The XC2S200-6FGG1201C is a high-density, commercially graded Field-Programmable Gate Array from Xilinx’s Spartan-II family. Designed for cost-sensitive, high-volume digital design applications, this FPGA delivers 200,000 system gates in a fine-pitch ball grid array (FGG) package operating at 2.5V core voltage. Whether you are working on embedded control systems, digital signal processing, or legacy board repair, the XC2S200-6FGG1201C offers proven reliability backed by Xilinx’s 0.18 µm process technology.
What Is the XC2S200-6FGG1201C?
The XC2S200-6FGG1201C is a member of the Xilinx Spartan-II FPGA product line — one of the most widely deployed FPGA families in the history of programmable logic. The part number breaks down as follows:
| Part Number Segment |
Meaning |
| XC2S200 |
Spartan-II device, 200K system gates |
| -6 |
Speed grade 6 (fastest in the commercial range) |
| FGG |
Fine-pitch Ball Grid Array, Pb-free (“G” suffix = RoHS-compliant) |
| 1201 |
1201-ball package footprint |
| C |
Commercial temperature range (0°C to +85°C) |
For engineers sourcing Xilinx FPGA components for industrial or communication designs, the XC2S200-6FGG1201C stands out for its combination of high I/O count, fast speed grade, and mature, well-documented architecture.
XC2S200-6FGG1201C Key Specifications
Core Logic Resources
| Parameter |
XC2S200 Value |
| System Gates |
200,000 |
| Logic Cells |
5,292 |
| CLB Array |
28 × 42 |
| Total CLBs |
1,176 |
| Max User I/O |
284 |
| Distributed RAM |
75,264 bits |
| Block RAM |
56K bits (14 blocks × 4K each) |
Electrical & Timing Characteristics
| Parameter |
Value |
| Core Supply Voltage (VCCINT) |
2.5V |
| I/O Supply Voltage (VCCO) |
1.5V – 3.3V (multi-standard) |
| Speed Grade |
-6 (Commercial only) |
| Maximum System Frequency |
Up to 263 MHz |
| Process Technology |
0.18 µm CMOS |
| Configuration File Size |
~1.3 Mbit |
Package Information
| Parameter |
Value |
| Package Type |
FGG (Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array, Pb-free) |
| Pin Count |
1201 balls |
| Temperature Range |
Commercial: 0°C to +85°C |
| RoHS Compliance |
Yes (Pb-free “G” variant) |
Spartan-II Family Comparison: Where XC2S200 Sits
Understanding the full Spartan-II lineup helps engineers select the right device for their design requirements. The XC2S200 is the largest member of the family.
| Device |
Logic Cells |
System Gates |
CLB Array |
Max User I/O |
Block RAM |
| XC2S15 |
432 |
15,000 |
8×12 |
86 |
16K |
| XC2S30 |
972 |
30,000 |
12×18 |
92 |
24K |
| XC2S50 |
1,728 |
50,000 |
16×24 |
176 |
32K |
| XC2S100 |
2,700 |
100,000 |
20×30 |
176 |
40K |
| XC2S150 |
3,888 |
150,000 |
24×36 |
260 |
48K |
| XC2S200 |
5,292 |
200,000 |
28×42 |
284 |
56K |
The XC2S200-6FGG1201C is the flagship of this family, offering the most logic resources and the largest I/O count — making it the preferred choice for designs that have outgrown smaller Spartan-II variants.
Architecture & Internal Features
#### Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs)
Each CLB in the XC2S200 contains four logic cells, each featuring a 4-input lookup table (LUT), a D-type flip-flop, and dedicated carry logic. The 28×42 CLB array gives designers substantial room for complex state machines, arithmetic units, and finite-state logic.
#### Block RAM
The XC2S200 integrates 14 fully synchronous dual-port block RAM cells. Each block RAM is a 4,096-bit cell with independently configurable data widths on each port — enabling built-in bus-width conversion without consuming LUT resources. Total on-chip block RAM reaches 56,064 bits.
#### Delay-Locked Loops (DLLs)
Four dedicated Delay-Locked Loops — one at each corner of the die — provide zero-skew clock distribution, phase shifting, frequency synthesis, and jitter reduction. DLLs allow the XC2S200-6FGG1201C to meet demanding timing closure requirements in synchronous designs.
#### Multi-Standard I/O Support
The IOBs (Input/Output Blocks) support a wide range of I/O standards including LVCMOS, LVTTL, PCI, GTL, SSTL, and HSTL — making the device compatible with a broad ecosystem of memory interfaces, bus protocols, and communication standards.
Configuration Modes
The XC2S200-6FGG1201C supports multiple configuration modes, providing design flexibility during development and in production systems:
| Configuration Mode |
Description |
| Master Serial |
FPGA drives serial PROM automatically at power-up |
| Slave Serial |
Host processor controls configuration timing |
| Slave Parallel (SelectMAP) |
Byte-wide parallel configuration for fast boot |
| Boundary Scan (JTAG) |
IEEE 1149.1-compliant; used for debug and production test |
| Master SPI |
Configuration from SPI-compatible serial Flash |
The -6 speed grade ensures the fastest possible configuration time within the commercial temperature range, which is critical for systems with strict power-on-to-operational latency requirements.
Typical Applications for XC2S200-6FGG1201C
The XC2S200-6FGG1201C is widely used across a range of embedded and industrial applications:
- Digital Signal Processing (DSP): FIR/IIR filters, FFT engines, and custom DSP pipelines benefit from the large CLB array and distributed RAM resources.
- Communication Systems: Protocol bridges, UART/SPI/I2C controllers, and high-speed serial interface logic.
- Industrial Control: Motor drive controllers, PLC logic, and sensor data acquisition front-ends.
- Legacy Board Repair & Replacement: A popular choice for repairing discontinued ASIC-based boards due to its programmable nature and high I/O count.
- Embedded Processing: Soft-core processor implementations (e.g., PicoBlaze) for lightweight control tasks without discrete microcontrollers.
- Test & Measurement: Pattern generation, data capture, and protocol analysis equipment.
XC2S200-6FGG1201C vs. Alternative Part Numbers
Designers sourcing this component should be aware of related variants that differ in package, speed grade, or temperature range:
| Part Number |
Speed Grade |
Package |
Temp Range |
I/O Count |
| XC2S200-5FGG456C |
-5 |
FGG456, 456-ball |
Commercial |
284 |
| XC2S200-6FGG456C |
-6 |
FGG456, 456-ball |
Commercial |
284 |
| XC2S200-6FGG1201C |
-6 |
FGG1201, 1201-ball |
Commercial |
284 |
| XC2S200-5PQ208C |
-5 |
PQFP208 |
Commercial |
140 |
| XC2S200-6PQ208C |
-6 |
PQFP208 |
Commercial |
140 |
| XC2S200-5FGG456I |
-5 |
FGG456, 456-ball |
Industrial |
284 |
The FGG1201 package variant of the XC2S200 provides an expanded ball grid for applications requiring improved signal integrity, more PCB routing flexibility, or compatibility with specific board footprints in high-density system designs.
Design Tools & Software Support
The XC2S200-6FGG1201C is fully supported by Xilinx’s legacy ISE Design Suite. Key tool support includes:
- Xilinx ISE 14.7 — Final release of ISE; full device support including synthesis, implementation, and bitstream generation for Spartan-II
- PlanAhead — Floorplanning and static timing analysis
- ChipScope Pro — On-chip debug using JTAG
- IMPACT — Programming and configuration tool for JTAG and PROM-based flows
- ModelSim / Questa — Functional and post-layout simulation support
Note: The Spartan-II family is not supported in Vivado. Designs targeting the XC2S200-6FGG1201C must use ISE 14.7, available from AMD/Xilinx’s legacy software archive.
Ordering & Availability Information
| Attribute |
Detail |
| Manufacturer |
AMD Xilinx |
| Product Family |
Spartan-II |
| Part Status |
Not Recommended for New Designs (NRND) |
| RoHS Status |
Compliant (Pb-free package indicated by “G” in FGG) |
| Typical Lead Time |
Check distributor stock; legacy availability applies |
| Suggested Distributors |
Authorized Xilinx distributors; specialist component brokers |
Because the Spartan-II family carries NRND status, engineers designing new systems are encouraged to evaluate current-generation Xilinx FPGAs. However, for existing production boards, repair applications, and legacy system support, the XC2S200-6FGG1201C remains a sought-after component on the secondary market.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the “-6” speed grade mean on the XC2S200-6FGG1201C?
The -6 speed grade is the fastest commercially available speed grade for the Spartan-II family. It is exclusively offered in the Commercial temperature range (0°C to +85°C). A higher number in Xilinx’s Spartan-II naming convention indicates a faster device with tighter propagation delay specifications.
Is the XC2S200-6FGG1201C RoHS compliant?
Yes. The “G” in “FGG” indicates a Pb-free (lead-free) package, making this variant RoHS-compliant. Standard (non-G) packages contain tin-lead solder balls and are not RoHS compliant.
Can the XC2S200-6FGG1201C be reprogrammed in the field?
Yes. Like all Spartan-II FPGAs, the XC2S200-6FGG1201C uses SRAM-based configuration and can be fully reprogrammed in-system via JTAG or through a configuration PROM, enabling firmware updates without hardware replacement.
What is the difference between FGG456 and FGG1201 packages for the XC2S200?
Both packages expose the same 284 maximum user I/O pins from the XC2S200 die. The FGG1201 features a larger ball grid (1201 balls vs. 456), which provides more signal and power/ground connections, improved thermal dissipation, and greater PCB routing flexibility at the cost of a larger board footprint.
What software do I need to program the XC2S200-6FGG1201C?
Use Xilinx ISE Design Suite 14.7 for synthesis and implementation, and Xilinx IMPACT for programming. The device is not supported by the Vivado Design Suite.
Summary
The XC2S200-6FGG1201C is a 200,000-gate, speed-grade-6 Spartan-II FPGA from Xilinx packaged in a 1201-ball, Pb-free fine-pitch BGA. With 5,292 logic cells, 56K bits of block RAM, four DLLs, and up to 284 user I/O pins, it delivers the full capability of the Spartan-II architecture in a large, high-density package. While designated NRND for new designs, it continues to serve an essential role in legacy system maintenance, industrial repair, and established production lines.
For engineers sourcing this component or evaluating Spartan-II alternatives, consult your authorized Xilinx distributor and review the official AMD/Xilinx Spartan-II datasheet (DS001) for the most current electrical specifications.