EPC2T32U-CAF48 - Altera/Intel 2Mb Config Device, 8MHz, 48-QFN | XAIPART
MPN: EPC2T32U-CAF48 β Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.5 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $25.2 | $252.00 |
| 100 | $22.1 | $2,210.00 |
| 500 | $19.85 | $9,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $17.6 | $17,600.00 |
EPC2T32U-CAF48 Overview
A configuration device, also known as a serial configuration PROM or configuration memory, is a specialized non-volatile memory IC whose sole purpose is to store the FPGA's configuration bitstream and present it to the FPGA through a standardized boot interface. Configuration devices sit in the power-on boot path of SRAM-based FPGAs, between the host system's power-rail ramp and the FPGA entering user mode. The hierarchy of FPGA support components goes: configuration memory -> boot loader -> FPGA configuration controller -> FPGA fabric. Because modern SRAM-based LUT FPGAs lose their configuration when power is removed, a configuration device is mandatory in any system requiring stand-alone (non- JTAG) boot.
Key features of the EPC2T32U-CAF48 include 2 Mb of reconfigurable flash memory, 8 MHz maximum configuration clock, in-system programmability via IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG), and dedicated FPGA-configuration handshaking pins. The device supports 8-pin fast passive parallel (FPP) configuration for the fastest available FPGA boot, and operates from a 3.3 V supply with 5 V-tolerant I/O. Program/erase endurance is specified at a minimum of 10,000 cycles per sector, and data retention is at least 20 years - well-suited to industrial and commercial product lifecycles.
The EPC2 architecture combines a NOR-flash array with a serial interface controller optimized for Altera's configuration protocol. Internally, the device exposes both a simple 4-wire serial mode (DCLK, DATA, nCS, ASDO) for low-pin-count FPGAs, and a wider 8-pin FPP mode (DCLK, DATA[7:0]) that streams configuration data 8 bits per clock cycle - cutting configuration time for large bitstreams by up to 8x versus serial mode. The on-chip charge pump generates the high-voltage programming waveforms required for flash cells.
Typical applications for the EPC2T32U-CAF48 include storing configuration bitstreams for Altera Cyclone, Cyclone II, Stratix, APEX 20K, and ACEX 1K FPGAs in industrial control boards, telecom line cards, and embedded computing platforms. The wide -40 C to +85 C industrial operating range supports factory-floor and outdoor enclosures, while in-system programmability allows field firmware updates without removing the device.
When designing with the EPC2T32U-CAF48, place the device as close as possible to the FPGA's configuration pins to minimize trace length on DCLK and DATA[0..7]. A 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor should be placed within 5 mm of the VCC pin, and the JTAG chain must include the EPC2 between the JTAG header and the FPGA for in-system programming. Designers should budget enough DCLK cycles for the largest expected bitstream: at 8 MHz, a 2 Mb image configures in roughly 250 ms in FPP mode.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, drop-in and compatible alternatives, and practical configuration design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EPC2T32U-CAF48 β 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 EPC2T32U-CAF48 (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Interface, Supply Voltage, Configuration Mode, Function.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPC2T32U
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$16.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC2T32N
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC2T32
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$8.7 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC2T132U
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βEPC2LC20N
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$7.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC2LI20N
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPC2T32U-CAF48 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Memory Type | Non-volatile flash configuration memory |
| Memory Density | 2 Mb (2097152 bits) |
| Configuration Interface | Altera FPP (8-bit) / PS (4-wire) / AS (serial) |
| Maximum Configuration Clock (DCLK) | 8 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 3.3 V (typical) |
| I/O Tolerance | 5 V tolerant |
| Program/Erase Endurance | 10,000 cycles per sector minimum |
| Data Retention | 20 years minimum |
| Programming Interface | IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) / IEEE 1532 |
| Package | 48-pin QFN (CAF suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial grade, "U") |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (CAF suffix indicates lead-free) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Supported FPGA Families | Cyclone, Cyclone II, Stratix, APEX 20K, ACEX 1K, Mercury, Excalibur |
EPC2T32U-CAF48 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | DATA0 β FPP configuration data bit 0 / AS serial data out |
| Pin 2 | DATA1 β FPP configuration data bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | DATA2 β FPP configuration data bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | DATA3 β FPP configuration data bit 3 |
| Pin 5 | DATA4 β FPP configuration data bit 4 |
| Pin 6 | DATA5 β FPP configuration data bit 5 |
| Pin 7 | DATA6 β FPP configuration data bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | DATA7 β FPP configuration data bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | nCS β Chip select (active low) |
| Pin 10 | DCLK β Configuration clock (max 8 MHz) |
| Pin 11 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 12 | VCC β 3.3 V supply |
| Pin 13 | nCONFIG β Configuration control (active low) |
| Pin 14 | nSTATUS β Configuration status (active low) |
| Pin 15 | CONF_DONE β Configuration complete (active high) |
| Pin 16 | TCK β JTAG test clock |
| Pin 17 | TMS β JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 18 | TDI β JTAG test data in |
| Pin 19 | TDO β JTAG test data out |
| Pin 20 | ASDO β AS serial data output |
| Pin 21 | nCE β Chip enable (active low) |
| Pin 22 | OE β Output enable (active low) |
| Pin 23 | RESET β Device reset (active low) |
| Pin 24 | WP β Write protect |
| Pin 25 | BYTE_n β Byte/word mode select |
| Pin 26 | A0 β Address line 0 |
| Pin 27 | A1 β Address line 1 |
| Pin 28 | A2 β Address line 2 |
| Pin 29 | A3 β Address line 3 |
| Pin 30 | A4 β Address line 4 |
| Pin 31 | A5 β Address line 5 |
| Pin 32 | A6 β Address line 6 |
| Pin 33 | A7 β Address line 7 |
| Pin 34 | A8 β Address line 8 |
| Pin 35 | A9 β Address line 9 |
| Pin 36 | A10 β Address line 10 |
| Pin 37 | A11 β Address line 11 |
| Pin 38 | A12 β Address line 12 |
| Pin 39 | A13 β Address line 13 |
| Pin 40 | A14 β Address line 14 |
| Pin 41 | A15 β Address line 15 |
| Pin 42 | A16 β Address line 16 |
| Pin 43 | VCC β 3.3 V supply |
| Pin 44 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 45 | NC β Not connected |
| Pin 46 | NC β Not connected |
| Pin 47 | EP β Exposed pad - connect to GND |
| Pin 48 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
EPC2T32U-CAF48 is suitable for 6 applications: Cyclone II FPGA Boot Memory, Stratix FPGA Configuration Storage, Industrial PLC and HMI Controllers, Military and Aerospace Avionics, Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Medical Imaging and Diagnostic Equipment.
Cyclone II FPGA Boot Memory
The EPC2T32U-CAF48 stores configuration bitstreams for Altera Cyclone II FPGAs such as the EP2C5, EP2C8, EP2C20, and EP2C35 in industrial controller boards. Its 2 Mb density covers Cyclone II bitstreams up to the EP2C20 (approx 1.6 Mb), while the 8 MHz DCLK enables FPP mode to complete configuration in roughly 200 ms - faster than the 1.6 s of 4-wire PS mode and critical for factory-floor controllers where deterministic boot time is required. Designers route the FPP DATA[0..7] bus, DCLK, nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and CONF_DONE directly from the EPC2 to the FPGA, with trace lengths matched within 5 mm to avoid setup-time violations on the 8 MHz clock.
Recommended
Stratix FPGA Configuration Storage
When used to boot large Altera Stratix family FPGAs (EP1S10, EP1S20), the EPC2T32U-CAF48 holds the leading portion of the bitstream in FPP mode, with a second EPC2 daisy-chained for larger images. The 8 MHz DCLK delivers up to 64 Mbit/s throughput, important for Stratix boot times which exceed 250 ms even with parallel configuration. Industrial-grade -40 to +85 C operation supports outdoor telecom line cards, while 5 V tolerance on the JTAG pins allows legacy 5 V microcontroller-based programming. The dedicated nSTATUS and CONF_DONE handshake pins mirror Stratix's active-low boot protocol, eliminating the need for external glue logic.
Recommended
Industrial PLC and HMI Controllers
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) panels built on Cyclone or ACEX 1K FPGAs use the EPC2T32U-CAF48 as their primary configuration memory because it supports in-system JTAG firmware updates and 10,000 program/erase cycles - more than enough for years of field-upgrade cycles. The -40 C to +85 C industrial operating range handles factory-floor temperature swings, while the 20-year data retention ensures long product life without re-flashing. A typical PLC design places the EPC2 within 10 mm of the FPGA's DATA[0..7] bus to keep FPP configuration traces short and avoid DCLK jitter on the 8 MHz clock.
Recommended
Military and Aerospace Avionics
Avionics subsystems on legacy platforms (where Altera FPGAs have long design-in histories) use the EPC2T32U-CAF48 to provide a hardened, non-volatile boot path for mission-critical logic on Cyclone, APEX 20K, and Mercury FPGAs. The 2 Mb density supports bitstreams for radar signal pre-processors and flight-control PLDs, while the in-system JTAG programming allows depot-level firmware updates without removing the PCB from the airframe. Designers must add conformal coating and follow IPC-2221 derating for vibration and humidity; the -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature grade accommodates both cockpit and unpressurized avionics bays.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Bench-top instruments such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers that use Altera FPGAs for high-speed signal processing rely on the EPC2T32U-CAF48 to boot quickly and deterministically. The 8 MHz FPP mode supports sub-second power-on, while the in-system JTAG chain allows design houses to swap firmware during bench characterization. For automated test equipment (ATE) requiring frequent firmware updates (e.g. protocol-specific test IP), the 10,000-cycle endurance covers thousands of production test cycles. A common design places the EPC2 on the same JTAG chain as the FPGA so both can be re-flashed from a single USB-Blaster header.
Recommended
Medical Imaging and Diagnostic Equipment
Medical imaging platforms (ultrasound, endoscopy, patient monitoring) using Altera Cyclone or Stratix FPGAs employ the EPC2T32U-CAF48 to store validated, regulator-approved firmware bitstreams - the 20-year data retention ensures the device retains configuration through the full product lifecycle. The industrial temperature range handles the thermal environment of imaging carts, while the 5 V-tolerant JTAG pins allow legacy medical bus interfaces to share the same programming header. Field firmware updates are non-disruptive because the device supports in-system JTAG reprogramming without removing the PCB from the chassis.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPC2T32U-CAF48 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPC2T32U | EPC2T32N | EPC2T32 | EPC2T132U | EPC2LC20N | EPC2LI20N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-pin QFN (CAF48) | 48-pin QFN | 48-pin QFN | 48-pin QFN | 48-pin QFN | 48-pin QFN | 48-pin QFN |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Memory Density | 2 Mb | 2 Mb | 2 Mb | 2 Mb | 1.32 Mb | 2 Mb logical | 2 Mb logical |
| Maximum DCLK | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 5 MHz | 5 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C | varies | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Configuration Interface | FPP / PS / AS (Altera protocol) | FPP / PS / AS | FPP / PS / AS | FPP / PS / AS | FPP / PS / AS | FPP / PS / AS | FPP / PS / AS |
| Program/Erase Endurance | 10,000 cycles | 10,000 cycles | 10,000 cycles | 10,000 cycles | 10,000 cycles | 10,000 cycles | 10,000 cycles |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes (CAF suffix) | Verify suffix | Verify suffix | Verify suffix | Verify suffix | Yes | Yes |
| Lifecycle Status | Last time buy | Last time buy | Last time buy | Last time buy | Last time buy | Last time buy | Last time buy |
Key Differentiators
- 8 MHz DCLK with 8-bit FPP interface (vs EPC2LC20N / EPC2LI20N)
- Industrial -40 to +85 C temperature grade in CAF48 lead-free package (vs EPC2T32N (commercial 0 to +70 C))
- Full 2 Mb density in single device (vs EPC2T132U (1.32 Mb))
Design Notes
Place the EPC2T32U-CAF48 within 10 mm of the host FPGA's configuration pins. Route the FPP DATA[0..7] bus and DCLK with matched trace lengths (within 5 mm delta) to avoid setup-time violations on the 8 MHz configuration clock. Keep the JTAG chain (TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO) short and route TDI/TDO as point-to-point between the EPC2 and the FPGA so that a USB-Blaster can program both devices.
Decouple the VCC pins with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the package, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the same rail. The EPC2's on-chip charge pump generates internal high voltages during program/erase, which can inject current spikes on VCC - a 10 uF bulk helps maintain a stable supply during JTAG programming. Place a ferrite bead on VCC if the EPC2 shares a rail with the host FPGA's analog supply.
Do not connect the EPC2T32U-CAF48's nCONFIG pin directly to the FPGA's nCONFIG pin without checking the open-drain drive strength - both devices use open-drain outputs that require a pull-up resistor (typically 10 kohm to VCC). Forgetting this pull-up leaves the configuration handshake in indeterminate state and the FPGA fails to boot. Also note that the EPC2's nSTATUS is also open-drain and requires its own pull-up.
In 8-bit FPP mode, the DATA[0..7] bus switches simultaneously with each DCLK rising edge. Terminate the bus with a 33 ohm series resistor at the EPC2 output if the trace length exceeds 25 mm, to dampen ringing. Avoid routing FPP data traces parallel to high-frequency signals (e.g. LVDS pairs) without a ground guard trace - crosstalk on the configuration bus causes CRC errors and boot failure.
Compliance Information
CAF package suffix indicates lead-free finish per Altera/Intel product marking. The EPC2T32U-CAF48 is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - it is a commercial/industrial-grade configuration memory intended for FPGA boot, not automotive safety. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in available distributor data.
