EPF6016QC208 - 16K FLEX 6000 FPGA, 5V, PQFP-208 | Altera/Intel
MPN: EPF6016QC208 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $33.98 | $33.98 |
| 10 | $31.5 | $315.00 |
| 100 | $28.75 | $2,875.00 |
| 500 | $26 | $13,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $23.5 | $23,500.00 |
EPF6016QC208 Overview
A Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that allows hardware engineers to implement arbitrary digital logic through a configuration bitstream loaded into on-chip SRAM. FPGAs sit at the top of the programmable-logic hierarchy: PLD -> CPLD -> FPGA -> system-on-chip (SoC) FPGA. The FLEX 6000 family specifically targets low-cost, high-volume applications where the integration of 5V-tolerant I/O eliminates level shifters and simplifies board design.
Key features of the EPF6016QC208 include 132 Logic Array Blocks (LABs) each containing 10 Logic Elements (LEs), dedicated carry and cascade chains for high-speed arithmetic and wide-input functions, and configurable I/O cells that support 5.0V CMOS input thresholds (with appropriate pull-ups when interfacing to external 5V supplies). The device is available in commercial (0C to 70C) and industrial (-40C to 85C) temperature grades, and is supported by the legacy Altera MAX+PLUS II and Quartus design toolchains.
From an architectural standpoint, the FLEX 6000 family employs an SRAM-based configuration memory, meaning the device is volatile and must be reconfigured at power-up from an external EPROM, flash, or microcontroller. Continuous Interconnects (CIRs) and Row/Column Interconnects (RIRs) provide predictable routing delays, and the FastTrack interconnect fabric connects LEs across the entire device via horizontal and vertical channels. MultiVolt I/O support simplifies mixed-voltage system design, while IEEE Std 1149.1 (JTAG) boundary-scan testing is provided for production board test.
Typical applications include industrial control and glue logic, telecommunications line cards, ASIC prototyping, and bus-interface bridging (e.g., ISA, PCI, VME). The 5V I/O tolerance makes the EPF6016QC208 especially attractive in legacy industrial systems that retain 5V buses, where modern 3.3V-only FPGAs would otherwise require level-shifters. Because the part is mature and approaching end-of-life, designers are increasingly substituting it with FLEX 10K, MAX 7000, or Cyclone family equivalents in new designs.
When designing with this FPGA, ensure that configuration storage (typically an EPC1 or EPC2 configuration EPROM) is correctly dimensioned for the EPF6016's bitstream size, and that the JTAG chain is properly terminated. Thermal management is generally not a concern at PQFP-208 power levels, but adequate decoupling (one 0.1 uF per VCC pin plus bulk capacitance) is essential for reliable SRAM configuration.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, including speed-grade and temperature-grade variants of the same die.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF6016QC208 — 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 EPF6016QC208 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Process Technology, Operating Temperature, Configuration Memory, Speed Grade.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF6016AQC208-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF6016AQC208-3N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$31.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF6016AQC208-3S
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$27.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF6016AQC208-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$19.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF6016AQC208-2N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$13.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF6016AQC208-1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$42.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF6016QC208 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | FLEX 6000 |
| Equivalent Gates | 16,000 gates |
| Logic Cells / Logic Elements (LEs) | 1,320 LEs |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 132 LABs (10 LEs per LAB) |
| Maximum User I/O | 171 I/O pins |
| Maximum Internal Frequency | 125 MHz |
| Process Technology | 0.42 um CMOS (SRAM-based) |
| Supply Voltage (VCCINT) | 5.0 V |
| I/O Standard Support | 5.0 V CMOS (3.3 V VCCIO supported) |
| Configuration Memory | SRAM (volatile, requires external config EPROM) |
| Package | PQFP-208 (Plastic Quad Flat Pack) |
| Pin Count | 208 pins |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to 70C (commercial) |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (legacy 5V PQFP, contains lead) |
| JTAG Support | IEEE Std 1149.1 boundary scan |
| Configuration Device Compatibility | EPC1, EPC2 (legacy Altera config PROMs) |
EPF6016QC208 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — User I/O pin (LE output or input) |
| Pin 2 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 3 | VCCINT — Core supply voltage 5.0V |
| Pin 4 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 5 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 6 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 7 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 8 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 9 | VCCIO — I/O supply voltage (3.3V or 5V) |
| Pin 10 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 11 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 12 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 13 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 14 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 15 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 16 | nCONFIG — Configuration control (active-low) |
| Pin 17 | nSTATUS — Configuration status (active-low) |
| Pin 18 | CONF_DONE — Configuration complete indicator |
| Pin 19 | DCLK — Configuration clock input |
| Pin 20 | DATA0 — Configuration data input bit 0 |
Typical Applications
EPF6016QC208 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial 5V Glue Logic and Bus Bridging, Telecommunications Line Cards and Channel Banks, ASIC Prototyping and Design Verification, Legacy Medical Equipment Control Boards, Military and Aerospace Avionics Retrofit, Test and Measurement Instrumentation Front-End.
Industrial 5V Glue Logic and Bus Bridging
The EPF6016QC208 is well-suited for industrial 5V glue-logic and bus-bridging applications where its 5V-tolerant CMOS I/O eliminates level shifters typically required by 3.3V-only modern FPGAs. With 1,320 logic elements and up to 171 user I/O pins, it can implement ISA-to-PCI bridges, VME bus controllers, and 8/16-bit microcontroller expansion interfaces in factory automation equipment. The 125 MHz internal frequency supports timing closure for legacy bus protocols up to ~40 MHz, while the JTAG boundary-scan facilitates production board test. Unlike modern FPGAs that require careful voltage-rail sequencing, the EPF6016QC208 operates from a single 5V supply, simplifying legacy PCB designs where 5V is the only rail available. The PQFP-208 footprint is also compatible with through-hole rework stations, which is useful for low-volume industrial retrofits.
Recommended
Telecommunications Line Cards and Channel Banks
In telecom line-card and channel-bank designs from the late 1990s and 2000s, the EPF6016QC208 served as a programmable glue layer between 5V bus ASICs, T1/E1 framers, and HDLC controllers. Its 1,320 LEs provide sufficient capacity for protocol mux/demux, timeslot assignment, and alarm-generation logic in a single device, while the 171 I/O can fan out to multiple framers and backplane connectors. The FLEX 6000 family's SRAM-based configuration allows field upgrades via in-system programming (ISP) through the JTAG port, which was a major advantage over mask-programmed gate arrays of that era. Although 3.3V telecom ASICs are now more common, many central-office backplanes still operate at 5V, where the EPF6016QC208 remains a viable, supported solution. Designers migrating to newer 3.3V parts should consider the EPF10K30AQC208 family for board-level pin compatibility.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Design Verification
The EPF6016QC208 has long served as an ASIC prototyping vehicle because its 16,000-gate equivalent capacity maps well to medium-complexity gate-array designs of the 1990s. Engineers can implement an entire ASIC's random-logic and glue in the FLEX 6000 fabric, then verify timing, I/O behavior, and protocol conformance in-system before committing to NRE charges for an ASIC spin. The 5V I/O ring simplifies emulation of mixed-voltage ASIC pads, and Quartus/MAX+PLUS II synthesis tools support industry-standard VHDL and Verilog inputs. For prototyping large ASICs, multiple EPF6016QC208 devices can be cascaded via JTAG chain or dedicated interconnect pins, allowing the emulation of multi-chip ASIC systems. The 125 MHz performance grade is fast enough to validate most ASIC clock domains in the 25-50 MHz range.
Recommended
Legacy Medical Equipment Control Boards
The EPF6016QC208 remains deployed in long-lifecycle medical equipment (patient monitors, infusion pumps, lab analyzers) where its 5V CMOS I/O and PQFP-208 through-hole-friendly footprint simplify FDA-qualified board designs. Its 16K-gate capacity is well-matched to motor-control loops, sensor-multiplexing logic, and LCD-interface glue found in mid-1990s medical devices. Because medical equipment often requires 10-15 year support windows, the FLEX 6000 family's mature toolchain (MAX+PLUS II v10.x or Quartus) allows design teams to maintain firmware without re-validation of the silicon platform. Designers considering design refresh should evaluate the EPF10K30AQC208 family for newer silicon at the same PQFP-208 footprint, accepting a toolchain re-validation cost. The PQFP-208 is also more easily hand-reworkable than BGA alternatives in field-service scenarios.
Recommended
Military and Aerospace Avionics Retrofit
Although the EPF6016QC208 commercial temperature grade (0C to 70C) limits its use to non-flight avionics, it appears in MIL-STD-1553 databus couplers, weapons-loader test sets, and ground-support equipment where its 5V tolerant I/O interfaces directly to legacy avionics buses. The PQFP-208 ceramic-windowed variants (e.g., EPF6016QC208-3 with extended screening) offer radiation-tolerance and extended-temperature operation suited for tactical environments. For new avionics designs, designers should migrate to radiation-hardened FPGAs (e.g., Microsemi/RTAX), but for retrofit and obsolescence management of fielded equipment, the EPF6016QC208 remains the supported solution. The 125 MHz internal clock and 1,320 LEs are sufficient for MIL-STD-1553B protocol stacks, ARINC 429 receivers, and discrete I/O conditioning.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation Front-End
In bench-top and rack-mount test equipment (logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, pattern generators), the EPF6016QC208 implements capture/compare logic, trigger sequencers, and pattern-generation state machines. Its 5V I/O simplifies probe-interface circuitry and direct connection to TTL-level DUTs, while the 171 I/O supports multi-channel capture with up to 8-16 parallel buses at 5V CMOS levels. The SRAM-based configuration allows test-equipment manufacturers to ship field-updateable firmware, and the JTAG port enables factory calibration routines. Designers building next-generation test equipment typically migrate to Cyclone IV or MAX 10 FPGAs, but the EPF6016QC208 remains appropriate for replacement parts in fielded units through approximately 2030, given Intel's last-time-buy commitments for the FLEX 6000 family.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF6016QC208 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF6016AQC208-3 | EPF6016AQC208-3N | EPF6016AQC208-2 | EPF6016AQC208-2N | EPF6016AQC208-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (now Intel) | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel | Altera / Intel |
| Package | PQFP-208 | PQFP-208 (same) | PQFP-208 (same) | PQFP-208 (same) | PQFP-208 (same) | PQFP-208 (same) |
| Logic Elements | 1,320 LEs | 1,320 LEs | 1,320 LEs | 1,320 LEs | 1,320 LEs | 1,320 LEs |
| Speed Grade | -2 (base, ~95 MHz) | -3 (fastest, 125 MHz) | -3 (fastest, 125 MHz) | -2 (same as base) | -2 (same as base) | -1 (slowest grade) |
| Lead-Free Terminal Finish | No (Pb-bearing) | No (Pb-bearing) | Yes (Pb-free N suffix) | No (Pb-bearing) | Yes (Pb-free N suffix) | No (Pb-bearing) |
| Maximum User I/O | 171 I/O | 171 I/O | 171 I/O | 171 I/O | 171 I/O | 171 I/O |
| Equivalent Gates | 16,000 gates | 16,000 gates | 16,000 gates | 16,000 gates | 16,000 gates | 16,000 gates |
| Configuration Memory | SRAM (volatile) | SRAM (volatile) | SRAM (volatile) | SRAM (volatile) | SRAM (volatile) | SRAM (volatile) |
| Unit Price (qty 1) | $33.98 | $35-45 (faster grade) | $36-46 (faster, Pb-free) | $30-38 (same speed) | $31-39 (Pb-free) | $28-35 (slowest grade) |
Key Differentiators
- Original 5V FLEX 6000 FPGA with mature MAX+PLUS II toolchain support (vs EPF6016AQC208-3 (revision-A silicon))
- PQFP-208 package is hand-rework friendly and supports legacy through-hole-compatible footprints (vs BGA-packaged FLEX 6000 variants like EPF6016BFC256)
- 131 kbit SRAM configuration memory enables in-system programming via JTAG (vs MAX 7000 series CPLD (non-volatile EEPROM config))
Design Notes
The EPF6016QC208 uses volatile SRAM configuration memory, meaning the FPGA loses its configuration when power is removed. An external configuration EPROM (EPC1 or EPC2) is REQUIRED at every power-up. Estimated: configuration bitstream is approximately 300 Kbits, so an EPC2 (2 Mbit) is the typical companion device. Do not attempt to power-cycle the device without a valid configuration source or it will remain in undefined state until programmed.
Place one 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to every VCCINT and VCCIO pin on the EPF6016QC208, with additional bulk capacitance (10-100 uF tantalum or ceramic) on each power rail. The PQFP-208 package has 4-6 dedicated VCCINT pins distributed around the die periphery - any pin left without a nearby decoupling cap can cause ground bounce and configuration failures. Estimated: at 125 MHz internal frequency with 171 toggling I/O, peak supply current can reach 300-500 mA on VCCINT and VCCIO combined.
When the EPF6016QC208 interfaces with 5V CMOS inputs using VCCIO = 3.3V, the IOL (output low current) specification must be considered when sizing the external pull-up resistor. Per the Altera FLEX 6000 datasheet, output pins on 5.0V FLEX 6000 devices with VCCIO = 3.3V (with a pull-up resistor to the 5.0V supply) can also drive 5.0V CMOS inputs; the pull-up transistor turns off when the pin voltage exceeds 3.3V, limiting shoot-through current. Use a pull-up value between 1 kohm and 10 kohm to balance rise time against quiescent current.
Compliance Information
EPF6016QC208 base part uses lead-bearing terminal finish (Pb) and is not RoHS compliant. Speed-grade variants with 'N' suffix (e.g., EPF6016AQC208-3N) use Pb-free terminal finish but the die-package assembly still contains lead - consult Intel/Altera for full material declaration. The part is AEC-Q100 not qualified and is intended for industrial/commercial applications. REACH compliance for the base part is declared by Altera/Intel.
