Power 'cause I don't really know what torques are :hmm3grin2orange:
both torque and power are relative, you cant screw around with one without affecting the other. think of torque as turning force.
diesel engines are a good example of torque. not a quick sprint on the 1/4 mile, but put that 6000bhp top fuel drag car against a 3000bhp diesel, load em up with 600 tonne of weight, and see who gets to the finish first!
without power there is no torque. with zero torque there no power input... see where im going. ideally i want high torque and high power!
realisticly, if your chain / engine speed is the same, and your engine sizes are similar etc etc, an engine with slighly higher torque will cut faster than an engine with slightly higher power. consider higher torque a resistance to change. it is easier for a higher torque engine to maintain the perfect cutting speed, where higher power wants to spin the chain faster but doesnt like the extra load. people pump tonnes of power into their saws when modding i agree, but they are also increasing torque (allthough not at the same rate.... x2 power = < x2 torque). you can increase torque with more weight on the flywheel piston crank, port timing blah blah, but you need more power to get the engine up to speed to get the torque benefit. zzzzzzzz. there is lots more too it but im tired and boozed.
IMO there is no substitution for displacement. put all the power you want in to your small saws with your muffler mods and porting and jet fuel turbo charged whizz bang expansion chamber big carb tin pot. yeah, they will plough through an 18" log in no time. whop de do, i love cutting 18" logs as fast as i can. ill put my 3120 against your modded 359 which may have the same power output and have tonnes of $$$ spent on it - but the race will be on a 66" mill cutting up red gum with .404 chain. ill wait for you at the finish!
goodnight,
you all
steve