Altera Cyclone V GX Ordering Codes Guide

A Cyclone V GX orderable part number identifies logic density, hard-IP configuration, transceiver resources and speed, package, temperature and FPGA fabric speed. Altera's official example 5CGXFC9E6F35C7N reads as 5C | GX | F | C9 | E | 6 | F | 35 | C | 7 | N.

That sequence means Cyclone V, GX transceiver variant, F embedded-hard-IP option, C9 member, 12 transceivers, transceiver speed grade 6, FineLine BGA, 1,152 pins, commercial temperature, fabric speed grade 7 and lead-free packaging. The complete OPN belongs on the BOM and RFQ; 5CGXC9 is not enough to define the footprint or performance grades.

Open the full-size Cyclone V GX ordering diagram and zoom.

Decode 5CGXFC9E6F35C7N field by field #

Density, hard IP and transceivers are independent #

Cyclone V GX member codes C3, C4, C5, C7 and C9 correspond to approximately 36K, 50K, 77K, 150K and 301K logic elements. The preceding B/F character is not part of that density. B indicates no hard PCIe or hard memory controller; F permits as many as two of each.

The transceiver-count letter follows the member: B, F, A, C, D and E indicate 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 12 channels. The next digit is the transceiver speed grade: 6 is 3.125 Gbps and 7 is 2.5 Gbps. A shortage alternate must therefore preserve enough transceiver channels and the required line-rate grade; matching only C9 is inadequate.

Package codes define the PCB boundary #

FineLine BGA package codes include F23, F27, F31 and F35 for 484, 672, 896 and 1,152 pins. Ultra FineLine BGA uses U15 and U19 for 324 and 484 pins. Micro FineLine BGA uses M11, M13 and M15 for 301, 383 and 484 pins.

Equal ball count does not mean equal footprint. F23, U19 and M15 are all 484-pin choices, but they belong to different package families. Their body size, pitch and ball map cannot be assumed identical. Package letter and package number must remain together in every quotation comparison.

Altera's package plan also limits which density and transceiver combinations are available in each package. A candidate with more logic or more transceivers may not exist in the same footprint, and usable GPIO, dedicated pins and transceiver-bank placement can change.

Temperature, speed and suffixes #

The decoder lists C for commercial 0°C to 85°C, I for industrial −40°C to 100°C and A for automotive −40°C to 125°C junction temperature. FPGA fabric grades are 6, 7 and 8, with 6 fastest. The current Cyclone V datasheet states that commercial devices are offered in C6, C7 and C8, while industrial and automotive devices are offered in I7 and A7.

N identifies lead-free packaging. ES identifies an engineering sample and is not a production substitute. SC identifies internal-scrubbing support for selected Cyclone V devices; availability must be confirmed for the exact OPN.

Replacement screening and pin-to-pin limits #

For first-pass screening, preserve 5CGX, the hard-IP option and the complete package code. Then compare member, transceiver count, both speed grades, temperature and suffix. A wider temperature range or faster grade can be considered only after engineering and AVL review.

For example, 5CGXFC9E6F35C7N and 5CGXFC9E6F35I7N retain family, hard IP, member, transceiver resources and F35 package. The industrial device widens the low-temperature range while retaining fabric grade 7, so it can enter shortage-alternate review. It may cost more and still requires timing, power, qualification and customer approval.

Changing F35 to F31, F27 or U19 is not pin-to-pin. Changing the transceiver-count letter can also alter available channels and related pins. Altera's vertical-migration guidance requires checking migration compatibility in Quartus Prime Pin Planner; devices in the same package may still differ in power, configuration, dedicated and optional function pins.

Reject a claimed drop-in alternate when:

• the GX variant or B/F hard-IP option changes without design review;
• the complete package field changes;
• transceiver count or speed falls below the released design requirement;
• temperature or fabric speed is outside the qualified build;
• ES or SC appears unexpectedly;
• Quartus Pin Migration View reports incompatible assignments;
• clock, transceiver-bank, configuration, power or dedicated-pin requirements differ.

Procurement checklist #

1. Copy the complete OPN from the released BOM. 2. Confirm 5C family, GX variant and B/F hard-IP option. 3. Match the C3–C9 member and required transceiver-count letter. 4. Verify transceiver speed grade and FPGA fabric speed grade separately. 5. Treat package letter and number as one physical field. 6. Check exact package plan, pin file, body, pitch and shipping media. 7. Confirm C, I or A temperature qualification. 8. Preserve N material status and reject ES unless explicitly authorized. 9. Run Quartus Pin Migration View and recompile timing and pin assignments.

Conclusion #

Cyclone V GX sourcing comparisons are safe only when the transceiver and package fields remain visible. In 5CGXFC9E6F35C7N, E6 defines 12 transceivers at the grade-6 transceiver rate, while F35 defines the 1,152-pin FineLine BGA. A wider temperature range or faster grade may help during shortages, but a different package, hard-IP option or transceiver resource crosses the drop-in boundary.

Official references #

• Altera Cyclone V Device Overview
• Altera Cyclone V GX Available Options
• Altera Cyclone V GX 5CGXFC9E6F35C7N product record
• Altera Cyclone V I/O vertical migration guidance
• Altera Cyclone V device datasheet