[ATPCR]

Would an Aspire model # ES1-512-C96S with Windows 8.1, be enough of a laptop to use Core Tuning's Binary Editor and all of the other associated programs including the special FTDI driver that the Moates Quarterhorse device required to tune Ford EEC-IV and EEC-V
ecms/pcms?

[cgrey8]

Most of the tools us that have been here a while used were developed during the Win 2k/XP days so Win8 should be no problem.

I used CalEdit/Calcon, TunerPro, and BinaryEditor/EEC Analyzer on a VERY old Dell WinXP machine, then a Toshiba Win7 machine, then my current and very dated HP Omen Win10 machine. I haven't upgraded since I rarely use my personal laptop anymore.

Between my work computer & my phone, there's just very little I need it for anymore. I literally go MONTHs between startups so I'm just not motivated to replace it until something happens to it that I must replace it. And the longer I wait, the better PC I can get to replace it for the same money. At this point, it's only real purpose is to be a tuning & occasional 3d design machine for the also antiquated Ender 3d printer I have.

[ATPCR]

@cgrey8 Thanks, BE and most of the "companion" software programs are loaded on this 10 yo machine. I still need to load a version of Adobe Acrobat and NOT being a PC "computer" guy, I stumble a bit if I think that a version of something might be too new for what I'm doing. I think that it may come back to my ability to overthink things. Should I go with the Acrobat reader suggested in the Core Tuning installation instructions or could you provide a hot link to an adequate reader? Thanks again if I have overlooked doing so.

[Htake]

Most of the tools us that have been here a while used were developed during the Win 2k/XP days so Win8 should be no problem.

I used CalEdit/Calcon, TunerPro, and BinaryEditor/EEC Analyzer on a VERY old Dell WinXP machine, then a Toshiba Win7 machine, then my current and very dated HP Omen Win10 machine. I haven't upgraded since I rarely use my personal laptop anymore.
nulls clash
Between my work computer & my phone, there's just very little I need it for anymore. I literally go MONTHs between startups so I'm just not motivated to replace it until something happens to it that I must replace it. And the longer I wait, the better PC I can get to replace it for the same money. At this point, it's only real purpose is to be a tuning & occasional 3d design machine for the also antiquated Ender 3d printer I have.

Are there any newer, more modern tuning packages or software updates that the community has generally adopted while still working with the Quarterhorse, or is the classic BE/TunerPro/EEC Analyzer suite still the gold standard for EEC-IV/V?

[jsa]

Still the gold standard. BE and TP are both getting regilar updates so the latest releases are in effect, modern.

[cgrey8]

TBO, I think the best bang for the buck for someone today would be to go with complete aftermarket systems. Holly has REALLY well supported software, hardware, and algorithms that work for daily drivers as well as track enthusiasts. Not to mention the hardware is far more modern than these EEC-IV/V chips are and are DESIGNED for engines that can exceed 10,000+RPMs. They also have enough additional auxiliary inputs on them that you can wire in all kinds of things like EGT sensors, Trans Temp sensors, Oil sensors, Driveshaft and wheel sensors to do traction control, monitor suspension movement, etc. If you can think of it, there's someone out there that has probably setup a Terminator/Dominator to do it. And if I were going into an old vehicle project today fresh, I'd probably opt for one of those systems over trying to use these old factory EECs. When you calculate the cost of procuring the hardware, software, definition licenses, and learning curve to understand the bizarre ways Ford programmed their EEC, you could start with a product intended for the average person to use.

Guaranteed, when Ford wrote the code for pretty much any EEC from back then to today, they are focused on their needs, not the desires of aftermarket tuners.

But aftermarket control systems don't have those same constraints. Their users are people like you, not engineers that are focused on emissions, CAFE standards, long term durability/warranty concerns, etc etc. They know you want lots of tables for programming, datalogs, and trendlogs for seeing things in realtime, as well as looking at afterwards. So the hardware and software cater to YOUR use cases far more thus easing some of the burden of getting into DIY tuning. Now the cheapest setup is probably going to be $1500 starting and go up from there depending on how many additional sensors you add.

I don't know if there are additional licensing concerns within their software above-n-beyond the initial investment. I'd hope not, but I don't use the system so I don't know. If anybody with experience on those systems knows, I'd be interested to hear your take.