Vipec V88 Vs Link G4 Extreme Wire In

[kitto]

Hello everyone, yes i know this has been covered before in a similar sense. I have read those threads.

But i'm really here to ask what in the hell are the exact differences between these two ECU's.

The software is almost identical, the amount of inputs and outputs are identical, the connectors to the ECU's are identical, Their capability seems to be the same.

The only real difference i can see is the branding and the colour of the cases.

I'm wondering which one to go for, not based on a price comparison or if my tuner can tune them. Just the reasons (if any) i should favour one over the other.

I have had a quick read through both ECU manuals, it seems that one 'company' has pretty much done a copy and past from the other companies ECU manual for their own ECU manual. A lot of it is word for word. However i have not ready both manuals all the way through so there may be some differences in there.

Anyone able to help?

I need an ECU with stacks of inputs and outputs that i can fully configure. Which is why i'm looking at these two.

[R31Nismoid]

The VIPEC is just a rebadged LINK ECU

So hence it's all the same. Same answer as all the other threads asking about it

Buy it from NZ, cheaper.

[Roy]

Do they drive nissan coilpacks/igniters properly yet? Does the closed loop boost control work properly? I want to grab one but the Vipec forum made for too scary a read

[kitto]

I've heard many different things about the differences, some say they are identical, some say stay away from link, some say stay away from Vipec.

Both ECU's should drive the factory coil packs fine. Whether they are the external igniter coil packs of the internal igniter coil packs. They should drive them both.

Doesn't matter to me, as i'm doing away with the factory CAS and the factory coils.

If there is absolutely no difference, i'd probably grab the Link as my tuner is a dealer for them. But i'm not making a decision because he's a dealer. Only if the link was better or exactly the same.

Does anyone know if you can buy expandable I/O cards for either of these ECU's that will plug into CAN?

[KiwiRS4T]

I've never heard "stay away from Link" or "stay away from Vipec". The product is the same maybe the dealer support differs in different areas. If you have technical questions that are not answered on the website telephone or email and you will get the answer from the horse's mouth:

http://www.linkecu.com/

and for the doubters the worlds fastest RB30 is controlled by a Link:

http://www.linkecu.c...30-runs-link-g4

[SS8_Gohan]

once again, for prosperity

from Link website

Link was one of the very early market entrants twenty years ago. 2010 witnessed a turn-around in the market perception of the Link name thanks to the technical excellence of its product. The launch of the ViPEC brand has seen a new product pitched against high end competitors with outstanding results. Continued clear and unambiguous differentiation is further required to propel the ViPEC name higher

my emphasis

brand, not company. Vipec will forever be a rebadged Link. Period.

i looked at the Xtreme but the wiring job was going to be the main hurdle, but i do believe that NZEFI or someone over there has made up a harness of some sorts, still a bit of wiring to do, but a lot of the work done.

[TiTAN]

Do they drive nissan coilpacks/igniters properly yet? Does the closed loop boost control work properly? I want to grab one but the Vipec forum made for too scary a read

closed loop boost works, and i have never had an issue with it driving my coils/ignitor

you must be reading the ooooold posts if you are reading about the boost control being only basic, all the extra features are just software updates to the ecu, no hardware changes.

[gotRICE?]

The Vipec has inbuilt knock detection. The earlier Link G4 Extreme had them AFAIK, and when Vipec negotiated , part of the deal was the G4 couldnt have knock control, and something else that i cant quite remember right now. Im sure someone with the exact differences will jump on soon. Lithium will probly know.

The link, you need a knockblock. It can be permanently wired into an input, or just use it when your tuning, like i did.

Edited June 7, 2012 by gotRICE?

[WMDC35]

maybe not relevant but i had a g4 plug in tuned today, also ditched the hks boost controller and used the link, good result!

[kitto]

Ok so yes, it appears the link and the Vipec are identical.

This issue about the link not having knock control is odd though. As the Link has two knock inputs.

[gotRICE?]

Yeah, they are inputs that you need to write the knock block into I think.

[RRob]

Vipec AFAIK has hi/lo injector drivers and link doesnt.

[Guilt-Toy]

they are identical for what we need them for here, but there are differences.. major one being that the vipec v88 supports electric throttle so i can put them on brand new cars. the link does not support this unless you buy an add on or something.

another difference is that the vipec will support low impedence injectors because it has peek and hold drivers, the link needs to have a fugly resistor setup.

also the vipec is not a re-badged link. the vipec came first. the vipec was made first and then the g4 range re-badged the vipec but with less options.

[kitto]

Guilt-Toy you seem to know alot about these.

So the electronic throttle is that the big difference? What are some of the smaller differences, you said the Link can't drive low impedance injectors which is fine for me as i have high impedance injectors.

What do you think of the wire in looms that come with both ECU's? Are they well done?

[Guilt-Toy]

yes i am a Vi-pec dealer. i have tuned shitloads of them. i have also tuned many links.

The looms are great. i have never seen the pre-made engine specific looms, only the original generic ones from vipec / link.

[SS8_Gohan]

where are the Vipec's manufactured then?

[SS8_Gohan]

The Vipec has inbuilt knock detection. The earlier Link G4 Extreme had them AFAIK, and when Vipec negotiated , part of the deal was the G4 couldnt have knock control, and something else that i cant quite remember right now. Im sure someone with the exact differences will jump on soon. Lithium will probly know.

The link, you need a knockblock. It can be permanently wired into an input, or just use it when your tuning, like i did.

G4 Xtreme has knock control, 2 inputs for it i think.

[SS8_Gohan]

What are some of the smaller differences, you said the Link can't drive low impedance injectors which is fine for me as i have high impedance injectors.

seems like it can?

Peak & Hold

The G4 Xtreme has eight channels of independently configurable, peak and hold fuel injection control.

With high impedance injectors it is possible to apply the full battery voltage (saturation) across the injector during the whole time that it must stay on. The injector current will be limited by the injector’s coil resistance so that no damage will occur. With low impedance injectors this is not the case. When the injector pulse widths are high, driving low impedance injectors in this way will result in excessive current that will damage the injectors and/or ECU. One solution (the one used by most car manufacturers) is to fit ballast resistors to limit the injector current to a safe level. The only downside of this approach is that it increases the time taken for the injector to open. This is of no concern on most factory engines as the injectors never need to operate near their minimum pulse width for consistent operation. However, when large injectors are used in after market performance applications, very short pulse widths are required at idle and low load. In this case it is desirable to have an injector that can open as quickly as possible. To do this the G4 Xtreme’s injector control can be set to Peak and Hold. This will initially apply the full battery voltage across the injector to open it then the ECU will limit the current to a safe level while still keeping the injector open.

The G4 Xtreme employs low heat technology to digitally control the injectors ensuring minimum current draw and very little heat to be dissipated.

Individual Cylinder Fuel Correction allows the fueling of each individual cylinder to be adjusted independently. This can be used to compensate for slight differences in injector flows, slight differences in fuel pressure at each injector, differences in cylinder temperature due to coolant system design, etc...

[Guilt-Toy]

the extreme can but the storm cannot. with the vipec the v44 and the v88 can.

[Lithium]

another difference is that the vipec will support low impedence injectors because it has peek and hold drivers, the link needs to have a fugly resistor setup.

also the vipec is not a re-badged link. the vipec came first. the vipec was made first and then the g4 range re-badged the vipec but with less options.

Tempted to forward this to Link and see what they have to say about that.