Serial Configuration Devices Overview
Altera’s serial configuration devices are the industry’s lowest-cost configuration devices. They are designed for maximum efficiency and offer in-system programmability (ISP) and reprogramming capabilities that are not available with one-time-programmable devices. Even with these additional capabilities, Altera's serial configuration devices are available at lower costs than one-time-programmable devices.
Altera’s serial configuration devices are the ideal complement to Cyclone® series FPGAs, and also provide a low-cost, small-form-factor solution for Stratix® series FPGAs. The serial configuration devices are offered in memory densities ranging from 1 Mbit to 128 Mbits, which make it easy to match the optimal solution to a device’s configuration needs.
Stratix and Cyclone series FPGAs also support configuration by other Altera® configuration devices. You can use enhanced configuration devices if you require additional features (such as page mode capability, parallel programming, or a programmable clock).
Table 1 provides more information on serial configuration devices. For details on configuring Stratix IV FPGAs with greater than 360K logic elements, please contact the factory.
| Table 1. Serial Configuration Devices |
Serial Configuration
Device |
Package Offerings |
Description |
FPGAs Configured |
| EPCS1 |
8-pin small-outline
integrated circuit (SOIC) |
1-Mbit device with
3.3-V operation |
Cyclone—up to EP1C6
Cyclone II—EP2C5 |
| EPCS4 |
8-pin SOIC |
4-Mbit device with
3.3-V operation |
Stratix II—up to EP2S15
Cyclone—all
Cyclone II—up to EP2C20
Cyclone III—up to EP3C25 |
| EPCS16 |
8-pin SOIC and 16-pin SOIC |
16-Mbit device with
3.3-V operation |
Stratix II—up to EP2S60
Stratix II GX—up to EP2SGX60
Stratix III—up to EP3SL70
Cyclone—all
Cyclone II—all
Cyclone III—all |
| EPCS64 |
16-pin SOIC |
64-Mbit device with
3.3-V operation |
Stratix IV—up to EP4SE110 and EP4SGX110
Stratix III—up to EP3SE260
Stratix II—all
Stratix II GX—all
Cyclone—all
Cyclone II—all
Cyclone III—all |
| EPCS128 |
16-pin SOIC |
128-Mbit device with
3.3-V operation |
Stratix IV—up to EP4SE360
and EP4SGX360
Stratix III—all
Stratix II—all
Stratix II GX—all
Cyclone—all
Cyclone II—all
Cyclone III—all
|
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