EPF10K70RC240-4 - 70K Gate Flex 10K FPGA, 240-RQFP | Intel / Altera
MPN: EPF10K70RC240-4 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $145 | $145.00 |
| 10 | $132.5 | $1,325.00 |
| 100 | $118 | $11,800.00 |
| 250 | $105 | $26,250.00 |
| 500 | $92.5 | $46,250.00 |
EPF10K70RC240-4 Overview
A field programmable gate array (FPGA) is a semiconductor IC containing an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), programmable interconnects, and I/O cells that the designer can program to implement arbitrary digital logic functions. FPGAs sit at the top of the programmable logic hierarchy, above simple PLDs and CPLDs, and below ASICs in cost-per-volume. The Flex 10K family was the industry's first embedded programmable logic device family delivering System-on-a-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) integration by combining a logic fabric with dedicated embedded array blocks.
Key features include 189 user I/O pins, a 5 V core supply (4.75 V to 5.25 V), 3.3 V or 5 V tolerant I/O banks, and a maximum internal operating frequency of 125 MHz at the -4 speed grade. Each Logic Element (LE) consists of a 4-input look-up table (LUT), a programmable flipflop, and dedicated cascade paths; eight LEs combine into a LAB. The embedded array implements megafunctions including FIFO, dual-port RAM, and CAM. Configuration is loaded from a serial PROM or via JTAG using the IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan interface.
Typical applications for the EPF10K70RC240-4 include glue logic replacement in telecom backplane designs, industrial control and factory automation controllers, prototyping bridges for ASIC emulation, and legacy system upgrades where 5 V tolerance is mandatory. The wide 5 V I/O tolerance simplifies connection to TTL/CMOS peripherals in older equipment.
When designing with this part, ensure 5 V supply decoupling with 0.1 uF and 10 uF capacitors placed close to every VCC pin, and confirm JTAG chain integrity before production programming. The device is loaded via Altera Quartus II (or MAX+PLUS II for legacy designs) using the dedicated configuration interface.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in Flex 10K alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF10K70RC240-4 — 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 EPF10K70RC240-4 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, RoHS Status, Family, Configuration Method.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF10K70RC240-4N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$36.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K70RC240-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K70RC240-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K70RC240-2N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$65 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K50RC240-4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$36.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K40RC240-4N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$14.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K30RC240-4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$61.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF10K70RC240-4 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | Flex 10K |
| Logic Cells (LEs) | 3,744 |
| Typical Gates | 70,000 |
| Flipflops | 18,432 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 468 |
| User I/Os | 189 |
| Package | 240-RQFP (RQFP-240) Exposed Pad, 32 x 32 mm |
| Core Supply Voltage | 5 V (4.75 V to 5.25 V) |
| I/O Voltage | 3.3 V or 5 V |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 125 MHz |
| Propagation Delay | 0.4 ns |
| Process Technology | 0.42 um CMOS |
| Speed Grade | -4 |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Configuration Method | Serial PROM / JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) |
| Embedded Array Blocks | Yes (RAM, ROM, megafunctions) |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (legacy 5 V part) |
| Lead-Free | No (legacy SnPb process) |
EPF10K70RC240-4 240-rqfp (rqfp-240) exposed pad, 32 x 32 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EPF10K70RC240-4 (240-rqfp (rqfp-240) exposed pad, 32 x 32 mm 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 EPF10K70RC240-4.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EPF10K70RC240-4 is suitable for 6 applications: Telecom Backplane Glue Logic, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, ASIC Emulation and Prototyping, Legacy System Upgrades and Form-Fit Replacements, Medical Imaging Signal Processing, Aerospace and Defense Avionics.
Telecom Backplane Glue Logic
The EPF10K70RC240-4 fits telecom backplane glue logic because its 70K-gate capacity and 189 user I/Os handle bus arbitration, address decoding, and protocol bridging across multiple line cards. The 5 V I/O tolerance allows direct connection to legacy TTL peripherals and bus drivers without level shifters, simplifying backplane routing. Its 0.42 um CMOS process and -4 speed grade deliver up to 125 MHz operation, sufficient for TDM and early packet-processing fabrics. The 240-RQFP exposed pad provides robust thermal dissipation in chassis environments where ambient temperatures reach 60 C. According to the Altera Flex 10K datasheet, the embedded array blocks implement FIFOs and dual-port RAM critical for telecom buffering. Compared to discrete 74-series TTL, the EPF10K70RC240-4 reduces board area by 4x while improving design flexibility. This application benefits from the part's JTAG boundary-scan support for in-system diagnostics on populated backplanes.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
In factory automation, the EPF10K70RC240-4 serves as a programmable controller for motor drives, PLC expansion modules, and sensor-fusion front-ends. Its 468 LABs and embedded array blocks implement motion-control state machines, encoder decoding, and Modbus/Profibus protocol conversion. The 5 V tolerance interfaces directly to industrial sensor stacks (24 V -> 5 V) and legacy PLC backplanes. Per the Flex 10K datasheet, the 189 I/Os allow direct connection to multi-axis servo control loops. Although the commercial 0 to 70 C temperature grade limits deployment in unconditioned factory environments, the part remains in service across many installed bases. Compared to a microcontroller-only solution, the EPF10K70RC240-4 offers deterministic parallel logic execution for real-time control. This application uses the JTAG port for in-system programming during commissioning.
Recommended
ASIC Emulation and Prototyping
The EPF10K70RC240-4 was a workhorse for ASIC prototyping because its 70K-gate capacity emulates mid-complexity ASICs in a single device. Engineers used the embedded array blocks to instantiate ASIC memory macros (dual-port RAM, CAM, FIFO) and the LAB fabric for random logic. The 240-RQFP package exposes enough I/Os (189) for ASIC pin-count matching at the board level. Per Altera application notes, multiple EPF10K70RC240-4 devices could be JTAG-chained for multi-FPGA ASIC prototyping. The 5 V supply simplifies power architecture and the -4 speed grade provides timing margins for ASIC pre-silicon validation. Although modern ASICs exceed 70K gates, many legacy designs continue using the EPF10K70RC240-4 for ongoing maintenance. This application uses the Quartus II / MAX+PLUS II toolchain for design entry.
Recommended
Legacy System Upgrades and Form-Fit Replacements
The EPF10K70RC240-4 is widely used as a form-fit-function replacement for obsolete Altera FLEX 10K parts in legacy equipment where the original FPGA failed. Its 240-RQFP footprint matches the older EPF10K70RC240-2 and EPF10K50RC240 series, allowing drop-in board replacement. The 5 V core and 3.3/5 V I/O tolerance mean the new part operates in the same power domain as the legacy part. Per the Flex 10K datasheet, configuration loading via serial PROM or JTAG is identical across speed grades. For maintenance engineers, the EPF10K70RC240-4 extends the service life of military, aerospace, and industrial systems where redesign is not cost-effective. Stock availability from DigiKey, Mouser, and authorized aftermarket channels as of 2026-09-11 supports this maintenance use case.
Recommended
Medical Imaging Signal Processing
In medical imaging front-ends (ultrasound beamformers, patient monitors), the EPF10K70RC240-4 implements digital signal processing pipelines, FIR filters, and image reconstruction pre-processing. Its 70K gates and embedded array blocks enable parallel sample-rate conversion and FFT preprocessing at ultrasound sample rates. The 5 V I/O tolerance interfaces to legacy 5 V ADC front-ends (e.g., AD9220) without level shifting. Per the Flex 10K datasheet, the LAB carry chains support efficient adder trees for beamforming. Although modern medical designs migrate to lower-power Cyclone or Lattice ECP5 devices, the EPF10K70RC240-4 remains in service in installed ultrasound systems. This application benefits from the part's deterministic latency for medical timing requirements.
Recommended
Aerospace and Defense Avionics
The EPF10K70RC240-4 is found in legacy avionics buses (MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429) and military communication systems because of its 5 V tolerance and proven long-term reliability. Although newer designs use rad-hard FPGAs, the EPF10K70RC240-4 continues to serve in installed military platforms. The 240-RQFP ruggedized package withstands vibration and thermal cycling in avionics environments. Per the Altera Flex 10K datasheet, the SRAM-based configuration allows in-system reprogramming via JTAG for mission updates. The commercial 0 to 70 C temperature grade limits deployment to controlled environments within avionics bays. Sourcing from authorized defense suppliers with full traceability is mandatory for aerospace applications to avoid counterfeit risk.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF10K70RC240-4 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF10K70RC240-4N | EPF10K70RC240-3 | EPF10K70RC240-3N | EPF10K50RC240-4 | EPF10K40RC240-4N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera | Intel / Altera |
| Package | 240-RQFP | 240-RQFP (same) | 240-RQFP (same) | 240-RQFP (same) | 240-RQFP (same) | 240-RQFP (same) |
| Family | Flex 10K | Flex 10K (same) | Flex 10K (same) | Flex 10K (same) | Flex 10K (same) | Flex 10K (same) |
| Typical Gates | 70,000 | 70,000 | 70,000 | 70,000 | 50,000 | 40,000 |
| Speed Grade | -4 (fastest) | -4 | -3 | -3 | -4 | -4 |
| Core Voltage | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V |
| RoHS Compliance | Non-compliant (SnPb) | Compliant | Non-compliant | Compliant | Non-compliant | Compliant |
Key Differentiators
- RoHS-compliant drop-in variant available (vs EPF10K70RC240-4N)
- 70K-gate capacity is the largest in the Flex 10K RC240 family (vs EPF10K50RC240-4)
- 189 user I/Os is the maximum in the Flex 10K RC240 family (vs EPF10K40RC240-4N)
Design Notes
The EPF10K70RC240-4 requires a 5 V core supply (4.75 V to 5.25 V) with bulk decoupling. Place a 47 uF or 100 uF tantalum capacitor at the board power entry plus 0.1 uF and 10 uF ceramic capacitors adjacent to every VCCINT and VCCIO pin. Multiple VCC pins must be tied together; leaving any VCC floating causes logic errors. The I/O banks can run at 3.3 V or 5 V independently for mixed-voltage design.
The 240-RQFP package with exposed pad requires a PCB thermal pad soldered to a copper pour of at least 1 square inch to keep junction temperature below 100 C at full activity. Estimated: at 5 V VCCINT, 200 mA ICC, and 100 percent toggle rate, internal dissipation reaches approximately 1 W; without thermal relief, junction temperature rises roughly 30-40 C above ambient. Use thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 1 mm pitch) under the exposed pad.
Common pitfalls when designing with the EPF10K70RC240-4 include: (1) forgetting to connect the exposed pad to ground for thermal relief; (2) leaving nCONFIG floating instead of tying high through a 10 kohm resistor; (3) using too-slow configuration PROM (EPC1) instead of EPC2/EPC16 for -4 speed grade designs - configuration time becomes a bottleneck; (4) forgetting to set MSEL pins for the correct configuration mode. Per the Flex 10K datasheet, MSEL[2..0] must be set to 010 for serial configuration.
Compliance Information
Non-RoHS compliant legacy 5 V part with SnPb finish; choose EPF10K70RC240-4N for RoHS-required designs. AEC-Q100 not applicable to FPGAs. REACH, halogen, and conflict-mineral status not stated by Altera - set to 'unknown' per data authenticity rules.
