EPF6016AQC208-2N - FLEX 6000 FPGA, 16K Gates, 208-PQFP | Intel
MPN: EPF6016AQC208-2N ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.5 | $28.50 |
| 10 | $24.75 | $247.50 |
| 100 | $19.9 | $1,990.00 |
| 500 | $16.4 | $8,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $13.85 | $13,850.00 |
EPF6016AQC208-2N Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a semiconductor device built around an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs/LABs), programmable interconnect, and I/O cells, all controlled by SRAM configuration memory. FPGAs sit at the top of the programmable logic hierarchy - above CPLDs in density and below ASICs in per-unit cost - making them ideal glue logic, prototyping, and low-to-mid volume custom digital platforms. The FLEX 6000 family uses a cost-optimized SRAM-LUT fabric rather than the flash or anti-fuse cells found in CPLDs, allowing unlimited re-programmability via JTAG or configuration devices.
Key features include 1,320 logic cells arranged in 132 Logic Array Blocks (LABs), 171 user I/O pins supporting multiple I/O standards, built-in JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) boundary-scan test support, and in-system programmability through the FLEX 6000 configuration scheme. The device operates across the commercial 0°C to 85°C temperature range and is supplied in a 208-pin PQFP (also referenced as BFQFP/PQFP-208) with gull-wing leads.
The -2 speed grade offers a balance of timing margin and cost, supporting system clock frequencies up to 166.67 MHz at the internal logic array. The SRAM-based configuration fabric means the device must be configured at every power-up using a serial configuration EPROM (e.g., EPC1/EPC2) or via JTAG boundary-scan download.
Typical applications include telecommunications glue logic, industrial control and factory-automation backplanes, PCI bus interface bridges, prototyping platforms that later migrate to APEX 20K or Cyclone families, and legacy upgrade paths for original FLEX 6000 designs. The wide I/O count (171) and 3.3 V core supply also suit mixed-voltage 5 V-tolerant interface designs.
When designing with this part, note that it has been in the legacy / last-time-buy category for many years - verify supply chain availability before starting a new design, and consider pin-compatible FLEX 6000 siblings (EPF6016AQC208-1, EPF6016AQC208-2) or migration to the Cyclone family for new projects.
This page synthesizes current distributor stock, drop-in same-package alternatives drawn from the Site MPN catalog, and practical design notes not aggregated in a single location by the original Altera datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF6016AQC208-2N — 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 EPF6016AQC208-2N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Process Technology, Configuration Memory, Maximum Internal Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF6016AQC208-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF6016AQC208-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$42.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF6016AQC208-2N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | FLEX 6000 |
| Typical Gates | 16,000 |
| Logic Elements / Cells | 1,320 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 132 |
| User I/Os | 171 |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 166.67 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.42 µm CMOS |
| Core Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Configuration Memory | SRAM |
| Package | 208-pin PQFP (BFQFP) - Plastic Quad Flat Pack, gull-wing |
| Package Code | FQFP-208 / 208-BFQFP |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 85°C (commercial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| JTAG Support | Yes (IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan) |
| Programmability | In-system, SRAM-based, unlimited reconfiguration |
EPF6016AQC208-2N fqfp-208 / 208-bfqfp Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EPF6016AQC208-2N (fqfp-208 / 208-bfqfp 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 EPF6016AQC208-2N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EPF6016AQC208-2N is suitable for 6 applications: Telecommunications Glue Logic, Industrial Control and Factory Automation, PCI Bus Interface Bridge, Prototyping Platform for ASIC Migration, Legacy Upgrade Path for FLEX 6000 Designs, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
Telecommunications Glue Logic
The EPF6016AQC208-2N is well-suited to telecom glue-logic applications where it bridges between standard bus interfaces (PCI, H.110, TDM) and custom ASIC or DSP peripherals. With 1,320 logic cells, 171 user I/Os, and 166.67 MHz internal performance, the device can implement bus arbiters, address decoders, interrupt controllers, and protocol converters in a single chip. Its 3.3 V core with 5 V-tolerant I/O simplifies interface to legacy telecom backplanes. Designers should plan for an external configuration EPROM (EPC1/EPC2) because the FLEX 6000 family is SRAM-based and reconfigures at every power-up.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
In factory-automation backplanes and PLCs, the EPF6016AQC208-2N serves as a flexible interface controller for encoder inputs, PWM outputs, and fieldbus bridges (PROFIBUS, Modbus, CANopen). The 208-pin PQFP exposes 171 user I/Os - more than enough for multi-axis motion-control glue logic and isolated I/O expansion. The 0°C to 85°C commercial operating range suits most cabinet-mounted industrial designs; for harsher environments, an industrial-grade variant from the same family is recommended. JTAG boundary-scan support simplifies board-level test in production.
Recommended
PCI Bus Interface Bridge
The EPF6016AQC208-2N is widely used as a 32-bit/33 MHz PCI bus bridge between a host CPU and custom peripheral logic. Its 171 user I/Os and 166.67 MHz internal performance comfortably handle the PCI 33 MHz clock domain while leaving headroom for state-machine logic and FIFOs. Designers can implement PCI target or master state machines in Verilog/VHDL using Altera's Quartus II design software (legacy version supports FLEX 6000). The PQFP-208 package provides the pin count needed for full 32-bit PCI plus side-band signals (REQ, GNT, INTA, FRAME, IRDY, TRDY).
Recommended
Prototyping Platform for ASIC Migration
The EPF6016AQC208-2N is a classic prototyping platform for designs that will eventually migrate to a mask-programmed gate array or an APEX 20K/Cyclone device. With 16K typical gates, engineers can validate control logic, glue functions, and bus interfaces before committing to NRE charges. The SRAM-based fabric allows unlimited design iterations during prototype bring-up. Once the design stabilizes, the same Verilog/VHDL source is retargeted to the production silicon without board-level redesign beyond pin remapping.
Recommended
Legacy Upgrade Path for FLEX 6000 Designs
The EPF6016AQC208-2N supports end-of-life systems originally designed around the Altera FLEX 6000 family, providing a pin-compatible refresh source for spare-parts inventory. Because Intel has formally discontinued the family, this part is in the last-time-buy phase; engineers maintaining legacy equipment should plan for replacement boards using the Cyclone series, but for direct board-level repairs the -2N variant remains the closest match. The 208-pin PQFP footprint matches older FLEX 6000 reference designs exactly, simplifying field replacements.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
In bench-top test equipment and ATE fixtures, the EPF6016AQC208-2N implements custom timing generators, pattern blasters, and instrument-bus controllers. The device's 166.67 MHz internal frequency enables precise digital-pattern generation at sub-10 ns resolution, while the 171 user I/Os accommodate parallel bus interfaces to DACs, ADCs, and switch matrices. JTAG support allows in-system reconfiguration between test sequences without removing the board. The PQFP-208 package is easy to probe during bench debug compared to fine-pitch BGA alternatives.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF6016AQC208-2N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF6016AQC208-2 | EPF6016AQC208-1 | EPF6016AFC256-3 | EPF6016AFC256-2 | EPF6016AFC100-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Package | 208-pin PQFP (BFQFP) | 208-pin PQFP - same | 208-pin PQFP - same | 256-pin FBGA - different | 256-pin FBGA - different | 100-pin FBGA - different |
| Family | FLEX 6000 | FLEX 6000 | FLEX 6000 | FLEX 6000 | FLEX 6000 | FLEX 6000 |
| Typical Gates | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 |
| Speed Grade | -2 | -2 (same) | -1 (slower) | -3 (fastest) | -2 (same) | -3 (fastest) |
| User I/Os | 171 | 171 | 171 | 218 | 218 | 81 |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes (-N suffix) | No (non-N variant) | No (non-N variant) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lifecycle Status | Last Time Buy | Last Time Buy | Last Time Buy | Last Time Buy | Last Time Buy | Last Time Buy |
Key Differentiators
- RoHS-compliant 208-pin PQFP variant in the FLEX 6000 family (vs EPF6016AQC208-2)
- Higher internal frequency (-2 speed grade) for timing-critical paths (vs EPF6016AQC208-1)
- Highest pin-count FLEX 6000 PQFP option for I/O-rich designs (vs EPF6016AFC100-3)
Design Notes
The EPF6016AQC208-2N requires a clean 3.3 V core supply. Place one 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of every VCC pin, plus a 33 µF tantalum or 100 µF aluminum bulk capacitor on the supply plane. Because the FLEX 6000 family is SRAM-based, inrush current during configuration can reach 500 mA - ensure the regulator can supply at least 1.5× the steady-state current rating during the configuration phase. Estimated: at 166.67 MHz with typical 80% utilization, core current is approximately 150-250 mA steady-state.
The 208-pin PQFP package uses a 0.5 mm lead pitch and gull-wing leads on all four sides. Recommended PCB land pattern follows IPC-7351 nominal density with 0.30 mm pad width and 0.55 mm pad length. Apply a continuous ground plane on the bottom layer directly under the device to provide a low-impedance return path for switching outputs. Keep clock traces (CLK, dedicated clock inputs) shorter than 25 mm and series-terminate if the trace exceeds 50 mm total length.
Common pitfalls with EPF6016AQC208-2N designs: (1) Forgetting that SRAM FPGAs lose configuration at power-down - always pair with a configuration EPROM (EPC1, EPC2) or a microcontroller-based JTAG loader. (2) Driving JTAG TCK faster than 10 MHz - the FLEX 6000 BSDL supports TCK up to 10 MHz maximum; faster rates may cause boundary-scan errors. (3) Assuming all I/O pins are 5 V-tolerant - only specific pins tolerate 5 V input; check the datasheet I/O standard table before designing level translation. (4) Not planning for the last-time-buy lifecycle - source sufficient inventory now, or plan a Cyclone migration path.
Compliance Information
The -N suffix indicates RoHS-compliant lead-free assembly per the FLEX 6000 family datasheet. AEC-Q100 automotive qualification is not applicable - FLEX 6000 is a commercial-grade family. Halogen-free and conflict-minerals declarations not explicitly listed on the manufacturer page.
