EPM9320RC208-20N - MAX 9000 CPLD 320 Macro Cells 5V | Altera
MPN: EPM9320RC208-20N β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
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| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
EPM9320RC208-20N Overview
A CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) is a programmable logic IC that combines multiple programmable logic array blocks and a programmable interconnect matrix on a single die, allowing designers to implement custom combinational and sequential logic without fabricating an ASIC. Within the logic IC hierarchy, a CPLD sits between simple PLDs (PAL/GAL) and FPGAs: CPLDs offer deterministic, non-volatile timing with instant-on operation, while FPGAs provide higher logic density at the cost of external configuration memory. The MAX 9000 family is built on Altera's third-generation Multiple Array MatriX (MAX) architecture with EEPROM-based configuration.
Key features of the EPM9320RC208-20N include 320 macro cells organized into 20 logic array blocks, 6,000 usable gates, a 20 ns maximum pin-to-pin delay (tPD), and a maximum operating frequency of 100 MHz. The device provides 168 user I/O pins in the 208-pin RQFP package and is configured via EEPROM, so it retains its logic configuration without external boot memory. The 5.0 V core and I/O supply simplifies interfacing to legacy 5 V TTL and CMOS logic.
The MAX 9000 architecture uses a programmable interconnect array (PIA) to route signals between logic array blocks, giving predictable, fixed timing independent of routing. Each macro cell contains a flip-flop with programmable clock, clock enable, preset, and clear, plus product-term logic for combinatorial functions. This architecture is well suited to glue logic, bus interfacing, and state-machine implementations where deterministic timing matters more than raw gate count.
Typical applications include legacy industrial control boards, ISA/VME bus interface logic, address decoding and chip-select generation, and replacement of discrete 74-series glue logic in long-lifecycle systems. The 5 V operation and 20 ns speed grade make it a natural fit for retrofits of existing 5 V designs.
When designing with this device, note that the 20 ns speed grade is the slowest of the EPM9320 family; timing-critical paths should be verified against the tPD and tSU/tCO specifications in the manufacturer datasheet. The RQFP-208 package requires careful thermal and signal-integrity layout for the 168 I/O pins.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single reference for second-sourcing this legacy CPLD.
Drop-in alternatives for EPM9320RC208-20N β 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 EPM9320RC208-20N (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, In-System Programmability, Device Type, Propagation Delay (tPD), Dedicated Input Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPM9320RC208-15N
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View Datasheet βEPM9320RC208-15
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View Datasheet βEPM9320RC208-10
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$26.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM9320ARC208-10N
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$19.45 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM9320ARC208-10
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$21.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM9320RC208-20N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Device Family | MAX 9000 |
| Logic Type | Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) |
| Usable Gates | 6,000 |
| Macro Cells | 320 |
| Logic Array Blocks | 20 |
| Maximum Pin-to-Pin Delay (tPD) | 20 ns |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 100 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 5.0 V |
| Configuration Memory | EEPROM (non-volatile) |
| In-System Programmability | Yes, via IEEE Std. 1149.1 JTAG |
| User I/O Pins | 168 |
| Package | 208-pin RQFP (PowerQuad II) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
EPM9320RC208-20N 208-pin rqfp (powerquad ii) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EPM9320RC208-20N (208-pin rqfp (powerquad ii) 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 EPM9320RC208-20N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EPM9320RC208-20N is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Industrial Control Boards, ISA/VME Bus Interface Logic, Address Decoding and Chip-Select Generation, Glue Logic Replacement in Long-Lifecycle Systems, State Machine and Sequencer Implementation, Retrofit of Existing 5V CPLD Designs.
Legacy Industrial Control Boards
The EPM9320RC208-20N fits legacy industrial control boards because its 5.0 V core and I/O supply interface directly to 5 V TTL and CMOS logic without level shifters, and its 320 macro cells provide enough glue logic for address decoding, chip-select generation, and handshake state machines. With 168 user I/O pins in the 208-pin RQFP package, it can absorb the discrete 74-series logic that typically surrounds a legacy microcontroller or DSP. EEPROM configuration gives instant-on operation, so the board is functional immediately after power-up with no external boot memory. The trade-off is that the 20 ns pin-to-pin delay limits synchronous operation to roughly 100 MHz, so it suits control-plane logic rather than high-speed data paths.
Recommended
ISA/VME Bus Interface Logic
The EPM9320RC208-20N is used for ISA and VME bus interface logic because its 5.0 V signaling matches the legacy bus electrical specification directly, and its 20 ns pin-to-pin delay is fast enough for the bus cycle timing of these standards. The 320 macro cells implement address decoding, wait-state generation, interrupt arbitration, and bus-transceiver control in a single device, replacing dozens of discrete logic packages. The 168 user I/O pins in the 208-pin RQFP package accommodate the wide address and data buses of VME systems. Because the MAX 9000 architecture uses a programmable interconnect array with fixed routing delays, bus timing is deterministic and does not vary with logic placement, which simplifies worst-case timing analysis for critical bus-control paths.
Recommended
Address Decoding and Chip-Select Generation
The EPM9320RC208-20N is well suited to address decoding and chip-select generation because its 320 macro cells can implement wide AND-OR product-term logic for memory-mapped decoding, and its 20 ns pin-to-pin delay keeps chip-select assertion within a single bus cycle at typical legacy clock rates. The 168 user I/O pins allow direct connection to the full address bus, multiple peripheral chip-select lines, and configuration straps without external multiplexing. EEPROM configuration means the decode logic is live at power-up, which is essential for boot-time chip-select generation. Designers should account for the 20 ns tPD when budgeting address-to-chip-select delay, and can move to the EPM9320RC208-15N if additional margin is needed.
Recommended
Glue Logic Replacement in Long-Lifecycle Systems
The EPM9320RC208-20N is used to replace discrete 74-series glue logic in long-lifecycle systems because a single 208-pin RQFP CPLD consolidates many small logic packages, reducing board area, power, and component count while improving reliability. Its 6,000 usable gates and 320 macro cells absorb counters, shift registers, multiplexers, and combinatorial decoders that would otherwise require dozens of SSI/MSI devices. The 5.0 V supply matches the legacy logic levels of the surrounding circuitry, and EEPROM configuration eliminates the boot-memory and configuration-PROM overhead of an FPGA. For systems with 10- to 20-year service lives, the main risk is obsolescence, so designers should qualify a drop-in alternative such as the EPM9320RC208-15N early.
Recommended
State Machine and Sequencer Implementation
The EPM9320RC208-20N implements state machines and power-up sequencers because each of its 320 macro cells contains a flip-flop with programmable clock, clock enable, preset, and clear, allowing dense sequential logic to be built without external registers. The 20 ns pin-to-pin delay supports state-machine clock rates up to roughly 100 MHz, which is adequate for control-plane sequencing in industrial and telecom equipment. The 168 user I/O pins in the 208-pin RQFP package provide ample status and control signals for multi-rail power sequencing and fault handling. Because the MAX 9000 interconnect has fixed, predictable delays, state-machine timing is repeatable across builds, unlike FPGA routing where timing can shift with placement and routing changes.
Recommended
Retrofit of Existing 5V CPLD Designs
The EPM9320RC208-20N is used to retrofit existing 5 V CPLD designs because it is a direct member of the MAX 9000 family, so existing MAX 9000 netlists and JEDEC programming files can be ported with minimal changes. Its 208-pin RQFP footprint matches other EPM9320RC208 speed grades, allowing a board designed for a faster or slower grade to accept the -20N without layout changes. The 5.0 V supply and EEPROM configuration match the electrical and boot behavior of the original design, reducing re-qualification effort. For retrofits where the original part is unavailable, the EPM9320RC208-15N provides a pin-compatible substitute with additional timing margin, and the EPM9320ARC208-10N offers the enhanced MAX 9000A die in the same package.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPM9320RC208-20N β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPM9320RC208-15N | EPM9320RC208-15 | EPM9320RC208-10 | EPM9320ARC208-10N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 208-pin RQFP | 208-pin RQFP - same | 208-pin RQFP - same | 208-pin RQFP - same | 208-pin RQFP - same |
| Brand | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera | Altera |
| Pin-to-Pin Delay (tPD) | 20 ns | 15 ns | 15 ns | 10 ns | 10 ns |
| Usable Gates | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Macro Cells | 320 | 320 | 320 | 320 | 320 |
| Supply Voltage | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V |
| User I/O Pins | 168 | 168 | 168 | 168 | 168 |
| Configuration Memory | EEPROM (non-volatile) | EEPROM (non-volatile) | EEPROM (non-volatile) | EEPROM (non-volatile) | EEPROM (non-volatile) |
| JTAG ISP | Yes (IEEE Std. 1149.1) | Yes (IEEE Std. 1149.1) | Yes (IEEE Std. 1149.1) | Yes (IEEE Std. 1149.1) | Yes (IEEE Std. 1149.1) |
| Lead-Free Finish | Yes (N suffix) | Yes (N suffix) | No | No | Yes (N suffix) |
Key Differentiators
- Non-volatile EEPROM configuration with instant-on operation (vs EPM9320ARC208-10N)
- Lead-free (N suffix) finish for RoHS-sensitive builds (vs EPM9320RC208-15)
- Pin-compatible speed-grade upgrade path within the same footprint (vs EPM9320RC208-10)
Design Notes
The EPM9320RC208-20N is a 20 ns speed grade, the slowest in the EPM9320RC208 family. Before committing a design, verify that all critical paths meet the tPD, tSU, and tCO limits in the MAX 9000 device family datasheet at the worst-case 5 V +/- 5% supply and full temperature range. If margin is insufficient, the pin-compatible EPM9320RC208-15N (15 ns) or EPM9320RC208-10 (10 ns) can be substituted without layout changes, since all share the 208-pin RQFP footprint.
The EPM9320RC208-20N operates from a single 5.0 V supply and draws supply current that scales with the number of switching macro cells and the operating frequency. Decouple each VCC pin with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed as close to the pin as possible, and add bulk capacitance (10 uF or larger) near the device to absorb transient current during simultaneous I/O switching. Estimated: at 100 MHz with a typical 50% macro-cell toggle rate, dynamic current can reach several hundred milliamps, so verify the actual ICC against the datasheet's power estimation methodology for your specific design.
The 208-pin RQFP (PowerQuad II) package has 168 user I/O pins, so signal-integrity and ground-return planning are important. Provide a solid ground plane under the device and route high-speed or clock signals on layers adjacent to ground to control impedance. Keep the JTAG signals (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) short and, where possible, series-terminate TCK to reduce ringing. Because the MAX 9000 interconnect has fixed delays, timing closure depends mainly on I/O and clock routing rather than internal placement, so prioritize clean clock distribution and adequate power-plane stitching.
Compliance Information
The N suffix on EPM9320RC208-20N indicates a lead-free finish. RoHS, REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status were not stated in the verified web data and are marked unknown rather than assumed.
