EPF81188AQI208-4 - FLEX 8000 FPGA, 16K Gates, 148 I/O, 208-PQFP | Intel
MPN: EPF81188AQI208-4 ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $34.2 | $342.00 |
| 100 | $29.75 | $2,975.00 |
| 250 | $27.4 | $6,850.00 |
| 500 | $25.1 | $12,550.00 |
EPF81188AQI208-4 Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a type of programmable logic device (PLD) that uses configurable logic blocks (CLBs) and programmable interconnects to implement custom digital circuits. In the broader taxonomy, FPGAs sit under programmable logic -> PLD -> logic IC -> semiconductor. The FLEX 8000 family was introduced in the mid-1990s as Altera's register-rich, in-circuit reconfigurable architecture, intended for glue logic, bus interfacing, and state-machine consolidation. Compared with CPLDs, FPGAs offer higher logic density but require SRAM configuration at every power-up, typically loaded from a serial configuration PROM such as the Altera EPC1, EPC1064, EPC1213, or EPC1441.
Key features of the EPF81188AQI208-4 include in-circuit reconfigurability (ICR), 148 programmable user I/Os, 6 dedicated clock input pins, JTAG-compliant boundary-scan test support, multiVolt I/O interface capability for 3.3 V and 5 V mixed systems, and a pin-compatible migration path across speed grades (-4, -3, -2). It is supported by the Altera MAX+plus II and Quartus design toolchains, and provides deterministic, register-rich architecture well suited to pipelined datapaths and high-speed state machines.
The architecture is built on continuous FastTrack interconnect rows and columns with SRAM configuration cells. Logic is implemented in Logic Elements (LEs) grouped into LABs, each containing 8 LEs with carry-chain and cascade support. Dedicated input registers and output registers per I/O pin simplify pipeline and registered I/O designs, and four low-skew global clock networks feed registers across the die.
Typical applications include 32-bit microprocessor glue logic and peripheral integration, PCI bus bridging and interface controllers, telecom line-card state machines, industrial control and instrumentation front-ends, DSP co-processing front-ends, and ASIC prototyping. The wide 5 V tolerant I/O and JTAG support make the device practical for legacy systems and migration from discrete TTL/CMOS logic.
When designing with this device, ensure that a serial configuration PROM is included on the board for SRAM-based configuration at every power-up, and that the nCONFIG, nSTATUS, and CONF_DONE signals are correctly pulled and monitored. MultiVolt I/O allows direct interface to 3.3 V peripherals from the 5 V core, simplifying mixed-voltage designs without external level shifters.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative MPNs from the same FLEX 8000 family, and practical design notes not consolidated on the manufacturer datasheet cover page.
Drop-in alternatives for EPF81188AQI208-4 — 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 EPF81188AQI208-4 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type, Operating Temperature, Process Technology, In-Circuit Reconfigurability, Logic Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPF81188AQI208-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$45 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF81188AQI208-2
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF81188AQC208-4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$62 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF81188AQC208-3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$14.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF81188AQC208-2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$21.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →EPF81188AQI208-4N
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EPF81188AQI208-4 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | FLEX 8000 |
| Logic Elements / Gates | Up to 16,000 usable gates |
| Registers (approx.) | 1,500 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 126 |
| User I/Os | 148 |
| Package | 208-pin PQFP (BFQFP, plastic, gull-wing) |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V |
| Logic Family | CMOS (SRAM-based) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Configuration Method | Serial PROM (EPC1/EPC1064/EPC1213/EPC1441) or parallel EPROM / microcontroller |
| In-Circuit Reconfigurability (ICR) | Yes |
| Boundary-Scan / JTAG | Yes (JTAG-compliant) |
| MultiVolt I/O Interface | Yes (supports 3.3 V and 5 V mixed systems) |
| Global Clock Networks | 4 low-skew |
| Speed Grade | -4 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (gull-wing PQFP) |
EPF81188AQI208-4 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O — User I/O pin (per pinout table in datasheet) |
| Pin 2 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 3 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 4 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 5 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 6 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 7 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 8 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 9 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 10 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 11 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 12 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 13 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 14 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 15 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 16 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 17 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 18 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 19 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 20 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 21 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 22 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 23 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 24 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 25 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 26 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 27 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 28 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 29 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 30 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 31 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 32 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 33 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 34 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 35 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 36 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 37 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 38 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 39 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 40 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 41 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 42 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 43 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 44 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 45 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 46 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 47 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 48 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 49 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 50 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 51 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 52 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 53 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 54 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 55 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 56 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 57 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 58 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 59 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 60 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 61 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 62 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 63 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 64 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 65 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 66 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 67 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 68 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 69 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 70 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 71 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 72 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 73 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 74 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 75 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 76 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 77 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 78 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 79 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 80 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 81 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 82 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 83 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 84 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 85 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 86 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 87 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 88 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 89 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 90 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 91 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 92 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 93 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 94 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 95 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 96 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 97 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 98 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 99 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 100 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 101 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 102 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 103 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 104 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 105 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 106 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 107 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 108 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 109 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 110 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 111 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 112 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 113 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 114 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 115 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 116 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 117 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 118 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 119 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 120 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 121 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 122 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 123 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 124 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 125 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 126 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 127 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 128 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 129 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 130 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 131 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 132 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 133 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 134 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 135 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 136 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 137 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 138 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 139 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 140 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 141 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 142 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 143 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 144 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 145 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 146 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 147 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 148 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 149 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 150 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 151 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 152 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 153 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 154 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 155 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 156 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 157 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 158 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 159 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 160 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 161 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 162 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 163 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 164 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 165 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 166 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 167 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 168 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 169 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 170 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 171 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 172 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 173 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 174 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 175 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 176 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 177 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 178 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 179 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 180 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 181 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 182 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 183 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 184 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 185 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 186 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 187 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 188 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 189 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 190 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 191 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 192 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 193 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 194 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 195 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 196 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 197 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 198 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 199 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 200 | VCC — 5 V core supply |
| Pin 201 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 202 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 203 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 204 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 205 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 206 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 207 | I/O — User I/O pin |
| Pin 208 | I/O — User I/O pin |
Typical Applications
EPF81188AQI208-4 is suitable for 6 applications: 32-bit Microprocessor Glue Logic, PCI Bus Bridge / Interface Controller, Telecom Line-Card State Machines, Industrial Control and Instrumentation Front-End, DSP Co-Processing Front-End, ASIC Prototyping and Logic Consolidation.
32-bit Microprocessor Glue Logic
The EPF81188AQI208-4's 16,000 usable gates and 148 user I/Os make it a strong fit for 32-bit microprocessor glue-logic consolidation, where address decoding, wait-state generation, bus arbitration, and interrupt steering are absorbed into a single device instead of several discrete TTL packages. The four low-skew global clock networks and dedicated input/output registers per pin simplify pipelined microprocessor interfaces and registered chip-select generation, while MultiVolt I/O lets the 5 V core drive 3.3 V peripherals without external level shifters. Source: FLEX 8000 family datasheet.
Recommended
PCI Bus Bridge / Interface Controller
With 148 user I/Os, the EPF81188AQI208-4 can absorb an entire 32-bit PCI bus bridge or interface controller plus peripheral state-machine logic in a single FLEX 8000 device. The register-rich architecture is well suited to the registered I/O and pipelined handshakes that PCI demands, and the JTAG-compliant boundary scan simplifies pre-production board bring-up. Power consumption at 5 V must be budgeted carefully because PCI designs often run near 50-66 MHz; the -3 or -2 speed grades offer tighter timing margin on the same footprint. Source: FLEX 8000 family datasheet.
Recommended
Telecom Line-Card State Machines
Telecom line cards traditionally depend on large register-rich programmable logic to handle framing, signalling, alarm monitoring, and switch-matrix interfacing. The EPF81188AQI208-4's 1,500 registers and 126 LABs provide the parallelism needed for these state machines, while the 148 I/Os absorb the high-pin-count glue between line-interface units, time-slot interchanges, and backplane connectors. In-circuit reconfigurability enables field firmware upgrades without board removal, a key benefit for carrier-grade telecom equipment.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Instrumentation Front-End
The EPF81188AQI208-4 is widely used as a front-end controller in industrial instrumentation, where 16,000 usable gates are sufficient for sensor-signal conditioning sequencing, ADC/DAC control logic, and serial protocol state machines (SPI, I2C, UART). The 5 V MultiVolt I/O and JTAG bring-up simplify mixed-voltage designs with 3.3 V ADC/DAC devices. Engineers migrating older designs to industrial-temperature grades should verify that the chosen speed-grade variant supports the required ambient range; the AQI suffix denotes commercial temperature.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processing Front-End
The FLEX 8000 architecture's high register count makes the EPF81188AQI208-4 a useful front-end for DSP co-processors - handling data formatting, address generation, memory interfacing, and control sequencing ahead of a dedicated DSP or ASIC. The four global clock networks and dedicated I/O registers help maintain deterministic timing in pipelined datapaths, while the 148 I/Os expose wide data and address buses without external muxing.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Logic Consolidation
With 16,000 usable gates and in-circuit reconfigurability, the EPF81188AQI208-4 has long served as an ASIC prototyping vehicle and as a way to consolidate scattered TTL/CMOS logic into one programmable device. Designers can iterate firmware in-circuit, validate pinout assumptions before ASIC tape-out, and reuse the same board across multiple design revisions. The 208-pin PQFP package is friendly to standard 1.0 mm-pitch PCB fabrication, easing prototype assembly.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPF81188AQI208-4 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPF81188AQI208-3 | EPF81188AQI208-2 | EPF81188AQC208-4 | EPF81188AQC208-3 | EPF81188AQC208-2 | EPF81188AQI208-4N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Package | 208-PQFP (BFQFP) | 208-PQFP - same | 208-PQFP - same | 208-PQFP - same | 208-PQFP - same | 208-PQFP - same | 208-PQFP - same |
| Usable Gates | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 |
| User I/Os | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 | 148 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 126 | 126 | 126 | 126 | 126 | 126 | 126 |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V |
| Speed Grade | -4 (slowest) | -3 (faster) | -2 (fastest) | -4 (same) | -3 | -2 | -4 (same) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
Key Differentiators
- Identical die, faster timing closure (vs EPF81188AQI208-3)
- Identical die, fastest speed grade (vs EPF81188AQI208-2)
- Same die, AQC temperature code variant (vs EPF81188AQC208-4)
- Lead-free finish variant (vs EPF81188AQI208-4N)
Design Notes
The EPF81188AQI208-4 is SRAM-based and therefore loses its configuration when power is removed. Every board design must include a configuration source - typically an Altera EPC1, EPC1064, EPC1213, or EPC1441 serial configuration PROM, or a parallel EPROM plus microcontroller. Without this, the device remains unconfigured at power-up and all I/Os are tri-stated, which can look like a dead board during bring-up.
The 208-pin PQFP uses 1.0 mm lead pitch and gull-wing terminations, which is friendly to 4-layer FR-4 PCB fabrication. Provide a continuous ground plane on an inner layer directly beneath the package to control return paths for the many switching I/Os. Decouple each VCC pin with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the pin, and add bulk decoupling (10-100 uF) at the board-level supply entry. The four low-skew global clock networks benefit from matched-length clock traces.
The 148 user I/Os can switch simultaneously and generate significant ground bounce on a poorly decoupled board. Source-synchronous interfaces (e.g., 32-bit buses with associated clocks) should be routed with matched trace lengths and 50 ohm characteristic impedance. If timing closure is tight, prefer the -3 or -2 speed grades on the same footprint rather than over-constraining the layout. MultiVolt I/O lets the 5 V core drive 3.3 V peripherals without external level shifters - confirm VCCIO bank voltage compatibility before mixing rails.
Compliance Information
Part is obsolete (legacy Altera / Intel FLEX 8000 family). Specific RoHS / REACH compliance data not found in verified web data - the N-suffix variant (EPF81188AQI208-4N) typically denotes a lead-free finish, but RoHS certification status should be confirmed via the manufacturer's declaration letter. AEC-Q100 is not applicable to FPGAs in this legacy family.
