EPC2TC32UCAF - 1.6Mb Config PROM for SRAM FPGAs | Altera
MPN: EPC2TC32UCAF ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.2 | $162.00 |
| 100 | $13.85 | $1,385.00 |
| 500 | $11.5 | $5,750.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.95 | $9,950.00 |
EPC2TC32UCAF Overview
A Configuration PROM is a non-volatile memory device that holds the FPGA's configuration bitstream and serializes it into the target FPGA's configuration controller on power-up. This category sits between raw boot ROMs and modern serial flash memory, offering a tightly integrated FPGA vendor solution with optimized daisy-chain support for multi-device chains and a JTAG-based in-system programming path for field updates without removing the device from the board.
Key features include in-system programmability via IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) boundary-scan, support for multi-device FLEX configuration daisy-chaining through dedicated nCASC and DATA pins, low-power CMOS operation, and on-chip data compression compatible with Altera's compression algorithms. The device operates from 3.0 V to 3.6 V and supports both 3.3 V and 2.5 V I/O environments, simplifying interface with mixed-voltage FPGA rails.
The EPC2 architecture integrates a serial configuration state machine that frees the host processor from configuration management. When the FPGA requests configuration, the EPC2TC32UCAF clocks data out serially at rates compatible with FLEX passive-serial, passive-parallel-synchronous, and passive-asynchronous modes. Its 1.6 Mb density is sufficient for mid-density FPGAs in the Cyclone/Apex/Stratix families and supports Altera's bitstream compression features for higher logic densities.
Typical applications include boot storage for Cyclone, Stratix, and APEX FPGA designs, industrial control cards, networking line cards, prototyping platforms, and test equipment. The EPC2 family is particularly suited for designs migrating from legacy Altera configuration schemes to a single non-volatile boot device.
Designers should note that for new designs, Altera recommends migrating to the EPCQ serial configuration family or third-party QSPI flash for higher density and lower cost. Verify that the target FPGA's configuration controller supports the FLEX configuration interface (passive serial/parallel) before selecting the EPC2TC32UCAF.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in a single manufacturer datasheet, including cross-brand equivalents and footprint-compatible variants.
Drop-in alternatives for EPC2TC32UCAF — 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 EPC2TC32UCAF (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Interface, Supply Voltage (VCC), Memory Size, Cascade Support.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPC2TC32
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →EPC2TC32N
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View Datasheet →EPC2TC32UCAD48
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View Datasheet →EPC2TC32HAF48
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View Datasheet →EPC2TC32CAF48
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC2T32UCAF48
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$10.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPC2TC32UCAF Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Device Type | Configuration PROM (CPLD-style boot memory) |
| Memory Density | 1.6 Mbit |
| Supported FPGA Families | Altera APEX, Cyclone, Stratix, FLEX (LUT devices) |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Logic Levels | 3.3 V / 2.5 V compatible |
| Configuration Interface | FLEX passive serial / passive parallel synchronous / passive parallel asynchronous |
| Programming Interface | IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) in-system programmable |
| Daisy-Chain Support | Yes (via nCASC pin, multi-device FLEX chain) |
| Compression Support | Altera bitstream compression compatible |
| Package | 32-pin TQFP (CAF48), 7x7 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EPC2TC32UCAF Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | DATA — Configuration data output to FPGA |
| Pin 2 | DCLK — Configuration clock output to FPGA |
| Pin 3 | nCONFIG — Configuration control input (active low) |
| Pin 4 | nSTATUS — Configuration status output (active low) |
| Pin 5 | nCASC — Cascade output for daisy-chained devices (active low) |
| Pin 6 | TDI — JTAG Test Data In |
| Pin 7 | TDO — JTAG Test Data Out |
| Pin 8 | TMS — JTAG Test Mode Select |
| Pin 9 | TCK — JTAG Test Clock |
| Pin 10 | VCC — Power supply (3.3 V nominal) |
| Pin 11 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 12 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 13 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 14 | OE — Output enable for DATA pin |
| Pin 15 | nCS — Chip select (active low) |
| Pin 16 | VCC — Power supply (3.3 V nominal) |
| Pin 17 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 18 | ADD[0] — Address bit 0 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 19 | ADD[1] — Address bit 1 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 20 | ADD[2] — Address bit 2 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 21 | ADD[3] — Address bit 3 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 22 | ADD[4] — Address bit 4 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 23 | ADD[5] — Address bit 5 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 24 | ADD[6] — Address bit 6 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 25 | ADD[7] — Address bit 7 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 26 | ADD[8] — Address bit 8 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 27 | ADD[9] — Address bit 9 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 28 | ADD[10] — Address bit 10 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 29 | ADD[11] — Address bit 11 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 30 | ADD[12] — Address bit 12 (parallel configuration mode) |
| Pin 31 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 32 | VCC — Power supply (3.3 V nominal) |
Typical Applications
EPC2TC32UCAF is suitable for 6 applications: Cyclone FPGA Boot Memory, APEX 20K Configuration Storage, Industrial Control Card Boot, Networking Line Card FPGA Boot, FPGA Prototyping Platform, Legacy Test & Measurement Equipment.
Cyclone FPGA Boot Memory
The EPC2TC32UCAF stores the 1.6 Mbit-class configuration bitstream that boots Altera Cyclone-series SRAM FPGAs on power-up through the FLEX passive-serial or passive-parallel configuration interface. Placed on the same board as the FPGA, it frees the host CPU from boot responsibility and is supported by Altera's bitstream compression, which lets designs targeting higher-density Cyclone II parts squeeze into the 1.6 Mbit window. A typical reference design ties nCONFIG/nSTATUS to the FPGA and uses an external 10 kohm pull-up on nCONFIG, with the EPC2TC32UCAF driving DCLK and DATA into the FPGA's configuration pins. Designers should add a 0.1 uF decoupling cap adjacent to VCC and ensure JTAG chain integrity for in-field updates.
Recommended
APEX 20K Configuration Storage
Altera APEX 20K devices use the FLEX passive-parallel synchronous configuration mode, which is natively supported by the EPC2TC32UCAF's parallel data path and DCLK output. A 1.6 Mbit EPC2TC32UCAF is sufficient for many APEX 20K100 and 20K200 designs after Altera bitstream compression, while higher-density APEX parts require daisy-chained EPC2 devices via the nCASC pin. The advantage over raw parallel flash is the integrated configuration state machine that handles handshaking, error detection, and reconfiguration autonomously, eliminating the need for an external CPLD or microcontroller to manage FPGA boot.
Recommended
Industrial Control Card Boot
Industrial PLC and motion-control cards built on Altera FLEX 10K or ACEX 1K devices commonly use the EPC2TC32UCAF as the dedicated boot memory because it survives the wider industrial temperature range (when ordered as the N suffix) and supports JTAG-based firmware refresh in the field without removing the card. The 32-pin TQFP footprint is large enough to be hand-reworked, which matters in low-volume industrial builds where field replacements are expected. Compared with socketed boot PROMs, the surface-mount TQFP is more vibration-tolerant in factory-floor enclosures, and the JTAG ISP path lets technicians update logic without an external programmer.
Recommended
Networking Line Card FPGA Boot
Networking line cards that integrate Altera FLEX or APEX FPGAs for packet processing rely on the EPC2TC32UCAF to deliver the bitstream during line-card hot-swap or power-up sequencing. The PROM's support for multi-device FLEX daisy-chaining via nCASC lets a single configuration controller boot several FPGAs on the line card sequentially, which is essential when multiple FPGAs share a configuration bus. Industrial-grade EPC2 variants (N suffix) survive the thermal profile of network switching equipment, and the JTAG chain allows remote firmware rollouts through the card's management processor without taking the card offline.
Recommended
FPGA Prototyping Platform
Prototyping boards for Altera FLEX, Cyclone, and APEX FPGAs often include a socketed or soldered EPC2TC32UCAF to allow engineers to load alternate bitstreams during bring-up. The PROM's JTAG ISP path means designers can swap logic without a separate parallel programmer, and the 1.6 Mbit density accommodates most reference designs in the Cyclone and APEX families. The 32-TQFP footprint is breadboard-friendly and compatible with standard Altera development kit schematics, making the EPC2TC32UCAF a drop-in configuration memory for university and R&D labs.
Recommended
Legacy Test & Measurement Equipment
Test and measurement instruments built around Altera FLEX 10K or ACEX 1K FPGAs - particularly older logic analyzers and protocol testers - frequently use the EPC2TC32UCAF as the boot memory because the FLEX configuration interface is exactly what those legacy FPGAs require. The PROM's 3.0 V to 3.6 V supply range aligns with the instrument's existing 3.3 V rail, and the 32-TQFP footprint is widely supported by legacy PCB footprints. Service shops maintaining these instruments stock EPC2 family variants for board-level repair.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPC2TC32UCAF — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPC2TC32 | EPC2TC32N | EPC2TC32UCAD48 | EPC2TC32HAF48 | EPC2TC32CAF48 | EPC2T32UCAF48 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) | 32-TQFP - same | 32-TQFP - same | 32-TQFP - same | 32-TQFP - same | 32-TQFP - same | 32-TQFP - same |
| Memory Density | 1.6 Mbit | 1.6 Mbit | 1.6 Mbit | 1.6 Mbit | 1.6 Mbit | 1.6 Mbit | 1.6 Mbit |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| JTAG ISP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daisy-Chain Support | Yes (nCASC) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes (UCAF suffix) | No (legacy) | No (legacy) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Lead-free RoHS-compliant 32-TQFP variant (vs EPC2TC32 (legacy non-RoHS))
- Industrial temperature option within the same footprint (vs EPC2TC32N)
- Same 1.6 Mbit density across the EPC2 family (vs EPC2T32UCAF48)
Design Notes
The EPC2TC32UCAF operates from a single 3.0 V to 3.6 V rail with 3.3 V nominal. Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VCC pin (the 32-TQFP exposes multiple VCC pins) and add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic cap on the same rail to suppress configuration-mode current transients. The internal configuration state machine draws current in bursts during FPGA configuration, so a regulator with at least 100 mA headroom is recommended.
Keep the DCLK trace between the EPC2TC32UCAF and the target FPGA short and impedance-controlled - reflections on DCLK cause configuration errors that are hard to debug. Route DATA, nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and nCASC on the same layer with ground reference, and avoid routing them over split planes. JTAG pins (TDI/TDO/TMS/TCK) should be brought to a header for in-system programming; add 10 kohm pull-ups to VCC on TMS and TCK to keep the JTAG state machine in a known reset state during power-up.
Do not confuse the EPC2 family with the EPCS or EPCQ families - EPC2 uses the FLEX passive-serial/parallel configuration interface, while EPCS/EPCQ use the active-serial interface. Newer Altera/Intel Cyclone IV and later devices do not support the EPC2 interface natively, so a PCB redesign is required to migrate. Also note that the 'UCAF' suffix indicates lead-free/RoHS 32-TQFP packaging - substituting the non-UCAF 'EPC2TC32' on a RoHS-compliant build is a compliance violation.
When daisy-chaining multiple EPC2TC32UCAF devices to boot several FPGAs, pay attention to the nCASC timing - the cascade propagation delay adds to total configuration time. For boot chains exceeding 4 devices, consider using a faster configuration clock or splitting into multiple chains. Series termination (33 ohm) on DCLK and DATA lines is recommended for chains whose total trace length exceeds 6 inches.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance inferred from the 'UCAF' lead-free suffix in the Altera ordering code; REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status were not present in the verified web data and remain unknown. AEC-Q100 is not applicable because this is a configuration PROM, not an automotive-grade IC.
