ECU processor speed..why bother ?

flamefox850

500 RPM
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Nov 15, 2003
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hi,

i just want to ask u guys, why people bother about ecu processor speed ? what's the advantage if the speed higher ? and what's the disadvantage if the speed is low (such as stock ecu)
 

soggie

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Oct 26, 2004
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Lets take 2 rpm monitors for example.

A - process 1000 signals per second
B - process 100 signals per second

Objetive: Rev cut exactly at 7000 rpm. Rate of climb: 3000 rpm per second

Ok, now you step on the pedal, both engines hit 6000 rpm after 2 seconds. Now what?

On the third second, both rpms climb to 7000, and A cuts it at 7000, while B cuts it at probably 8000-8500 rpm.

Why? This is because B's processor is much slower, and couldn't accurately trigger the event scheduled to happen on that very moment, due to slow update-feedback process. The faster ECU captures the change easily, and accurately does its work. In an engine where everything is delicate - an imbalance of fuel/air might lead to serious complications, the speed and accuracy of the ECU becomes a major factor, as in all real-time applications.
 

flamefox850

500 RPM
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ok thx bro soogie.. got what u mean.

so, if i take 1 ABC engine using fast ecu with optimum afr and ignition timing for max power...then swap with slower ecu with same afr and ignition timing setting as previous...and the result : the slower ecu might cause the engine to knock if boost comes too fast as it retard ignition timing a litte slower than previous ecu..is it ?
 

ecupro

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Nov 30, 2005
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soggie,
You quote:
"On the third second, both rpms climb to 7000, and A cuts it at 7000, while B cuts it at probably 8000-8500 rpm."

May be wrong in theory. All processor has built in timer( may be more ).There use the clock speed to do division, and talking at ms ( time unit ).

Those who really at 80s, playing games on Apple-II computer with green monitor,there are doing good job there.

For resolution, we are talking on from 8 bits system ( like Apple-II,IBM ) to 32 bits system. The more bits you have, the higher resolution.

For speed wise, high speed mean the processor can do more job ( processor have more time to do others event, and depned on timer again )

Good Luck.
 

ecupro

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soggie,
You quote:
" Haha I couldn't think of a layman way of describing it anyway :P "

Well, every body try to do the "BEST" way.
Anyway, good try.

Good Luck.
 

khoyos

2,000 RPM
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Nov 23, 2003
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my understanding (which may be wrong)

no way an engine's revs or boost can climb up faster than the ecu can process. hell, even a calculator can do thousands of calculations per second (as ecupro said, measured in miliseconds). i doubt even an F1 engine can skip its rev limiter...

please please correct me if i'm wrong. i'm also learning
 

pcdr

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higher rate to proces more info at the same time,i read it sumewhere regarding bmw m6 having the most sensors on car thus needing a higher procesing ecu,well 32 bit would be nicer to see no?dont we just love numbers....well i do

plus computer can hang mah,muhaha i rather play game on higher pentium procesor rather than playing game on the minimum requirement and having abit bit problem especially when i try to alt+tab it to open diffrent program
 
Last edited:

ecupro

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pcdr,
You quote :" higher rate to proces more info at the same time,i read it sumewhere regarding bmw m6 having the most sensors on car thus needing a higher procesing ecu,well 32 bit would be nicer to see no?dont we just love numbers....well i do"

Well, this BMW using Network to communicate like even a up/down window,driver sit position.....

Now 32 bit, then....64 bit.......

Ahhhhhh.......8 bit with 4 Quad Core....he..he..he....

Good Luck.
 

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