should I get MS-I or MS-II?
 

What’s the consensus on MSI versus MSII? I read a thread from a few months back and it sounded like most of you were saying MSI was preferable due to its more wide-spread use and greater support availability. I wonder if that has changed?

I’ve read the manual and the FAQs and I built my Stim last night and I’m minutes away from ordering my kit but I still don’t know which MS to get.

Any convincing reasons why I would want a MSII?

Thanks

Ms1

Go with what works and dont reinvent the wheel.

MS2 can be built and used just as easily as MS1 if you are using the 90-97 CAS. MSI is cheaper and pretty much every mod you could want to do to it for the miata application has been documented here in one place or another. With HI-RES code and MSI you don't gain a ton by going with MS2 except larger tables but even they are not really needed. If you want to get into controlling a million things with the MS then MS2 is faster and more capable.
In short MSI is cheaper and very capable and well documented.
MSII is more money, with more resolution and computing power.
If all you want is an affordable awesome engine management then get MSI and follow the HOW-TO.

i'm liking the new sig Chad

From the FAQ, the following bit confuses me regarding the MSI and ignition control. It sounds like MSI can't control ignition and MSII would be needed. Is MSI fuel only? It doesn't sound correct... what am I missing?

From the FAQ:

Q. What if I need ignition control as well?

A. If you need electronic ignition control as well as fuel control (i.e. you can't, or don't want to, run a 'standard' distributor), you can use the MegaSquirt-II daughtercard for MegaSquirt® main boards that will run the GM 7-pin HEI, GM DIS, and Ford EDIS, as well as some others. It also has dual 12×12 VE and AFR tables, as well as an independent 12×12 spark advance table and stepper motor IAC control. You can find out more at the MegaSquirt-II site and ask questions at the MegaSquirt-II forum.

MSI will control fuel and ignition. That FAQ is misleading.

Same thing happened to me when I read that FAQ. From what I know it is an old FAQ that was written before the spark capability was added to the MSI.

Cjernigan knows the deal, he is building me one right now, with fuel and spark capability :) The DIY link in his sig shows the wiring that includes the spark control.

That's reassuring. I thought I was missing something.

Here's what I want to do:

remove the AFM/MAF
fuel (12x12 map)
spark (12x12 map)
EBC
fan / idle control so I can go standalone (I have no A/C)
rev limit
coolant temp advance
inlet temp retard
KnocksenseMS

Will MSI v2.2 be adequate for this?

Thanks again for you help.

Technically yes, but the 3.0 board is much nicer. There's no difference in the basic circuit design (same CPU, same code, etc) but with the 3.0 PCB you have a nice prototype area to work in for all the "optional" things like fan drivers and switch inputs, you have more space for mounting TO-220 parts on the main heatsink (EBC driver, idle driver, etc) and it is said by the designers of the PCB that the 3.0 board has heavier traces on the grounds and high-current circuits. Here's a FAQ on the 3.0 board: http://www.megamanual.com/ms2/pcb.htm (despite what it seems to imply, the 3.0 board works equally well with MS-I and MS-II CPUs.)

For $50 it's a worthy upgrade.