A stirling engine is a mechanism used to convert heat to power and operates on a closed regenerative thermodynamic cycle with compression and expansion of the working fluid at different temperature. The performance of a stirling cycle machine is a function of six independent parameters, namely; ① speed N(r.p.m), ② pressure of the working fluid p(Pa), ③ ratio of the temperature in the compression and expansion space r (=T_C/T_E), ④ ratio of the swept volumes in these two spaces K, ⑤ phase angle α and ⑥ dead volume ratio X. This paper describes the procedure and presents the results of computations carried out to establish the optimum combinations of these six parameters for maximum engine output for the machine acting as a prime mover, over a combined temperature range from 300˚ K to 1000˚ K and dead volume ratio X ranging from 0.1 to 2.0. The output of a stirling cycle machine can be expressed in terms of nondimensional power in several different ways. Four methods were studied in detail, the parameters optimized and design charts and engine power charts prepared. The results of this paper may be useful as a guide to the likely effects on the performance of some of the important design parameters and regenerator design.