Chips


What Chips Are Available?

Prospeed

Prospeed is one of the currently active NSX vendors that offer a replacement ECU chip which is typically optimized for owners who have already done headers, intake, and aftermarket exhaust modifications and are looking for more power, but they can also do custom work. Their vendor page is here

RM Racing

RM Racing is no longer in business but this content was migrated from the previous FAQ section since RM Racing chips may still be available for sale by private owners.

[MJ] Randy told me he "used" to have the Autothority chip, but has since developed his own and gets them through a different supplier. We will find out on the dyno.

[CA] I am very impressed with the RM CPU upgrade, I wouldnt say it is much faster, but you can definately feel the difference over stock, crisper throttle response, quicker, smoother acceleration….I like it. If you have headers/exhaust , I recommend this upgrade.

The Anders scale (5 stars max score)

 
   
Category Rating Notes
Performace *** Compliments other aftermarket equipment
Ease of Install **** EASY!
Price ** Kind of pricey for what you get
Quality **** Typical Acura/Honda
Overall ***1/2 If you have headers and exhaust, you will like it.
 

I can now spin the 275/35ZR-18’s without downshifting (TCS off, will chirp very little with TCS on).

Mark Johnson’s "Chip-Off" Dyno Day

Mark Johnson’s (Dali Racing) vendor page can be found here

[Note: The following text, data, and graphs are posted exactly as received from Mark Johnson of Dali Racing. It should be noted that it wasn’t possible for him to test all chips with the mods they were designed for, but the results are still interesting.]

Introduction

In this "chip-off" we were trying to see if there really were any measurable differences in the aftermarket chips available, and if there were, if they actually improved performance or just PEAK #’s. Those are two different animals as you shall see from the graphs.

Several samples were rounded up from members of the list. (THANKS to all who provided chips) One manufacturer (RM Racing) sent in a sample of their ‘C’ chip. These chips were tested in May-June of ’98. The DALI chip was tested in late August. All published tests were run on the same car (my 1992, extensively modified – see below for a list of mods) or if specified, on a ’91 with an RSR exhaust (otherwise stock) owned by Raymond Wisco. All tests were done on the same dyno (DynoJet) by the same tech at the same shop. The DynoJet was calibrated for temperature, humidity and barometric pressure before each series of runs. (not before each run) All runs were made in 3rd gear to ~redline.

The chips were tested as follows:

After a Baseline run with the OEM chip was recorded –

     
  1. Disconnect battery
  2.  
  3. Remove and replace chip with aftermarket sample
  4.  
  5. Reconnect battery
  6.  
  7. Run to redline 2X for the ECU to "learn" the chip
  8.  
  9. Record run #3 for charting purposes
  10.  
  11. Rrepeat

My Mods: RM Headers, RM Exhaust, RM Intake, Comptech Internal Engine Mods

Data Notes:

If you look at the graphs you can see that most of the chips, while having some PEAK #’s that are better than stock, do not perform that much better than the OEM tuning ! With most increases measuring just in the 1-2% range – However, since they were consistently higher than the OEM chip, I do think that they are valid #’s.

The "Driveability index"

The most interesting graphs to me are the "Power Chart" graphs which show the "area under the curve" so to speak, in terms of average torque and total HP over the rpm ranges specified. SURPRISE! ("Elementary" sez Alan W. EE extrordinaire) Only the DALI and RM chips are an actual real world improvement over stock !! (see Power Chart ’92 – OEM as ‘0’)

Chip-Off Graphs:

 
   

All - Torque

All - Horsepower

OEM vs. Dali - HP

OEM vs. Dali - Torque

OEM vs. RM "C" vs. Dali - HP

OEM vs. RM "C" vs. Dali - Torque

All - "Power Factor"

OEM vs. Dali - Avg. Torque in stock car

All - Avg. Torque vs. OEM chip in Modified '92

All - Avg. Torque in Modified '92

 

Chip-Off Data:

Table 1. All three chips compared 

 

OEM CHIP

RM ‘C’ CHIP

DALI CHIP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RPM

HP

FT/LBS

HP

FT/LBS

HP

FT/LBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000

 

 

36.5

95.9

 

 

2250

64.4

150.4

65.2

152.1

 

 

2500

75.8

159.1

78.7

165.3

 

 

2750

86.5

165.1

88.3

168.6

 

 

3000

94.7

165.8

98.8

172.9

101.8

178.2

3250

105.2

170.1

109.1

176.4

112.0

180.9

3500

116.0

174.0

121.0

181.6

124.1

186.2

3750

125.8

176.2

130.8

183.2

133.4

186.8

4000

134.9

177.1

141.4

185.6

142.6

187.2

4250

145.8

180.1

151.3

187.0

153.5

189.7

4500

155.4

181.3

159.7

186.4

162.9

190.2

4750

161.2

178.2

165.8

183.4

170.4

188.4

5000

169.8

178.3

173.7

182.5

180.0

189.1

5250

184.8

184.9

188.0

188.2

193.4

193.5

5500

196.6

187.8

200.0

191.2

205.5

196.3

5750

204.5

186.8

207.6

189.6

213.8

195.3

6000

212.0

185.6

214.1

187.4

224.4

196.4

6250

228.7

192.2

231.0

194.1

237.6

199.6

6500

244.2

197.4

245.7

198.5

251.7

203.4

6750

248.4

193.3

252.0

196.1

260.9

203.0

7000

256.9

192.7

260.0

195.2

269.2

202.0

7250

271.7

196.8

273.8

198.4

281.4

203.8

7500

270.7

189.6

277.6

194.4

285.8

200.1

7750

270.0

183.0

277.7

188.2

286.5

194.2

8000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Table 2: side by side values

 

FT/LBS.

 

 

HP

RPM

OEM

RM ‘C’ chip

DALI

 

RPM

OEM

RM ‘C’ chip

DALI

2000

 

 

 

 

2000

 

36.5

 

2250

150.4

152.1

 

 

2250

64.4

65.2

 

2500

159.1

165.3

 

 

2500

75.8

78.7

 

2750

165.1

168.6

 

 

2750

86.5

88.3

 

3000

165.8

172.9

178.2

 

3000

94.7

98.8

101.8

3250

170.1

176.4

180.9

 

3250

105.2

109.1

112.0

3500

174.0

181.6

186.2

 

3500

116.0

121.0

124.1

3750

176.2

183.2

186.8

 

3750

125.8

130.8

133.4

4000

177.1

185.6

187.2

 

4000

134.9

141.4

142.6

4250

180.1

187.0

189.7

 

4250

145.8

151.3

153.5

4500

181.3

186.4

190.2

 

4500

155.4

159.7

162.9

4750

178.2

183.4

188.4

 

4750

161.2

165.8

170.4

5000

178.3

182.5

189.1

 

5000

169.8

173.7

180.0

5250

184.9

188.2

193.5

 

5250

184.8

188.0

193.4

5500

187.8

191.2

196.3

 

5500

196.6

200.0

205.5

5750

186.8

189.6

195.3

 

5750

204.5

207.6

213.8

6000

185.6

187.4

196.4

 

6000

212.0

214.1

224.4

6250

192.2

194.1

199.6

 

6250

228.7

231.0

237.6

6500

197.4

198.5

203.4

 

6500

244.2

245.7

251.7

6750

193.3

196.1

203.0

 

6750

248.4

252.0

260.9

7000

192.7

195.2

202.0

 

7000

256.9

260.0

269.2

7250

196.8

198.4

203.8

 

7250

271.7

273.8

281.4

7500

189.6

194.4

200.1

 

7500

270.7

277.6

285.8

7750

183.0

188.2

194.2

 

7750

270.0

277.7

286.5

8000

 

 

 

 

8000

 

 

 

 Table 3: side by side values (Stock ’91) 

 

FT/LBS.

 

 

HP

RPM

OEM

DALI

 

RPM

OEM

DALI

2000

 

 

 

2000

 

 

2250

 

 

 

2250

 

 

2500

 

 

 

2500

 

 

2750

156.2

 

 

2750

81.8

 

3000

163.8

 

 

3000

93.6

 

3250

166.7

162.9

 

3250

103.2

100.8

3500

172.6

177.4

 

3500

115.0

118.2

3750

174.8

184.0

 

3750

124.8

131.3

4000

176.4

185.3

 

4000

134.3

141.2

4250

180.6

187.6

 

4250

146.2

151.8

4500

179.9

188.3

 

4500

154.1

161.3

4750

176.8

185.6

 

4750

159.9

167.9

5000

174.6

182.8

 

5000

166.2

174.0

5250

178.9

185.9

 

5250

178.9

185.8

5500

181.1

187.7

 

5500

189.7

196.5

5750

177.5

185.8

 

5750

194.4

203.5

6000

178.0

185.8

 

6000

203.4

212.3

6250

180.8

186.5

 

6250

215.1

221.9

6500

183.3

187.8

 

6500

226.9

232.4

6750

179.8

186.5

 

6750

231.0

239.6

7000

175.9

181.6

 

7000

234.4

242.1

7250

174.1

177.6

 

7250

240.3

245.2

7500

169.2

172.2

 

7500

241.6

245.9

7750

160.8

164.6

 

7750

237.2

242.8

8000

113.3

156.3

 

8000

172.5

238.1

 Table 4: side by side values (Modified ’92 {my car})

 

FT/LBS.

RPM

OEM

RM ‘C’

DALI

AutoThority

G-Force

Dinan

CTECH

? Chip

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

140.5

 

2250

150.4

152.1

 

138.4

142.6

 

158.6

142.6

2500

159.1

165.3

 

155.4

160.2

 

162.5

154.7

2750

165.1

168.6

 

163.7

164.6

155.5

165.0

160.5

3000

165.8

172.9

178.2

167.7

168.0

162.8

168.8

164.5

3250

170.1

176.4

180.9

170.7

170.4

167.5

172.3

168.8

3500

174.0

181.6

186.2

171.0

175.1

171.5

175.8

172.6

3750

176.2

183.2

186.8

174.6

178.3

173.8

180.1

176.1

4000

177.1

185.6

187.2

176.4

179.4

175.9

181.8

178.3

4250

180.1

187.0

189.7

177.6

179.9

178.8

182.6

178.5

4500

181.3

186.4

190.2

180.5

181.3

176.7

181.3

179.2

4750

178.2

183.4

188.4

178.0

177.3

176.1

179.1

177.8

5000

178.3

182.5

189.1

177.9

177.9

175.4

179.4

175.9

5250

184.9

188.2

193.5

180.9

181.7

180.1

185.0

180.2

5500

187.8

191.2

196.3

185.5

185.7

184.5

187.7

185.1

5750

186.8

189.6

195.3

184.6

185.0

184.2

187.3

185.4

6000

185.6

187.4

196.4

181.8

184.0

182.7

184.7

181.9

6250

192.2

194.1

199.6

187.2

190.5

189.9

190.2

187.5

6500

197.4

198.5

203.4

194.9

196.0

195.6

196.5

193.1

6750

193.3

196.1

203.0

191.2

191.9

190.4

191.4

190.4

7000

192.7

195.2

202.0

187.1

190.9

189.3

191.2

188.4

7250

196.8

198.4

203.8

193.9

195.6

194.7

196.4

195.5

7500

189.6

194.4

200.1

188.7

190.0

188.5

191.3

187.6

7750

183.0

188.2

194.2

183.9

185.0

180.7

185.5

184.2

8000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HP

RPM

OEM

RM ‘C’

DALI

AutoThority

G-Force

Dinan

CTECH

? Chip

2000

 

36.5

 

58.0

 

 

53.5

59.7

2250

64.4

65.2

 

63.2

61.1

 

67.9

73.6

2500

75.8

78.7

 

74.0

76.0

 

77.3

82.5

2750

86.5

88.3

 

84.1

86.2

81.4

86.4

94.0

3000

94.7

98.8

101.8

95.8

95.9

93.0

96.4

102.8

3250

105.2

109.1

112.0

104.0

105.5

103.7

106.6

115.0

3500

116.0

121.0

124.1

116.4

116.7

114.3

117.1

124.1

3750

125.8

130.8

133.4

124.2

127.3

124.1

128.6

124.1

4000

134.9

141.4

142.6

135.3

136.6

134.0

138.5

135.8

4250

145.8

151.3

153.5

143.1

145.6

144.7

147.8

142.7

4500

155.4

159.7

162.9

154.6

155.3

151.4

155.4

153.6

4750

161.2

165.8

170.4

159.3

160.4

159.2

162.0

158.7

5000

169.8

173.7

180.0

169.4

169.4

167.0

170.8

167.4

5250

184.8

188.0

193.4

179.1

181.6

180.0

185.0

178.4

5500

196.6

200.0

205.5

194.1

194.5

193.2

196.6

193.9

5750

204.5

207.6

213.8

200.6

202.5

201.7

205.0

201.2

6000

212.0

214.1

224.4

207.7

210.2

208.7

211.0

207.8

6250

228.7

231.0

237.6

220.9

226.8

225.9

226.3

221.4

6500

244.2

245.7

251.7

241.2

242.6

242.1

243.2

238.9

6750

248.4

252.0

260.9

244.0

246.6

244.7

246.0

242.9

7000

256.9

260.0

269.2

249.4

254.4

252.3

254.8

251.1

7250

271.7

273.8

281.4

265.9

270.0

268.8

271.1

268.0

7500

270.7

277.6

285.8

269.5

272.1

269.2

273.1

267.9

7750

270.0

277.7

286.5

269.6

273.0

266.6

273.7

270.1

8000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 5. OEM vs. Dali Torque

RPM

OEM

DALI

% diff.

 

 

 

 

2000

 

 

 

2250

 

 

 

2500

 

 

 

2750

156.2

 

 

3000

163.8

 

 

3250

166.7

162.9

-2.3

3500

172.6

177.4

2.8

3750

174.8

184.0

5.3

4000

176.4

185.3

5.0

4250

180.6

187.6

3.9

4500

179.9

188.3

4.7

4750

176.8

185.6

5.0

5000

174.6

182.8

4.7

5250

178.9

185.9

3.9

5500

181.1

187.7

3.6

5750

177.5

185.8

4.7

6000

178.0

185.8

4.4

6250

180.8

186.5

3.2

6500

183.3

187.8

2.5

6750

179.8

186.5

3.7

7000

175.9

181.6

3.2

7250

174.1

177.6

2.0

7500

169.2

172.2

1.8

7750

160.8

164.6

2.4

8000

113.3

156.3

38.0

 

OEM

DALI

% diff.

avg torque

177.4

183.8

3.7

Table 6. Power Factor
 

OEM

RM ‘C’

DALI

AutoThority

G-Force

Dinan

CTECH

? Chip

Power
Factor

3355.6

3419.4

3519.6

3303.7

3341.6

3309.5

3360.3

3299.8

The power factor is the "area" under the curve.

Chip Installation Tips

[BZ]

     
  1. Power to the ECU can be removed by pulling the 7.5 amp fuse in the front compartment labeled "CLOCK". In addition, the ignition should be OFF. This will eliminate having to disconnect the battery cable.
  2.  
  3. The ECU cover can be removed without removing the entire ECU. The 5th screw on the lower right of the cover is hard to get to but it can be loosened with a small diameter flat blade screwdriver. Retrieving the screw is almost impossible, however, so this method won't work if you plan to re-install all of the screws.

How Should The A/F Mixture Be Set?

[BZ] The best power occurs at a point richer (numerically lower) than 14.7:1. Catalytic converters want to see 14.7:1 in  order to efficiently convert all byproducts to H20 and C02. Running lean will result in better fuel economy, assuming that you can keep the mixture burning.

Performance