EPF10K50SQC208-2 - FLEX 10KS FPGA 50K Gates 208-PQFP | Altera
MPN: EPF10K50SQC208-2 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $145 | $145.00 |
| 10 | $128 | $1,280.00 |
| 100 | $96.5 | $9,650.00 |
| 500 | $78.4 | $39,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $64.2 | $64,200.00 |
EPF10K50SQC208-2 Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that combines configurable logic blocks, programmable interconnect, and programmable I/O cells on a single semiconductor die. FPGAs sit higher than simple CPLDs in the programmable logic hierarchy because they can host multi-million-gate designs, soft processor cores, and high-throughput parallel datapaths. Within Intel/Altera's portfolio, FLEX 10K was the first family to embed dedicated array blocks (analogous to today's M9K/M20K blocks in modern Cyclone/Arria devices), enabling efficient memory-mapped logic and DSP functions. The FLEX 10KS variant adds enhanced I/O support and improved speed grades versus the original FLEX 10K family.
Key features of the EPF10K50SQC208-2 include 50K typical gates / up to 100K maximum system gates, 40,960 bits of embedded memory, 147 user I/Os at LVTTL/LVCMOS-compatible levels, in-system programmability via the IEEE 1149.1 JTAG interface, and boundary-scan testability. The device supports multi-voltage I/O standards including 5.0 V, 3.3 V, and 2.5 V interfacing through banked VCCIO rails. Per-block fast-path interconnect delivers typical internal frequencies in the 100-200 MHz range, with internal carry chains optimized for arithmetic operations.
Typical applications include digital signal processing glue logic, telecom backplane interface controllers, industrial machine control and instrumentation, image and video pipeline preprocessing, and embedded system prototyping for ASIC emulation. The FLEX 10KS family was widely adopted in late-1990s and early-2000s designs, and EPF10K50SQC208-2 remains in service today primarily as a long-life replacement and spare-parts component in legacy industrial and aerospace equipment.
When designing in the EPF10K50SQC208-2, engineers must consider the 5.0 V tolerant I/O mixed-voltage constraints, the JTAG configuration interface, and the use of the legacy MAX+PLUS II or Quartus design software (the FLEX 10K device files are still supported in Quartus for backward compatibility). Note that this part is no longer recommended for new designs; modern replacements from Intel (Cyclone IV/V or MAX 10) offer lower power and higher density at a lower cost.
Alternative FLEX 10K and FLEX 10KS family variants in the same 208-PQFP footprint exist for design migration, and the pin-compatible EPF10K50EQC208-3 in the same 208-BFQFP package enables drop-in upgrade to higher performance with the same board layout. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, family-level drop-in alternatives, and legacy design notes not found in the original datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF10K50SQC208-2 — 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 EPF10K50SQC208-2 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Supply Voltage, Package, Mounting Type, Operating Temperature, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF10K50EQC208-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50EQC208-2
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF10K50EQC208-1
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF10K50EQC208-2N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF10K50EQC208-3N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF10K50EQC208-1N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF10K50SQC208-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Altera (Intel) |
| Series | FLEX-10KS® |
| Device Type | Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) |
| Logic Family / Process | CMOS, 0.22 µm SRAM |
| Typical Gates | 50,000 gates |
| Maximum System Gates | 100,000 gates |
| Logic Cells | 2,880 |
| Registers / Flip-Flops | 4,096 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 360 |
| Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) | 10 |
| Embedded Memory | 40,960 bits (40 Kbit) |
| User I/Os | 147 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 2.375 V to 2.625 V (nominal 2.5 V) |
| I/O Supply Voltage | 2.5 V / 3.3 V / 5.0 V tolerant (banked VCCIO) |
| Package | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP, 28 x 28 mm, gull-wing |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C (Commercial) |
| Programming Interface | IEEE 1149.1 JTAG / ByteBlaster |
| Logic Family (per Vyrian listing) | CMOS |
EPF10K50SQC208-2 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — User I/O pin (bank-dependent VCCIO) |
| Pin 2 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 3 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 4 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 5 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (2.5 V) |
| Pin 6 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 7 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 8 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 9 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 10 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 11 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 12 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 13 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 14 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 15 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 16 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 17 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 18 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 19 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 20 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 21 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 22 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 23 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 24 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 25 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 26 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 27 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 28 | CLK1 — Dedicated clock input 1 |
| Pin 29 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 30 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 31 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 32 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 33 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (2.5 V) |
| Pin 34 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 35 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 36 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 37 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 38 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 39 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 40 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 41 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 42 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 43 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 44 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 45 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 46 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 47 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 48 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 49 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 50 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 51 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 52 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 53 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 54 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 55 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 56 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 57 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 58 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 59 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 60 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 61 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 62 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 63 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (2.5 V) |
| Pin 64 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 65 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 66 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 67 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 68 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 69 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 70 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 71 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 72 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 73 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 74 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 75 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 76 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 77 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 78 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 79 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 80 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 81 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 82 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 83 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 84 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 85 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 86 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 87 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 88 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 89 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 90 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 91 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 92 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 93 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (2.5 V) |
| Pin 94 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 95 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 96 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 97 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 98 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 99 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 100 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 101 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 102 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 103 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 104 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 105 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 106 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 107 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 108 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 109 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 110 | DCLK — Configuration clock (dedicated) |
| Pin 111 | nCONFIG — Configuration control (active-low reset) |
| Pin 112 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active-low) |
| Pin 113 | CONF_DONE — Configuration-done indicator |
| Pin 114 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 115 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 116 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (2.5 V) |
| Pin 117 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 118 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 119 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 120 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 121 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 122 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 123 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 124 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 125 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 126 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 127 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 128 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 129 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 130 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 131 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 132 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 133 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 134 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 135 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 136 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 137 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 138 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 139 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 140 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 141 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 142 | TDI — JTAG Test Data In (dedicated) |
| Pin 143 | TMS — JTAG Test Mode Select (dedicated) |
| Pin 144 | TCK — JTAG Test Clock (dedicated) |
| Pin 145 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 146 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (2.5 V) |
| Pin 147 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 148 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 149 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 150 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 151 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 152 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 153 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 154 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 155 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 156 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 157 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 158 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 159 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 160 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 161 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 162 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 163 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 164 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 165 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 166 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 167 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 168 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 169 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 170 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 171 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 172 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 173 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 174 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 175 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage (2.5 V) |
| Pin 176 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 177 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 178 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 179 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 180 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 181 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 182 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 183 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 184 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 185 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 186 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 187 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 188 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 189 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 190 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 191 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 192 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 193 | CLK0 — Dedicated clock input 0 |
| Pin 194 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 195 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 196 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (bank) |
| Pin 197 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 198 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 199 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 200 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 201 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 202 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 203 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 204 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 205 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 206 | TDO — JTAG Test Data Out (dedicated) |
| Pin 207 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 208 | I/O — User I/O pin |
Typical Applications
EPF10K50SQC208-2 is suitable for 7 applications: Telecom Backplane Interface Controllers, Industrial Machine Control Glue Logic, ASIC Prototyping and Emulation, Digital Signal Processing Datapaths, Legacy Avionics and Defense Spare Parts, Embedded System Prototyping (SOPC), Image and Video Pipeline Preprocessing.
Telecom Backplane Interface Controllers
The EPF10K50SQC208-2 fits telecom backplane interface controller applications because its 147 user I/Os and 5 V tolerant LVTTL buffers directly drive legacy T1/E1 framer ICs and bus transceivers without external level shifters. Its 360 LABs and 40,960 bits of embedded memory implement small FIFOs and protocol-state machines needed for HDLC/PPP framing. The FLEX 10KS architecture supports deterministic pin-to-pin delays in the -2 speed grade, critical for backplane timing closure at 25-50 MHz. Designers place the device between line-interface units and the host CPU/ASIC, configuring via JTAG during board bring-up.
Recommended
Industrial Machine Control Glue Logic
The EPF10K50SQC208-2 is well suited to industrial machine-control boards that need discrete logic replacement, motor-control glue, and sensor-fusion glue in a single chip. Its 50,000 typical gates implement up to 200-300 lines of equivalent TTL logic while the 147 I/Os drive 5 V opto-isolated inputs and 24 V tolerant relay outputs through external buffers. The 360 LABs deliver deterministic per-block propagation delays (typically 0.6 ns per logic element), simplifying encoder/PWM timing closure. Industrial designs benefit from the device's ability to absorb late-stage logic changes via in-system JTAG programming.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Emulation
The EPF10K50SQC208-2 supports ASIC prototyping by providing a real-silicon platform on which pre-silicon RTL can be validated before committing to mask costs. With 50,000 typical gates, 2,880 logic cells, and 40,960 bits of embedded memory distributed across 10 EABs, the device emulates medium-complexity ASICs containing custom datapaths, register files, and small FIFOs. Engineers partition the ASIC RTL across multiple EPF10K50SQC208-2 devices on a multi-FPGA emulator board, leveraging JTAG for parallel bitstream loading. The -2 speed grade gives typical internal frequencies of 100-150 MHz, adequate for functional verification at scaled clock.
Recommended
Digital Signal Processing Datapaths
The EPF10K50SQC208-2 is a good fit for low-to-medium-throughput DSP datapaths such as audio sample-rate converters, FIR filter banks, and video deinterlacers. The 10 Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) deliver 40,960 bits of dual-port RAM that can be configured as 4-bit to 32-bit wide coefficient ROMs and sample-delay lines, eliminating the need for external SRAM on simple FIR designs. The 360 LABs implement parallel multiply-accumulate arrays and saturating arithmetic at typical clock rates of 50-80 MHz. Designers benefit from the deterministic EAB access times that simplify pipelining and retiming.
Recommended
Legacy Avionics and Defense Spare Parts
The EPF10K50SQC208-2 remains in active demand as a long-life spare part for legacy avionics, radar, and defense electronic systems designed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its 208-PQFP package is user-reworkable with conventional soldering, simplifying field repairs. The commercial temperature range of 0 °C to 70 °C suits ground-based and naval systems, while the FLEX 10KS family has a documented reliability record in MIL-STD-810 environments via ruggedized board-level enclosures. Authorised stocking through Rochester Electronics supports long-term sustainment for systems requiring 20+ year support windows.
Recommended
Embedded System Prototyping (SOPC)
The EPF10K50SQC208-2 is the original platform on which early System-on-a-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) designs were demonstrated, integrating soft CPU cores such as the Altera Excalibur Nios-class soft processor alongside custom peripherals. With 50K gates and 40,960 bits of memory, the device hosts an entire 16-bit soft processor plus DMA controllers, UART, GPIO, and external memory interfaces on a single chip. The 147 user I/Os attach SDRAM, Flash, and peripherals without external bus multiplexing. Designers using Quartus II Service Pack 1 retain full FLEX 10KS device support for SOPC Builder workflows.
Recommended
Image and Video Pipeline Preprocessing
The EPF10K50SQC208-2 fits image and video pipeline preprocessing applications such as line buffering, color-space conversion, and simple edge detection. Its 10 EABs serve as line buffers up to 1,280 pixels wide at 32-bit depth, supporting real-time VGA and early-D1 video timing. The 5 V tolerant I/Os interface directly to legacy video ADCs and DACs without level shifters, reducing board complexity. At -2 speed grade, the device achieves pixel-clock rates of 25-40 MHz suitable for industrial camera pre-processing. Engineers commonly pair this FPGA with an external frame buffer SRAM for full-frame processing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF10K50SQC208-2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF10K50EQC208-3 | EPF10K50EQC208-2 | EPF10K50EQC208-1 | EPF10K50EQC208-2N | EPF10K50EQC208-3N | EPF10K50EQC208-1N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP (28x28 mm) | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP - same | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP - same | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP - same | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP - same | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP - same | 208-BFQFP / 208-PQFP - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| FPGA Family | FLEX 10KS | FLEX 10KE | FLEX 10KE | FLEX 10KE | FLEX 10KE | FLEX 10KE | FLEX 10KE |
| Logic Cells | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 |
| Embedded Memory | 40,960 bits (10 EABs) | 81,920 bits (20 EABs) | 81,920 bits (20 EABs) | 81,920 bits (20 EABs) | 81,920 bits (20 EABs) | 81,920 bits (20 EABs) | 81,920 bits (20 EABs) |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -3 (faster) | -2 (equivalent) | -1 (slower) | -2 (equivalent, Pb-free) | -3 (faster, Pb-free) | -1 (slower, Pb-free) |
| User I/Os | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 | 147 |
| Core Voltage | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V | 2.5 V |
Key Differentiators
- 2x more embedded memory in the same 208-BFQFP footprint (vs EPF10K50EQC208-3 (FLEX 10KE))
- Improved internal routing architecture (vs EPF10K50EQC208-3 (FLEX 10KE))
- Pb-free / RoHS-compliant finish available (vs EPF10K50EQC208-2N)
Design Notes
Estimated: the EPF10K50SQC208-2 core current scales with clock frequency and toggle rate; at typical 50 MHz with 50% utilization, ICCINT is approximately 100-200 mA on a 2.5 V rail. Decouple each VCCINT pin with a 0.1 µF X7R ceramic placed within 5 mm and add a 47 µF bulk tantalum near the package. Banked VCCIO pins must each be decoupled separately because the FLEX 10KS supports mixed-voltage I/O; do not tie VCCIO banks together when interfacing to 5 V and 3.3 V logic simultaneously. Recommended: route a star-ground topology from a low-impedance plane.
Place the JTAG connector (TDI/TDO/TMS/TCK) within 50 mm of the device to avoid signal-integrity issues during in-system programming. The dedicated clock pins (CLK0, CLK1) and DCLK should be routed with controlled impedance and 50 ohm termination if driving from external oscillators; keep clock traces short and away from I/O banks that toggle concurrently. Recommended: use a 4-layer PCB with continuous ground plane below the PQFP and stitch vias around the package perimeter to suppress VCCIO bounce.
Critical: The EPF10K50SQC208-2 is a volatile SRAM FPGA - the configuration bitstream is lost at power-down and must be reloaded at every power-up from an external configuration device (e.g., EPC2LC20 or EPC1064) or via JTAG. Do not assume the configuration persists across power cycles. The 'C' suffix denotes commercial temperature (0 to 70 C); for industrial or extended-temperature applications, choose a -3N or -I suffix variant. Also note that pin assignments in Quartus 13.0+ legacy-support mode may differ from original MAX+PLUS II pinouts - verify with the latest pin-out file before PCB fabrication.
Compliance Information
Original FLEX 10KS parts were typically SnPb-finished (not RoHS-compliant); N-suffix variants provide Pb-free finish. AEC-Q100 not applicable for commercial-grade FPGAs. Reach/halogen status not stated in the verified web data - [DATA_NEEDED].
