EPF10K30AQC240-1: A Full Technical Guide & Datasheet

If you're an engineer, technician, or supply chain manager, the part number EPF10K30AQC240-1 might be a familiar sight. This isn't a chip from a new 2025-era design. This is a veteran, a workhorse from the Altera FLEX 10KA family that powered a generation of industrial, medical, and telecommunications equipment.

While the world is focused on multi-million-gate FPGAs, a massive global industry for Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) is dedicated to keeping the equipment built in the 90s and 2000s alive. A 2023 report on industrial automation highlighted that the average lifespan of factory equipment often exceeds 15-20 years. When a critical control board fails, you can't just "upgrade" it—you have to repair it.

You're here for technical data, not a history lesson. This guide is your engineering deep-dive into the EPF10K30AQC240-1 datasheet, covering its pinout, specifications, and the all-important (and tricky) legacy software you need to get it running.

1.0 What is the EPF10K30AQC240-1? (Datasheet Explained)

The EPF10K30AQC240-1 is a high-density, SRAM-based Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). It was originally manufactured by Altera (now Intel) and was a key part of the highly successful FLEX 10KA family.

1.1 The Altera FLEX 10KA Family

The FLEX 10K family was a game-changer because it was one of the first to embed significant blocks of RAM (called Embedded Array Blocks or EABs) alongside traditional logic (Logic Array Blocks or LABs). This allowed for true System-on-a-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) designs.

The FLEX 10KA variant (which the "A" in the part number denotes) was an enhancement of the original, offering:

• 3.3V Core Operation: Lower power consumption than the original 5V FLEX 10K.
• 5V Tolerant Inputs: This is a critical feature. It allowed the 3.3V chip to safely interface with older 5V TTL logic systems without external level-shifter chips.
• Higher Density: The FLEX 10KA family offered more logic and memory.

1.2 Decoding the Part Number: EPF10K30AQC240-1

The part number is a full technical summary:

• EPF10K30A: The device. "EPF" = FLEX FPGA, "10K" = family, "30" = density (30,000 typical gates), "A" = 3.3V core.
• Q: The package type, QFP (Quad Flat Pack).
• 240: The pin count, 240 pins.
• -1: The speed grade. A -1 is the fastest speed grade available for this device, offering the lowest propagation delays.
• C: (Implied) The temperature grade, Commercial (0°C to 85°C).

1.3 Key Specs at a Glance

Feature	Specification
Family	FLEX 10KA
Logic Elements (LEs)	1,728
Logic Array Blocks (LABs)	216
Typical Logic Gates	30,000
Total RAM Bits	12,288 (6 x 2,048-bit EABs)
Max User I/O	189
Core Voltage (VCCINT)	3.3V (± 0.3V)
I/O Voltage (VCCIO)	3.3V / 2.5V (5V Tolerant)
Speed Grade	-1 (Fastest)

2.0 EPF10K30AQC240-1 Pinout (QFP-240)

The EPF10K30AQC240-1 pinout is for a 240-pin Quad Flat Pack. This is a surface-mount package with "gull-wing" leads on all four sides, making it much easier to inspect and rework than a BGA package.

2.1 240-Pin QFP Package Diagram

2.2 Key Pin Functions: Power, JTAG, Configuration

When troubleshooting a dead board, these are the first pins you should check with an oscilloscope or multimeter.

• Power (VCCINT & VCCIO): This chip has multiple 3.3V core (VCCINT) and 3.3V/2.5V I/O (VCCIO) pins. All must be present and stable.
• Ground (GND): All ground pins must have a solid connection to the ground plane.
• JTAG Pins (TDI, TDO, TCK, TMS): This 4-pin Joint Test Action Group port is the primary way to program, debug, and test the chip. If the JTAG chain is not recognized, the chip or board is faulty.
• Configuration Pins (MSEL0, MSEL1): These pins are hard-wired on the PCB (high or low) to set the configuration mode at boot-up.
• Configuration Data (DATA, DCLK, nCONFIG, nSTATUS): These pins are used by the FPGA to load its configuration from an external Altera EPC series configuration EPROM. If nSTATUS is low or CONF_DONE (another pin) doesn't go high, the FPGA has failed to configure.

3.0 EPF10K30AQC240-1 Applications & Legacy Status

This FPGA was a high-density "brains" for a wide range of products in its time.

3.1 Common Legacy Applications

You will most commonly find the EPF10K30AQC240-1 in:

• Telecommunications: Network interface cards, line cards, and early DSLAMs.
• Industrial Control: PLCs, motor controllers, and HMI panels.
• Test & Measurement: Logic for oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and test jigs.
• "Glue Logic": Its most common use. It replaces dozens of smaller 74-series logic chips, connecting a CPU to memory, peripherals, and I/O.

3.2 3.3V Operation and 5V Tolerance

This was a key selling point. The chip operates on a 3.3V supply, making it lower power than older 5V FPGAs. However, its I/O pins are 5V tolerant, meaning you can connect them directly to older 5V TTL logic (like a 74LS244 or an older microcontroller) without needing external level-shifter chips. This made it the perfect "bridge" chip in mixed-voltage legacy systems.

3.3 Obsolescence & MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Operations)

Official Status: OBSOLETE / END-OF-LIFE (EOL)

The EPF10K30AQC240-1 and the entire FLEX 10KA family are obsolete. They are no longer manufactured by Intel.

This part's entire value today is as a critical MRO component. Because it is in a specific 240-pin QFP footprint and has a unique 5V-tolerant 3.3V architecture, there is no modern, pin-for-pin replacement. Repairing a board with this chip requires sourcing a genuine, identical EPF10K30AQC240-1.

4.0 How to Program the EPF10K30AQC240-1

This is the biggest challenge for engineers new to this device. You cannot use modern Intel Quartus Prime software.

4.1 Required Software: Legacy Altera Quartus II

To program, compile, or even just test an EPF10K30AQC240-1, you must use a specific legacy version of the Altera design software.

1. Software Name: Altera Quartus II (not Intel Quartus Prime) or the even older MAX+PLUS II.
2. Compatible Version: Quartus II v13.0sp1 is the last version to support the FLEX 10KA family.
3. OS Compatibility: This 32-bit legacy software runs best on older operating systems like Windows 7 or Windows XP. Running it inside a virtual machine (VM) is a very common and recommended practice for modern PCs.
4. Programming Hardware: You need a compatible JTAG programming cable, such as the classic Altera ByteBlasterMV or the USB-Blaster.

4.2 Configuration and Booting

The EPF10K30AQC240-1 is SRAM-based, so its configuration is volatile (it's erased when power is lost). It needs to boot from an external non-volatile chip.

• Configuration Scheme: Typically uses Passive Serial (PS) or JTAG mode.
• Required Configuration Chip: It is designed to be configured by a host processor or a dedicated Altera EPC serial configuration PROM (like an EPC1 or EPC2).
• Boot Process: At power-on, the FPGA's configuration file (.pof or .sof) is loaded into its internal SRAM. If this external PROM is corrupted or fails, the FPGA will not boot (the CONF_DONE pin will stay low).

4.3 Speed Grade: -1 vs. -3

The EPF10K30AQC240-1 is a -1 speed grade, the fastest available. You may also see the EPF10K30AQC240-3, which is a slower, more common part.

Part Number	Speed Grade	Performance	Compatibility
EPF10K30AQC240-1	-1	Fastest	Can always replace a -2 or -3.
EPF10K30AQC240-2	-2	Medium	Can replace a -3, but cannot replace a -1.
EPF10K30AQC240-3	-3	Standard	Cannot replace a -1 or -2.

When repairing, you can always use a faster part (a -1) to replace a slower part (a -3), but not the other way around. The -1 part is the most versatile replacement.

[Insert infographic: A simple flowchart of the MRO process: 1. Legacy System Fails -> 2. Engineer identifies faulty EPF10K30AQC240-1 -> 3. Sourcing is difficult (Obsolete, -1 speed grade) -> 4. Contact AichipLink for genuine stock -> 5. System Repaired.] Alt Text: Infographic of the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) workflow for a legacy FPGA like the EPF10K30AQC240-1.

Conclusion: A Fast and Versatile Legacy Champion

The EPF10K30AQC240-1 truly represents the pinnacle of its class, combining a 3.3V core with 5V-tolerant I/O and the fastest speed grade available. Its role today has shifted from innovation to sustainment. For the thousands of critical systems worldwide that were designed around this fast, flexible chip, it remains an indispensable component.

Working with this FPGA requires specialized legacy knowledge, the correct (and old) software tools, and a trusted supply chain. Sourcing a high-speed, obsolete part like this is a high-risk task. You cannot afford to risk a line-down situation on a counterfeit or low-quality component.

If you are facing the challenge of sourcing this or other obsolete FPGAs, you need a partner who understands this market. Explore our full catalog of FPGAs or contact AichipLink today for a quote on the genuine, reliable legacy components you need.

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Jack Elliott from AIChipLink.

 

AIChipLink, one of the fastest-growing global independent electronic   components distributors in the world, offers millions of products from thousands of manufacturers, and many of our in-stock parts is available to ship same day.

 

We mainly source and distribute integrated circuit (IC) products of brands such as Broadcom, Microchip, Texas Instruments, Infineon, NXP, Analog Devices, Qualcomm, Intel, etc., which are widely used in communication & network, telecom, industrial control, new energy and automotive electronics. 

 

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