Raw Binary File(.rbf) file is used for passive configuration mode such as Passive Serial (PS), Fast Passive Parallel (FPP) or Avalon-Streaming (AvST) mode. External host such as CPU, or microcontroller configure Intel® FPGA using this .rbf file if the Intel Parallel Flash loader (PFL) IP core is not being used.
Raw Programming Data File (.rpd) file is mainly use for Active Serial (AS) mode in FPGA devices. You can write this file into the configuration device using any third-party programmer or Intel FPGA IP, such as ASMI Parallel or Serial Flash Controller IP core. Aside from Active Serial (AS) mode, the .rpd file is also used for remote system upgrade purpose in Intel MAX 10 devices. You can write this file into the Intel MAX 10 configuration flash memory and user flash memory (CFM0, CFM1, UFM) using any third-party programmer or the Intel MAX 10 On-Chip Flash Intel FPGA IP.
The .rpd file default bit wise endianness is little endian, thus the programmer must write the least significant bit (LSb) of the byte first into the configuration device or MAX 10 configuration flash memory (CFM0 and CFM1). Otherwise, you can use the GUI option in Intel Quartus® Prime software under the Convert Programming File utilities in “Options/Boot Info...” option to change the bit-level endianness of the .rpd file.