Version 8 introduced a more intuitive 3D layout viewer. The "Via Wizard" automates the creation of vias with antipads, stitching patterns, and ground shields. For PCB and package designers, this reduced manual drawing time by over 50%.
The "co-simulation" feature allowed users to simulate the interaction between the lumped components and the distributed electromagnetic (EM) fields of the PCB. This was crucial for designs operating above 1 GHz, where a simple trace acts as a transmission line rather than a simple wire. Ansoft Designer 8 64bit