Mentor Graphics Pads Version History Exclusive Jun 2026

Integrated PartQuest Portal services. This allowed users to fetch live component pricing, availability, and symbol data.

, catering to the growing market of independent engineers and smaller design teams. Throughout the 90s, it solidified its reputation as the "desktop PCB tool of choice," eventually being acquired by Mentor Graphics The Mentor Graphics Era: 2000s – 2016

In 2016, Mentor Graphics released PADS Professional, a comprehensive PCB design solution that combined the best features of PADS and Mentor Graphics' other design tools. mentor graphics pads version history

The Mentor Graphics Era: The PADS 2005 to 9.x Series (2005–2015)

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. Integrated PartQuest Portal services

Integrated part search and supply chain verification utilities directly into the schematic capture tool, alerting designers to obsolete components before layout began.

By 2014, the classic PADS database code (stretching back to the PowerPCB days) was hitting architectural limits. High-density interconnect (HDI) designs, complex ball grid arrays (BGAs), and rigid-flex boards required a completely new engine. Throughout the 90s, it solidified its reputation as

64-bit architecture, cloud collaboration, and Siemens PLM integration.

This version consolidated many of the newly acquired tools into a more cohesive layout and routing environment. The Mentor Graphics Era: 2001–2017

More flexibility in layout constraints.

Versions of PADS generally fall into three distinct eras of numbering and architecture: History of PADS - PCB Libraries Forum