EDA Tool SetsùPRO's & CON's Between OrCAD & Electronics Workbench
EDA Tool SetsùPRO's & CON's Between OrCAD & Electronics Workbench
(OP)
I'm interested in practical differences and recommendations between professional OrCAD & Electronics Workbench EDA suites for electronics schematic capture, SPICE simulation, PCB layout, and PCB autorouting tool sets. Looking for cost, performance, ease of use, product support, and overall quality and utility assessment. Thank you.





RE: EDA Tool SetsùPRO's & CON's Between OrCAD & Electronics Workbench
One other thing you might consider. Orcad is the oldest and one of the best schematic capture packages. PADS (cadence?) is one of the oldest and most versatile PCB packages and can use Orcad for its schematic. Four years ago, my designer claimed that that combination was by far the best soulution he had ever used. As an engineer, and one who only works with board layout every few months, I find that intuitive is much better for me than versatile. I don't have time to learn where everything is each time I do a new board, and that is the case with Orcad and Pads board layout programs.
Well, enough for now.
RE: EDA Tool SetsùPRO's & CON's Between OrCAD & Electronics Workbench
I have used Protel a LOT, and with its customiseable menus, keystrokes, and macros, it too can be very productive- but needs a half decent PC to run well. On older versions (98 and pre) the autorouter does some really dumb things; it gets better in later versions, but still makes you wonder sometimes. BUT it'll route a complex board in 100th the time you or I could.
With the fact that Protel comes as a complete suite (start-finish tools) and for the price, it's a great product. A few bugs here and there, but hey- what package doesn't? Feature-wise, I've done several 6-layer boards with BGAs etc (and LOTS more boards too) (using 98 and 99SE) and it does everything I need it to, and more, and fast. :)
RE: EDA Tool SetsùPRO's & CON's Between OrCAD & Electronics Workbench