system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How does cylinder configuration in an internal combustion engine affect it's characteristics?

Suppose you had 3 engines with identical bore and stroke, compression ratio, etc., and the only difference is the cylinder configuration.  One is an inline 6, one a V6, and another a flat 6.  Would they deliver different amounts of power at differing ranges, or is the cylinder configuration irrelevant if all other factors are the same?

Edit: just realized the title should say "its" not "it's".  Doh.
gpt
Cylinder arrangement has nothing to do with power output. There are issues with harmonics and "cylinder pulsing" especially in engines with odd number of cylinders on each bank (I3, I5, V6, F6, V10), but are usually compensated for via harmonic balancer on the crankshaft. Some could argue that the layout of a flat engine is not optimal due to gravity having an effect on oil, rings, and such, but that's more of a reliability/wear issue.

edit: the design of the cylinder head has far more to do with the efficiency/power than just about anything else, other than displacement.