EPC2T32N - 1.6Mb In-System Programmable Config PROM | Altera
MPN: EPC2T32N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.2 | $11.20 |
| 10 | $10.05 | $100.50 |
| 100 | $8.95 | $895.00 |
| 500 | $7.85 | $3,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.95 | $6,950.00 |
EPC2T32N Overview
What is a configuration PROM? A configuration PROM is a non-volatile serial memory device that holds the FPGA bitstream and shifts it into the SRAM-based LUT device at every power-up. Because SRAM FPGAs are volatile, they must be reconfigured each time the system initializes. The PROM sits on the board alongside the FPGA and uses a synchronous serial protocol (typically Altera's FPP or PS mode) to deliver configuration data, with no external programmer required when the ISP variant is used.
Key features of the EPC2T32N include 1.6 Mbit flash memory, in-system programmability via JTAG (IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan), automatic CRC error detection during configuration, and open-drain CONF_DONE/nSTATUS signal pins for parallel multi-device chains. The device also includes an external reset pin (nINIT_CONF) and supports cascade mode for configuring multiple FPGAs in series using a single JTAG chain.
The architecture is built on a 0.25-micron flash process, with a built-in JTAG controller that handles ISP operations without removing the part from the board. The 4-pin serial interface (DCLK, DATA0, nCONFIG, nSTATUS) is fully compliant with Altera FPGAs in passive-serial configuration mode, and the dual-voltage interface allows the PROM side to run at 3.3 V while the FPGA side runs at 5 V, or vice versa.
Typical applications include Altera FPGA boot memory in industrial controllers, telecommunications line cards, prototyping boards, and embedded vision platforms. The 1.6 Mb density is sufficient for mid-sized FPGAs such as the Cyclone I/II, ACEX 1K, and APEX 20K families.
When designing with this device, ensure the JTAG chain order is preserved so the PROM and downstream FPGA can both be addressed individually. The 32-pin TQFP footprint is the industry-standard Altera configuration PROM land pattern, which allows board-level migration from the older EPC1 and EPC2LC20 devices to this part without PCB rework.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, JTAG-compatible drop-in alternatives, and practical board-design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EPC2T32N — 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 EPC2T32N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Memory Type, Operating Temperature, Supply Voltage, Supported FPGA Families.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPC2T132N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC2T32
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC2TC32N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC1TI32
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC1441TI32N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC2T32N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Memory Size | 1.6 Mbit |
| Programmable Type | In System Programmable (Flash) |
| Configuration Mode | Passive Serial (PS) / JTAG ISP |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz |
| Supply Voltage - VCCINT | 3.0 V to 3.6 V / 4.75 V to 5.25 V (dual supply) |
| Interface | Serial (DCLK / DATA0 / nCONFIG / nSTATUS / CONF_DONE) |
| JTAG Compliance | IEEE 1149.1 (boundary-scan, ISP) |
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C |
| Pin Count | 32 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Sector Architecture | Flash with built-in CRC |
| Cascade Support | Yes (multi-device daisy-chain) |
| CONF_DONE / nSTATUS Drive | Open-drain |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free) |
EPC2T32N Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | DATA0 — Serial data output to FPGA |
| Pin 2 | DCLK — Configuration clock input from FPGA |
| Pin 3 | nCONFIG — Configuration start (driven low to begin) |
| Pin 4 | nSTATUS — Status output (open-drain) |
| Pin 5 | CONF_DONE — Configuration complete (open-drain) |
| Pin 6 | VCCINT3V3 — 3.3 V core supply |
| Pin 7 | nINIT_CONF — External reset input |
| Pin 8 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 9 | TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin 10 | TDO — JTAG test data out |
| Pin 11 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 12 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin 13 | nCE — Chip enable |
| Pin 14 | OE — Output enable (active-low) |
| Pin 15 | VCCINT5V — 5 V I/O supply |
| Pin 16 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 17 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 18 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 19 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 20 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 21 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 22 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 23 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 24 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 25 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 26 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 27 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 28 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 29 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 30 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 31 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 32 | NC — Not connected |
Typical Applications
EPC2T32N is suitable for 6 applications: Altera Cyclone FPGA Boot Memory, APEX 20K / APEX II Configuration Storage, ACEX 1K / FLEX 10K Prototype Boards, Telecommunications Line Card FPGA Config, Embedded Vision & Image Processing Platforms, Industrial PLC / SCADA Controllers.
Altera Cyclone FPGA Boot Memory
The EPC2T32N's 1.6 Mbit capacity and 10 MHz passive-serial configuration clock make it the standard boot memory for Cyclone I/II FPGAs in industrial and embedded designs. The EPC2T32N stores the compressed bitstream and shifts it into the FPGA via DCLK/DATA0 at power-up. The JTAG ISP port allows field updates without removing the device from the board, critical for industrial systems that undergo firmware revisions.
Recommended
APEX 20K / APEX II Configuration Storage
The EPC2T32N stores the configuration bitstream for APEX 20K and APEX II multi-FPGA systems, with cascade-mode support allowing multiple EPC2 PROMs to be chained via JTAG. The 1.6 Mbit density accommodates APEX bitstreams up to EP20K200E. Per the Altera configuration device datasheet, the CONF_DONE open-drain output supports multi-device parallel configuration, making the EPC2T32N suitable for APEX 20K400 and larger designs.
Recommended
ACEX 1K / FLEX 10K Prototype Boards
In ACEX 1K and FLEX 10K prototype boards, the EPC2T32N is paired with the FPGA to provide instant-on configuration without an external programmer. The in-system programmable flash allows Quartus II Programmer to rewrite the bitstream directly via the JTAG header, ideal for university labs and OEM prototyping. The 32-TQFP footprint is standard across Altera dev boards from the early 2000s.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line Card FPGA Config
Telecom line cards based on Altera Stratix I or Mercury FPGAs use the EPC2T32N to store the FPGA golden bitstream, allowing the system to recover from partial bitstream corruption via JTAG-reprogrammed PROMs. The 1.6 Mbit capacity suits Stratix I EP1S10/EP1S20 densities. The dual-voltage interface (3.3 V PROM side / 5 V FPGA side) provides level-shifting for mixed-voltage telecom backplanes.
Recommended
Embedded Vision & Image Processing Platforms
Embedded vision platforms that use Altera Cyclone II or Cyclone IV FPGAs for real-time image processing rely on the EPC2T32N for fast power-up configuration and in-field bitstream updates via JTAG. The 10 MHz configuration clock configures the FPGA in tens of milliseconds, minimizing boot latency for vision pipelines that must start within 100 ms of power-up. The RoHS-compliant EPC2T32N satisfies consumer electronics directives.
Recommended
Industrial PLC / SCADA Controllers
Industrial PLCs and SCADA controllers based on legacy Altera ACEX 1K or Cyclone I FPGAs use the EPC2T32N as the on-board configuration memory, storing the deterministic bitstream and supporting JTAG ISP updates from the field engineer via a sealed programming port. The 0 C to +70 C commercial temperature range is suitable for indoor control cabinets. Per the Altera configuration device datasheet, the JTAG ISP eliminates the need for socketed PROMs in field-replaceable controllers.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPC2T32N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPC2T132N | EPC2T32 | EPC2TC32N | EPC1TI32 | EPC1441TI32N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7) | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Memory Size | 1.6 Mbit | 3.2 Mbit (+100%) | 1.6 Mbit (same) | 1.6 Mbit (same) | 0.5 Mbit (-69%) | 0.5 Mbit |
| Max Configuration Clock | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz |
| JTAG ISP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes (lead-free) | Yes | No (lead-bearing) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C | 0 C to +70 C |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- In-system programmable flash (no external programmer needed) (vs EPC1PC8 (non-ISP EPC1 family))
- RoHS lead-free finish (EPC2T32N vs original EPC2T32) (vs EPC2T32 (lead-bearing))
- 1.6 Mbit density matches mid-density Altera FPGAs (vs EPC1TI32 (0.5 Mbit))
Design Notes
The EPC2T32N's JTAG chain must include the PROM as the first device before the downstream Altera FPGA in the TAP scan order, otherwise Quartus II Programmer cannot address the PROM for ISP. Per the Altera configuration device datasheet, use a 10 kohm pull-up resistor on nCONFIG and CONF_DONE because these are open-drain outputs. Place 0.1 uF decoupling capacitors close to VCCINT3V3 (pin 6) and VCCINT5V (pin 15).
Do not confuse the EPC2T32N (32-TQFP, 1.6 Mbit) with the EPC2T132N (32-TQFP, 3.2 Mbit) or the EPC2LC20 (20-PLCC, 1.6 Mbit). All three share the same Altera configuration protocol but have different pinouts and densities. Always double-check the data code on the top mark versus the datasheet before soldering. The 'N' suffix indicates RoHS/lead-free finish.
Keep DCLK and DATA0 traces short and length-matched to avoid configuration timing violations. The Altera configuration device datasheet specifies DCLK rise/fall times under 20 ns for reliable sampling at 10 MHz. Series-terminate DCLK with 33 ohm if the trace exceeds 50 mm to prevent ringing on the 32-TQFP footprint.
Compliance Information
Lead-free / RoHS compliant per 'N' suffix in the part number (Altera ordering convention). REACH compliance stated per distributor listing. AEC-Q100 not applicable - configuration PROM is a commercial-grade memory device, not an automotive-grade IC.
