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Ansoft HFSS 5.0 was a three-dimensional, full-wave finite-element electromagnetic simulator for analyzing passive structures. Announced on February 10, 1997, it added adaptive meshing, an advanced matrix solver, ferrite modeling capabilities and an ACIS-based solids modeler. Ansoft said users would see a tenfold speed-up in many cases, but the contemporary announcement reported no benchmark conditions to verify that claim.
What was Ansoft HFSS 5.0?
HFSS 5.0 computed S-parameters and electromagnetic fields for passive, three-dimensional structures. Its full-wave finite-element method made it a tool for microwave and millimeter-wave design facilities, according to the February 11, 1997, EE Times report on Ansoft’s announcement.
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The release retained HFSS’s traditional simulation environment. Ansoft said version 5.0 would be available in spring 1997; that was the planned availability at announcement, not confirmation of a later shipping date.
What new features did HFSS 5.0 add?
Adaptive meshing and matrix solving
Ansoft paired an adaptive meshing algorithm with an advanced matrix solver. Adaptive meshing adjusts the computational mesh to the problem being modeled, while the solver processes the resulting system of equations. The announcement identified these as additions to the existing simulation environment.
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Ferrite modeling
The new ferrite-modeling capabilities were intended for circulators, isolators and other non-reciprocal devices. The announcement described ferrite modeling as a new capability, but did not specify material models, supported operating ranges or validation results.
ACIS-based solids modeling and CAD integration
Ansoft added an ACIS-based solids modeler alongside HFSS’s traditional geometric modeler. The company described it as a way to create more sophisticated models and integrate with CAD tools; the report did not name particular CAD products or detail the integration workflow.
How much did Ansoft HFSS 5.0 cost in 1997?
The prices below are historical figures reported by EE Times in 1997, not current prices. The report gives a combined price for workstation and PC versions without breaking it down by platform.
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| Product or option | Reported 1997 price | What the report says |
|---|---|---|
| HFSS 5.0 workstation and PC versions | $41,900 | Price reported in the 1997 announcement coverage; no platform-specific split stated. |
| Maxwell 3D Field Simulator ferrite-modeling add-on | $19,900 | Price reported for the add-on, distinct from the HFSS 5.0 price. |
| Maxwell Eminence | $49,900 | Positioned as a complete EM modeling environment for high-speed electronic design. |
How fast was HFSS 5.0 compared with earlier versions?
Ansoft’s announcement said, “In many cases, users will see a ten times speed-up with Ansoft HFSS version 5.0.” This was a company claim quoted by EE Times, not a published independent benchmark. The report provided no test model, hardware configuration, comparison version or timing results, so it does not establish that every simulation—or any particular user’s workload—would run ten times faster.
Who sold HFSS 5.0, and who was it for?
With version 5.0, Ansoft took over direct HFSS sales and marketing; earlier versions had been marketed by Hewlett Packard. Ansoft positioned HFSS for microwave and millimeter-wave design facilities, while describing Maxwell Eminence as an EM modeling environment for high-speed electronic design. The announcement also cited applications-engineer support by hotline, fax, email and anonymous FTP, plus scheduled courses and on-site group training. Seminars introducing HFSS 5.0 were planned for March and April 1997.
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