Chips 101 (Was)Garrett Vs. Autotech Q-chip

[ANDREW_ATWELL@HP-PaloAlto-om20.om.hp.com]

Please excuse my ignorance regarding performance upgrades.  I just got my 
GLX a month ago and I have a few questions regarding chips:
     
1)  Is the stock chip on a 1997 GLX soldered in?
NO
2)  Do the various aftermarket chips effect gas milage during normal 
driving conditions?  
Aftermarket chips usually have BETTER milage
3)  Other than hp gain what is the actual purpose of these chips - more 
power in the low end, elimination of the rev limiter, higher top end, or 
to take advantage of higher octane gas?  
Yes, all of these.

I guess I'd like to know why the stock chip is not adequate?
The stock chip as to adhear to US. emissions standards and provide a good 
average rating for the ENTIRE car line from a certain manufacturer (ie. 
VW)  They purposely tune the car conservitavely inorder to get a car that 
looks good to the EPA, milage, burns even the worst quaility gas etc.

Soo if you push the limits you can get a little more power out of the 
car, and since you inparticular don't have to adhear to EPA standards as 
strictly, there is some performance to be gained.

However with a new chip, the cars seem to rev smoother and faster, I have 
no other explaination other than that the VW engineers didn't spend 
enough time on the programming.
andy
     
Cheers,
     
- ---
Jeff Newton
Unix Systems Administrator
Computer Services
PMC-Sierra Inc.