EP610PI-30 - 16-Macrocell Classic EPLD, 30ns, PDIP-24
MPN: EP610PI-30 ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.2 | $162.00 |
| 100 | $13.75 | $1,375.00 |
| 500 | $11.4 | $5,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.85 | $9,850.00 |
EP610PI-30 Overview
A Classic EPLD is an early-generation programmable logic device that sits between discrete 74-series glue logic and modern CPLDs/FPGAs in the programmable logic hierarchy: discrete logic -> PAL/GAL -> EPLD -> CPLD -> FPGA -> SoC FPGA. The EP610 family replaced fuse-link bipolar PALs with CMOS EEPROM cells, providing reprogrammability, lower power, and predictable timing - the macrocell architecture gives every output a fixed, deterministic propagation delay independent of logic complexity, which is the key advantage over early FPGAs.
Key features of the EP610PI-30 include 16 macrocells, 4 dedicated inputs, 10 I/O pins, 2 global clock inputs, in-system programmable EEPROM configuration memory, and a 5 V single supply with CMOS/TTL-compatible I/O. The PI-30 speed grade corresponds to a 30 ns tPD (worst-case commercial), making the part suitable for asynchronous glue-logic replacement, address decoding, state-machine control, and bus-interface adaptation up to roughly 33 MHz non-pipelined / 100 MHz pipelined operation.
Architecturally the EP610 uses sum-of-products logic feeding output macrocells with programmable register/bypass modes, plus a global interconnect. Because every macrocell has a fixed, deterministic delay, the device eliminates the place-and-route timing closure step that complicates FPGA design - the user simply writes Boolean equations and the timing is known by inspection. The EEPROM process retains the bitstream for 20+ years and supports 100+ reprogram cycles.
Typical applications include asynchronous state-machine controllers in industrial PLCs, address-decoding and chip-select logic in 5 V microcomputer systems, bus arbitration and glue logic between 8/16-bit microprocessors and peripherals, and replacement of legacy 74LS/74F series TTL gate arrays. Designers often select the EP610 family to consolidate dozens of SSI/MSI packages onto a single, factory-programmed part.
When designing with the EP610PI-30, ensure that all inputs respect the 5 V CMOS/TTL logic thresholds (VIL <= 0.8 V, VIH >= 2.0 V) and that outputs are not loaded beyond the 24 mA sink/source rating per pin. A 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor should be placed within 5 mm of the VCC pin. Programming requires an Altera/Intel-compatible device programmer such as the Altera MAX+PLUS II flow; this device is no longer recommended for new designs but remains supported by Rochester Electronics as a long-life buy.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, parametric cross-references, and practical design notes beyond the original manufacturer datasheet to help engineers evaluate, source, and apply the EP610PI-30 in legacy 5 V systems.
Drop-in alternatives for EP610PI-30 — 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 EP610PI-30 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Process Technology, Mounting Type, Propagation Delay (tPD), Supply Voltage (VCC).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP610PI-25
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$20.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610PI-35
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP610PC-30
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$27.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610PI-30
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP610JI-30
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PALCE610H-25PC
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EP610PI-30 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | EP610 Classic EPLD |
| Logic Elements / Macrocells | 16 macrocells |
| Usable Gates | 300 gates |
| Propagation Delay (tPD) | 30 ns (PI-30 speed grade) |
| Maximum Frequency (pipelined) | 100 MHz |
| Process Technology | CMOS EEPROM |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 5 V |
| Number of Pins | 24 |
| Package | PDIP-24 (Plastic DIP) |
| Number of Global Clocks | 2 |
| Number of Dedicated Inputs | 4 |
| Number of I/O Pins | 10 |
| Programming Technology | EEPROM (in-system, 100+ cycles) |
| RoHS Status | Not Compliant (per distributor data) |
| ECCN | EAR99 |
| HTS Code | 8542.39.00.01 |
EP610PI-30 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O0 — Bidirectional I/O pin 0 (macrocell 0) |
| Pin 2 | I/O1 — Bidirectional I/O pin 1 (macrocell 1) |
| Pin 3 | I/O2 — Bidirectional I/O pin 2 (macrocell 2) |
| Pin 4 | I/O3 — Bidirectional I/O pin 3 (macrocell 3) |
| Pin 5 | I/O4 — Bidirectional I/O pin 4 (macrocell 4) |
| Pin 6 | I/O5 — Bidirectional I/O pin 5 (macrocell 5) |
| Pin 7 | I/O6 — Bidirectional I/O pin 6 (macrocell 6) |
| Pin 8 | I/O7 — Bidirectional I/O pin 7 (macrocell 7) |
| Pin 9 | I/O8 — Bidirectional I/O pin 8 (macrocell 8) |
| Pin 10 | I/O9 — Bidirectional I/O pin 9 (macrocell 9) |
| Pin 11 | IN0 — Dedicated input 0 |
| Pin 12 | IN1 — Dedicated input 1 |
| Pin 13 | IN2 — Dedicated input 2 |
| Pin 14 | IN3 — Dedicated input 3 |
| Pin 15 | CLK0 — Global clock input 0 |
| Pin 16 | CLK1 — Global clock input 1 |
| Pin 17 | OE — Output enable (active high) / global OE |
| Pin 18 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet pinout) |
| Pin 19 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet pinout) |
| Pin 20 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet pinout) |
| Pin 21 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet pinout) |
| Pin 22 | GND — Ground (0 V) |
| Pin 23 | VCC — +5 V supply |
| Pin 24 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet pinout) |
Typical Applications
EP610PI-30 is suitable for 6 applications: 5 V Address-Decoding & Chip-Select Logic, Asynchronous State-Machine Controller in Industrial PLCs, Glue Logic Between 8/16-bit Microprocessors and Peripherals, Pin-Compatible Replacement for Obsolete 74LS/74F SSI/MSI Logic, Legacy Telecom Backplane Interface Adapter, Aerospace/Military 5 V Retrofit & Form-Fit-Function Replacement.
5 V Address-Decoding & Chip-Select Logic
The EP610PI-30 is a near-ideal replacement for stacks of 74LS138 / 74LS139 decoder chips in legacy 5 V microcomputer boards, because its 16 macrocells can implement up to 16 independent 3-to-8 or 4-to-16 decode equations, each with a deterministic 30 ns propagation delay. The 24 mA CMOS output drive is roughly 3x stronger than 74LS, allowing direct fan-out to 8-10 loads without buffering. A typical design replaces 4-6 decoder packages with one EP610PI-30, freeing board area and reducing quiescent power. The device supports in-system programming via JEDEC, so the same socket can host different address maps for prototype vs production.
Recommended
Asynchronous State-Machine Controller in Industrial PLCs
In industrial PLC and process-control boards, the EP610PI-30's deterministic per-macrocell 30 ns delay makes it well suited to implementing Mealy/Moore state machines with tens of states without any timing-closure iteration - the designer simply draws the state diagram and the timing is known by inspection. The 5 V CMOS supply and -40 to +85 C industrial temperature range (per the EP610 family datasheet) suit factory-floor environments. The 16 macrocells are sufficient for 8-16-state controllers with 4-8 inputs and 4-8 outputs, such as conveyor sequencers or valve-control loops. EEPROM reprogramming allows last-minute logic changes without board rework.
Recommended
Glue Logic Between 8/16-bit Microprocessors and Peripherals
The EP610PI-30 is widely deployed as bus-interface glue between Z80, 8086, 68k, and other 5 V microprocessors and their peripherals - implementing wait-state generators, bus arbiters, address latches, and interrupt controllers in a single factory-programmed device. Its 30 ns tPD comfortably meets the timing budget of 8 MHz 8086-class CPUs and most 16-bit peripheral bus cycles, while the 24 mA drive directly supports the 50 pF-100 pF bus capacitance typical of legacy backplane designs. Replacing a 5-7 chip 74LS glue cluster with one EP610PI-30 simplifies layout, reduces BOM count, and eliminates inter-chip skew.
Recommended
Pin-Compatible Replacement for Obsolete 74LS/74F SSI/MSI Logic
Designers use the EP610PI-30 to consolidate dozens of 74LS00, 74LS151, 74LS153, 74LS161, and similar small-scale-integration logic gates into a single, factory-programmed 24-pin part. One EP610PI-30 can replace 5-10 SSI packages, reducing board area by 60-80 percent and improving noise margins through standardized CMOS outputs. The 30 ns delay matches 74LS (typ.) timing, so existing schematics drop in with no speed penalty. EEPROM reprogrammability means board revisions don't require new artwork - only a new JEDEC file from MAX+PLUS II.
Recommended
Legacy Telecom Backplane Interface Adapter
In 5 V telecom backplanes, the EP610PI-30 provides deterministic 30 ns propagation delay for parallel-to-serial protocol conversion and clock-data recovery at sub-33 MHz data rates. Its 10 I/O pins are sufficient for a single 8-bit data path plus clock and enable, while the 2 global clock inputs support both transmit and receive clock domains. The EEPROM process supports 100+ in-field reprogram cycles - useful for telecom gear that requires field firmware updates for protocol revisions. The part's long-life supply from Rochester Electronics makes it a stable choice for 10-20 year telecom deployment horizons.
Recommended
Aerospace/Military 5 V Retrofit & Form-Fit-Function Replacement
The EP610JI-30 (ceramic-windowed, military temperature grade) and EP610DM-883B (MIL-STD-883) variants of this family serve long-life aerospace and defense retrofits where the original Altera EP610 must be replaced without PCB changes. The 24-pin PDIP/JLCC package family matches the original 1988-1995 era board layouts, and Rochester Electronics supports the full screening flow. Designers use the EP610PI-30 (commercial) or EP610JI-30 (military) when the supply chain for the original part is exhausted but the qualification paperwork must remain intact.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP610PI-30 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP610PI-25 | EP610PI-35 | EP610PC-30 | EP610JI-30 | PALCE610H-25PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Rochester Electronics | Rochester Electronics | Rochester Electronics | Rochester Electronics | Rochester Electronics | AMD / Rochester Electronics |
| Package | PDIP-24 | PDIP-24 (same) | PDIP-24 (same) | PDIP-24 (PLCC family) | PDIP-24 (ceramic windowed) | PDIP-24 (same) |
| Propagation Delay (tPD) | 30 ns | 25 ns (faster) | 35 ns (slower) | 30 ns | 30 ns | 25 ns (faster) |
| Macrocells | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Usable Gates | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Max Frequency (pipelined) | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V |
| Process / Programming | CMOS EEPROM | CMOS EEPROM | CMOS EEPROM | CMOS EEPROM | CMOS EEPROM (UV windowed) | CMOS EEPROM |
Key Differentiators
- Original Altera/Intel license Rochester Electronics long-life supply (vs Generic third-party distributors)
- Deterministic per-macrocell propagation delay (vs ATF1504BE (Atmel/Microchip CPLD))
- True 24-pin PDIP drop-in replacement across the family (vs Modern MAX II / MAX V CPLDs)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 5 V VCC and all I/O switching at 1 MHz CMOS load, I/O pin current is approximately 0.5 mA average; with 10 I/O pins active and 50% toggle rate, add 5 mA of I/O current to the device's quiescent current of ~50 mA (per the EP610 family datasheet). Always place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VCC pin, plus a 10 uF bulk tantalum/ceramic capacitor on the same VCC net. For multi-card designs, isolate the EP610 supply with a ferrite bead to suppress switching-induced supply noise coupling into adjacent analog or memory devices.
Critical: the EP610PI-30 is NOT 3.3 V tolerant - driving a 5 V CMOS output into a 3.3 V logic input will over-stress the destination device. Use a level shifter or a 5 V-tolerant 3.3 V part if interfacing with modern 3.3 V peripherals. Equally critical: do not connect any I/O pin above VCC+0.5 V or below GND-0.5 V during operation; the EEPROM input structures can latch up. The 24 mA output drive per pin assumes DC, but simultaneous high-current switching on multiple pins reduces total package dissipation capability - derate to 50% if more than 4 pins switch at full current simultaneously.
The 24-pin PDIP EP610PI-30 has a 600 mil (15.24 mm) row spacing, which is wide enough to route 2 signal traces between DIP pins on a standard 1.6 mm two-layer board using 8 mil traces / 8 mil space. Place a continuous ground plane on the bottom layer under the device to provide a low-impedance return path and to suppress noise coupling into adjacent analog sections. The OE (Output Enable) pin is a global enable - it must be tied high or driven by the system logic; if left floating the outputs may enter an indeterminate state during power-up. Keep programming pin traces short if the board supports in-system programming via ByteBlaster cable.
Compliance Information
RoHS non-compliant per distributor data (PDIP lead-bearing package, original 1988-1995 Altera line). REACH compliance not stated in verified data. AEC-Q100 not applicable (this is a logic device, not an automotive analog IC). Lead-bearing: yes (PDIP package). For RoHS-compliant modern CPLD replacement, consider MAX II/MAX V families.
