HardCopy II devices are low-cost, high-performance structured ASICs with pin-outs, densities, and architecture that complement Stratix II devices. HardCopy II device features, such as phase-locked loops (PLLs), memory, and I/O elements (IOEs), are functionally and electrically equivalent to the Stratix II FPGA features. The combination of Stratix II FPGAs for in-system prototype and design verification, HardCopy II devices for high-volume production, and the Quartus II software for design, provide a complete, low-risk design solution.

HardCopy II devices improve on the successful and proven methodology of the two previous generations of HardCopy series devices. Altera HardCopy II devices use the same base arrays across multiple designs for a given device density and are customized using only two metal layers. HardCopy II devices offer up to 90% cost reduction compared to Stratix II FPGA prototypes.