EPC16SI16N - 16Mb Enhanced Configuration Device, 16-SOIC | Altera / Intel
MPN: EPC16SI16N ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.5 | $8.50 |
| 10 | $7.4 | $74.00 |
| 100 | $6.2 | $620.00 |
| 500 | $5.1 | $2,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.35 | $4,350.00 |
EPC16SI16N Overview
An enhanced configuration device (EPC family) is a specialized flash-memory IC whose sole function is to retain FPGA configuration bitstreams between power-cycles so that an SRAM-based LUT FPGA can self-load at power-up. It sits in the wider taxonomy: configuration memory -> non-volatile memory -> memory IC -> semiconductor. Engineers select EPC-class parts when they need single-device, pin-compatible storage that the FPGA's configuration controller can read directly, eliminating a separate boot PROM or microcontroller bootloader.
Key features include 16 Mb of flash, in-system programmability via JTAG, an operating frequency up to 40 MHz in fast configuration mode, and a compact 16-pin 300-mil SOIC footprint. The 'SI' suffix denotes the 16-pin SOIC industrial operating range (-40 C to +85 C), and the 'N' suffix indicates a lead-free / matte-tin finish compatible with lead-free reflow profiles.
Architecturally the EPC16SI16N implements page-mode flash with on-chip charge-pump generation, internal write state-machine, and JTAG boundary-scan, providing multi-cycle in-system reprogrammability without external programming voltage. It supports daisy-chain configuration across multiple FPGAs and integrates the nSTATUS/nCONFIG handshaking required by Stratix/Stratix II/Stratix III/Cyclone/Cyclone II/Cyclone III controllers.
Typical applications include Stratix II prototype boards, industrial FPGA control cards, factory automation logic, and any single-FPGA design requiring a compact, non-volatile configuration memory. In legacy Altera designs the EPC16SI16N is the canonical storage companion to the EP2S15, EP2S30, and EP2C20 device families.
When designing with this device, verify that the target FPGA's configuration controller supports the enhanced-configuration device interface (PS mode with EPC control logic). PCB layout should keep DCLK traces short and add a 0.1 uF + 10 uF decoupling network close to VCC, and unused JTAG TCK/TMS lines should be left floating per Altera application note guidance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives drawn from the same Altera/Intel configuration-memory family, and practical design notes not found in the standalone datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EPC16SI16N — 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 EPC16SI16N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Configuration Interface, Memory Size, Memory Type, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPC16QC100N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$24.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC16QI100N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPCS16SI16N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPC16QC100DM
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$15.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC1441PC8
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$7.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC16SI16N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Memory Type | Non-volatile flash (enhanced configuration device) |
| Memory Size | 16 Mb (16,777,216 bits) |
| Interface | Altera enhanced serial configuration (DCLK, DATA, nCS, nRESET, nSTATUS) |
| Programming Interface | JTAG (IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan) |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 40 MHz (fast configuration mode) |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 3.3 V (typ) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial, 'SI' suffix) |
| Package | 16-pin SOIC (300 mil, 'SI' suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lead-Free / Finish | Lead-free (matte tin), 'N' suffix |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| In-System Programmability | Yes (via JTAG, multiple reprogramming cycles) |
| Compatible FPGA Series | Altera Stratix II, Stratix III, Cyclone, Cyclone II, Cyclone III |
| Configuration Daisy-Chaining | Supported (multiple devices / multiple FPGAs) |
| On-Chip Charge Pump | Integrated (no external VPP required) |
EPC16SI16N Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 2 | DATA — Configuration data output to FPGA |
| Pin 3 | nSTATUS — Active-low status output to FPGA |
| Pin 4 | nCONFIG — Configuration control input (tied high in standalone use) |
| Pin 5 | nCS — Active-low chip select from FPGA |
| Pin 6 | DCLK — Configuration clock input from FPGA |
| Pin 7 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 8 | VCC — 3.3 V power supply |
| Pin 9 | nRESET — Active-low reset input |
| Pin 10 | TDI — JTAG test data input |
| Pin 11 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 12 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin 13 | TDO — JTAG test data output |
| Pin 14 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 15 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 16 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
EPC16SI16N is suitable for 6 applications: Stratix II FPGA Configuration Boot Memory, Cyclone II / Cyclone III Single-FPGA Boot, Industrial Control / Factory Automation Logic Boards, Multi-FPGA Daisy-Chain Configuration, Legacy Altera Design Second-Sourcing, Development Kits and Reference Designs.
Stratix II FPGA Configuration Boot Memory
The EPC16SI16N's 16 Mb density and enhanced-configuration protocol make it the canonical boot memory for mid-density Stratix II FPGAs (EP2S15, EP2S30, EP2S60). Placed near the FPGA's DCLK/DATA/nSTATUS/nCONFIG pins, it self-loads the bitstream in passive-serial mode at power-up using the 3.3 V single-supply rail. Unlike EPCS-class serial devices the enhanced-configuration protocol adds nSTATUS/nCONFIG handshaking that allows the Stratix II controller to verify decompression status before launching user mode, which is critical for fail-safe industrial designs. Up to 40 MHz DCLK supports fast boot (<100 ms typical for 4-8 Mb compressed bitstreams).
Recommended
Cyclone II / Cyclone III Single-FPGA Boot
For low-cost Cyclone II (EP2C5/EP2C8/EP2C20) and Cyclone III (EP3C5/EP3C10/EP3C16) designs, the EPC16SI16N provides headroom for compressed or partial-reconfiguration bitstreams. Its 3.3 V supply can be derived from the same LDO that powers the FPGA's VCCAUX rail, simplifying power-tree design. The on-chip charge pump eliminates the external VPP that older PROMs required, and in-system JTAG programming allows field firmware updates without removing the board - useful for industrial controllers that need long field lifecycles.
Recommended
Industrial Control / Factory Automation Logic Boards
Factory-automation controllers typically pair a Stratix II or Cyclone III FPGA with an EPC16SI16N to retain deterministic power-on behaviour even after brown-outs or cold restarts. The industrial -40 C to +85 C operating range, lead-free matte-tin finish, and surface-mount SOIC package suit conformal-coated boards deployed on DIN rails or inside sealed enclosures. The JTAG ISP capability allows production-line firmware personalization and post-deployment bug-fix rollouts, dramatically shortening field-service cycles for PLC and motor-control applications.
Recommended
Multi-FPGA Daisy-Chain Configuration
When a board hosts two or more Altera FPGAs that must boot from a shared configuration image, the EPC16SI16N supports daisy-chain configuration: it asserts nCS, streams the bitstream to FPGA1, and on FPGA1's nSTATUS deassertion continues streaming the next bitstream block to FPGA2. The 16 Mb density accommodates two mid-density FPGAs (e.g. two EP2S30s) with separate bitstreams, or a single large FPGA plus a golden/refresh image for fail-safe recovery. Up to 40 MHz DCLK keeps total boot time under 250 ms for typical dual-FPGA designs.
Recommended
Legacy Altera Design Second-Sourcing
Many industrial, military and aerospace programs shipped between 2005 and 2015 standardized on the EPC16SI16N for Stratix II / Cyclone II designs. With the part now in last-time-buy status, engineers use it as a reference for qualifying second sources: the EPC16QC100N (same density, 100-pin QFP) and EPCS16SI16N (same SOIC footprint, 16 Mb, different protocol) provide pin- and density-compatible second sources. PCB-level second-sourcing is straightforward because the EPC family shares the JTAG chain conventions across all package variants.
Recommended
Development Kits and Reference Designs
Altera/Intel Stratix II and Cyclone III development kits historically shipped with one EPC16SI16N as the reference boot device, allowing engineers to evaluate the enhanced-configuration protocol without designing a custom boot board. Hobbyist and educational projects still reuse these kits; the EPC16SI16N's lead-free 16-pin SOIC package is hand-solderable on breakout boards and supports the Quartus Programmer toolchain (versions 6.0 through 13.1). For newer dev kits using Cyclone V / Cyclone 10, designers migrate to EPCQ-class quad-SPI flash instead.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPC16SI16N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPC16QC100N | EPC16QI100N | EPCS16SI16N | EPC16QC100DM | EPC1441PC8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 16-pin SOIC (300 mil, SI suffix) | 100-pin QFP (PQFP, QC suffix) | 100-pin QFP (PQFP, QI suffix industrial) | 16-pin SOIC (300 mil, SI suffix) - same | 100-pin QFP (PQFP, QC suffix DM finish) | 8-pin PDIP (PC suffix) |
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel |
| Memory Density | 16 Mb | 16 Mb | 16 Mb | 16 Mb | 16 Mb | 144 kb |
| Configuration Protocol | Enhanced (EPC, FAST PS w/ nSTATUS/nCONFIG) | Enhanced (EPC) | Enhanced (EPC) | Serial (EPCS, AS) | Enhanced (EPC) | Classic (EPC1-class) |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 5.0 V (classic EPC1) |
| Max DCLK Frequency | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 16 MHz (classic) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (SI industrial) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (matte tin, N suffix) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (DM class) | Yes |
| Lifecycle Status | Last-time-buy | Last-time-buy | Last-time-buy | Active (in production) | Last-time-buy | Obsolete (NRND) |
Key Differentiators
- 16 Mb enhanced-configuration protocol with nSTATUS/nCONFIG handshaking (vs EPCS16SI16N)
- Compact 16-pin SOIC footprint for space-constrained boards (vs EPC16QC100N / EPC16QI100N)
- Same-brand family member with active lifecycle for migration path (vs EPCS16SI16N (different protocol))
Design Notes
Estimated: the EPC16SI16N draws approximately 50 mA peak during in-system programming and 10 mA typical during configuration read. Place a 0.1 uF X7R ceramic + 10 uF tantalum decoupling pair within 5 mm of the VCC pin (pin 8). The 3.3 V rail should be sourced from the same LDO that supplies the FPGA's VCCAUX to keep power-up sequencing deterministic; if a separate rail is used, hold nRESET low until VCC is stable for at least 1 ms.
Keep DCLK and DATA traces short (under 50 mm) and length-matched within 2 mm. Route both on a dedicated signal layer above a continuous ground plane and avoid crossing any switching-power or clock traces at 90 degrees. The JTAG chain (TDI/TMS/TCK/TDO) should be daisy-chained with the FPGA so that Quartus Programmer can reach both devices; place a 10 kohm pull-up on TMS and TCK and a 10 kohm pull-down on TDI per Altera JTAG chain guidelines.
Do NOT substitute EPC16SI16N for EPCS16SI16N (or vice versa) without verifying the target FPGA's configuration controller. Stratix II devices support the enhanced-configuration protocol (EPC) but NOT the simple serial-configuration protocol (EPCS); using an EPCS device on a Stratix II board will result in configuration failure. Conversely, EPC16SI16N will not work on a Cyclone V dev kit that expects an EPCQ (quad-SPI) device. Verify the FPGA's configuration mode pins (MSEL) match the boot memory's protocol before PCB layout.
Route the nSTATUS and nCONFIG signals as point-to-point between the FPGA and the configuration device - never bridge through a connector or buffer. Both are open-drain on the FPGA side and require 10 kohm pull-up resistors to VCC. Add a 10 kohm pull-up on nCS as well. Place these pull-ups close to the FPGA, not the configuration device, to avoid false triggering during board insertion. Estimated: a properly laid-out boot loop should complete configuration in 50-200 ms for typical 4-8 Mb compressed bitstreams.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Altera/Intel product page. Lead-free matte-tin finish (N suffix) supports Pb-free reflow. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications use a dedicated automotive-grade configuration memory.
