ACEX1K chips obsolete?

[Altera_Forum]

Hello, 

 Our company is still using ACEX1K EP1K100QC208 chips. We are a bit worried that these chips will go or are already have gone obsolete. Are these chips still in production? Anyone has any information?   Regards Maris Mols

[Altera_Forum]

At least this is a mature product. 

You should contact your Altera rep. or distributor

[Altera_Forum]

You may want to browse Alteras PCNs http://www.altera.com/literature/lit-pcn.jsp#pdn. I know, that some ACEX1K devices have been already discontinued in the past. If you are supplied with these parts by a qualified distributor, you can expect to be informed before a last buy period expires. 

 The fact, that ACEX1 isn't supported by Quartus II V9.1 may indicate a limited lifetime of remaining ACEX types. If they are still needed in quantities, Altera will probably continue production. In the past, the closure of antiquated chip fabs has sometimes forced a products end of life, of course, this may happen again.  In my opinion, still using ACEX series in active products today is first of all a huge waste of money, of course you have to find your own tradefoff with redesign costs.

[Altera_Forum]

I have a similiar problem. I work for the DoD and recently inheirited an incomplete project from a contractor. The project was started in 2002 and they choose the ACEX 1K EP1K FPGA. Seeing how the latest software doesn't support the product, I'm looking for a simple replacement. One with the same pinout ect so I can just plop in the new device. I have been trying to call Altera all day to see if they have a newer product that would satisfy this condition, busy phone they have. 

 I've looked through the pinout sections in the documentation, but the ACEX 1K pinout format varies vastly from the other FPGA's.    So I'm guessing the answer to my question is no, but I figured I would throw it out here incase someone has a quick answer.

[Altera_Forum]

You surely don't find a same pinout device. You have two options: 

- continue with ACEX, it's till supported in Quartus V9 - choose a suitable replacement. It at least involves changing VCCINT. For the smaller ACEX types, MAX II may be an option.

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I guess I need to check on obsolesence of the ACEX 1k. Perhaps check on a lifetime buy.

[Altera_Forum]

I see net semi is showing around 800 of these. I think they sell a lot of obsolete products.

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks Max123, buyaltera.com was showing 64 of the version i need as well. So I guess I'm covered within constraints.

[Altera_Forum]

which software are you using to program ACEX1k series......actully i brought the chip now i dont have the software to program it.... 

please help.....

[Altera_Forum]

You can still compile designs for ACEX devices with Quartus 9.0

[Altera_Forum]

Yes, I have been using Quartus II Version 9.0 Build 235 06/17/2009 SJ Web Edition. I have service pack 2 installed.

[Altera_Forum]

thanks sir.. 

 can you suggest me one more thing. i want to buy a kit which include read and write option for acex 1k series....

[Altera_Forum]

You wont find any acex 1k dev kits any more. The acex is over 12 years old!

[Altera_Forum]

so is there any hope to find it or not............

[Altera_Forum]

No 

Why do you need an ACEX1k dev kit?

[Altera_Forum]

i want to develop a circuit using this chip......and testing borads for some devices........ 

 for that i need this chip only......

[Altera_Forum]

If you are still looking for an ACEX1K development board, here are a couple of options. 

 The (now obsolete and soon-to-be-discontinued) FTDI/DLP Morph-IC board has an FT2232C and an ACEX1K FPGA.  http://www.dlpdesign.com/fpga/morphic.shtml  Mouser has these boards in stock:  http://www.mouser.com/productdetail/ftdi/morph-ic-1k-blk/?qs=sgaepimzzmuvjc7vq%252bml5zjbddcilvze  I have one of these boards. I wrote a programmer and an FT2232 FIFO to FPGA interface. I can give you that code if you get one of these boards. The problem with the Morph-IC, is that it has a small ACEX1K device on it. The device is a EP1K10TC100-3, with 576 LEs, which is around the number of LEs as the MAX II EPM570 device (which is a more useful device for this amount of LEs, in that the MAX II configuration is non-volatile).  Today I stumbled upon this ACEX1K board, the EZ1KUSB;  http://www.easyfpga.com/ http://www.easyfpga.com/ez1kusb_config.htm  This board can be ordered with larger devices, so might be more useful for your testing.  Cheers, Dave