Hello, I have an Altera Max EPM3256AQC208-10N PQFP-208, the chip is not connected to the card but is single. How can I read the data in this chip and programming data into it? Which devices should I use? I know that USB Blaster is used for programming this type of chips. But how can I connect its JTAG header to the chip? Maybe you know a good method.

Well, you will likely either have to solder it to a small test board with a breakout pattern, or use something like this:https://www.aliexpress.com/i/2251832626235520.html?gatewayAdapt=4itemAdaptwhere you can then easily wire up power, ground and the JTAG signals you require.QuartusII 13.0sp1 is still available for programming this device, but I don't believe it is capable of reading back programmed device images.You would likely need to use a third party device programmer to do image readback.

Can you tell me the connection diagram of this chip and how I can connect it to a USB Blaster? Additionally, do you know how I can read the data inside the chip and which device I need? I saw a video on YouTube, where the data inside the Alter Max chip was read via Quartus by connecting the USB Blaster to a special circuit to which the Alter Max was connected.

If you look here:https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/programmable/support-resources/devices/max-3000-support.html?f:@emtcontenttype_en=%5BPinouts%20and%20Ballouts%5Dyou can access the EPM3256A pinout description for the PQFP208 package.You will obviously need to connect the GND, VCC, VCCIO pins to the correct power supply nodes per the datasheet.The USB Blaster needs to connect to GND, VCC, and of course TDI, TDO, TMS, and TCK.The USB Blaster datasheet gives the pinout of its 10pin connector.As to reading the contents of the chip (meaning the existing program in it, if any) the currently available versions of Quartus that support this device (like 13.0sp1 or 13.1) do not support this capability. You can blank check, program, and verify, but not read back an existing program. Altera removed that function from those versions (why I don't know, they never really said). There might be earlier versions of Quartus prior to 13 that allow that capability but I don't have any first hand knowledge of that. I never needed or used that function.As to third party programmers, the xeltek website lists this programmer as supporting that device:https://www.xeltek.com/isp-programmers/in-system-programmers-superpro-is01/you can go to their device support search page:https://www.xeltek-cn.com/devsearch/search.html?lang=en-usenter your part number and that programmer pops up as relevant.

You can get the device pinout files here ...https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/programmable/support-resources/devices/max-3000-support.html?f:@emtcontenttype_en=%5BPinouts%20and%20Ballouts%5DTo attach a USB Blaster you just need to connect JTAG TDI, TDO, TMS, TCK to the USB Blaster 10pin connector.Along with the appropriate power and ground connections as well. The USB Blaster datasheet describes the standard2x5pin 100mil connector pinout.QuartusII 13.0sp1/13.1 are still online and will allow you to (re)program the device. Reading the device program back for the MAX series was deprecated in Quartus so is not possible to do with any currently available version of Quartus using a USB Blaster.Xeltek has a programmer that says it supports your device (the IS01):https://www.xeltek.com/isp-programmers/in-system-programmers-superpro-is01/Whether it fully supports reading device contents or not I don't know. You will have to review the documentation or contact them.

Hi,I have no PCA with MAX3000A device at hand right now, but I presume configuration can be read-out with programmer examine funtion, as long as security bit isn't set.To operate JTAG interface, you need to connect JTAG and all power supply pins and apply 3.3V power supply. Coonnection according to pinout file.MAX3000A programming is however also possible with some industry standard universal programmers. The datasheet mentions Data I/O and BP Microsystems.Why you are trying to program MAX3000A without fitting it into a circuit with JTAG connection?

Programming Altera Max EPM3256AQC208-10N PQFP-208

27 Replies

_AK6DN_
Frequent Contributor
3 years ago
I have both a TerASIC Blaster (available thru Mouser, DigiKey, etc) for about US$69,
and a Waveshare USB Blaster v2 (available thru Amazon) for about US$34.
Both have never given me any problems.
I did try one of the el cheapo USB Blaster clones from Amazon for about US$10 and had reliability issues with it.
It got recycled in the electronics trash bin.
NurAiman_M_Intel
Super Contributor
2 years ago
Hi,

You can refer to Intel website for more USB blaster information:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/fpga/development-kits/cables-adapters.html

You can make the purchase through Intel authorized distributor:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/partner/showcase/partner-directory/distributor.html#sort=relevancy

Regards,
Aiman
NurAiman_M_Intel
Super Contributor
2 years ago
We do not receive any response from you to the previous answer that I have provided. This thread will be transitioned to community support. If you have a new question, feel free to open a new thread to get the support from Intel experts. Otherwise, the community users will continue to help you on this thread. Thank you
RobertFord
New Contributor
2 years ago
There are two ways to do this, the first is to read it in a MPU with a PLMQ7256-208 adapter in MAXPLUS II or you can go the hard route and solder the VCC, VCCIO, GND and JTAG pins to a breakout board and read it that way with an ALTERA Byte Blaster or similar device in MAXPLUS II.

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Programming Altera Max EPM3256AQC208-10N PQFP-208

27 Replies

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