Mentor Graphics Pads Version History Direct

| Period | Branding | Example Versions | |------------|--------------|-----------------------| | 1986–1994 | PADS‑PCB | v1.0 – v3.5 (DOS) | | 1995–1999 | PowerPCB | PowerPCB v1.0 – v4.0 | | 2000–2007 | PADS (year‑based) | 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007 | | 2009–2015 | PADS 9.x | 9.0, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5 | | 2015–2020 | PADS VX | VX.0, VX.1, VX.2 up to VX.2.10 | | 2021–present | PADS Professional (Siemens) | Pro 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 |

For decades, Mentor Graphics PADS (Personal Automated Design System) has served as a cornerstone tool for PCB designers, bridging the gap between complex enterprise-level solutions and entry-level hobbyist tools. This paper explores the version history of PADS, tracing its origins as an independent DOS-based solution through its acquisition by Mentor Graphics, the pivotal transition to Windows, and its modern incarnation under Siemens Digital Industries Software. The history of PADS is not merely a list of version numbers; it represents the broader evolution of the PCB design industry from flat, two-dimensional schematics to complex, multi-layer high-speed digital design.

This is the period most working engineers remember. Mentor Graphics stabilized the codebase, modernized the version numbers, and turned PADS into a tiered product (PADS Standard, PADS Professional, PADS Standard Plus). mentor graphics pads version history

Following Siemens’ acquisition of Mentor Graphics (completed 2017), the first Siemens‑branded releases arrived in 2021, focusing on cloud collaboration and mechanical‑electrical co‑design.

| Version | Year | Siemens‑Era Features | |-------------|----------|----------------------------| | PADS Professional 1.0 | 2021 | Re‑branded from VX.2.11. Integrated Valor NPI (New Product Introduction) for DFM checks. | | PADS Professional 2.0 | 2022 | Xpedition‑like cage‑slot editor for backplanes. Real‑time BOM management via Siemens’ Capital platform. | | PADS Professional 3.0 | 2023 | Cloud Library Sync – share components across multiple users. 4K display scaling improvements. | | PADS Professional 3.1 | 2024 | Native USB‑C connector routing patterns. Automated fanout templates for BGAs (0.5mm pitch and below). | | PADS Professional 4.0 | Expected 2025 | (Roadmap hints at AI‑assisted placement and thermal simulation via Simcenter) | | Period | Branding | Example Versions |

Note: The classic “PADS Standard” still exists for smaller boards (up to 16 layers). “PADS Professional” now shares the same database engine as Xpedition Enterprise.

In 1994, Mentor Graphics acquired PADS Software, Inc. This was a strategic move by Mentor to capture the mid-range market, complementing their high-end "Board Station" enterprise suite. For decades, Mentor Graphics PADS (Personal Automated Design

Before it was "Mentor Graphics PADS," it was simply PADS PCB. The software was developed in the early 1980s by a company named CAD Software, Inc., based in Littleton, Massachusetts. At the time, PCB design was done on Unix workstations costing $50,000+. PADS was revolutionary because it ran on MS-DOS on a standard IBM PC.

By 1990, PADS was the most popular low-cost PCB tool in the world. The company rebranded to PADS Software, Inc. , but the interface remained purely text-based.

| Pros | Cons | |---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | Long file backward compatibility (PADS 9.x files open in VX/Pro) | Steep price increase after Siemens acquisition | | Scalable – from simple 2-layer to complex 20+ layer boards | Feature fragmentation across Standard/Plus/Pro | | Strong router (PADS Router / Allegro-like in Pro) | Some versions (VX.0–VX.1) had stability issues | | Excellent simulation integration (HyperLynx) | Documentation can be scattered across versions | | Still used by many contract manufacturers (CMs) | No native macOS/Linux version (Windows only) |