EPF10K50VQC240-1 - FLEX 10K FPGA 50K Gates 240-PQFP | Altera
MPN: EPF10K50VQC240-1 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $78.5 | $78.50 |
| 10 | $72 | $720.00 |
| 100 | $64.5 | $6,450.00 |
| 250 | $59.8 | $14,950.00 |
| 500 | $55.2 | $27,600.00 |
EPF10K50VQC240-1 Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device built from an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnect, and I/O cells that engineers can re-program in the field to implement arbitrary digital logic. The FLEX 10K family belongs to the hierarchy of programmable logic devices: it sits above simple CPLDs and below modern SoC FPGAs, combining look-up-table (LUT) based logic with embedded array blocks (EABs) that act as on-chip RAM/ROM. FPGAs in this class are widely used as integration platforms, replacing dozens of discrete 74-series logic ICs while supporting in-system reconfiguration.
Key features of the EPF10K50VQC240-1 include 20,480 typical gates with embedded array blocks for memory functions, 189 maximum user I/Os (240 PQFP variant), in-system programmability via SRAM configuration cells, JTAG boundary-scan support, and multi-volt I/O compatibility with 5.0 V, 3.3 V, and 2.5 V interfaces. The device supports asynchronous, synchronous, and high-speed clock distribution networks suitable for pipelined datapath designs.
The FLEX 10K architecture combines a logic array of enhanced logic elements (ELEs) with embedded array blocks (EABs), allowing designers to mix distributed gate logic with on-chip memory or wide-function arithmetic. The VQC240-1 package is the 240-pin Power QFP variant with 189 usable I/O pins, optimized for board-level integration where high I/O count is required in a through-hole-friendly footprint.
Typical applications for the EPF10K50VQC240-1 include industrial control glue logic, telecommunications line-card interfaces, legacy PCI bus bridges, prototyping platforms for ASIC emulation, and replacement of multiple 74-series TTL/CMOS glue-logic ICs. Designers also use it for bus interfacing, custom state-machine controllers, and educational digital-design platforms.
When designing with the EPF10K50VQC240-1, note that the part requires a configuration EEPROM or JTAG programmer at every power-up because the SRAM-based configuration is volatile. Consider the 240-pin PQFP footprint for layout review - the -1 speed grade indicates the slowest timing bin; for higher performance choose -2 or -3 variants in the same family.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, FLEX 10K family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with sources drawn from DigiKey, Mouser, and Octopart.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF10K50VQC240-1 — 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 EPF10K50VQC240-1 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Series, Process Technology, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF10K50VQC240-1N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50SQC240-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$142.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50SQC240-1N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$67.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50EQC240-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$26.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50EQC240-1N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$132.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50SQC240-2N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$36.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50VQC240-1 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | FLEX 10K |
| Family | FLEX 10K (FLEX-10K) |
| Logic Cells / Elements | 2,880 |
| Total RAM Bits | 20,480 |
| Number of Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 360 |
| Number of Gates (typical) | 50,000 |
| Number of User I/Os | 189 (240-PQFP variant) |
| Number of Pins | 240 |
| Package Type | 240-BFQFP / PQFP (Power Quad Flat Pack) |
| Core Technology | CMOS, 0.42 µm process |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 3.3 V |
| Internal Frequency (typical) | 66.67 MHz |
| Propagation Delay | 0.6 ns |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 70 °C (commercial) |
| Configuration Method | SRAM (volatile, requires external config device) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EPF10K50VQC240-1 240-bfqfp / pqfp (power quad flat pack) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EPF10K50VQC240-1 (240-bfqfp / pqfp (power quad flat pack) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for EPF10K50VQC240-1.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EPF10K50VQC240-1 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Glue Logic, Telecommunications Line-Card Interface, Legacy PCI Bus Bridge / Glue Logic, ASIC Prototyping and Logic Emulation, Educational Digital-Design Platform, Replacement of 74-Series Logic Arrays.
Industrial Control Glue Logic
The EPF10K50VQC240-1's 50K-gate density, 189 user I/Os, and 240-pin PQFP footprint make it well suited to replace racks of 74-series TTL/CMOS glue logic in industrial PLC backplanes and motor-control boards. Its 0.6 ns propagation delay and 66.67 MHz internal frequency easily handle deterministic state machines, encoder decoding, and PWM generation loops running at <50 MHz. Compared with discrete logic, the FLEX 10K consolidates 20-30 SSI/MSI ICs into one FPGA, reducing board area and BOM cost. Designers use the embedded array blocks (EABs) to host lookup-table-based motor commutation tables or PID coefficient sets, while the JTAG port enables in-system firmware updates during commissioning. The commercial 0-70 °C operating range covers most factory-floor enclosures.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line-Card Interface
Telecom line cards built in the early 2000s relied on the EPF10K50VQC240-1 to bridge T1/E1 framers, HDLC controllers, and backplane buses through a single high-I/O FPGA. The 189 user I/Os accommodate parallel LVTTL/LVCMOS links to multi-channel framers and time-slot interchangers, while the 0.42 µm CMOS core runs at 3.3 V with low enough power for densely populated line cards. The EABs (20,480 RAM bits) serve as small elastic stores or lookup FIFOs between serial and parallel domains, reducing external SRAM. JTAG boundary-scan simplifies board test, a major concern in telecom manufacturing. Designers targeting legacy line-card repair can swap the EPF10K50VQC240-1 directly with the lead-free EPF10K50VQC240-1N on the same PCB footprint.
Recommended
Legacy PCI Bus Bridge / Glue Logic
The EPF10K50VQC240-1 was a popular choice for implementing custom 32-bit PCI bus bridges, bus-arbitration logic, and DMA engines on legacy industrial and embedded motherboards. The 240-pin PQFP variant exposes enough I/Os (189) to break out the full 32-bit PCI bus plus side-band signals (REQ#, GNT#, FRAME#, IRDY#, TRDY#, STOP#, DEVSEL#, PAR, PERR#, SERR#). 66 MHz internal frequency comfortably supports 33 MHz PCI with margin. The EABs function as small FIFO buffers for posted-write queues, and the JTAG port supports pre-board-bring-up verification. While modern designs use PCIe IP cores on Cyclone/Arria, thousands of installed systems still rely on this FPGA, sustaining demand for replacement units.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Logic Emulation
ASIC prototyping platforms used the EPF10K50VQC240-1 to emulate medium-complexity ASIC designs before tape-out, providing real-world timing and I/O behavior before committing to silicon. The 50K-gate density accommodates typical glue-logic controllers, custom DMA engines, and protocol converters, while the 189 I/Os map to standard test-header pinouts. Multiple EPF10K50VQC240-1 devices can be cascaded to emulate larger ASICs, with EABs acting as shared-memory regions between FPGAs. The SRAM-based configuration allows rapid design-iteration cycles of a few seconds via JTAG, dramatically accelerating bring-up. Despite being obsolete, the part is still found in academic and aerospace emulation labs.
Recommended
Educational Digital-Design Platform
University digital-logic and computer-engineering labs adopted the EPF10K50VQC240-1 on development boards for teaching VHDL/Verilog design, FSM synthesis, and embedded-processor interfaces. Its 240-pin PQFP package is easy to probe with standard oscilloscope clips, and the 50K-gate capacity is large enough to host a soft 8-bit CPU plus peripherals (UART, timers, GPIO) for lab exercises. The Altera Quartus II toolchain (legacy version) supports the part with comprehensive simulation and synthesis. The EABs are used to teach on-chip memory concepts, and JTAG programming introduces students to real-world FPGA configuration flows. Many universities still maintain these boards for archival lab kits.
Recommended
Replacement of 74-Series Logic Arrays
When a legacy PCB uses 20-30 SSI/MSI logic ICs (74LS/74HC gates, counters, muxes, latches), the EPF10K50VQC240-1 is a one-chip consolidation solution that reduces power, board area, and inventory SKUs. With 50K gates and 189 I/Os, it absorbs an entire 74-series logic cluster while adding the flexibility of in-system reprogrammability for late-stage design changes. The 3.3 V core and 5 V-tolerant I/O banks interface directly to existing TTL-level signals. The EABs replace small PROMs and registered buffers. This consolidation strategy is widely used in aerospace sustainment programs where PCB re-spin costs are extreme.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF10K50VQC240-1 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF10K50VQC240-1N | EPF10K50SQC240-1 | EPF10K50SQC240-1N | EPF10K50EQC240-1 | EPF10K50SQC240-2N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) |
| Package | 240-BFQFP / PQFP | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same | 240-PQFP - same |
| Logic Cells | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 |
| User I/Os | 189 | 189 | 189 | 189 | 189 | 189 |
| Total Gates (typical) | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| Speed Grade | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -2 (faster) |
| Lead-Free | No (standard) | Yes (N suffix) | No | Yes (N suffix) | No | Yes (N suffix) |
| Series Variant | V (5.0V tolerant I/O) | V | S | S | E (enhanced) | S |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- 240-pin PQFP for through-hole-friendly PCB layouts (vs EPF10K50VBC356 (BGA-356 package))
- Established 50K-gate density with 360 LABs and 20,480 RAM bits (vs EPF10K20TC144 (20K-gate, 144-pin variant))
- V-series 5.0 V-tolerant I/O for legacy system integration (vs EPF10K50EQC240-1 (E-series, 3.3 V I/O only))
- Lead-free variant available as direct drop-in (vs EPF10K50VQC240-1 (standard / non-N suffix))
Design Notes
The EPF10K50VQC240-1 uses volatile SRAM configuration cells; without an external configuration EPROM (EPC2, EPC16) or active JTAG programmer, the device will not function after power-up. Always include a configuration subsystem on the board, even for prototype builds. Loss of VCC during JTAG programming can leave the FPGA in an indeterminate state - power-cycle after any programming fault.
The 240-pin PQFP package has 0.5 mm lead pitch; PCB design must use fine-pitch surface-mount footprints with proper solder-pad geometry (IPC-SM-782 standards). Place all VCCINT (3.3 V core) and VCCIO (I/O bank) pins with local 0.1 µF + 10 µF decoupling within 5 mm of each pin group. The exposed thermal pad is not present on PQFP - rely on PCB copper pours for heat dissipation. JTAG signals (TDI, TDO, TMS, TCK) require 10 kΩ pull-ups on TMS and TCK per IEEE 1149.1.
Estimated: at 66.67 MHz internal frequency with typical 50% toggle rate across all 189 I/Os, dynamic power consumption can approach 1.5 W; add a copper pour of at least 1 square inch under the PQFP body to keep junction temperature within commercial limits. For designs dissipating more than 2 W, consider moving to the BGA-packaged 356-pin variants (EPF10K50VBC356) which offer a thermal pad for improved heat spreading.
When using the EPF10K50VQC240-1 to drive parallel buses >50 MHz, series-terminate each output with 33 Ω resistors placed within 10 mm of the FPGA pin to dampen reflections on the PCB trace. For clock distribution, use the dedicated CLK0-CLK3 inputs with matched-length routing; skew between clocks degrades setup/hold margins. The FLEX 10K datasheet's IBIS models are available from Altera for signal-integrity simulation.
Compliance Information
EPF10K50VQC240-1 (without N suffix) is the standard SnPb-bearing version and is NOT RoHS-compliant. For RoHS-compliant designs, select the EPF10K50VQC240-1N variant. AEC-Q100 not applicable for industrial-grade commercial FPGAs. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-mineral status not explicitly documented in verified web data; values set to unknown per data authenticity rules.
