PCB News - Comparison of several mainstream pcb software

Schematic design software: ORCAD is enough. There are many Netlists supported, which are basically industry standards.

PCB Layout software

1. Protel, now push Altium Designer. The mainstream of domestic low-end design is basically unused abroad. Simple and easy to learn, suitable for beginners, easy to use; it takes up more system resources and requires higher computer configuration. There is still a considerable market for people who use protel in China. After all, the hardware circuit design of small and medium-sized companies is mostly low-end. However, it is recommended that you contact and learn other software with better functions as soon as possible. Friendly, ha ha.

2. Pads
PADS software is also used by a lot of people, easy to use, easy to use, personally feel that it is many times better than Protel. Suitable for low-end design, it can be called the uncrowned king of low-end. The most widely used eda software on the market is suitable for the needs of most small and medium-sized enterprises. There is no simulation in itself. When making a high-speed board, it must be combined with other special simulation tools, such as hyperlynx.

3. Cadence allegro
The de facto industry standard in high-speed board design. No matter what it is, it is super awesome.
The PCB Layout tool is absolutely top-notch. After a little familiarity, I no longer want to use other tools. The layout is super cool. Simulation is also very good, has its own simulation tools, signal integrity simulation, power integrity simulation can be done. It firmly occupies a dominant position in making PCB high-speed boards. You know, 60% of computer motherboards and 40% of mobile phone motherboards in the world are drawn by Allegro! Now I make boards, no matter simple or complex, I use this, and the small board can be done in one day. It's quite cool when it's used.

4 Mentor WG
Slightly inferior to CADENCE, but it is also a top-level tool, aimed at high-end circuit design, and also has its own simulation tool. It's just that there are relatively few support providers in China, not as much as Cadence.

I won’t mention the others, and few people use them.

If you rarely do high-speed boards, it is recommended to use pads, after all, it is relatively easy to learn. If you often do high-speed boards, it is recommended to choose Cadence. One is that Cadence is more used for high-speed boards in China. Second, because it is popular, there are more people to communicate with when learning. Many big companies use it, and the salary of Protel and Cadence allegro is different.

The above is an introduction to the comparison of several mainstream PCB software. Ipcb is also provided to PCB manufacturers and PCB manufacturing technology.