SIMetrix and SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Intro

SIMetrix Intro and SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Intro are free versions of the program with no license or copying restrictions. Virtually all features are enabled but a circuit size limit applies. The limits for the Intro versions are generous enough for them to be used for real work and we are happy for users to do so.

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"I have used pretty much all of the simulators out there, Hspice, HPspice, PSpice, Mspice, Accusim, Spectre, SpectreRF and the list goes on... but none are as simple, straightforward to use as SIMetrix."

 System Requirements

Windows

SIMetrix Intro for Windows and SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Intro require Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista. SIMetrix Intro will not install or run on Windows 95,98, ME or NT4.

Linux

SIMetrix for Linux requires Redhat 7.x, 8.0 or 9.0, or SuSE 8.x or 9.x. Other distributions may work but are not supported. Note that the SIMPLIS versions are not available for the Linux platform.

SIMetrix Intro Limitations

Features

All features of the full production version are enabled except:

  1. The command line is not present. This effectively inhibits any features that require the command line. There are, however, very few of these
  2. User scripts
  3. Custom menu and key definitions
  4. The PSpice translator is limited to small schematics
  5. SPICE3 raw file import
  6. Safe Operating Area testing is not available
  7. The menu/key editor is not available

Some of the above features can be enabled for 30 days using the unlock feature. See menu Help | Unlock Features...

Circuit Size Limits

There is a limit to the size of circuit that can be simulated. The exact limits are:

120 internal analog nodes (see note below)
36 digital nodes
72 digital ports
24 digital components
36 digital outputs

"internal analog nodes" include nodes inside elements such as opamps.

There is also a limit to the number of some analog components. The limit for each type of component varies. For example, you can have about 18 BJTs or 76 diodes, but you can't have 18 BJTs and 76 diodes. But you could have 9 BJTs and 38 diodes. There are no limits for some components, e.g. resistors, independent sources and controlled sources.

Other Limitations

There are no Limits On...

...the complexity of arbitrary source expressions or arbitrary logic block definitions.

There are also no limits on the size of schematic that can be drawn or printed. You are welcome to use SIMetrix as a free general purpose schematic drawing tool.

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Intro Limitations

SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Intro has all the features of SIMetrix Intro, so all the limitations described above also apply to it.

In addition the SIMPLIS simulator has the following restrictions:

  1. A total of no more than 15 state variables.  A capacitor or an inductor each requires one state variable.  Each time-varying or small-signal AC source requires one state variable, with the exception of SINusoidal or COSinusoidal sources, which require two state variables per source.
  2. A total of no more than 10 capacitors or inductors combined.
  3. A total of no more than six switches, simple or transistor.
  4. A total of no more than six logic gates.
  5. A total of no more than 26 "states."  Each PWL element requires one state.  Each switch requires one state.  Each time-varying source requires one state.  Each logic gate requires one state.
  6. A total of no more than 100 new topologies. 100 topologies will be enough for simple switching circuits that use simple models only. More complex circuits or circuits that have more complicated models may exceed this limit


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