PowerFC vs Nistune?

[Tensor187x]

What are you guys opinions on both of these and which do you prefer?
It's that time for me to get a tune and i can't decide which setup I'd rather go for.

Spending around $1000 seems like a lot of money for a ecu.

My Specs:

s14 SR
Tomei Metal HeadGasket
gt2871r
n62 MAF
HKS 555cc Injectros
HKS actuator @ 14psi
3" from turbo back
Megan FPR

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[johngriff]

If you are limited at $1000, then You should get a PFC, and tuned by Steve Shadows @ Shadowerks, since you are in the OC.

He is the premier SR20DET tuner for So-Cal.

Here are some links to his work, he is in Mission Viejo.

http://zilvia.net/f/members/steve-shadows.html
Shadowerks
http://zilvia.net/f/businesses/16350...veshadows.html

If you have about $1600 to spend, I would blow all of that off and just go for the haltech Platinum 1000 Ecu, thing is AMAZING, more powerful than a motech, makes the aem look like a 90's afc. Def haltech is top notch!

[Tensor187x]

Originally Posted by johngriff

If you are limited at $1000, then You should get a PFC, and tuned by Steve Shadows @ Shadowerks, since you are in the OC.

He is the premier SR20DET tuner for So-Cal.

Here are some links to his work, he is in Mission Viejo.

http://zilvia.net/f/members/steve-shadows.html
Shadowerks
http://zilvia.net/f/businesses/16350...veshadows.html

If you have about $1600 to spend, I would blow all of that off and just go for the haltech Platinum 1000 Ecu, thing is AMAZING, more powerful than a motech, makes the aem look like a 90's afc. Def haltech is top notch!

I'm not limited to $1000, I'm saying i think $1000 is outrageous to pay for an ECU. If there are enough cons about it than I'll consider getting a PowerFC.

[RACETUNE]

Get an Apexi Power FC. You can find Certifed Apexi Power Excel Dealer on Apexi's website. Good Luck with your Project.

Originally Posted by Tensor187x

What are you guys opinions on both of these and which do you prefer?
It's that time for me to get a tune and i can't decide which setup I'd rather go for.

Spending around $1000 seems like a lot of money for a ecu.

My Specs:

s14 SR
Tomei Metal HeadGasket
gt2871r
n62 MAF
HKS 555cc Injectros
HKS actuator @ 14psi
3" from turbo back
Megan FPR

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[johngriff]

Originally Posted by Tensor187x

I'm not limited to $1000, I'm saying i think $1000 is outrageous to pay for an ECU. If there are enough cons about it than I'll consider getting a PowerFC.

In an engine management system, there are three BIG things that stick out in my mind, that I would use to make my final choice.

Is it reliable?
Is this EMS reliable? Does it have good timing algorithms for the Nissan CAS signal, do I need to use a new / different cas sensor?
Qualifiers

• Haltech
• Power FC
• Nistune

Is it accessible?
If I needed to access the fuel and ignition maps in the ECU, how easily can I interface with them? Do I have to be a dealer to modify or read them? Spending that much money only to be locked out is kind of a slap in the face
Qualifiers

• Haltech
• AEM EMS
• NISTUNE

Is the software Easy to use?
It seems like a simple enough question, but just tuning on bad, poorly written or hacked together software can be such a pain in the ass that a project never gets off the ground. Make sure you test the software you are going to be using, before spending that much money on it.
Qualifiers

• Haltech
• FC Loggit
• TEC III

I have been selling and tuning EMS's for years now, and that is my 100% absolute professional opinion.

And if I can chime in on dyno's.

Eddy Current Brakes!!!!!


I don't know how much louder, or how many more times I have to say this but, dynojets are a thing of the past and a complete and total joke. Inertia dyno's are so 1980's, and at best can only get close to scratching the surface of a correct tune on just the WOT portion of a Fuel/Ign map.

Eddy Brakes let the tuner load the car down, at any choice of speed, then take the engine to all throttle ranges, simulating all load point possibilities. A car tuned on a Eddy Brake Dyno, like the DYNO DYNAMICS will perform better, be more drivable, more reliable, and have better throttle response and output at ALL Engine Speeds, gears and throttle positions than the same car tuned on a inertia dyno like the dynojet.

Just DON'T DO IT. Its 2009, about to be 2010, BETTER TECHNOLOGY HAS LONG SINCE ARRIVED, time to get with it.

[smelly240]

NISTUNE is tremendously easy to use and set up. and the software is stable and solid.

its a lot like ectune for hondas. If ur a badass get haltech, if no... dont get it.

you're in socal - u can find shops to tune any ems u choose.

[blackej7]

if you think 1000 is too much to spend on engine management, your car will never be fast AND reliable.

[VNG704]

bump, suscribed for more info.

[ManoNegra]

If I had $$$ to burn I'd look at Haltech
but for the money Nistune is the better choice
friend has been running it for years on his SR and it's badass

I plan to do a mild tune on a KA for the street, na or maybe turbo
Nistune wont' mess with smog stuff.

[DALAZ_68]

Personal opinion,

if ur going for some crazy number in HP, above the 500 mark, i suggest APC, even better haltech unit,

if ur looking just to tune ur upgraded turbo/inj/maf set up, NIStune

its all about what ur tryin to achieve,Nistune is Easy as hell to use, sure if u dont own it u dont have access to software, but that doesnt mean its not a great product...I was in the market for Haltech or even Megasquirt for my CA, but i came to my senses, those set ups are for higher HP cars that need it, my car just needs a basic stronger tune for an upgraded turbo/maf/inj set up...

its all about what u need...not what it cost

[s14unimog]

Originally Posted by blackej7

if you think 1000 is too much to spend on engine management, your car will never be fast AND reliable.

^

That is not true at all. I have a Nistune system and love it. I'm actually going to the dyno Friday; looking for around 400whp. I am sure that my $500 Nistune system can handling the setup reliably and accurately.

[smelly240]

400 isnt high horsepower.

if u were going for over 500 - i'd tell u to opt for haltech.

for 500 and below - nistune will be fine. It gives u dwell control (big deal if ur running higher boost).

[Tensor187x]

For my setup it seems as if nistune is the way to go!
I'm not making big numbers, somewhere around 300hp i would assume.

[slider2828]

I love my power fc... .you guys are also missing a big point, which is the Commander hand unit. Come on now, gives you so much information for your car, I use it a lot.... You see nothing in Nistune except the steel box ahhaha. But yeah the hand controller for PFC is very very good information. I wish I went PFC sooner. Just this single fact makes a huge difference...

+10982742340720 for steve's tuning. Awesome tuner! I wanna bring it back to him, but damn it lack of funds.... but soon !!!!

[johngriff]

Someone PM or Email me a link or copy of Nistune.

I would really like to work through the software.

You could never sell me an ems with a software I have never tested.

So please someone link me to it. If its the real deal holyfield, hell I will become a Nistune dealer.

[email protected]

[landins13]

Originally Posted by slider2828

I love my power fc... .you guys are also missing a big point, which is the Commander hand unit. Come on now, gives you so much information for your car, I use it a lot.... You see nothing in Nistune except the steel box ahhaha. But yeah the hand controller for PFC is very very good information. I wish I went PFC sooner. Just this single fact makes a huge difference...

+10982742340720 for steve's tuning. Awesome tuner! I wanna bring it back to him, but damn it lack of funds.... but soon !!!!

nistune plus laptop makes pfc commander look like a gamboy.

[LigouriRd]

If you download the software off of Nistune's site there is a trial period included. Basically you can open the software once to check it out then it locks. All you have to do is uninstall it, reinstall, and you can use it again. I did this for months before I decided to purchase the software license. Of course the software won't help you if you do not have a tunable ecu from nistune or one of the other daughterboard makers (calum, moates, etc)

[ROIDMONKEY]

Im using a AEM EMS at the moment . reason i bought it= cause one of the best tuner down here only tunes AEM EMS. hes awesome. AEM EMS have more option than PFC and one of them is when u do a dual pump setup the AEM turn on the secondary pump when u go (for example) over 10 pound of boost . PFC cant do that . out puts on AEM are programables , had a PFC for a while but ended up selling cause there is no a good PFC tuner down here ...
if u only looking to make 350 or so PFC if u looking to make over 500 AEM EMS

[smelly240]

Originally Posted by slider2828

I love my power fc... .you guys are also missing a big point, which is the Commander hand unit. Come on now, gives you so much information for your car, I use it a lot.... You see nothing in Nistune except the steel box ahhaha. But yeah the hand controller for PFC is very very good information. I wish I went PFC sooner. Just this single fact makes a huge difference...

+10982742340720 for steve's tuning. Awesome tuner! I wanna bring it back to him, but damn it lack of funds.... but soon !!!!

with nistune you have every single sensor displayed right on ur computer...

or u can get the viewer from plms. shows everything the commander does.

fc commander is weak.

The powerFC isnt weak... but the stupid commander... pff.

[DALAZ_68]

Originally Posted by slider2828

You see nothing in Nistune except the steel box ahhaha. But yeah the hand controller for PFC is very very good information. I wish I went PFC sooner. Just this single fact makes a huge difference...

dont judge what u dont know

Originally Posted by johngriff

You could never sell me an ems with a software I have never tested.

ill do you one better...come down to my house over the weekend...my Nistune ECU is installed, i have my wide band hooked up aswell...if u want first hand exposure ur welcome to it... if u have any questions i cant answer i can send said questions to

Chris Jensen DC Performance
3370 South Livonia Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310.841.6996 ask for chris

if ur down let me know, ur welcom to it, pretty much callign you out, not in a dick move, simply in a opportunistic way for u to get first hand exp

Originally Posted by landins13

nistune plus laptop makes pfc commander look like a gamboy.

im not downing the PFC at all, deffinetly worth the money, if ur going for high HP... the upside to the APC is if u decid to go above 500hp for us, we cant use the Z32 maf anylonger, u have to go fuel map,and if im not mistaken that s the L jetro model which means even more that 1k other than that i dont see a point to spend that big of cash...

[johngriff]

Originally Posted by ROIDMONKEY

Im using a AEM EMS at the moment . reason i bought it= cause one of the best tuner down here only tunes AEM EMS. hes awesome. AEM EMS have more option than PFC and one of them is when u do a dual pump setup the AEM turn on the secondary pump when u go (for example) over 10 pound of boost . PFC cant do that . out puts on AEM are programables , had a PFC for a while but ended up selling cause there is no a good PFC tuner down here ...
if u only looking to make 350 or so PFC if u looking to make over 500 AEM EMS

That is the single worst idea I have ever heard of for so many reasons.

[water]

Originally Posted by ROIDMONKEY

had a PFC for a while but ended up selling cause there is no a good PFC tuner down here ...
if u only looking to make 350 or so PFC if u looking to make over 500 AEM EMS

you shouldn't be allowed to talk sometimes. ANYONE can tune a Power FC. If a tuner tells you they can't tune a PFC, they're retarded, run. B/c it doesn't get any easier than MAF tuning.

If you're even considering an l-jetro, ignore the pfc.

PFC's are great for easy tuning if you want to keep a MAF. Those of you arguing nistune vs pfc - well the PFC has the potential to be more accurately tuned with better power delivery since it works w/ a 20x20 map instead of 16x16.

Forget HP numbers - if you are staying MAF, you already know you're limited. Choosing between a PFC or a Nistune comes down to personal preference. W/ a datalogit, you can unlock a multitude of parameters (not normally accessible with the commander only) and have aux ins/outs. The cost factor is what really matters here. Brand new vs brand new, id go nistune. But I got a PFC used off yahoo auctions japan and got a datalogit new all for under $550 total so you can do a PFC on the cheap. And don't listen to anyone that says they can't tune a PFC. That's called a bad tuner. Also, consider a ROM tune if you're sticking with a MAF unless YOU WANT TO be involved with your ECU. ROM tunes are the bees knees for most people and for very good reason. If you think you need tunes with every mod you do to your car or that you can only get an accurate tune on a dyno, you don't understand MAF tuning.

[water]

Originally Posted by johngriff

Is it accessible?
If I needed to access the fuel and ignition maps in the ECU, how easily can I interface with them? Do I have to be a dealer to modify or read them? Spending that much money only to be locked out is kind of a slap in the face
Qualifiers

• Haltech
• AEM EMS
• NISTUNE

Assuming the PFC has a commander and/or datalogit, the fuel and ignition maps are readily accessible. I think its misleading to not add them to the list if that's the criteria. However, i would agree if you mentioned that the commander, while allowing access, is severely limited and a complete and total pain in the ass to use. The PFC, sans datalogit, would definitely reside at the bottom of this list!

[slider2828]

Yeah the MAF vs. MAP deal too.... DJetro versions for sure....

Well good if Nistune has something for PC Commanderish stuff.... But that is an added cost as well....

[s14unimog]

Originally Posted by smelly240

400 isnt high horsepower.

if u were going for over 500 - i'd tell u to opt for haltech.

for 500 and below - nistune will be fine. It gives u dwell control (big deal if ur running higher boost).

I never claimed it to be, but if you read the comment I quoted then you'll agree; unless you're retarded. BTW another great thing about Nistune is that they are constantly releasing new updates with more peramiters of adjustability. The Nistune system now has adjust ability for dwell.

everybody ignore slider2828, he'll argue about that PFC commander until everyone's blue in the face....

[johngriff]

Originally Posted by water

Assuming the PFC has a commander and/or datalogit, the fuel and ignition maps are readily accessible. I think its misleading to not add them to the list if that's the criteria. However, i would agree if you mentioned that the commander, while allowing access, is severely limited and a complete and total pain in the ass to use. The PFC, sans datalogit, would definitely reside at the bottom of this list!

You've got it.

I mean, really. Again. Its 2009. Don't make me have to deal with a 2x2" screen. Fast, intuitive, windows based over a USB port please.

Thank you.

And in a sense I am leaving FC loggit out for some of this equation because it is not an "official" release so to speak. Again, its just more hokey pokey grey market in a sense. It does work. I have seen steve shadows rip through that software and do some really incredible things.

But thats steve.

So the commander just because of its size and interface makes it inaccessible.

[DALAZ_68]

Originally Posted by slider2828

Well good if Nistune has something for PC Commanderish stuff.... But that is an added cost as well....

so is the APC commander, last i remember it was sold seperatly...

johngriff : like i said, im ''calling you out'' in a sense, if u want first hand experience you more than welcome to come to my pad and tinker wiht my Nistune ECU...

all i know is id prefer my 17'' screen for tuning than a 2''x2'' green screen

not to mention, Nistune is and has been working on going Mafless for a while... i havent yet gotten to hit up Matt( i believe is his name) in a while, but thats somethign to look foward to

[ROIDMONKEY]

Originally Posted by water

you shouldn't be allowed to talk sometimes. ANYONE can tune a Power FC. If a tuner tells you they can't tune a PFC, they're retarded, run. B/c it doesn't get any easier than MAF tuning.

If you're even considering an l-jetro, ignore the pfc.

PFC's are great for easy tuning if you want to keep a MAF. Those of you arguing nistune vs pfc - well the PFC has the potential to be more accurately tuned with better power delivery since it works w/ a 20x20 map instead of 16x16.

Forget HP numbers - if you are staying MAF, you already know you're limited. Choosing between a PFC or a Nistune comes down to personal preference. W/ a datalogit, you can unlock a multitude of parameters (not normally accessible with the commander only) and have aux ins/outs. The cost factor is what really matters here. Brand new vs brand new, id go nistune. But I got a PFC used off yahoo auctions japan and got a datalogit new all for under $550 total so you can do a PFC on the cheap. And don't listen to anyone that says they can't tune a PFC. That's called a bad tuner. Also, consider a ROM tune if you're sticking with a MAF unless YOU WANT TO be involved with your ECU. ROM tunes are the bees knees for most people and for very good reason. If you think you need tunes with every mod you do to your car or that you can only get an accurate tune on a dyno, you don't understand MAF tuning.

WTF!!! LOL where in fl are u first able ?
i heard i heard there is a guy in orlando that does PFC well. i heard!!!
cause a tuner doesnt like to tune PFC(offcourse they know how to britney) doesn't make him a retard LOL its cause they think it SUCK yes they do.. if u from down here broward FTL im sure u heard the name Lance ., hes one of the best tuners down here. so dont talk shit ..

[smelly240]

we shouldnt be comparing maf and map setups that cost a difference of around a grand with one another.

The nistune software is fantastic - and the hardware is very similar to dsmlink and neptuneRTP or Moates Demon. It isnt aimed toward a guy with a racecar - its aimed toward streetcars.

Calums RT board is a little easier to work with for some people and its fully supported by nistune, as is the dual moates ostrich and std daughterboards.

the only reason i prefer calums and moates stuff over nistunes - is that i can use completely different code on them - while on the nistune board the base image is set on the board and you edit from there - any new features u want to add (launch control, elec fans, and additional 5v sensors) must be part of that base image.

Matt @ nistune is quite prompt if a bug occurs - and he is very good with his customers.

It isnt what haltech is - but its not aimed toward people that would be interested in going haltech. It is very user friendly and simple.

Haltech is however the bomb, but is out of most peoples league. Power FC cant touch it. Datalogit kinda made powerfc proper... shoulda been there from the beginning and FROM APEXI.

Will you make more powerwith nistune than with haltech? NO

Will you spend less? YES

Do you gotta pay to play? YES

Do s chassis broke mofos have money? NO

people get what they can afford or what is available to them.


TURN ON AUX FUEL PUMP - WTF - DO NOT WANT!

[slider2828]

Originally Posted by smelly240

with nistune you have every single sensor displayed right on ur computer...

or u can get the viewer from plms. shows everything the commander does.

fc commander is weak.

The powerFC isnt weak... but the stupid commander... pff.

What viewer do you speak of? Hell if I am going to be carrying a laptop in my computer while on the track...