Siemens ModelSim
The industry-leading simulator for VHDL, Verilog, and SystemVerilog.
Overview
ModelSim is a widely used simulation and debug environment from Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics). It supports VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, and mixed-language designs, making it a versatile tool for verifying FPGAs and ASICs. It is known for its performance, debugging capabilities, and broad support across the industry.
✨ Key Features
- High-performance VHDL, Verilog, and SystemVerilog simulation engine
- Advanced code coverage and analysis tools
- Integrated debugging environment with waveform viewer
- Support for assertion-based verification
- Tcl/Tk scripting for automation
🎯 Key Differentiators
- De facto industry standard for HDL simulation
- Robust and mature debugging environment
- Strong integration with all major FPGA vendor tools
Unique Value: Provides a reliable, high-performance, and trusted simulation environment to verify hardware designs and find bugs early in the development cycle.
🎯 Use Cases (5)
✅ Best For
- Verification of communication protocol IP cores
- Simulation of entire SoC designs
- University-level digital design education
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Design synthesis or implementation (it's a simulation tool only)
- Users needing a completely free, open-source solution
🏆 Alternatives
Offers a more stable, feature-rich, and widely supported simulation experience compared to open-source alternatives, and is more accessible than higher-end ASIC-focused simulators.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Phone Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Questa tier)
💰 Pricing
✓ 14-day free trial
Free tier: FPGA vendors (like Intel) offer a free, tailored version (e.g., ModelSim-Intel FPGA Edition) with limitations on performance and line count.
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