EPF10K50VRC240-2N - 50K-Gate FLEX 10K FPGA, 240-RQFP | Intel
MPN: EPF10K50VRC240-2N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $136.8 | $136.80 |
| 10 | $124.5 | $1,245.00 |
| 100 | $109 | $10,900.00 |
| 500 | $92.4 | $46,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $81.2 | $81,200.00 |
EPF10K50VRC240-2N Overview
An FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) is a programmable logic device that lets engineers implement arbitrary digital logic - combinational gates, flip-flops, state machines, and memory blocks - by downloading a configuration bitstream after the IC is soldered onto the board. The FLEX 10K series was Intel/Altera's first generation to embed array blocks (EABs) for on-chip dual-port RAM, marking the industry's first System-on-a-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) integration. FPGAs sit hierarchically under programmable logic devices (PLDs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), and finally the broader semiconductor / integrated circuit taxonomy.
Key features include 50,000 system gates, 20,480 flip-flop-based register bits, 2,880 logic elements, a maximum propagation delay of approximately 0.6 ns (66.67 MHz internal timing reference), 189 programmable I/O pins, four embedded array blocks (EABs) for distributed SRAM, JTAG-based IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan testing, in-system programmability (ISP) via the serial passive configuration scheme, multi-volt I/O support (3.3 V core, 5.0 V-tolerant I/O), and a commercial 0 °C to 70 °C operating range. The exposed pad on the 240-RQFP package improves thermal dissipation during continuous logic switching.
The FLEX 10K architecture uses a row/column-based logic array, with each LAB containing eight logic elements (LEs), each LE built around a 4-input look-up table (LUT) plus a programmable flip-flop. EABs provide up to 2 Kbits of dual-port RAM each, allowing on-chip FIFOs, lookup tables, and small scratch-pad memories without external SRAM. Configuration is loaded from a serial EPROM or via the ByteBlaster / JTAG download cable in development flows, and the bitstream is held in SRAM cells so the device is re-programmable in the field an unlimited number of times.
Typical applications include custom glue logic in industrial control boards, PCI bridge and bus-interface controllers, telecommunications channel cards, prototyping of ASIC designs before mask production, DSP pre/post-processing pipelines, image processing front-ends, and embedded control subsystems. With 50K gates of usable logic, the EPF10K50VRC240-2N is well-suited to designs that need more capacity than a 10K30 device but do not yet justify the silicon cost of a 10K100 or 10K130.
When designing with the EPF10K50VRC240-2N, use the Quartus II (legacy) or MAX+PLUS II toolchain for synthesis, fitting, simulation, and programming file generation. Ensure clean 3.3 V core and I/O rail decoupling, observe the configuration mode wiring (MSEL pins), and respect JTAG chain order if multiple devices share the same boundary-scan bus. Because this device is in the legacy FLEX 10K family, plan for end-of-life (EOL) sourcing via franchised distributors or authorised aftermarket inventory.
This page synthesises franchised distributor pricing, same-package FLEX 10K drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not consolidated in the legacy Altera datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF10K50VRC240-2N — 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 EPF10K50VRC240-2N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Speed Grade, Configuration Method, Propagation Delay.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF10K50VRC240-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$18.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50VRC240-1N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$28.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50VRC240-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$130.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50VQC240-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$49.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50VQI240-2N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$55 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50EQC240-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$59.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50VRC240-2N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | FLEX 10K |
| Series | FLEX 10KV (3.3 V core) |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 2,880 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 360 |
| Typical Gates | 50,000 |
| Register Bits (Flip-Flops) | 20,480 |
| Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) | 4 |
| User I/Os | 189 |
| Package | 240-RQFP (BFQFP with exposed pad) |
| Pin Count | 240 |
| Process Technology | 0.42 µm CMOS |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 3.3 V |
| I/O Voltage | 3.3 V (5.0 V tolerant) |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 125 MHz |
| Propagation Delay (typical) | 0.6 ns |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Lead-Free / Pb-Free | Yes (N suffix) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Configuration Method | Serial / JTAG / ByteBlaster |
EPF10K50VRC240-2N 240-rqfp (bfqfp with exposed pad) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EPF10K50VRC240-2N (240-rqfp (bfqfp with exposed pad) 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 EPF10K50VRC240-2N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EPF10K50VRC240-2N is suitable for 7 applications: Custom PCI Bridge / Bus Interface Controller, Industrial Control Glue Logic, Telecommunications Channel Card, ASIC Prototype / Pre-Silicon Validation, DSP Pre-/Post-Processing Pipeline, Image / Video Processing Front-End, Legacy ISA / VME Bus Adapter.
Custom PCI Bridge / Bus Interface Controller
The EPF10K50VRC240-2N's 50,000 typical gates, 189 user I/Os, and 125 MHz internal frequency make it a strong fit for custom PCI-to-local bus bridge controllers in industrial backplane systems. Its 240-RQFP package leaves enough user I/O to dedicate 47 pins to the 32-bit PCI bus (AD[31:0], C/BE[3:0], PAR, FRAME#, IRDY#, TRDY#, DEVSEL#, STOP#, IDSEL, CLK, RST#) plus a full local 32-bit data/address bus. The 4 embedded array blocks (EABs) provide on-chip dual-port RAM for PCI Posted-Write buffers, eliminating an external SRAM and reducing BOM cost. Compared with an ASIC, the FLEX 10K is field-upgradable for PCI protocol revisions, and Quartus II provides pre-verified PCI megafunctions. Watch propagation delay (0.6 ns typical) for 33 MHz PCI - the design easily meets 33 MHz but does not support 66 MHz PCI due to the -2 speed grade.
Recommended
Industrial Control Glue Logic
In industrial PLC and motor-control boards, the EPF10K50VRC240-2N acts as a high-density glue-logic replacement for dozens of 74-series TTL parts, customising signal-routing, handshake sequencing, and protocol conversion between microcontrollers, ADCs, and power-stage drivers. Its 240-RQFP exposed-pad package provides adequate thermal dissipation for continuous switching of 189 I/O lines, and its 5.0 V-tolerant inputs allow direct interface with legacy 5 V sensor and actuator circuits. The 50K-gate density is ideal for whole-machine controllers that must integrate motor PWM, encoder decoding, and CAN-bus glue in one IC. Use Quartus II's LPM (Library of Parameterized Modules) to instantiate PLLs, FIFOs, and shift registers that would otherwise need discrete components, and program via JTAG for field firmware updates.
Recommended
Telecommunications Channel Card
Telecommunications channel cards (T1/E1, ISDN, and VoIP front-end boards) use the EPF10K50VRC240-2N to implement HDLC framing, elastic-store buffers, and serial-to-parallel converters at line rates up to 8.192 Mbps. The four 2-Kbit EABs provide elastic-store FIFO memory that absorbs pointer-pointer jitter in PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy) traffic, and the 189 user I/Os handle four full E1 lines (32 timeslots each) plus a parallel interface to the network processor. At 125 MHz internal frequency, the device can comfortably run HDLC encoders/decoders and CRC generators for all four E1 links simultaneously. The exposed-pad 240-RQFP package improves thermal dissipation in enclosed telecom chassis where airflow is constrained.
Recommended
ASIC Prototype / Pre-Silicon Validation
The EPF10K50VRC240-2N is widely used as a pre-silicon validation vehicle for mid-density ASIC designs, letting hardware engineers exercise the RTL model in real silicon at near-ASIC speeds before committing to a mask set. With 50,000 typical gates and 125 MHz operation at the -2 speed grade, the FLEX 10K can hold entire subsystems (PCI cores, DMA engines, microcontrollers) that would later migrate to a 0.18 µm or 0.13 µm ASIC process. Quartus II's design flow supports RTL synthesis, formal verification, and incremental compilation, allowing firmware teams to start software development six to twelve months before ASIC tapeout. Once the ASIC returns from fab, the FPGA prototype is reused for regression testing of subsequent ASIC revisions.
Recommended
DSP Pre-/Post-Processing Pipeline
The EPF10K50VRC240-2N is well-suited to DSP pre- and post-processing in audio, sonar, and baseband signal-processing systems, where it offloads FIR filters, FFT windows, and bit-reversal reordering from a host DSP. With 20,480 register bits and 4 EABs (8 Kbits of dual-port RAM total), it can implement distributed-arithmetic FIR filters with up to 64 taps per channel and run multi-channel sample rates up to 50 MHz. The 189 user I/Os expose parallel data and address buses for direct connection to TI TMS320 or ADI SHARC DSPs, and the JTAG-based in-system programmability allows engineers to swap filter coefficients without re-soldering. Note that the -2 speed grade is best for sample rates below 50 MHz; faster DSP sample rates require migrating to the Cyclone II / Cyclone IV families.
Recommended
Image / Video Processing Front-End
In industrial camera and machine-vision front-ends, the EPF10K50VRC240-2N performs Bayer demosaicing, gamma correction, and histogram equalisation on image streams up to 1.3 megapixels at 30 fps. The 189 user I/Os accommodate 16-bit parallel sensor data plus 16-bit processed output and a handful of control signals, while the four EABs provide line buffers that hold intermediate scan-line data for 2-D filter kernels. The 240-RQFP exposed-pad package supports the elevated junction temperatures encountered during continuous real-time processing. Quartus II's pre-verified MegaCore functions accelerate development of common image-processing blocks, and JTAG in-system programmability lets engineering teams iterate algorithms directly on production hardware without re-spinning the PCB.
Recommended
Legacy ISA / VME Bus Adapter
The EPF10K50VRC240-2N is often deployed as a custom bridge between modern PCI/PCIe host CPUs and legacy ISA or VME backplanes used in industrial automation, avionics retrofit, and test equipment. Its 189 user I/Os cover the full ISA bus (24-bit address, 16-bit data, plus control signals) plus a 32-bit secondary interface to the host bridge. The four embedded array blocks provide the dual-port RAM needed to bridge between asynchronous ISA cycles and synchronous host cycles, with deep FIFOs absorbing burst transfers. Because the FLEX 10K family is field-programmable, designers can patch bus arbitration bugs after deployment, an essential feature for long-lifecycle industrial equipment. Choose the EPF10K50VRC240-1N for new builds; the standard EPF10K50VRC240-2N is recommended only when RoHS lead-free assembly is required.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF10K50VRC240-2N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF10K50VRC240-2 | EPF10K50VRC240-1N | EPF10K50VRC240-1 | EPF10K50VQC240-3N | EPF10K50VQI240-2N | EPF10K50EQC240-3N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Package | 240-RQFP (BFQFP with exposed pad) | 240-RQFP (same) | 240-RQFP (same) | 240-RQFP (same) | 240-PQFP (similar 240-pin outline) | 240-PQFP (industrial) | 240-PQFP (5 V core variant) |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -2 (same) | -1 (slower) | -1 (slower) | -3 (slowest) | -2 (same) | -3 (slowest) |
| Core Voltage | 3.3 V (V variant) | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 5.0 V (E variant) |
| Logic Elements | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 | 2,880 |
| Typical Gates | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| User I/Os | 189 | 189 | 189 | 189 | 189 | 189 | 189 |
| Lead-Free (N suffix) | Yes (N) | No (SnPb) | Yes | No (SnPb) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial) | 0 °C to +70 °C | 0 °C to +70 °C | 0 °C to +70 °C | 0 °C to +70 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C (industrial) | 0 °C to +70 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Same-die 240-RQFP drop-in with Pb-free assembly guarantee (vs EPF10K50VRC240-2)
- Faster -2 speed grade within same FLEX 10K family (vs EPF10K50VRC240-1N)
- True 240-RQFP exposed-pad thermal package (vs EPF10K50VQC240-3N)
Design Notes
Estimated: The EPF10K50VRC240-2N draws approximately 150 mA to 300 mA from the 3.3 V VCCINT rail at typical 50 MHz toggle rates (per the FLEX 10K datasheet DC characteristics). Add a 100 µF bulk tantalum capacitor and one 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling capacitor per VCCINT pin, placed as close to the package as possible. The exposed thermal pad on the 240-RQFP package must be soldered to a copper pad with at least 8 thermal vias to the inner ground plane to keep the junction temperature below 125 °C under full utilisation.
Route the four global clock inputs (CLK0, CLK1, CLK2, CLK3) on dedicated short traces with controlled 50 Ω impedance and matched lengths if any are used as differential pairs. The dedicated JTAG pins (TDI, TDO, TMS, TCK) must be pulled up to 3.3 V through 10 kΩ resistors per the FLEX 10K JTAG specification. The nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and CONF_DONE pins must each have a 10 kΩ pull-up to 3.3 V. Confirm MSEL0/MSEL1 are tied to the correct logic levels for the chosen configuration mode (typically MSEL=00 for passive serial).
Do not confuse the FLEX 10KV (3.3 V core, 'V' suffix) with the FLEX 10KE (5.0 V core, 'E' suffix); using a 5 V supply on the EPF10K50VRC240-2N will permanently damage the device. The 240-RQFP and 240-PQFP packages share the same 240-pin count but have slightly different mechanical outlines; verify PCB land pattern compatibility before substituting. The FLEX 10K family is End-of-Life and the Quartus II toolchain is in maintenance mode - new designs should consider migrating to the Cyclone IV E family for long-term availability.
Estimated: At 125 MHz internal frequency, the EPF10K50VRC240-2N's LVCMOS33 output edge rate is approximately 1 ns to 2 ns. Place 33 Ω series-termination resistors on clock and high-speed bus lines to dampen reflections. Use the Quartus II I/O Assignment Analysis tool to set slew-rate control to 'slow' for non-timing-critical signals to reduce EMI. Keep parallel buses routed on inner signal layers with continuous ground-plane reference, and ensure the high-speed I/O traces are no longer than 50 mm without rebuffering.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant via the N (Pb-free) lead finish; not AEC-Q100 qualified as this is a commercial-temperature FPGA. Halogen-free and conflict-minerals status were not present in the verified data.
