Altera does not recommend the EPM7128A and EPM7256A devices for new designs. All new designs should instead be targeted to the MAX® 7000AE versions: EPM7128AE and EPM7256AE devices. This solution discusses how the MAX PLUS II software (including BASELINE and E MAX) version 10.0 reflects the de-emphasis of these two older products.
When selecting a device for compilation, previous versions of the MAX PLUS II software allowed you to select between a MAX 7000A family and a MAX 7000AE family. The difference in features between the EPM7128A/EPM7256A and MAX 7000AE devices required this separation. As of the MAX PLUS II software version 10.0, the MAX 7000AE family remains; however, the MAX 7000A family has been removed. The intent of this change is so that new designs will not accidentally target these older products.
If you already have EPM7128A or EPM7256A designs on existing boards and simply need to upgrade the design patterns in these devices (i.e., in-field upgrades), there is no problem. The existing Assignment and Configuration File (.acf) with the pin and device assignments will already specify MAX 7000A family as the family and either the EPM7128A or EPM7256A devices as the device. Therefore, the MAX PLUS II software will still compile them. If you do not have the original ACF, target any 7000AE device through the GUI and perform the following:
Open the project.acf file and search for the CHIP section. Delete the device setting and replace it with the desired 7000A device in the form: DEVICE = <your 7000A device> where <your 7000A device> is the complete ordering code. Next search for the GLOBAL_PROJECT_SYNTHESIS_ASSIGNMENT_OPTIONS section and specify the following: DEVICE_FAMILY = MAX7000A;. Save and close your project.acf file.
In summary, this MAX PLUS II implementation means that the support for EPM7128A/EPM7256A devices is still there; however, the support is hidden.
No plans currently exist to obsolete the EPM7128A and EPM7256A devices. This de-emphasis is intended to steer new designs toward the cost-effective MAX 7000AE devices.