Active serial (AS) configuration problem

[Altera_Forum]

I have a number of boards that are failing configuration - about a quarter of the boards in fact. 

Setup: EP3C16F484 configured with a EPCS16 MSEL[] = 0010 - AS standard POR at 3.3V Circuit is exactly as in figure 10-3 in configuration handbook Vol.2. When auto-restart after configuration error flag is enabled, the configuration devices nCS pin and nSTATUS repeatedly pulses low for 100us every 20 milliseconds. Are the EPCS16 broken ??? - they were all from the same batch.

[Altera_Forum]

There's a big chance the EPCS is broken. I've seen that several times lately. Exactly the behaviour you describe. I don't know why these devices are so expensive. They fail regularly. 

 Good luck, Ton

[Altera_Forum]

Try replacing the EPCS device on some of the broken ones and see if that fixes it. One thing everyone should be leery of is the possibility there are bogus parts out there. Cheap knockoff products that have been marked with Altera markings. Are you buying your parts through a reputable distributor? 

 Also note that Altera buys these parts from numonyx. You can too.  Jake

[Altera_Forum]

If you want cheap replacement use: ST M25P16 instead of the EPCS16