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.
Siemens has been clear: "PADS Professional" is the future. The legacy "PADS Standard" (the old Mentor codebase) is in maintenance mode. Expect version VX.3.0 in 2025 to focus on:
After acquiring PADS from Innovative CAD (later known as PADS Software Inc.) in the late 1990s, Mentor Graphics aggressively modernized the toolchain. mentor graphics pads version history
| Version | Year | Major Innovations | |-------------|----------|------------------------| | PADS 2000 (v5.0) | 2000 | Native Windows 2000/XP support. Integrated SPECCTRA autorouter engine. | | PADS 2004 | 2004 | Introduction of PADS Layout (renamed from PowerPCB). First support for differential pairs and length matching. | | PADS 2005 | 2005 | Library Manager overhaul; added Central Library with part‑number management. | | PADS 2007 (v7.x) | 2007 | PADS Logic upgrade with hierarchical schematics. First 64‑bit file I/O support. |
Key change: The 2007 release introduced online DRC (Design Rule Checking) during routing, a major step up from batch‑only checking. 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. Siemens has been clear: "PADS Professional" is the future
| Version | Release Year | Key Innovation | Operating System | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | PowerPCB 1.0 | 1996 | First Windows GUI | Win 95/NT | | PADS 2005 | 2004 | Dedicated Shape-based Router | Win 2000/XP | | PADS 9.5 | 2012 | Legacy stable UI; Last 32-bit version | Win 7 (32/64) | | PADS VX.0 | 2015 | Ribbon UI; xDX Designer | Win 7/10 (64-bit only) | | PADS VX.2.10| 2021 | Rigid-flex design | Win 10 | | PADS Pro VX.2.15 | 2024 | Xpedition backend; Cloud/Teamcenter | Win 11 / Server 2022 |
Mentor rebranded versions to PADS VX.x to align with Xpedition Enterprise.
The transition period. Siemens focused on bridging PADS (mid-tier) with its high-end Xpedition Enterprise tool.