Haltech Boost control or External device?
 

Do you guys have a preference for controlling boost? I had an AEM tru boost on my previous vehicle and loved it. Now with the RX7 I know I will be running Haltech so I don't want to order a regular boost gauge if I'm going to need an external boost controller anway (tru boost doubles as a gauge).

Thoughts?

It all depends on how complicated and "smart" you want the boost control to be. You can run it in open loop ("dumb" boost control) and just set a duty cycle, but that's not completely optimal. Your Tru Boost is a relatively simple open loop controller and the Haltech can do that too, but there is a learning curve. You're not just pressing a couple buttons or turning some knobs. If you're a DIY tuner kind of guy then I'd say yes. If you want to take the car to someone and rarely/never have to bust out a laptop after that then go external.

First, the Haltech Sport ECUs can do closed loop or open loop control. Closed loop allows you to specify a target boost and the ECU gives you that boost level. Doesn't matter what the ambient conditions are, you'll get the desired boost level. Open loop will only run the solenoid valve at the programmed duty cycle regardless of the actual boost achieved. Weather gets warm, you get less boost. Weather gets cold, you get more boost. The Sprint series and the E6X will only do open loop control. Some standalone boost controllers will do closed loop. Most will only do open.

The Haltech Sport ECUs are cable of dual setting, closed loop boost control with gear based correction and 1st gear slew control (basic traction control). Those are nice features to have and employ on a high power car. That said the closed loop control takes some knowledge and patience to setup correctly and isn't something most can do in a few trips up and down the street. Since each application is incrementally different, no matter how similar they are, the settings one guys is using probably aren't going to work perfectly for anyone else. All of that said, once the PID settings are dialed in the features work beautifully and they are set it and forget it; no need to lug a laptop around with you.

If you want simple, look at the external controllers. If you want features, the ECU can do a lot, just be prepared for a learning curve or to pay an experienced tuner to set it up for you.

can you use the trim knob to adjust boost

Yes.

Thank you both for your inputs. I'm fairly versed with boost control tables however I had only used it on an AEM. Furthermore, I have a dedicated netbook so I'll always have it with me whenever I drive the car.

Thanks again guys!

If you can do it on an actual AEM EMS (or a Subaru ECU if you've ever tuned Subaru OEM boost control) you can do it on a Haltech. It's basically the same thing.