Basic Product Information
Part Number: EPF10K20TI144-4
| Field |
Value |
| Manufacturer |
Altera (Intel Programmable Solutions Group) |
| Device Type |
EPF10K20TI144-4 |
| Package |
144-TQFP (20 x 20 x 1.4 mm) |
| Compliance |
RoHS (N suffix versions); Non-RoHS (lead-containing, no suffix) |
| Grade |
Industrial (-40°C to +85°C TA) |
| Series |
FLEX 10K |
| Product Status |
Active (Legacy / Not Recommended for New Designs) |
| MSL |
MSL 3 (168 Hours) |
| ECCN |
3A991.d.1 |
Core Electrical Parameters
| Parameter |
Value |
Unit |
| FPGA Family |
FLEX 10K (SRAM-based) |
– |
| Process Technology |
0.42 µm CMOS |
– |
| Number of Usable Gates |
20,000 |
– |
| System Gates (Maximum) |
63,000 |
– |
| Logic Elements / Cells |
1,152 |
– |
| Logic Array Blocks (LABs) |
144 |
– |
| Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) |
6 |
– |
| Total RAM Bits |
12,288 |
bits (1.5 KB per EAB × 6) |
| Maximum User I/O |
102 |
(144-TQFP package) |
| Speed Grade |
-4 |
(slowest; -3, -2, -1 available) |
| Maximum Operating Frequency |
125 |
MHz |
| Internal Operating Frequency (typical) |
~80 |
MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) |
4.75 ~ 5.25 (5.0 typical) |
V |
| Supply Voltage (VCCIO) |
4.5 ~ 5.5 |
V |
| Clock Management |
PLL (Embedded via EAB / external) |
– |
| Configuration Interface |
JTAG / Passive Serial / Active Serial |
– |
| Programming Cable |
USB Blaster / ByteBlaster II |
– |
| Operating Temperature |
-40 ~ +85 |
°C (TA, Industrial) |
| Package Dimensions |
20 x 20 x 1.4 |
mm |
| Factory Pack Quantity |
60 |
Tray |
Core Features & Advantages
The EPF10K20TI144-4 is Altera’s FLEX 10K series SRAM-based FPGA with 20,000 usable gates, 1,152 logic elements, 6 Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) providing 12,288 bits of on-chip RAM, and 102 user I/Os in a 144-TQFP industrial-temperature package — a classic 5V FPGA that dominated mid-density logic integration in the late 1990s and early 2000s, still maintaining active status for legacy system maintenance.
- Primary Function: 20K-gate SRAM-based FPGA, 1,152 logic elements, 6 EABs (12,288 bits RAM), 102 user I/Os, 5V single-supply operation, JTAG configuration, 144-TQFP industrial-grade package, speed grade -4.
- Advantages:
- Embedded Array Blocks (EABs) — On-Chip RAM Without External Memory: The 6 EABs provide 12,288 bits of dual-port SRAM that can implement FIFO buffers, small register files, constant-coefficient multipliers (LUT-based), and ROM lookup tables entirely on-chip. In a 20K-gate device, this embedded memory is a significant differentiator versus pure lookup-table FPGAs — enabling single-chip implementation of state machines with parameter storage, UART FIFOs, and small DSP functions without external SRAM. Each EAB can be configured as 256×8, 512×4, 1024×2, or 2048×1 to match application word-width requirements.
- 5V Single-Supply Operation — Direct Interface to 5V Logic: The FLEX 10K family operates at 5.0V VCC with 5V-tolerant I/O, enabling direct connection to 5V peripheral ICs (ADCs, DACs, bus transceivers, legacy microcontrollers) without level shifters or voltage dividers. This eliminates the 3.3V/1.8V I/O compatibility layer that modern FPGAs require when interfacing with 5V subsystems — a significant BOM and PCB complexity advantage in industrial control and retrofit applications where 5V logic remains the standard.
- SRAM-Based Reconfigurability — In-System Programming and Field Updates: Unlike anti-fuse or flash-based FPGAs, the EPF10K20TI144-4 is SRAM-based and reprogrammable an unlimited number of times via JTAG or passive serial configuration. This enables in-system programming during manufacturing, field firmware updates over the network, and even dynamic reconfiguration where the FPGA loads different bitstreams for different operating modes. The configuration data is stored in an external serial EEPROM (e.g., EPC2LC20) and loaded at power-up in under 100 ms.
Typical Application Scenarios
- Industry: Industrial Control / Telecom / Medical / Aerospace / Legacy System Maintenance
- Equipment: Industrial controllers, PLC I/O modules, motor drive logic, protocol converters, medical imaging front-ends, telecom line cards, test and measurement instruments
- Use Cases:
- Legacy Industrial Controller Logic Replacement: The EPF10K20TI144-4 is used to replace aging 5V CPLD and discrete TTL/CMOS logic in industrial controllers originally designed in the late 1990s through mid-2000s. The 5V I/O compatibility allows drop-in replacement without PCB redesign, while the 20K gates and 6 EABs consolidate multiple 74-series logic ICs and small FIFOs into a single reprogrammable device. The industrial temperature range (-40°C to +85°C) matches the operating envelope of factory-floor equipment.
- Custom Protocol Converter / Bridge Logic: In telecom and datacom line cards, the EPF10K20TI144-4 implements glue logic between 5V bus transceivers and processor local buses — translating between incompatible bus protocols (e.g., ISA to local bus, or custom backplane to PCI). The EABs store lookup tables for address mapping and command decoding, while the 102 I/O pins provide sufficient connectivity for multiple bus interfaces. The 5V operation eliminates the need for level shifters between the FPGA and 5V bus transceivers.
- Medical Imaging / Test Equipment Front-End Processing: The 6 EABs provide on-chip FIFO buffering for ADC data streams in medical imaging and test equipment, decoupling the ADC sampling clock domain from the DSP processing clock domain. The 1,152 logic elements implement real-time data formatting, threshold comparison, and trigger logic, while the 5V I/O directly interfaces with the 5V ADCs and DACs common in these legacy systems. The SRAM-based architecture allows field updates to accommodate new imaging protocols or test algorithms.
Market Reference Price
| Market |
Price Range |
Currency |
| FindIC (AiPCBA) |
¥3,816 ~ ¥4,860 (1+ pcs) |
CNY |
| FindIC (Verical) |
¥474 (10+ pcs) |
CNY |
| Alibaba B2B Spot |
$1.30 ~ $6.00 |
USD |
| Huaqiangbei Spot |
¥8 ~ ¥30 |
CNY |
Note: The FLEX 10K is a legacy 0.42µm FPGA family. While officially still “Active,” Intel/Altera does not recommend it for new designs. Prices vary dramatically between franchised distributors (high) and Huaqiangbei spot market (low). Verify authenticity and date codes carefully when sourcing from spot market channels.
Related Models Comparison
| Model |
Difference |
Application |
| EPF10K20TC144-4 |
Same die, commercial temp (0°C ~ 70°C), RoHS non-compliant |
Commercial-grade designs not requiring industrial temperature |
| EPF10K20TI144-4N |
Same die, RoHS-compliant (lead-free) |
RoHS-mandated designs, European market |
| EPF10K20RI208-4N |
147 I/O, 208-pin RQFP, more I/O pins |
Designs requiring > 102 I/O connections |
| EPF10K30TI144-3N |
30K gates, 2,460 LEs, same package |
Higher density drop-in upgrade in same footprint |
| 5CEFA2F23C8N (Cyclone V) |
Modern 28nm low-power FPGA, 25K LEs, 1.1V core |
New designs requiring modern FPGA with lower power and higher density |
| iCE40HX1K-TQ144 (Lattice) |
Modern low-cost FPGA, 1,280 LEs, 3.3V/2.5V, open toolchain |
Low-cost replacement with open-source development flow |
