[SI-LIST] Re: Allegro
- From: Dan Bostan <dbostan@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: gtm@xxxxxxxxxxx, si-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 12:54:59 -0700 (PDT)
Gabriel,
I am using Protel 2004 now and, I believe that these
two tools are for different types of applications or
markets.
Protel addresses the low end market, for small boards,
mostly manually done. It's autorouter is very, very
bad.
If one wants to autoroute, he needs to export to
Spectra (Protel allows that, fortunately...).
And the constarints manager is weaker than
Expedition's.
I have designed huge boards, 26 layers and above, 75%
constrained, i.e. using autorouting, in Expedition,
with very good results.
I found the constraint manager in Expedition, to be
absolutely stellar.
Furthermore, the autorouter in Expedition is
integrated in the tool, allowing for a push-button
command.
Anyhow, these were just my 2 cents...
/dan
-- Gabriel T Martin <gtm@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I have also had experience with Mentor Expedition.
> While it did have its
> strong points, the lack of hierarchy was a huge
> minus. I use Protel 2004
> now because of its strong use of hierarchy. Things
> are organized into
> rooms, and once you route one room you are basically
> done with routing
> because you can copy it throughout the design.
>
> Also, Protel is more of a mechanical oriented
> package as opposed to the
> electrical oriented packages, i.e. Mentor. By this,
> I mean that Protel
> allows you to route lines anywhere you want without
> having to decode rules
> to make it possible, but it does give you an
> extensive rules set. I ran
> into problems with Mentor not "allowing" me to route
> traces into certain
> areas because of hidden or hard to decode rules.
>
> The biggest selling point of Protel may be that it
> is one of the cheapest
> solutions given the amount of power it provides.
>
> I have one last note regarding autorouters that
> "autotune" traces, such as
> Mentor's. Be careful with them because physical
> length of traces in no
> way reflects their actual electrical length. The
> snaking of the tuned
> traces couple together and signals jump down the
> line far faster than you
> may expect.
>
> Gabe
>
> Gabriel Martin
> Test Engineer
> Integrated Device Technology
> 678.775.2985
> gtm@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> 11555 Medlock Bridge Road
> Suite 200
> Duluth, GA 30097
>
> On Wed, 14 Jul 2004, Dan Bostan wrote:
>
> > I used the Cadence Allegro for many years and
> many,
> > many challenging projects.
> > It is good.
> > However, I also used Mentor Expedition (Veribest)
> and
> > found that it is even better (and cheaper at the
> same
> > time).
> > It is a newer SW, with better features and a great
> > autorouter.
> > It even allows for exporting the database to an
> > Allegro file (.brd), to take advantage of the pool
> of
> > Allegro designers.
> > In addition, it has two SI tools, including ICX,
> not
> > talking about Hyperlynx that can be used in the
> tool
> > flow.
> >
> > In short, it is a great tool.
> >
> > /dan
> >
> >
> > --- Christian Trudeau <trudeauc@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > Rafael,
> > > We currently use the Cadence Allegro tools in
> our
> > > design area and have
> > > found them to be very good. I would venture to
> say
> > > that Allegro is the
> > > most widely used of the PCB design tools. The
> only
> > > caution to take is
> > > that the Cadence tools can be hard to come up
> the
> > > learning curve. The
> > > tools are very powerful and hence require some
> > > education on the use.
> > > Cadence training is good and can go a long way
> to
> > > getting you started. The
> > > Cadence PCB tool sweet is not cheap either so
> get
> > > ready to open the wallet
> > > !
> > >
> > > As far as the functionality of their tools we
> have
> > > been very pleased. They
> > > are very involved with IBM in helping us with
> new
> > > developments for our
> > > design needs and I am sure with other companies
> as
> > > well. Good luck!
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Christian Trudeau
> > > IBM Corporation
> > > ASIC Core Development Circuit Board Design Team
> > > E-Mail : trudeauc@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > Phone : 802-769-5333
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "pentsapor" <pentsapor@xxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent by: si-list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > 07/14/2004 06:55 AM
> > > Please respond to
> > > pentsapor
> > >
> > >
> > > To
> > > si-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > cc
> > >
> > > Subject
> > > [SI-LIST] Allegro
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello all:
> > >
> > > My name's Rafael. I have a question about PCB
> design
> > > software. I work
> > > with an old version of Zuken CadStar to design
> my
> > > PCBs, and I`m
> > > thinking in changing to Cadence Allegro. My
> question
> > > is: Is it a good
> > > election, or you recommend me another one?
> > >
> > > Thank you.
> > >
> > > Rafael.
> > >
> > >
> >
>
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