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ExtraEFI.co.uk
MS1-Extra or MS2-Extra?? |
| Like most things in life, this is not a straight forward answer. Most
people like to have the latest and fastest stuff that's available. This
is great, but there's nothing whatsoever wrong with the MS1-Extra ECU
when compared to the faster MS2-Extra ECU. Indeed the MS1-Extra code
was written in assembly language, this makes for a very efficient code
when compared to the C language used in MS2. Certain time sensitive
parts of the MS2 code were re-written in assembly for MS2-Extra to make
it more efficient. But when you concider that at 8000rpm it takes 7.5mSec
for a piston to do one complete stroke, this is very slow compared to
the time it takes the MS1-Extra ECU to process the fueling calculations
for the engine. The MS1-Extra can do almost all that the MS2-Extra ECU
can do, in fact it can do more in some instances, as it has 6 spark
outputs, where as the MS2-Extra ECU has only 4 spark outputs. The MS2-Extra
ECU can control stepper motor idle valves, where as the MS1-Extra can
only control 2 or 3 wired idle valves. But as the MS2-Extra ECU has
less outputs than the MS1 some of the features can't be used with the
Stepper controller anyhow, as those outputs are needed for some features.
See HERE for a chart of feature
comparisons. Note: These all can't be used together on either ECU.
The main advantage of the MS2-Extra ECU is that it can be used on a lot more vehicles without fitting a different crank wheel. So MS2-Extra is more versatile if you want to go for a setup that's a little more plug-n-play. It also has a faster processor and more RAM, so that allows it to be more accurate, e.g. timing resolution of 0.1deg with MS2-Extra, where as with MS1-Extra it is 0.3deg. The fueling control in MS2-Extra also has improved resolution, 0.67uSecs where as MS1 is 100uSecs. This means you can control really huge injectors better at idle with MS2. As you can see, MS1-Extra is still very impressive as far as accuracy is concerned, but MS2-Extra is clearly a step ahead in the resolution steaks. The MS1-Extra ECU has been used successfully on everything from Ferrari's to 2CV's, 27Litre V12 Rolls Royce Merlin engines with 24 spark plugs to one cylinder lawnmower engines, so it has a proven track record. Indeed the MS2-Extra can run all those too, well, all except the V12 as it was on wasted spark. The MS2-Extra is a little more expensive, around £40 more than an equivalent MS1-Extra ECU, so that's also a consideration. Perhaps the most important thing to note right now is that the MS2-Extra code is still under going development. This means there could be the need to reprogram the ECU from time to time if bugs are found and fixes are released. This was the case with early MS1-Extra codes for quite some time, but now it is considered stable and for all intensive purposes a finished code (029y4). So if you do order an MS2-Extra ECU please be a little understanding if the code isn't quite 100% as it should be. As far as backup is concerned there are more people out there running MS1-Extra than any other code right now. Not that backup for MS2-Extra is hard to find though, just that the bulk of experience will be with MS1-Extra for some time to come. Which one to go for? Well, its up to you to be honest. If you have one of the compatible setups that the MS2-Extra covers and MS1-Extra does not, then you need an MS2-Extra ECU. Where as if you have a setup that either ECU can run then you have to make a choice as to what one you want to go for, or if you need more than 4 spark outputs (10 or 12cy) then it has to be MS1. Remember in most cases an MS1 ECU can be converted over to MS2 in the future if you feel the need to, as it uses the same main board. So you see, there's no definitive answer as to which one you should choose really. Both have their own merits, for the money the MS1-Extra ECU can't be beaten, it is simply the best ECU you can buy for the money, it out rivals many ECU's that cost several times as much, but then the same can be said for the MS2-Extra ECU. Both ECU's also have excellent technical manuals that I have compile. Well I would think they are excelllent :o) ( MS1-Extra Manuals -- MS2-Extra Manuals ) I have been running MS1-Extra on my V8 Cobra Replica since James and I started to write the Extra code a few years ago, where as my VR6 will eventually run MS2-Extra when I can find the time to fit it. For more on MS1-Extra and MS2-Extra differences see HERE |