The XC2S200-6FGG1248C is a high-performance Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from Xilinx’s Spartan-II family. Designed for cost-sensitive, high-volume applications, this 200,000-gate FPGA delivers powerful programmable logic in a compact 1248-ball Fine-Pitch BGA (FBGA) Pb-free package. Whether you’re designing embedded systems, telecommunications hardware, or industrial automation controllers, the XC2S200-6FGG1248C offers an ideal balance of logic density, I/O capability, and 2.5V low-power operation.
For a broader overview of Xilinx programmable logic devices, visit this Xilinx FPGA resource page.
What Is the XC2S200-6FGG1248C? Understanding the Part Number
Before diving into specifications, it helps to decode the part number:
| Field |
Value |
Meaning |
| XC2S200 |
Device |
Spartan-II, 200K system gates |
| -6 |
Speed Grade |
Fastest commercial speed grade |
| FGG |
Package Type |
Fine-Pitch BGA (Pb-free “G” suffix) |
| 1248 |
Pin Count |
1248 solder balls |
| C |
Temperature Range |
Commercial (0°C to +85°C) |
The “G” in FGG indicates a RoHS-compliant, lead-free (Pb-free) package, making the XC2S200-6FGG1248C suitable for modern production environments with environmental compliance requirements.
XC2S200-6FGG1248C Key Specifications at a Glance
| Parameter |
Specification |
| Manufacturer |
Xilinx (AMD) |
| Family |
Spartan-II |
| Logic Cells |
5,292 |
| System Gates |
200,000 |
| CLB Array |
28 × 42 |
| Total CLBs |
1,176 |
| Maximum User I/O |
284 |
| Distributed RAM |
75,264 bits |
| Block RAM |
56K bits |
| Supply Voltage |
2.5V |
| Speed Grade |
-6 (fastest commercial) |
| Technology Node |
0.18 µm |
| Package |
1248-Ball FBGA (Pb-free) |
| Operating Temperature |
0°C to +85°C (Commercial) |
| Configuration Bits |
1,335,840 |
XC2S200-6FGG1248C Architecture Overview
Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs)
The XC2S200-6FGG1248C features 1,176 Configurable Logic Blocks arranged in a 28-column by 42-row matrix. Each CLB contains look-up tables (LUTs) and flip-flops that implement combinational and sequential logic. This CLB array provides the equivalent of approximately 200,000 system gates, enabling designers to implement sophisticated digital circuits without the NRE cost of mask-programmed ASICs.
Input/Output Blocks (IOBs) and I/O Capability
With 284 maximum user I/O pins, the XC2S200-6FGG1248C offers extensive connectivity for interfacing with external peripherals, memory, communication buses, and analog front-end components. The IOBs support multiple I/O standards, giving designers flexibility in mixed-voltage board designs.
Block RAM and Distributed RAM
Embedded Memory Resources
| Memory Type |
Total Capacity |
| Distributed RAM |
75,264 bits (~9.2 KB) |
| Block RAM |
56,000 bits (~7 KB) |
| Total On-chip RAM |
~131,264 bits (~16 KB) |
The combination of distributed and block RAM resources makes the XC2S200-6FGG1248C well-suited for applications that require local data buffering, FIFO queues, or small lookup tables embedded directly within the programmable logic fabric.
Delay-Locked Loops (DLLs)
The Spartan-II architecture includes four Delay-Locked Loops (DLLs), one at each corner of the die. These DLLs provide precise clock management capabilities including:
- Clock deskewing and phase alignment
- Clock frequency synthesis (doubling)
- Elimination of clock distribution delay
- Multiple clock domain support
Speed Grade -6: Maximum Performance for Commercial Applications
The -6 speed grade is the fastest available for the Spartan-II family and is exclusively available in the commercial temperature range (0°C to +85°C). This makes the XC2S200-6FGG1248C the optimal choice when maximum throughput is required in non-industrial environments such as:
- Consumer electronics
- Networking equipment
- Prototyping and test systems
- High-speed data processing boards
Spartan-II Speed Grade Comparison
| Speed Grade |
Performance Level |
Temperature Range |
| -5 |
Standard |
Commercial / Industrial |
| -6 |
Fastest |
Commercial only (0°C to +85°C) |
Package Details: 1248-Ball Fine-Pitch BGA (FGG1248)
Why the FGG1248 Package?
The 1248-ball Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array package provides a large number of I/O connections in a relatively compact PCB footprint. BGA packages offer several advantages over through-hole and leaded packages:
- Superior signal integrity at high frequencies
- Lower parasitic inductance compared to QFP packages
- Smaller PCB footprint per I/O
- Better thermal dissipation through the ball array
The “G” designation (FGG vs. FG) confirms this is a Pb-free (RoHS compliant) package, eliminating lead from the solder balls in compliance with EU RoHS and WEEE directives.
FGG1248 Physical Characteristics
| Attribute |
Detail |
| Package Type |
Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array (FBGA) |
| Total Balls |
1,248 |
| Lead-Free |
Yes (Pb-free, RoHS compliant) |
| Package Shape |
Square |
| Form of Terminal |
Solder Ball |
Configuration Modes for the XC2S200-6FGG1248C
The XC2S200-6FGG1248C supports four standard Spartan-II configuration modes:
| Configuration Mode |
M0 |
M1 |
M2 |
CCLK Direction |
Data Width |
| Master Serial |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Output |
1-bit |
| Slave Parallel |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Input |
8-bit |
| Boundary-Scan (JTAG) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
1-bit |
| Slave Serial |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Input |
1-bit |
The Boundary-Scan (JTAG) mode is particularly useful for in-system programming and board-level testing, while Master Serial mode is the most common configuration used with SPI flash PROMs.
The XC2S200-6FGG1248C requires 1,335,840 configuration bits to fully program the device.
Typical Applications for the XC2S200-6FGG1248C
The XC2S200-6FGG1248C is a versatile FPGA suitable for a wide range of application domains:
#### Telecommunications & Networking
With 284 I/O pins and fast -6 speed grade, the device handles high-speed serial interfaces, protocol bridging, and packet processing in network line cards and switching equipment.
#### Industrial Automation & Control
The 2.5V supply voltage, large I/O count, and programmable logic make the XC2S200-6FGG1248C ideal for motor drive controllers, PLC expansion modules, and real-time sensor data acquisition.
#### Embedded Vision & Image Processing
The combination of 5,292 logic cells and 16 KB of on-chip memory supports image preprocessing pipelines, edge detection kernels, and video timing generation circuits.
#### Wireless Communication Baseband
The FPGA’s gate count is sufficient for implementing DSP-intensive tasks such as FIR/IIR filtering, FFT computation, and modulation/demodulation for 4G/IoT applications.
#### Prototyping & ASIC Replacement
As Xilinx designed the Spartan-II family to be a superior alternative to mask-programmed ASICs, the XC2S200-6FGG1248C eliminates NRE costs and allows in-field design updates — impossible with fixed ASICs.
Spartan-II Family Comparison: Where Does the XC2S200 Fit?
| 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 is the largest member of the Spartan-II family, offering the highest logic density, the most I/O pins, and the largest embedded memory pool. For designs that have outgrown smaller Spartan-II devices, the XC2S200-6FGG1248C is the natural migration target within the same family.
XC2S200-6FGG1248C vs. Alternative Part Numbers
The XC2S200 die is available in multiple packages and speed grades. The table below compares popular variants:
| Part Number |
Speed Grade |
Package |
Pins |
Lead-Free |
Temp Range |
| XC2S200-5FG456C |
-5 |
FBGA |
456 |
No |
Commercial |
| XC2S200-5FGG456C |
-5 |
FBGA |
456 |
Yes |
Commercial |
| XC2S200-6FG256C |
-6 |
FBGA |
256 |
No |
Commercial |
| XC2S200-6FGG1248C |
-6 |
FBGA |
1248 |
Yes |
Commercial |
| XC2S200-5PQ208C |
-5 |
PQFP |
208 |
No |
Commercial |
| XC2S200-5FG456I |
-5 |
FBGA |
456 |
No |
Industrial |
The XC2S200-6FGG1248C stands out as the combination of the fastest speed grade, highest pin count package, and RoHS-compliant lead-free construction.
Development Tools & Design Software
The XC2S200-6FGG1248C is supported by Xilinx’s legacy design tools:
- ISE Design Suite – The primary legacy toolchain for Spartan-II synthesis, implementation, and bitstream generation
- ChipScope Pro – On-chip logic analyzer for debugging
- CORE Generator – Pre-built IP cores for common functions (FIFOs, memory controllers, DSP blocks)
Note: Xilinx Vivado does NOT support Spartan-II devices. Use ISE Design Suite 14.7 (the final ISE release) for all XC2S200-6FGG1248C designs. ISE 14.7 runs on Windows 7/10 and Linux.
Frequently Asked Questions: XC2S200-6FGG1248C
What does the “-6” speed grade mean?
The -6 speed grade is the fastest commercial speed grade for Spartan-II FPGAs. It delivers maximum operating frequency and minimum propagation delays, making it ideal for high-speed designs that need every nanosecond of performance.
Is the XC2S200-6FGG1248C still in production?
The Spartan-II family has been discontinued by AMD (formerly Xilinx). However, the XC2S200-6FGG1248C remains widely available through authorized distributors and component brokers for maintenance and legacy system support.
What is the difference between FG and FGG packages?
The extra “G” in FGG indicates a Pb-free (lead-free) package. The FG suffix indicates standard (tin-lead) solder balls, while FGG confirms RoHS-compliant, environmentally friendly lead-free solder balls.
What configuration PROM is compatible with the XC2S200-6FGG1248C?
Xilinx XCF-series Platform Flash PROMs (such as the XCF04S or XCF08P) are commonly used in Master Serial configuration mode with Spartan-II devices.
Can the XC2S200-6FGG1248C be used in industrial temperature applications?
No. The “C” suffix denotes a commercial temperature range (0°C to +85°C). For industrial temperatures (-40°C to +85°C), select a part with an “I” suffix such as the XC2S200-5FG456I. Note that the -6 speed grade is only available in the commercial range.
Summary: Why Choose the XC2S200-6FGG1248C?
The XC2S200-6FGG1248C delivers the full capability of Xilinx’s largest Spartan-II device — 200K gates, 284 I/Os, 4 DLLs, and 16 KB of embedded RAM — in its fastest commercial speed grade and a high-density, lead-free 1248-ball FBGA package. It is the definitive choice for:
- Legacy system maintenance requiring maximum logic and I/O
- High-speed commercial embedded designs at 2.5V
- RoHS-compliant production environments
- Applications needing the broadest I/O footprint in the Spartan-II lineup