How much horsepower can a turbocharger put out?

A turbocharger itself doesn't "put out" horsepower. It's a forced induction device that increases the power output of an engine by forcing more air into the combustion chamber. The amount of horsepower increase depends entirely on factors like:

* The size and efficiency of the turbocharger: Larger turbos can generally force more air, leading to more power, but efficiency also plays a crucial role.

* The engine's design and capacity: A larger, more robust engine can handle more boost pressure and therefore produce more horsepower with a turbo.

* Supporting modifications: Things like fuel injectors, fuel pump, exhaust system, and engine internals need to be able to handle the increased power or the engine will be damaged. These modifications dramatically influence the final horsepower.

* Tuning: Proper calibration of the engine's computer (ECU) is crucial to optimize the engine for the increased air and fuel.

Therefore, there's no single answer to how much horsepower a turbocharger can "put out." A small turbo on a small engine might only add 30-50 horsepower, while a large turbo on a heavily modified engine could add hundreds, even exceeding 1000 horsepower in extreme cases.