Simulation using Altium Designer vs HyperLynx - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: matrixofdynamism
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2020, 11:56:12 am
content: HyperLynx is the most advanced tool to carry out simulation of high speed signals e.g DDR3 DQ-DQS lines, power delivery network e.t.c. Altium designer integrates a lot of tools which includes those that can be used for similar simulation.For anyone that has used HyperLynx and also Altium Designer's simulation tools, what would you say are the pros and cons of each? Altium designer is much cheaper and I think it works well for signals below a certain frequency (I have heard it is 1GHz but not sure). Is there a reason why one would choose Altium Designer over HyperLynx when designing a complex PCB with DDR3 memory devices and transceivers?

author: E-Design
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2020, 12:08:06 am
content: If you need to simulate high speed traces such as for your DDR, then Hyperlynx for sure - its not even close.If you just need to simulate low frequency lumped element circuits, then useAltiumall the free circuit simulators available (just as good if not better)In my opinion, there is not a simulation use case for Altium at all. Its a great schematic capture and PCB tool - but its only good for that.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2020, 07:37:36 am
content: For those unaware, Altium does have signal quality analysis tooling built in.You need an IBIS model for every pin on the nets you wish to test. The PCB design must use plane layers, not inner signal layers with polygon pours. (The impedance calculation is done to the nearest plane(s). No further checks are done, i.e., it assumes your planes are solid and well bypassed.) I forget if trace-trace coupling is modeled, or not (i.e. traces assumed isolated from each other). I'm not sure if vias are modeled, and if so, to what detail.It's not much more value than doing it by hand, but it does draw waveforms which is neat, and maybe you'll catch a stupid loop or stub you accidentally left in the design.Impedance control and delay matching are handled through their own design rules, so don't need to be (but can be) checked here. (Note again, impedance control requires use of planes.)Tim

author: asmi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2020, 03:09:15 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on September 14, 2020, 07:37:36 amIt's total unusable garbage because of bold part. Also it seems impossible to only analyze certain nets as opposed to wasting CPU power and time simulation nets which are inconsequential to the task at hand. Orcad SI tools are miles ahead of AD in this regard. Since I have a license for both, I do my sims in Orcad, and then use results in AD. Also trying to figure out what would it take to import AD PCB into Orcad so that I can lay down the board in AD, and then run sims in Orcad to verify I didn't screw up anything (Orcad's impedance and coupling visions are the way these things are supposed to be done, seethis postto see some screenshots of what it looks like). I wish one day AD will get similar functionality. Right now it's not there.

author: matrixofdynamism
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2020, 09:09:16 pm
content: Lets just use Ansys SI Wave or Hyperlynx.

author: E-Design
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2020, 11:54:18 pm
content: Quote from: matrixofdynamism on October 21, 2020, 09:09:16 pmYes or Keysight ADS. All these tools however are MEGA$$$