Download Cables
Altera® download cables are available for in-circuit reconfiguration of Stratix®, Cyclone®, APEX™ II, Mercury™, APEX 20K, ACEX® 1K, FLEX 10K®, FLEX® 8000, and FLEX 6000 devices, and for in-system programming of MAX® II, MAX 3000A, MAX 7000, and MAX 9000 devices. The cables download data from the Quartus® II software (Table 1). The ByteBlaster™ II parallel port download cable and the MasterBlaster™ communications cable can also download data from the MAX+PLUS® II software.
| Table 1. Altera Download Cables |
| Cable |
Ordering Code |
Hardware Interface |
Operating Voltage |
Additional Features |
ByteBlaster II
Parallel Port Download Cable |
PL-BYTEBLASTER2
 |
PC parallel port |
1.8 V
2.5 V
3.3 V
5.0 V |
- Supports 1.8-V, 2.5-V, 3.3-V, and 5.0-V systems
- Supports SignalTap® II logic analysis capability
- Supports active serial configuration mode for EPCS serial configuration devices
|
USB Blaster™
USB Port Download Cable |
PL-USB-BLASTER
|
USB (1) port |
1.8 V
2.5 V
3.3 V
5.0 V |
- Supports 1.8-V, 2.5-V, 3.3-V, and 5.0-V systems
- Supports SignalTap II logic analysis capability
- Supports active serial configuration mode for EPCS serial configuration devices
- Supports communication and debugging of the Nios® II embedded processor family
|
MasterBlaster
Communications Cable |
PL-MASTERBLASTER
 |
USB (1)
/ RS-232 port |
3.3 V
5.0 V |
- Supports 1.8-V, 2.5-V, 3.3-V, and 5.0-V systems
- Supports SignalTap II logic analysis capability
|
Note:
- USB = universal serial bus
ByteBlaster II, USB Blaster, and MasterBlaster Cable Compatibility
Table 2 lists programming and configuration compatibility information for the ByteBlaster II parallel port, USB Blaster USB port, and the MasterBlaster serial or USB port download cable.
| Table 2. ByteBlaster II, USB Blaster, and MasterBlaster Cable Compatibility |
| Device |
ByteBlaster II |
USB Blaster |
MasterBlaster |
| Stratix |
 |
 |
 |
| Cyclone |
 |
 |
 |
| Mercury |
 |
 |
 |
| ACEX 1K |
 |
 |
 |
| APEX II |
 |
 |
 |
| APEX 20K |
 |
 |
 |
| APEX 20KE |
 |
 |
 |
| APEX 20KC |
 |
 |
 |
| FLEX 10K |
 |
 |
 |
| FLEX 10KA |
 |
 |
 |
| FLEX 10KE |
 |
 |
 |
| FLEX 8000 |
 |
 |
 |
| FLEX 6000 |
 |
 |
 |
| MAX II |
 |
 |
 |
| MAX 7000A |
 |
 |
 |
| MAX 7000B |
 |
 |
 |
| MAX 7000S |
 |
 |
 |
| MAX 3000A |
 |
 |
 |
| MAX 9000 |
 |
 |
 |
| MAX 9000A |
 |
 |
 |
| Serial Configuration Devices |
 |
 |
— |
| Enhanced Configuration Devices |
 |
 |
 |
Related Links
|