What the Cyclone IV E EP4CE40F23C6 delivers
The Intel EP4CE40F23C6 is a Cyclone IV E FPGA with 39,600 logic elements arranged across 2,475 LABs/CLBs, plus 1,161,216 total RAM bits for on-chip buffering and distributed memory. The 328 user I/O route through a 484-ball FBGA package on a 23 mm square footprint — that I/O count is the headline constraint for board design: it fills most of the BGA perimeter, so signal escape and via density need attention early in layout. Core supply runs at 1.15 V to 1.25 V; the commercial temperature grade (0°C to 85°C junction) suits indoor equipment, telecom line cards, test instrumentation, and industrial controllers in conditioned environments — not extended outdoor or under-hood applications.
39,600 LE — sizing the design
The 39,600 logic element count lands this part in the mid-range of the Cyclone IV E family. It can absorb a soft-core processor (Nios II), a few UART/SPI interfaces, some DSP datapath logic, and still leave headroom for glue logic. The 328 I/O are the real limiting resource — a design that needs many parallel buses or wide memory interfaces will hit the I/O ceiling before the LE budget. The 1,161,216 RAM bits handle small FIFOs and register files; external memory is needed for frame buffers or large packet queues.
484-FBGA — what the package means for assembly
The 484-ball FBGA has a 23 mm body. The 328 I/O escape typically needs four to six PCB layers.
Active lifecycle — no obsolescence pressure
The EP4CE40F23C6 carries an Active product status. No last-time-buy notice or end-of-life window is on the public record.