case for new EP610 purchases today.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP610DI-30N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP610DI-30 | EP610DI-25 | EP610DC-35 | EP610DC-30 | EP610DC-25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | CDIP-24 (windowed) | CDIP-24 (windowed) - same | CDIP-24 (windowed) - same | CDIP-24 (windowed) - same | CDIP-24 (windowed) - same | CDIP-24 (windowed) - same |
| Macrocells | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Usable Gates | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Propagation Delay (tPD) | 30 ns | 30 ns | 25 ns (faster) | 35 ns (slower) | 30 ns | 25 ns (faster) |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V ±5% | 5 V ±5% | 5 V ±5% | 5 V ±5% | 5 V ±5% | 5 V ±5% |
| Temperature Range | -40°C to +85°C (industrial) | -40°C to +85°C | -40°C to +85°C | 0°C to +70°C (commercial) | 0°C to +70°C (commercial) | 0°C to +70°C (commercial) |
| Programming Method | UV-erasable (windowed) | UV-erasable (windowed) | UV-erasable (windowed) | UV-erasable (windowed) | UV-erasable (windowed) | UV-erasable (windowed) |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature range with UV-erasable windowed package (vs EP610DC-30)
- Same CDIP-24 footprint as faster speed grades for upgrade path (vs EP610DI-25)
- Mid-speed 30 ns grade balances cost and timing margin (vs EP610DI-20)
Design Notes
Decouple each VCC pin (pins 23 and 24) with a 0.1 µF ceramic capacitor placed within 50 mm of the pin, per the Altera Classic EPLD datasheet. Add a bulk 10-47 µF electrolytic capacitor on the 5 V rail near the device. The EP610 draws transient current during simultaneous output switching; insufficient decoupling can cause VCC droop and timing violations. The unused GND pin (pin 10) must also be connected to system ground for return-path integrity.
Route output traces away from input traces to minimize feedback coupling. Place the EP610DI-30N socket near the center of the PCB to keep all 16 I/O traces short. For through-hole DIP sockets, use machined-pin sockets (e.g., 3M Textool) to ensure reliable contact over many reprogramming cycles - the UV-erasable windowed package is typically inserted/extracted dozens of times during development.
Do not confuse the EP610 family (16 macrocells, 24-pin DIP) with the larger EP910 (24 macrocells, 40-pin DIP) or EP1810 (48 macrocells, 28-pin DIP) - they have different pinouts. The EP610DI-30N is one-time-configurable at power-up; do not assume JTAG-style in-system programming. Programming requires a separate EPROM/EEPROM programmer with a DIP socket adapter or, historically, the Altera PLDS-MAX logic-development system. Note also that 'I' (industrial) and 'C' (commercial) temperature grades have different programming algorithms in some programmer software versions.
The ceramic DIP package of the EP610DI-30N has excellent thermal conductivity (~50 C/W θJA in still air), so no heatsink is required. However, the device's UV-transparent quartz window can reach ~125°C in enclosed industrial enclosures; ensure adequate airflow to avoid logic errors. The windowed package adds ~6 mm of vertical clearance versus plastic DIP - account for this in enclosure design and socket selection.
Compliance Information
EP610DI-30N is a ceramic DIP package from the legacy Altera Classic EPLD family; ceramic DIPs typically use tin-lead (SnPb) solder and are not RoHS-compliant. Lead-free finish is not available for the original Altera part. REACH and conflict-minerals compliance status not stated by Rochester Electronics.
