Which CAD tool is better: Protel 2004 or OrCAD 9.2?

[viveklengade]

i want to use one of the cad tool
1 proel 2004dxxp
2.orcad 9.2
which one is better

 

[glock17]

Re: protel or orcad

It's very difficult question. Both products are very good. I'll try to compare briefly 2 softwares
O*cad has a powerful schematic capture, but creating schematic library component more easy in P*otel. O*cad has very uncomfortable layout tool, ecpecially for interactive routing. P*otel layout tool is much better. PCB design rules definition is very simple in the Protel software (because you can see in the picture which parameter is changing). But O*cad has very good interface with S*ecctra Router.
In the latest versions of P*otel you can work with schematics and PCBs created in O*cad. In O*cad you can't work with the P*otel schematics.
I think, somebody can supplement with my comparison.

My choice is P*otel. But remember, please, it's just my personal opinion.
I'm using P*otel several years and I like it. Also I tried to use some other tools (including O*CAD), but anyway I came back to P*otel. I think, if you are beginner in PCB design - your choice is also P*otel, because it's very easy to understand. After understanding P*otel you can easily migrate to any other product. Getting started with O*cad is not good idea.

Good luck!

 

[trigger74]

P*otel or orcad

I agree with glock17

Protel is with user friendly interface and higher flexibility on adjusting parameters...

Beginners should use with it!

 

[sunsina]

Re: protel or orcad

Hi,
I Have Some Experience On PCB design in Protel and Circuit Simulation in ORCAD.

Both Are Very Easy But Simulation in Orcad is Much More Easy than Protel.
Schematic Capture in ORCAD Has a simple Interface Powerful Simulation Library
and Many Specific Parts (Like FM,AM,... Sources).

After Circuit Simulation You are able to Sign Many Parameters Like (Max,Min,...)
On the Chart .And i Think its Spice Engine much Popular (in Books) than Others.

But Protel is Complete in PCB Design .It is Very Powerfull in PCB Design .
and you can Have a Snapshot of 3D Board.
It Has Good Support in WEB and Protel Web Site Realase Service Packs for
its Products (including Protel) which Gives Much More power to its Products.

I think if You want to Design PCB its better to Use Protel because Many People
use this and i think its Like PCB Standard.

The Last Consideration is Money.

 

[viveklengade]

Re: protel or orcad

ok
tell me that how to chose the diffrent routing Stratergies in the protel which is very easy in the orcad .and if i'm dealing with single sided board then how to chose the auto jumper. which is very easy in orcad.

 

[Zdrav]

Re: protel or orcad

I am an O*CAD fan. I have also many friends working with P*otel and have a lot off problems with it. It has too many bugs it is resources hungry and crashes as a rule.
O*CAD is much simplier, I have learned the basics for a couple of days. You don't have 3D but you can do anything you need for the proper design of PCB. I am doing four layered PCB's with 200-300 components, SMD and throughole. It is not true that OrCAD is hard for manual routing. The most of the time I prefer manual routing.
One more thing - the interface to S*ectra Autorouter come with O*CAD v.10. The 9.2 is the one wich I work with and it has not S*ectra Autorouter.


Best wishes to P*rotel group.

 

[_i386sx25_]

Re: protel or orcad

For simulation I would prefer Orcad, for Schematic and PCB I would prefer P*rotel. Especially, I found Orcad capture quite annoying. Take a look at other tools also, like P-CAD and PADS.

 

[viveklengade]

Re: protel or orcad

thnaks alot of
ok plz cna anybody tell me orcad 9.2 lite editon having the gerb tool or not?