APEX II Devices
Introduced in early 2001, APEX™ II FPGAs build on Altera's APEX 20KE and APEX 20KC devices to deliver the performance, density, and features needed for a comprehensive system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solution. The largest APEX II FPGA, the EP2A70 device, was the industry’s first FPGA to utilize a 0.13-µm all-layer-copper interconnect process. Today, Altera’s high-density Stratix™ FPGAs are manufactured on this advanced technology, and the new, high-density, high-performance Stratix II FPGAs are manufactured on a 90-nm all-layer-copper process. While designers wishing to leverage Altera’s more enhanced, highest-density, and highest-performance FPGA technology, can design with Stratix II FPGAs, Altera continues to support customers who have leveraged the APEX II device family.
The APEX II family supports multiple I/O protocols, allowing these devices to interface with other devices in a complex system. Processing-intensive data path functions that must be received and transmitted at high speeds can be easily implemented with one or multiple APEX II devices. Cutting-edge bus protocols and standards-such as POS-PHY Level 4, RapidIO™, UTOPIA IV and common switch interface (CSIX)-can be quickly implemented in APEX II devices, allowing high-speed communication with ASSPs, ASICs, and other FPGAs. In addition, APEX II devices combine a high-performance enhanced FPGA architecture with dedicated I/O circuitry for 1-Gbps LVDS.
With up to 67,200 logic elements (LEs) and 1.1 Mbits of embedded RAM, APEX II devices offer abundant logic resources and remarkable I/O performance. The all-layer-copper EP2A70 device maintains Altera’s leadership in offering designers large density devices with both increased core performance and a sustainable long-term, low-cost model. Figure 2 shows the EP2A70 device.
Figure 1. APEX II EP2A70 Device
APEX II devices can support True-LVDS™ data transfer rates of up to 1 Gbps on 36 channels and data bandwidths up to 366 Gbps. In conjunction with an extensive intellectual property (IP) portfolio, Altera's industry-leading Quartus® II software, which includes the LogicLock™ incremental design capability, unleashes the full potential of APEX II devices-and helps designers minimize cost, time-to-market, and overall design complexity.
There are more answers to common questions on the APEX II Questions & Answers page.
APEX II Enhanced Architecture
Communication Protocol Support
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