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OrCAD X
San Jose, California, USA
What it is
OrCAD X is an AI-enabled electronic design automation platform for small and medium-sized businesses designing medium-complexity boards. It combines schematic capture, PCB layout, and simulation through web and Windows deployments. Layout tools provide interactive and automatic routing, design-rule checks, constraint-driven tools, 3D viewing, and design-for-manufacturing checks. Integrated PSpice supports analog and mixed-signal simulation with Monte Carlo, worst-case, and sensitivity analyses. Capture connects to Ultra Librarian, SamacSys, and SnapMagic for component symbols and footprints. ECAD/MCAD collaboration supports SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, Siemens NX, Autodesk Fusion, and PTC Creo. Professional and Professional Plus include Live BOM information covering component lifecycle, availability, inventory, lead time, alternatives, and pricing. Single-user cloud licenses allow installation on up to five computers, with one active device at a time. Standard and Professional PSpice Basic simulations stop at stated node, transient-point, or sweep-point limits. The commercial Professional Plus trial lasts 30 days, provides unrestricted tier access, and requires no payment details.
For and against
For
- Interactive and automatic PCB routing
- Integrated analog and mixed-signal PSpice simulation
- Live BOM details on higher plans
- Connections to major component libraries
- ECAD/MCAD collaboration across five listed systems
Against
- No free plan is available
- Yearly license prices vary by region
- Only one cloud-license device can be active
- Basic PSpice simulations have stated limits
The verdict
OrCAD X combines board design, simulation, component sourcing information, and mechanical collaboration in a hybrid web and Windows setup. Review plan pricing, license activation rules, and PSpice limits before selecting a tier.
Who it suits
OrCAD X is intended for small and medium-sized businesses creating medium-complexity circuit boards. It suits designers needing schematic, layout, simulation, and mechanical-tool collaboration.
Plans and prices
OrCAD X Professional
Live BOM · team collaboration · automation and high-speed features · integrated SI/PI analysis
Read 2 Oct 2026 · cadence.com
OrCAD X Professional Plus
Professional features · advanced PSpice analysis · circuit optimizer · MATLAB Simulink integration
Read 2 Oct 2026 · cadence.com
OrCAD X Standard
Essential schematic capture · basic PSpice simulation · up to 10GB cloud storage
Read 2 Oct 2026 · cadence.com
On the record
- Circuit simulation
- Integrated PSpice supports analog and mixed-signal simulation, including Monte Carlo, worst-case, and sensitivity analyses.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Component integrations
- OrCAD X Capture integrates with Ultra Librarian, SamacSys, and SnapMagic for component symbols and footprints.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Desktop platform
- OrCAD X desktop supports 64-bit Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise and Windows 11 Professional or Enterprise, plus Windows Server 2019 and 2022.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- License limits
- Single-user cloud licenses allow installation on up to five computers with only one device active at a time; cloud floating licenses and license borrowing are not supported.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Cadence Design Systems, Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California, and was founded in 1988.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Mechanical integrations
- ECAD/MCAD collaboration supports SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, Siemens NX, Autodesk Fusion, and PTC Creo.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- PCB layout
- PCB layout includes interactive and automatic routing, design-rule checks, constraint-driven tools, 3D viewing, and design-for-manufacturing checks.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- PSpice limits
- Standard and Professional PSpice Basic simulation is limited to 250 nodes or devices, one million transient data points, or 10,000 sweep data points, whichever is reached first.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OrCAD X is an AI-enabled electronic design automation platform for schematic capture, PCB layout, and simulation, aimed at small to medium-sized businesses designing medium-complexity boards.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Security
- OrCAD X OnCloud describes enterprise-grade encryption, access controls, and audit trails, while the FAQ says Cadence OnCloud uses layered security and Defense-in-Depth principles.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Supply chain
- OrCAD X Professional and Professional Plus include Live BOM with real-time component lifecycle, availability, inventory, lead-time, alternatives, and pricing information.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- Premium support offers major and minor product updates, OnCloud access, and phone and case-based technical support; community forums and online training are also available.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Trial
- The commercial Professional Plus trial lasts 30 days, provides unrestricted access to that tier, and requires no payment details; the academic license lasts six months.www5.cadence.com · read 2 Oct 2026
