AMD XC2S50-5TQ144C

Overview

XC2S50-5TQ144C from AMD (formerly Xilinx) is a Spartan-II family FPGA with 50,000 system gates, 144-pin TQFP package, 5 ns CLB propagation delay, and support for 3.3 V I/O operation. It serves as a reconfigurable logic fabric in digital control systems requiring moderate gate count and low-latency combinational logic.

For engineers reviewing the XC2S50-5TQ144C datasheet, pinout, applications, or equivalent options, key selection criteria include CLB count, I/O voltage compatibility, maximum system frequency, configuration interface type, and embedded RAM block availability.

Technical Context

The XC2S50-5TQ144C implements configurable logic blocks (CLBs) with four-input LUTs and flip-flops, distributed RAM up to 288 bits per CLB, and dedicated carry logic for high-speed arithmetic. It supports JTAG boundary-scan testing and in-system configuration via serial PROM or microprocessor interface.

Configuration is performed through SelectMAP or slave serial mode using a 3.3 V-compatible parallel or serial interface. The device includes global clock buffers and eight user-defined global routing resources for timing-critical signal distribution.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TQFP-144 (Thin Quad Flat Package), 20 mm × 20 mm body, 0.5 mm lead pitch, thermally enhanced plastic encapsulation. Pin 1 marked by corner notch or dot; leads are gull-wing shaped for standard reflow soldering.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar FPGA-based logic implementation applications.

Compared with XC2S50-6TQ144C, the XC2S50-5TQ144C delivers tighter timing closure at higher frequencies; versus XC3S50A-4VQ100C, it retains native 3.3 V I/O compatibility and simpler configuration flow, easing integration into existing 3.3 V systems.

Availability

XC2S50-5TQ144C is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial motion controllers, automotive body electronics, and medical device UI subsystems requiring stable component supply and long-term obsolescence management.

Supply support for XC2S50-5TQ144C includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

AMD acquired Xilinx in 2022 and maintains legacy Spartan-II product support, documentation, and cross-reference tools for design continuity.

The Spartan-II family was engineered for cost-sensitive, high-volume digital logic replacement in industrial and automotive applications where gate density and I/O flexibility outweigh advanced features like DSP slices or high-speed transceivers.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency supported by the XC2S50-5TQ144C?

The XC2S50-5TQ144C supports a maximum system clock frequency of approximately 160 MHz in critical paths due to its 5 ns CLB propagation delay. Actual achievable frequency depends on design topology, routing congestion, and I/O timing constraints. The device includes eight global clock buffers to minimize skew and sustain high-frequency operation across logic regions. XC2S50-5TQ144C timing reports must be verified using Xilinx ISE 14.7 or earlier toolchains.

Does the XC2S50-5TQ144C support in-system programming?

Yes, the XC2S50-5TQ144C supports in-system programming via JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) using the TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO pins. It also permits serial or parallel configuration through the SelectMAP interface using CCLK, CSO, DIN, and DOUT pins. XC2S50-5TQ144C configuration data can be loaded from external PROM or controlled by a host microprocessor during power-up or runtime reconfiguration.

What I/O standards are compatible with the XC2S50-5TQ144C?

The XC2S50-5TQ144C supports LVTTL and LVCMOS33 I/O standards at 3.3 V. Each of its four I/O banks operates independently with dedicated VCCO supplies, enabling mixed-voltage signaling when external regulators provide appropriate voltages. XC2S50-5TQ144C does not support 1.8 V, 2.5 V, or 5 V I/O natively without level-shifting circuitry.

How much embedded memory does the XC2S50-5TQ144C provide?

The XC2S50-5TQ144C provides distributed RAM totaling 288 bits per CLB, with no dedicated block RAM. This distributed memory supports small lookup tables, shift registers, or state register files directly within logic fabric. XC2S50-5TQ144C lacks dedicated BRAM blocks, so larger memory structures require external SRAM or careful logic synthesis of RAM primitives.

Is the XC2S50-5TQ144C pin-compatible with other Spartan-II devices?

No, the XC2S50-5TQ144C is not universally pin-compatible across the Spartan-II family. While devices sharing the TQ144 package (e.g., XC2S100-5TQ144C) use identical mechanical footprint and pin count, I/O bank assignments, configuration pin locations, and global resource mapping differ. XC2S50-5TQ144C pinout must be validated against its specific package drawing and I/O banking diagram before PCB reuse.