EPF10K10LC84-4N - FLEX 10K FPGA, 10K Gates, 576 Cells | Altera
MPN: EPF10K10LC84-4N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $30.5 | $30.50 |
| 10 | $27.45 | $274.50 |
| 100 | $24.4 | $2,440.00 |
| 500 | $21.35 | $10,675.00 |
| 1,000 | $18.3 | $18,300.00 |
EPF10K10LC84-4N Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor IC containing an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs/LABs), programmable interconnects, and I/O cells that the user can define after manufacture via a hardware description language (HDL) and a configuration bitstream. In the system hierarchy, the FPGA sits above general-purpose logic ICs and below ASICs, occupying the niche where moderate-to-high gate counts, parallel datapath processing, and fast prototyping are required without NRE cost. The FLEX 10K family introduced the embedded array block (EAB) concept, allowing on-chip RAM and DSP-like megafunctions, and was Altera's flagship from the mid-1990s before being superseded by the APEX, Cyclone, and Stratix families.
Key features of the EPF10K10LC84-4N include 10K typical gates, 576 logic cells across 72 LABs, 6,144 memory bits, 59 usable I/Os, in-system reprogrammability via SRAM configuration, JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) boundary-scan support, multi-volt I/O, and a commercial 0 °C to 70 °C operating range. Speed grade -4 positions the part at a moderate performance tier within the family, with internal propagation delays on the order of 0.6 ns and counter speeds near 125 MHz.
The EPF10K10LC84-4N uses Altera's SRAM-based look-up-table logic element with FastTrack continuous routing interconnect and embedded array blocks for distributed memory, allowing designers to implement glue logic, bus interfaces, state machines, and small signal-processing datapaths on a single device. Configuration is loaded from a serial EPROM (EPC1/EPC2) or via JTAG, and the design is captured in MAX+PLUS II or Quartus using VHDL/Verilog.
Typical applications include industrial control and factory-automation glue logic, telecom interface cards, legacy test-and-measurement equipment, prototype ASIC replacement, and educational digital-design platforms. Its 5 V tolerant I/O and through-hole-friendly PLCC package made it especially popular in 1990s-era designs that remain in long-lifecycle production today.
When designing with the EPF10K10LC84-4N, ensure proper decoupling (100 nF ceramic + 10 µF bulk per supply pin) and follow Altera's configuration schematic in the FLEX 10K Device Handbook. The PLCC package is socket-compatible with the EPF10K10LC84-4 (commercial, no -N suffix marker) and EPF10K10LC84-3 (faster speed grade), enabling easy upgrades on the same PCB footprint.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives from the FLEX 10K family, JTAG configuration guidance, and lifecycle status not consolidated on a single manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF10K10LC84-4N — 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 EPF10K10LC84-4N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Mounting Type, Process Technology, Configuration Method.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF10K10LC84-4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$30.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K10LC84-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$41.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K10LI84-4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K10LC84-4N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K10LC84-4N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | FLEX 10K |
| Family | FLEX 10K Embedded Programmable Logic Device |
| Typical Gates | 10,000 |
| Logic Elements (Cells) | 576 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 72 |
| Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) | 3 |
| Embedded Memory (bits) | 6,144 |
| Maximum User I/Os | 59 |
| Speed Grade | -4 |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 125 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.42 µm CMOS, 5 V |
| Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 70 °C (commercial) |
| Package | 84-pin PLCC (J-Lead, LCC-84) |
| Configuration Method | SRAM (serial EPROM or JTAG) |
| JTAG Support | Yes (IEEE 1149.1 BST) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole / Socket |
| Manufacturer | Altera (now Intel Programmable Solutions Group) |
EPF10K10LC84-4N Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 2 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 3 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 4 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 5 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 6 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 7 | VCCIO1 — I/O supply voltage, bank 1 (5 V) |
| Pin 8 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 9 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 10 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 11 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 12 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 13 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 14 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 15 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 16 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (5 V) |
| Pin 17 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 18 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 19 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 20 | I/O — User I/O (bank 1) |
| Pin 21 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 22 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 23 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 24 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 25 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 26 | VCCIO2 — I/O supply voltage, bank 2 (5 V) |
| Pin 27 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 28 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 29 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 30 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 31 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 32 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 33 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 34 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 35 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 36 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (5 V) |
| Pin 37 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 38 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 39 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 40 | I/O — User I/O (bank 2) |
| Pin 41 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 42 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 43 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 44 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 45 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 46 | VCCIO3 — I/O supply voltage, bank 3 (5 V) |
| Pin 47 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 48 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 49 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 50 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 51 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 52 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 53 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 54 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 55 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 56 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (5 V) |
| Pin 57 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 58 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 59 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 60 | I/O — User I/O (bank 3) |
| Pin 61 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 62 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 63 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 64 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 65 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 66 | VCCIO4 — I/O supply voltage, bank 4 (5 V) |
| Pin 67 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 68 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 69 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 70 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 71 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 72 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 73 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 74 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 75 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 76 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (5 V) |
| Pin 77 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 78 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 79 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 80 | I/O — User I/O (bank 4) |
| Pin 81 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 82 | nCONFIG — Configuration control (active-low) |
| Pin 83 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active-low) |
| Pin 84 | CONF_DONE — Configuration done (active-high) |
Typical Applications
EPF10K10LC84-4N is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Factory Automation Glue Logic, Legacy Telecom Interface Card Design, Test and Measurement Equipment Front-End, ASIC Replacement and Prototype Validation, Educational Digital Design Laboratory Platform, Aerospace and Defense Long-Life Avionics.
Industrial Control and Factory Automation Glue Logic
The EPF10K10LC84-4N is widely used as glue logic in factory-automation backplanes where it interfaces 5 V TTL/CMOS peripherals, opto-isolated sensor buses, and stepper-motor drivers to a master PLC or industrial PC. Its 59 user I/Os and 0.42 µm 5 V CMOS process provide 5 V-tolerant I/O that can directly interface 5 V sensors and legacy 8255-style parallel ports without level shifters. The 125 MHz internal performance and 6,144 bits of embedded memory are more than sufficient for state-machine-based machine sequencing, watchdog logic, and encoder quadrature decoding. Designers value the PLCC-84 socketable package because it enables field replacement without reworking fine-pitch leads. Source: FLEX 10K family datasheet and Altera industrial reference designs.
Recommended
Legacy Telecom Interface Card Design
The EPF10K10LC84-4N historically served in telecom line-card and backplane glue-logic designs, where it bridged TDM buses, HDLC controllers, and E1/T1 framers. Its 5 V-tolerant I/O and JTAG boundary-scan support were crucial for multi-board telecom systems requiring in-system testability. The 576 logic elements support moderate glue logic density, while the 6,144 embedded memory bits are ideal for small FIFO buffers and look-up-table-based mapping functions. Although modern designs have moved to Cyclone or Stratix, the EPF10K10LC84-4N remains in long-life telecom installations where redesign is not economical.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Equipment Front-End
In bench-top oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol testers from the late 1990s and early 2000s, the EPF10K10LC84-4N handled display driving, button-matrix scanning, and trigger logic. Its 59 user I/Os comfortably accommodate 7-segment or dot-matrix LCD interfaces plus keypad rows/columns, while the 5 V I/O simplifies interfacing with bipolar analog front-ends. The 125 MHz internal frequency allows precise timing measurements in mid-range instruments. Hobbyists restoring or replicating legacy test gear still source this part because its PLCC-84 socket fits the original PCB exactly.
Recommended
ASIC Replacement and Prototype Validation
The EPF10K10LC84-4N is a classic ASIC replacement target: with 10,000 typical gates and SRAM-based reconfigurability, it lets design teams validate system logic in silicon before committing to a mask-set ASIC. Its 5 V tolerance matches the I/O of many ASIC processes from that era, easing board-level migration. The 6,144 embedded memory bits support register files and small FIFOs typical of glue-logic ASICs. Re-programmability means design changes in late validation phases can be deployed simply by re-loading the configuration bitstream via JTAG.
Recommended
Educational Digital Design Laboratory Platform
Universities and training institutes have used the EPF10K10LC84-4N on Altera UP2 and compatible education boards for VHDL/Verilog coursework, covering combinational logic, sequential FSMs, simple CPUs, and peripheral interfaces. Its PLCC-84 socket allows students to swap parts safely without soldering. The MAX+PLUS II toolchain (free for education at the time) supports synthesis, simulation, and programming through the ByteBlasterMV. With 576 logic elements, students can implement RISC CPUs, UARTs, VGA controllers, and simple video games.
Recommended
Aerospace and Defense Long-Life Avionics
The EPF10K10LC84-4N has been qualified into various military and aerospace systems where its 5 V tolerance, mature process, and documented long-term supply support are valued for avionics upgrades and form-fit-function replacements. Its 0-70 °C commercial grade is acceptable for cockpit and cabin equipment, while for harsher bay installations the industrial-temperature EPF10K10LI84-4 sibling is preferred. The SRAM-based configuration supports field firmware updates via JTAG, important for deployed systems. With 59 user I/Os and 125 MHz performance, it handles MIL-STD-1553 bridging, ARINC-429 formatting, and discrete I/O aggregation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF10K10LC84-4N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF10K10LC84-4 | EPF10K10LC84-3 | EPF10K10LI84-4 | EPF10K10LC84-4N (Intel relabel) | EPF10K10AQC208-3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel PSG) | Altera | Altera | Altera | Intel | Altera |
| Package | 84-pin PLCC (LCC-84, J-Lead) | 84-pin PLCC - same | 84-pin PLCC - same | 84-pin PLCC - same | 84-pin PLCC - same | 208-pin PQFP - cross-package |
| Logic Cells / Elements | 576 | 576 | 576 | 576 | 576 | 576 |
| Typical Gates | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Speed Grade | -4 (~125 MHz) | -4 (~125 MHz) | -3 (~150 MHz, faster) | -4 (~125 MHz) | -4 (~125 MHz) | -3 (~150 MHz) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to +70 °C (commercial) | 0 to +70 °C | 0 to +70 °C | -40 to +85 °C (industrial) | 0 to +70 °C | 0 to +70 °C |
| User I/Os | 59 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 134 (PQFP-208 has more I/Os) |
| Lead-Free Finish ('-N' suffix) | Yes (Pb-free) | No (standard lead) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Serial EPROM / JTAG | Serial EPROM / JTAG | Serial EPROM / JTAG | Serial EPROM / JTAG | Serial EPROM / JTAG | Serial EPROM / JTAG |
Key Differentiators
- Socket-friendly PLCC-84 package with through-hole compatibility (vs EPF10K10AQC208-3N (208-pin PQFP))
- Lead-free ('-N') finish for RoHS-sensitive end products (vs EPF10K10LC84-4 (standard lead finish))
- Commercial 0-70 °C variant at lowest cost; industrial-temp sibling available (vs EPF10K10LI84-4 (industrial -40 to +85 °C))
Design Notes
The EPF10K10LC84-4N requires 5 V on VCCINT (core) and 5 V on VCCIO1-VCCIO4 (I/O banks). Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of every VCCINT and VCCIO pin, plus a 10 µF tantalum bulk capacitor near the package. During configuration, inrush current can spike to ~200 mA; ensure the 5 V regulator has at least 500 mA headroom. Source: FLEX 10K Device Handbook, Altera application note AN-71.
Route configuration signals (nCONFIG, nSTATUS, CONF_DONE, DCLK, DATA0) as short, noise-immune traces and add 4.7 kΩ pull-ups to VCCIO on nCONFIG and nSTATUS per the FLEX 10K datasheet. Keep the JTAG chain (TDI/TDO/TMS/TCK) away from switching signals. Use a PLCC-84 socket (e.g., 3M 84-84-AB or equivalent) for field-replaceable assemblies; through-hole soldering is acceptable but service becomes difficult.
Do not confuse EPF10K10LC84-4N with EPF10K10AQC208-3N: they share the same die and 10K-gate capacity but the latter uses a 208-pin PQFP package and is NOT drop-in compatible on a PLCC-84 socket. Estimated: bitstream compatibility across the FLEX 10K 10K-gate family is preserved because all parts share the same logic element architecture; verify with Quartus II / MAX+PLUS II before migrating.
Compliance Information
The '-N' suffix on EPF10K10LC84-4N indicates lead-free finish (Pb-free) per Altera's legacy ordering convention, but formal RoHS/REACH documentation for the FLEX 10K family is limited because the family pre-dates formal compliance declarations. AEC-Q100 is not applicable for legacy FPGAs. Manufacturers' Certificates of Compliance should be requested per lot.
