10M08SAE144C8G Datasheet, Pinout, Specifications & Application Guide | Intel MAX 10 FPGA

The 10M08SAE144C8G is an Intel (Altera) MAX 10 FPGA featuring 8,000 logic elements, an integrated 12-bit ADC, and dual configuration flash memory in a compact 144-pin EQFP package. Built on 55nm flash-based process technology, the "SA" variant operates from a single 3.3V power supply with internal voltage regulators, making it an ideal choice for cost-sensitive embedded designs that require analog-to-digital conversion without external components. This comprehensive guide covers its pinout, key specifications, block diagram, and real-world application circuits to help engineers evaluate and integrate the 10M08SAE144C8G into their next project.

Overview & Key Features

The 10M08SAE144C8G belongs to the Intel MAX 10 FPGA family, which is the industry's first single-chip programmable logic device to integrate flash memory, analog-to-digital conversion, and configurable I/O in a non-volatile FPGA architecture. Unlike SRAM-based FPGAs, the MAX 10 retains its configuration in on-chip flash, enabling instant-on operation without an external configuration device.

Key features of the 10M08SAE144C8G include:

• 8,000 Logic Elements (LEs) — sufficient for moderate-complexity digital designs including state machines, protocol bridges, and sensor interfaces
• Integrated 12-bit ADC — 1 MSPS sampling rate with up to 18 analog input channels, eliminating the need for an external ADC IC
• Dual Configuration Flash — supports dual-image boot for remote update and fail-safe operation
• User Flash Memory — 32 KB to 172 KB of on-chip user flash for storing calibration data or firmware
• Single 3.3V Supply — internal voltage regulators generate the 1.2V core supply, simplifying power design
• Nios II Soft Processor — enables embedded processing without an external MCU
• Instant-On Operation — non-volatile configuration flash allows the FPGA to be operational within milliseconds of power-up

The MAX 10 family is supported by Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition, a free-of-charge development environment that includes synthesis, place-and-route, simulation, and programming tools.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Value
Manufacturer	Intel (Altera)
Family	MAX 10 FPGA
Part Number	10M08SAE144C8G
Logic Elements (LEs)	8,000
Embedded Memory (M9K)	378 Kb (42 M9K blocks)
User Flash Memory (UFM)	32 KB typical
18×18 Multipliers	24
PLLs	2
ADC Blocks	1 (12-bit, 1 MSPS)
Maximum User I/O Pins	101
I/O Standards	3.3V LVTTL, 1.0–3.3V LVCMOS, SSTL, HSTL, LVDS
Package	144-EQFP (Enhanced Quad Flat Pack)
Package Dimensions	20 mm × 20 mm, 0.5 mm pitch
Core Voltage (VCCINT)	1.2V (internally regulated)
I/O Voltage (VCCIO)	1.2V / 1.5V / 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V (bank-selectable)
Supply Voltage	3.3V single supply (SA variant)
Process Technology	55 nm Flash
Speed Grade	C8 (commercial, standard speed)
Temperature Range	0°C to 85°C (commercial)
Configuration	Dual-image internal flash, JTAG
RoHS Compliant	Yes (Pb-free, indicated by "G" suffix)

Pinout & Package Information

The 10M08SAE144C8G is housed in a 144-pin Enhanced Quad Flat Pack (EQFP) with an exposed thermal pad on the underside for enhanced heat dissipation. The 101 user I/O pins are organized across multiple I/O banks, each independently configurable for different voltage standards.

Pin Categories:

• VCCINT — 1.2V core supply (internally regulated in SA variant)
• VCCIO — I/O bank supply voltage (3.3V typical, bank-selectable)
• VCCA / VCCD_PLL — PLL analog and digital supply pins
• VREFB — voltage reference for I/O banks supporting referenced standards
• ANAIN1–ANAIN8 — dedicated analog input pins for the integrated ADC
• CLK[0..3] — dedicated clock input pins routed to global clock networks
• JTAG (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) — programming and debug interface
• nSTATUS, nCONFIG, CONF_DONE — configuration status and control pins
• GND / GNDINT / GNDA — digital, internal, and analog ground pins

For the complete pin assignment table, refer to the Intel MAX 10 Pin-Out File available in the Quartus Prime Pin Planner.

Block Diagram & Architecture

The MAX 10 FPGA architecture integrates programmable logic, embedded memory, clock management, analog-to-digital conversion, and configuration flash into a single monolithic die. The block diagram below illustrates the high-level architecture of the 10M08SAE144C8G evaluation kit:

Architecture Highlights:

• Logic Array Block (LAB) — each LAB contains 16 Adaptive Logic Modules (ALMs) that implement combinational and sequential logic
• M9K Memory Blocks — 42 blocks of 9-Kbit embedded SRAM configurable as single-port RAM, dual-port RAM, ROM, or FIFO
• 18×18 Multiplier Blocks — 24 hardware multipliers for DSP applications including FIR filters and FFT computations
• PLL — 2 general-purpose PLLs for clock synthesis, multiplication, division, and phase shifting
• ADC Block — single 12-bit SAR ADC with multiplexed analog inputs and internal temperature sensor
• Configuration Flash Memory (CFM) — stores up to two FPGA configuration images for instant-on and remote update
• User Flash Memory (UFM) — general-purpose non-volatile storage accessible from the FPGA fabric

Application Circuit & Design Guide

The 10M08SAE144C8G is widely used in industrial control, motor drives, sensor hubs, LED display controllers, and IoT edge devices. The image below shows the MAX 10 FPGA 10M08 Evaluation Kit, which provides a reference design platform for prototyping with this device:

Typical Application Areas:

• Sensor Fusion & Data Acquisition — the integrated ADC enables direct connection of analog sensors (temperature, pressure, current) without external ADC ICs, reducing BOM cost and board area
• Motor Control — hardware PWM generation combined with ADC feedback creates a compact single-chip motor controller
• Protocol Bridge / Interface Conversion — implement SPI-to-I2C, UART-to-Ethernet, or custom serial protocol converters
• LED Panel Controller — the high I/O count and deterministic timing make it suitable for driving LED matrices and display panels
• IoT Edge Processing — Nios II soft processor combined with the ADC enables edge analytics and local decision-making

Design Tips:

• Use the single 3.3V supply configuration (SA variant) to minimize the number of power rails and simplify PCB routing
• Enable the internal oscillator for applications that do not require high clock accuracy, eliminating an external crystal
• Leverage dual-image configuration flash for over-the-air firmware updates with automatic fallback to a known-good image
• Use the Quartus Prime Lite Edition (free) Signal Tap Logic Analyzer for in-system debugging without additional hardware

Video Tutorial: Getting Started with MAX 10 FPGA

Frequently Asked Questions