To deviate a bit from my other post (200kw K24/20), it seems that the intake manifold has a very pronounced and dramatic effect on the power delivery of an engine. Of course I am aware a really bad intake manifold against a really good one would have a huge disparity in power and performance, however it seemed that there is a big difference between a very good intake manifold and a very very good intake manifold.

So, my question is, can the perfect intake manifold be designed from hard calculations and computer software, or is it a combination of trial and error to see what each specific engine "likes" and "dislikes"?