Is there any way to predict the smallest reasonable PCB that can contain a
given set of parts?

Lay out a dummy board in any Electronic CAD ap, without specifying the full
schematic. In other words, draw a schematic with no connections, capture it
with your CAD ap, and either lay it out with spacings that you feel
comfortable with from experience, or do a rough placement and use a board
density check -then- adjust your size and spacings until the check shows
you're within a density value range that your earlier designs seem to fall
into.

I guess the other possible answers are: Ater you have done too many board
designs, you'll be able to guess right almost every time - so just practice,
practice, practice. Also; Draw your desired board outline first and just
MAKE everything fit inside it. But I wouldn't give these last two as
legitimate replies...
Chris

ps: Generally when I post something like this, someone comes up with a nice
clean formula to use shortly thereafter...
c

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