The XC3S200-4PQG208I is a high-performance, cost-effective Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from Xilinx’s Spartan-3 family. Designed for high-volume, cost-sensitive applications, this device delivers 200,000 system gates and 4,320 logic cells in a compact 208-pin PQFP package — making it one of the most versatile choices for embedded systems, consumer electronics, and industrial design.
Whether you are sourcing the XC3S200-4PQG208I for a new project or evaluating it as an ASIC replacement, this guide covers everything you need: full specifications, key features, pinout information, applications, and ordering details.
What Is the XC3S200-4PQG208I?
The XC3S200-4PQG208I is a member of Xilinx’s Spartan-3 FPGA family, manufactured using advanced 90nm process technology. It operates at a core supply voltage of 1.2V and is rated for industrial temperature ranges (-40°C to +100°C), as indicated by the “I” suffix in its part number.
As a Xilinx FPGA, the XC3S200-4PQG208I is a superior, flexible alternative to mask-programmed ASICs — eliminating high non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs and long development cycles. Its in-field reprogrammability makes it ideal for designs that require future updates or revisions.
XC3S200-4PQG208I Key Specifications
General Overview
| Parameter |
Value |
| Manufacturer |
Xilinx (AMD) |
| Part Number |
XC3S200-4PQG208I |
| Family |
Spartan-3 |
| Series |
XC3S200 |
| Package |
208-Pin PQFP (Plastic Quad Flat Pack) |
| Temperature Grade |
Industrial (−40°C to +100°C) |
| RoHS Status |
Non-RoHS Compliant |
| Mounting Type |
Surface Mount |
Logic & Performance Specifications
| Specification |
Value |
| System Gates |
200,000 |
| Logic Cells |
4,320 |
| CLB Slices |
1,920 |
| CLB Array (rows × cols) |
24 × 40 |
| Maximum Distributed RAM |
30 Kb |
| Block RAM |
27 Kb (12 × 18Kb blocks) |
| Dedicated Multipliers |
12 |
| Maximum Frequency |
630 MHz |
| Process Technology |
90nm |
| Core Voltage (VCCINT) |
1.2V |
I/O & Electrical Specifications
| Specification |
Value |
| Total Package Pins |
208 |
| Maximum User I/Os |
141 |
| I/O Standards Supported |
LVCMOS, LVTTL, SSTL, HSTL, LVDS, BLVDS, and more |
| Input Voltage (Min) |
0V |
| Input Voltage (Max) |
3.6V |
| Output Type |
Programmable (3-state capable) |
| Terminal Type |
Gull Wing (Surface Mount) |
Clock Management
| Feature |
Detail |
| Digital Clock Managers (DCMs) |
4 |
| Clock Network |
Low-skew global and regional clock networks |
| DLL / PLL |
DLL-based DCM for clock deskew, multiply, divide |
XC3S200-4PQG208I Part Number Decoder
Understanding the part number helps you quickly identify the device variant:
| Code Segment |
Meaning |
| XC |
Xilinx Commercial FPGA |
| 3S |
Spartan-3 Family |
| 200 |
200K System Gates |
| -4 |
Speed Grade 4 |
| PQ |
PQFP Package (Plastic Quad Flat Pack) |
| G |
Lead-Free (Green) Package |
| 208 |
208 Pins |
| I |
Industrial Temperature Range (−40°C to +100°C) |
Architecture Highlights of the XC3S200-4PQG208I
#### Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs)
The XC3S200-4PQG208I contains 1,920 CLB slices, each with two 4-input Look-Up Tables (LUTs) and two flip-flops. CLBs support both combinational and sequential logic, as well as distributed 16-bit RAM configurations.
#### Block RAM
Twelve 18Kb dual-port block RAMs provide 216 Kb (27 KB) of on-chip storage. These can be configured as FIFOs, ROMs, or general-purpose memory blocks, supporting data widths from 1 to 18 bits.
#### Dedicated Multipliers
Twelve 18×18-bit hardware multipliers enable efficient DSP operations, significantly reducing logic cell consumption for arithmetic-intensive designs.
#### Digital Clock Manager (DCM)
Four DCMs provide flexible clock synthesis with zero propagation delay between input and output clocks. Functions include frequency multiplication/division, phase shifting, and clock deskewing — critical for high-speed synchronous designs.
#### SelectIO™ Interface
The XC3S200-4PQG208I supports Xilinx’s SelectIO technology, offering compatibility with a wide range of I/O voltage standards including LVDS for high-speed differential signaling.
XC3S200-4PQG208I vs. Similar Spartan-3 Devices
| Part Number |
Gates |
Logic Cells |
Block RAM |
I/Os |
Package |
Temp. Grade |
| XC3S50-4PQG208I |
50K |
1,728 |
72 Kb |
124 |
PQFP-208 |
Industrial |
| XC3S200-4PQG208I |
200K |
4,320 |
216 Kb |
141 |
PQFP-208 |
Industrial |
| XC3S400-4PQG208I |
400K |
8,064 |
288 Kb |
141 |
PQFP-208 |
Industrial |
| XC3S1000-4FTG256I |
1M |
17,280 |
432 Kb |
391 |
FTBGA-256 |
Industrial |
The XC3S200-4PQG208I sits in the middle of the entry-level Spartan-3 range — providing significantly more logic resources than the XC3S50 while maintaining the same 208-pin footprint as the XC3S400.
XC3S200-4PQG208I vs. XC3S200-4PQG208C: What’s the Difference?
| Feature |
XC3S200-4PQG208I |
XC3S200-4PQG208C |
| Temperature Range |
−40°C to +100°C (Industrial) |
0°C to +85°C (Commercial) |
| Typical Use |
Industrial, automotive, military |
Consumer, desktop, office electronics |
| Reliability |
Higher-grade screening |
Standard screening |
If your application involves outdoor environments, industrial control, or automotive designs, the XC3S200-4PQG208I is the preferred choice over the commercial-grade “C” variant.
Applications of the XC3S200-4PQG208I
The XC3S200-4PQG208I is ideally suited for a broad range of applications:
- Broadband Access Equipment – DSL, cable modem, and fiber gateway designs
- Home Networking – Router logic, packet filtering, protocol handling
- Display & Projection Systems – Image processing pipelines and timing controllers
- Digital Television – MPEG decode assist, signal routing, and video switching
- Industrial Control – Motor drives, PLCs, sensor interfaces
- Embedded Systems – Soft-core processor implementations (e.g., MicroBlaze)
- Communications Infrastructure – Protocol bridging, FIFOs, data serialization
- Automotive Electronics – Control modules operating in extended temperature environments
Design Tools & Development Support
The XC3S200-4PQG208I is fully supported by Xilinx (now AMD) design tools:
| Tool |
Purpose |
| ISE Design Suite |
Legacy synthesis, implementation, and bitstream generation for Spartan-3 |
| Vivado Design Suite |
Not natively supported for Spartan-3; use ISE |
| ChipScope Pro |
On-chip debug and logic analysis |
| IP Core Generator |
Instantiate memory controllers, DCMs, and interface IPs |
| ModelSim / XSim |
HDL simulation (VHDL / Verilog) |
Note: Xilinx ISE 14.7 is the recommended and last-supported toolchain for Spartan-3 devices including the XC3S200-4PQG208I. It is available as a free download from the AMD/Xilinx website.
Configuration Modes
The XC3S200-4PQG208I supports multiple configuration modes to suit different system designs:
| Configuration Mode |
Description |
| Master Serial |
FPGA self-loads from an external serial Flash (e.g., Xilinx Platform Flash) |
| Slave Serial |
Bitstream loaded by an external microcontroller or processor |
| JTAG |
Direct in-system programming via JTAG interface |
| Slave Parallel (SelectMAP) |
Byte-wide parallel configuration for fast load times |
Ordering Information
| Parameter |
Details |
| Full Part Number |
XC3S200-4PQG208I |
| Package |
208-PQFP |
| Temperature Grade |
Industrial (−40°C to +100°C) |
| Speed Grade |
-4 |
| Lead Finish |
Lead-Free (G suffix) |
| Datasheet |
DS099 (v3.1) — Xilinx Spartan-3 FPGA Family Data Sheet |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
#### What does the “I” suffix mean in XC3S200-4PQG208I?
The “I” suffix denotes an Industrial temperature grade, meaning the device is tested and guaranteed to operate reliably from −40°C to +100°C. This makes it suitable for industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications.
#### What is the difference between XC3S200-4PQG208I and XC3S200-4PQ208I?
The “G” in PQG208 stands for Green/Lead-Free packaging, meaning the device complies with RoHS lead-free soldering requirements. The older PQ208 variant may use tin-lead solder. Electrically, both devices are identical.
#### Is the XC3S200-4PQG208I still in production?
The Spartan-3 family, including the XC3S200-4PQG208I, has reached end-of-life (EOL) status from Xilinx/AMD. However, it remains widely available through authorized distributors and component brokers. Stock levels should be verified at time of purchase.
#### What software do I need to program the XC3S200-4PQG208I?
Use Xilinx ISE Design Suite 14.7, which supports VHDL and Verilog design entry, synthesis, place and route, and bitstream generation for all Spartan-3 devices.
#### Can the XC3S200-4PQG208I run a soft-core processor?
Yes. The XC3S200-4PQG208I can implement Xilinx’s PicoBlaze 8-bit soft-core processor with ease, and can partially support the MicroBlaze 32-bit processor depending on the application’s resource usage.
Summary
The XC3S200-4PQG208I remains a reliable, cost-effective FPGA solution for industrial-grade designs requiring moderate logic density, robust clock management, embedded memory, and hardware multiply support — all within a standard 208-pin PQFP footprint. Its industrial temperature rating, 200K gate capacity, and broad I/O standard support make it a strong candidate for embedded control, communications, and digital processing applications.
For engineers seeking a proven programmable logic solution in a compact surface-mount package, the XC3S200-4PQG208I delivers a well-balanced feature set backed by Xilinx’s established Spartan-3 platform.
