Following the tremendous success of the first-generation Cyclone™ device family, Cyclone II devices further expand the role of FPGAs in low-cost, high-volume applications in both new and existing FPGA markets. Cyclone II FPGAs offer logic densities up to 68,416 logic elements (LEs), new features such as 18x18 embedded multipliers, support for new external memory interfaces and new I/O standards, all at 30 percent lower cost than the equivalent first-generation Cyclone devices.
Feature Comparison
Cyclone II devices are manufactured on 300-mm wafers using TSMC's successful 90-nm, low-k dielectric process technology. With more than three times the logic density of first-generation Cyclone devices, Cyclone II devices offer the same powerful and versatile features found in Cyclone devices—including M4K RAM blocks, phase-locked loops (PLLs), and external memory interfaces—in addition to the new features outlined below. Table 1 compares the features offered by Cyclone II and Cyclone devices.
| Table 1. Cyclone II & Cyclone Feature Comparison | ||
| Feature | Device | |
|---|---|---|
| Cyclone II | Cyclone | |
| Cost-Optimized Architecture |
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| Process Technology |
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| Core Voltage |
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| I/O Voltage |
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| Logic Density |
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| I/O Pin Count |
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| Embedded Memory |
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| External Memory Interface Support |
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| Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Implementation |
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| PLLs |
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| Clock Networks |
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| I/O Standards Support |
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| Nios® II Embedded Processor Support |
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| Packages |
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Table 2 summarizes how Cyclone II devices compare with Cyclone devices in terms of available logic resources.
| Table 2: Cyclone II & Cyclone Device Family Comparison | |||||||||||
| Cyclone II Devices | Cyclone Devices | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Device | LEs | M4K RAM Blocks | Total RAM Kbits | PLLs | Max. User I/O Pins | Device | LEs | M4K RAM Blocks | Total RAM Kbits | PLLs | Max. User I/O Pins |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | EP1C3 | 2,910 | 13 | 59,904 | 1 | 104 |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | EP1C4 | 4,000 | 17 | 78,336 | 2 | 301 |
| EP2C5 | 4,608 | 26 | 119,808 | 2 | 142 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | EP1C6 | 5,980 | 20 | 92,160 | 2 | 185 |
| EP2C8 | 8,256 | 36 | 165,888 | 2 | 182 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| – | – | – | – | – | EP1C12 | 12,060 | 52 | 239,616 | 2 | 249 | |
| EP2C20 | 18,752 | 52 | 239,616 | 4 | 315 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | EP1C20 | 20,060 | 64 | 294,912 | 2 | 301 |
| EP2C35 | 30,216 | 105 | 483,840 | 4 | 475 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| EP2C50 | 50,528 | 129 | 594,432 | 4 | 450 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| EP2C70 | 68,416 | 250 | 1,152,000 | 4 | 622 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Embedded Multipliers
Cyclone II devices feature up to 150 18x18 embedded multipliers that are ideal for low-cost DSP applications such as consumer applications, wireless, and image processing. Cyclone II 18x18 embedded multipliers are capable of efficiently implementing common DSP functions such as FIR filters, FFTs, correlators, encoders/decoders, and numerically controlled oscillators (NCOs).
Capable of running at 250 MHz, the embedded multipliers in Cyclone II devices eliminate the performance bottleneck in complex arithmetic calculations and increase overall DSP system throughput. Cyclone II devices can be used as FPGA co-processors for DSP applications that offload complex arithmetic computations from the DSP processor and boost overall system performance for lower system costs. See the embedded multipliers page for more details.
External Memory Interfaces
Cyclone II and Cyclone devices provide ample embedded memory for many applications in low-cost products. However, some applications require external memory to address additional storage requirements. Cyclone II devices fulfill all the requirements for additional memory.
Cyclone II and Cyclone devices have been designed for reliable data transfer to and from external memory devices at high speed. They are designed to interoperate with DDR and SDR SDRAM devices. New with Cyclone II FPGAs is the support for DDR2 SDRAM devices and QDRII SRAM devices through a dedicated interface that ensures fast, reliable data transfer at up to 668 Mbps. See the external memory interface page for more information.
High Performance I/O Standards
Cyclone II devices support a variety of single-ended and differential I/O standards, giving designers more flexibility in designing their high-performance systems. New with Cyclone II FPGAs is the support for LVPECL, mini-LVDS, HSTL, and PCI-X I/O standards. Single-ended I/O standards are critical when working with advanced memory devices such as DDR/DDR2 SDRAM and QDRII SRAM.
Additional single-ended and differential I/O standards that Cyclone II FPGAs support include LVTTL, LVCMOS, PCI, SSTL, LVDS and RSDS. See the I/O standard page for more information.
