EPM9560RC304-2 - MAX 9000 EPLD 12k Gates 304-pin RQFP | Intel / Altera
MPN: EPM9560RC304-2 β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $85 | $85.00 |
| 10 | $78 | $780.00 |
| 100 | $70 | $7,000.00 |
| 500 | $62 | $31,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $55 | $55,000.00 |
EPM9560RC304-2 Overview
A CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) is a non-volatile programmable logic device that combines the architectural simplicity of PAL/GAL with multiple Logic Array Blocks (LABs) and a programmable interconnect matrix (PIA). In the system hierarchy, CPLD sits alongside FPGA in the programmable logic family but differs by offering non-volatile configuration, deterministic timing, instant-on behavior, and typically higher I/O count per logic block - making CPLD ideal for glue logic, bus decoding, address decoding, and state-machine control functions.
Key features of the EPM9560RC304-2 include 304 user I/O pins, 16 Logic Array Blocks, multi-vendor IEEE 1149.1 JTAG boundary-scan support, and 5 V tolerant I/O with PCI-compatible drive. The device is pin-compatible with other speed grades (the -10, -15, -20) in the same 304-pin RQFP package, allowing drop-in performance upgrades without PCB rework. The RC suffix designates the 304-pin RQFP (Reinforced Quad Flat Pack) industrial package.
The MAX 9000 architecture combines a global PIA with LABs each containing 16 macrocells. Each macrocell provides configurable registers with programmable clock, clear, and preset signals. Through the JTAG interface, designers can perform in-system programming (ISP) and boundary-scan test, eliminating the need for a separate programmer socket. The device retains its configuration in on-chip EEPROM, supporting unlimited reconfigurations.
Typical applications include bus interface bridging, address decoding for microprocessor/microcontroller systems, peripheral glue logic, state-machine controllers, and legacy 5 V system design. The wide I/O count also makes it suitable for industrial control front-end aggregation and legacy telecom backplane glue. The -2 speed grade offers the slowest propagation delay in the family and is typically chosen for power-optimized or non-timing-critical glue logic roles.
When designing with the EPM9560RC304-2, ensure the 5.0 V supply is well decoupled with 0.1 uF and 10 uF capacitors close to the VCC pins. Boundary-scan chain length must be calculated for the JTAG path, and unused I/O should be configured as outputs driving low or left floating per the JTAG chain configuration. Pin-compatible -10, -15, and -20 speed grades allow direct in-system speed upgrade without PCB rework.
Drop-in alternatives for EPM9560RC304-2 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 EPM9560RC304-2 (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Architecture, Device Type, Speed Grade, Logic Array Blocks (LABs).
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EPM9560RC304-10
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$17.6 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM9560RC304-15
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$9.4 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM9560RC304-15N
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$19.8 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM9560RC304-20N
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Contact for price
View Datasheet βEPM9560RC304-15C
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$24.5 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM9560RC304-15F
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$18.75 / Unit
View Datasheet βEPM9560RC304-2 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | MAX 9000 |
| Device Type | CPLD (EPLD - Erasable PLD) |
| Usable Gates | Approximately 12,000 |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) | 16 |
| User I/O Pins | 304 |
| Package | 304-pin RQFP (RC) |
| Speed Grade | -2 |
| Core Supply Voltage | 5.0 V |
| I/O Supply Voltage | 5.0 V |
| Programming Technology | EEPROM (in-system programmable) |
| JTAG Support | IEEE Std. 1149.1 (boundary-scan + ISP) |
| Operating Temperature | Commercial (0C to +70C) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Architecture | Multiple Array MatriX (MAX) - third generation |
| Configuration Memory | On-chip EEPROM (non-volatile) |
EPM9560RC304-2 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | I/O β User I/O pin (function per design) |
| Pin 76 | I/O β User I/O pin (function per design) |
| Pin 77 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 78 | I/O β User I/O pin (function per design) |
| Pin 151 | I/O β User I/O pin (function per design) |
| Pin 152 | VCC β +5.0 V core supply |
| Pin 153 | I/O β User I/O pin (function per design) |
| Pin 227 | I/O β User I/O pin (function per design) |
| Pin 228 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 229 | I/O β User I/O pin (function per design) |
| Pin 302 | TDI β JTAG Test Data In |
| Pin 303 | TMS β JTAG Test Mode Select |
| Pin 304 | TCK β JTAG Test Clock |
Typical Applications
EPM9560RC304-2 is suitable for 6 applications: 5 V System Glue Logic, Address Decoding & Memory Interfacing, Bus Interface Bridging, State Machine Controllers, Legacy Telecom Backplane Glue, Peripheral Aggregation Front-End.
5 V System Glue Logic
The EPM9560RC304-2 is purpose-built for 5 V system glue logic with 304 user I/O pins and 12,000 usable gates, ideal for legacy microprocessor and microcontroller boards. The 5.0 V tolerant I/Os directly interface with TTL and CMOS 5 V peripherals without level shifters, eliminating BOM cost and signal-delay penalties. Compared to modern 3.3 V CPLDs, the EPM9560RC304-2 simplifies designs in industrial 5 V backplanes, factory automation controllers, and legacy telecom equipment where 5 V rails are mandatory. The on-chip EEPROM configuration provides instant-on behavior at power-up, critical for boot-time-critical systems.
Recommended
Address Decoding & Memory Interfacing
With 304 user I/O and 16 LABs of MAX architecture, the EPM9560RC304-2 delivers wide address decoding and memory-interface glue for 32-bit and 64-bit microprocessor systems. The deterministic timing of CPLD logic ensures zero-wait-state address decoding for SRAM, DRAM, and flash banks. The -2 speed grade is sufficient for systems with clock rates up to ~50 MHz. The JTAG ISP interface allows field upgrades of the decoding map without removing the device from the production PCB, supporting late-stage memory-map revisions and field reconfiguration.
Recommended
Bus Interface Bridging
The EPM9560RC304-2 serves as a bridge between legacy parallel buses (ISA, VME, PCI-5V) and modern processors, with 304 I/O supporting wide parallel capture and re-transmission. The 5.0 V PCI-compatible drive strength meets the PCI 5 V signaling specification without external buffers. The CPLD's deterministic propagation delay supports bus-to-bus turn-around timing without metastability risks. This application benefits particularly from the on-chip EEPROM, which retains the bridge configuration across power cycles and reduces system boot time.
Recommended
State Machine Controllers
The EPM9560RC304-2's 16 LABs each containing 16 macrocells provide abundant registered logic for complex state-machine controllers in industrial automation. Each macrocell offers configurable register clock, clear, and preset signals, enabling precise control sequencing of motors, valves, and actuators. The -2 speed grade's slower propagation delay is acceptable for most mechanical control loops (typically < 1 kHz update rates) and provides cost savings compared to -15 or -20 grades. The 304 I/O support hundreds of sensor inputs and actuator outputs per device.
Recommended
Legacy Telecom Backplane Glue
The EPM9560RC304-2 is widely deployed in legacy telecom backplanes for T1/E1, ISDN, and channel-bank aggregation functions where 5 V rails remain standard. The 304 I/O supports backplane connector aggregation, link-status LED driving, and alarm-collection logic in a single device. The IEEE 1149.1 JTAG interface enables in-system boundary-scan test of the entire backplane, critical for manufacturing test and field diagnostics. The non-volatile EEPROM configuration means no external boot PROM is required, simplifying the backplane BOM.
Recommended
Peripheral Aggregation Front-End
The EPM9560RC304-2 aggregates slow-speed peripherals (UARTs, parallel I/O, keypad scanners, character LCDs) into a single fast bus to the host processor. With 304 user I/O, a single EPM9560RC304-2 can replace dozens of 74-series glue-logic packages, reducing PCB area and improving reliability. The instant-on behavior from EEPROM configuration means peripherals are ready immediately at system reset. The 5 V tolerant I/O drives character LCDs, keypads, and optocouplers directly without level shifters, reducing total system cost.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EPM9560RC304-2 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EPM9560RC304-10 | EPM9560RC304-15 | EPM9560RC304-15N | EPM9560RC304-20N | EPM9560RC304-15C | EPM9560RC304-15F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) | Intel (formerly Altera) |
| Package | 304-pin RQFP (RC) | 304-pin RQFP (RC) - same | 304-pin RQFP (RC) - same | 304-pin RQFP (RC) - same | 304-pin RQFP (RC) - same | 304-pin RQFP (RC) - same | 304-pin RQFP (RC) - same |
| Family | MAX 9000 | MAX 9000 | MAX 9000 | MAX 9000 | MAX 9000 | MAX 9000 | MAX 9000 |
| Usable Gates | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| Speed Grade | -2 (slowest) | -10 (5x faster) | -15 (7.5x faster) | -15 (7.5x faster) | -20 (10x faster) | -15 (7.5x faster) | -15 (7.5x faster) |
| Core Voltage | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V |
| User I/O | 304 | 304 | 304 | 304 | 304 | 304 | 304 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest gate-count MAX 9000 in 304-pin RQFP with slowest speed grade (vs EPM9560RC304-10)
- 304 user I/O in a single CPLD (vs EPM9560ARI240-10)
- On-chip EEPROM with ISP via JTAG (vs Modern MAX II EPM1270)
Design Notes
Decouple each EPM9560RC304-2 VCC pin pair with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the package pin, plus one bulk 10-47 uF tantalum or aluminum polymer capacitor near the device. The MAX 9000 family draws transient current during simultaneous I/O switching; insufficient decoupling causes VCC droop that propagates as ground bounce into adjacent logic. For 304-pin RQFP, place 8-10 VCC/GND pin pairs worth of decoupling (one cap per pair) across the package perimeter.
The -2 speed grade is the slowest of the EPM9560 family and may fail timing in designs that previously used -10 or -15. Estimated: at 5 V and 25C, the -2 tPD is roughly 25 ns (5x the -10 grade's 5 ns). For designs migrating from -10/-15 down to -2 for cost savings, re-run static timing analysis on all paths to confirm setup/hold margins are still met. Pinout is identical across speed grades, so PCB layout is unchanged.
The 304-pin RQFP package has 304 simultaneous-switching I/Os, creating significant SSO (simultaneous-switching output) noise on the internal VCC/GND rails. Estimate: at full 304-I/O toggle, expect 200-400 mV of SSO noise without proper decoupling. Limit simultaneous switching to groups of 8-16 I/O at a time by using staggered clock enables in the design. The MAX 9000 PCI-compatible drive strength helps mitigate this but does not eliminate it.
The 304-pin RQFP package has a junction-to-ambient thermal resistance (theta_JA) of approximately 25 C/W with still air. At maximum toggle activity (all 304 I/O at 10 MHz, 5.0 V), the EPM9560RC304-2 dissipates roughly 1.5-2 W. For high-activity designs, ensure at least 4 square inches of copper pour on the top layer directly under the package for heat spreading. Forced-air cooling extends the operating temperature range for industrial applications.
Compliance Information
Original Altera MAX 9000 family pre-dates widespread RoHS adoption; lead-free variants are designated with N suffix (e.g., EPM9560RC304-15N). Standard -2 grade RoHS status not stated in verified data; verify with manufacturer datasheet before use in RoHS-required designs.