[sMoney]

I must agree with Mstng2, the end-goal of a compound boost setup is not peak power, but power all over the rev range.

The fact that the Cobra from the article needed 44 psi to make those numbers is simple: it's the stock motor. The camshafts, heads, supercharger, headers, all of the parts that make up the basic engine are unchanged from the factory setup that was engineered to produce ~400hp. At that power level, almost everything is a restriction. In effect it may seem inefficient, but that's because the stock parts are choking down the insane power potential of that much boost. I know because I subscribe to MM&FF and I read over that article VERY well.

And as far as the first run being 800-some-odd hp, their tuning it, of course the first run won't yield anything crazy. First dyno tuning runs always set the boost low, the timing is cut back and it's run slightly rich. After reassuring themselves that everything is safe, they carefully begin tweaking things in search of more power. How would you like to take your prized project somewhere only to have the motor grenade itself on the first pull? All because the tuner wanted a bad-assed first pull and maxed out the boost, ran crazy timing and left the a/f ratio stock?

Yes turbos alone can make the same power, but only when looking at peak numbers.