Vol. 8 No. 07 (2026): Volume 08 Issue 07

Digital Very LargeScale Integration (VLSI) design has become increasingly complex due to the rapid growth of semiconductor technology, system-on-chip (SoC) architectures, hardware security requirements, and low-power computing applications. Simulation tools play a significant role in validating hardware functionality, timing behavior, power optimization, and security verification before fabrication. Among the widely used simulators in VLSI design environments are Cadence Verilog-XL, Cadence NCSIM, and Mentor Graphics ModelSim. These simulators provide different levels of performance, simulation speed, debugging capability, memory efficiency, and support for modern verification methodologies. This paper presents a comparative performance analysis of Cadence Verilog-XL, NCSIM, and ModelSim for digital VLSI simulation. The analysis is based on simulation execution time, memory utilization, waveform generation, debugging capability, hardware security validation support, scalability, and compatibility with contemporary VLSI workflows. The paper also discusses the role of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools in secure hardware composition and verification. Experimental observations indicate that NCSIM provides superior runtime efficiency and scalability for large-scale digital circuits, while ModelSim offers strong debugging support and educational usability. Verilog-XL remains useful for legacy verification environments despite limitations in performance and modern feature support. The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate simulation tools according to design complexity, verification requirements, and hardware security constraints in contemporary VLSI systems.