IBM Power11 Overview
IBM Power11 is the latest generation of IBM Power Systems hardware, released in 2024. Power11 delivers new performance gains, energy efficiency improvements, and full compatibility with IBM i workloads from AS400-era applications forward.
IBM Power11 is the current generation of IBM Power Systems hardware, introduced in 2024. It represents the latest evolution of the hardware platform that has hosted AS400 and IBM i workloads since the 2000s. Power11 systems are fully compatible with IBM i, including workloads that trace their lineage back to AS400 applications. Organizations evaluating AS400 to Power11 upgrade paths or Power9/Power10 to Power11 migrations will find Power11 delivers significant performance and efficiency improvements.
What Is IBM Power11?
IBM Power11 is a server hardware platform designed for enterprise workloads including IBM i, AIX, and Linux. Power11 systems use IBM's POWER11 processor architecture, which delivers improvements in compute performance, memory bandwidth, and energy efficiency compared to Power10 (released 2021) and Power9 (released 2017).
Power11 systems support IBM i 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5. Organizations running IBM i on older Power hardware can upgrade to Power11 while keeping their IBM i software stack intact.
IBM Power11 Models
IBM Power11 launched with entry and mid-range scale-up configurations. Key models include:
- IBM S1014 (9105-41B): Entry-level 1-socket Power11 system, ideal for small IBM i environments
- IBM S1022 (9105-22B): 2-socket scale-out server, a common workhorse for mid-range IBM i deployments
- IBM S1024 (9105-42B): Larger configuration for more demanding IBM i and AIX workloads
- IBM E1080 (9080-11B): Scale-up enterprise system for large IBM i, AIX, and Linux environments
Power11 model numbers follow IBM's standard naming convention where the first digit of the four-digit code indicates the socket count and the letter suffix identifies the processor generation (B = Power11).
IBM Power11 Performance vs Power10
IBM Power11 delivers meaningful performance improvements over Power10 for IBM i workloads. Key improvements include higher core frequency, improved memory bandwidth, and enhanced AI inference capabilities built into the processor. For transaction-heavy IBM i database workloads, Power11 CPW (Commercial Processing Workload) ratings exceed Power10 equivalents by a notable margin.
Organizations upgrading from Power9 to Power11 will see substantially larger performance gains than those moving from Power10. Power9 to Power11 upgrades are often motivated by the combination of performance improvement and Power9 approaching end of mainstream support.
IBM i Compatibility with Power11
IBM i 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 are certified for Power11. IBM i 7.1 and 7.2 are end-of-life and will not run on Power11 hardware. Organizations on IBM i 7.1 or 7.2 planning a Power11 upgrade must also plan an OS upgrade as part of the project.
Application compatibility is generally strong. RPG, COBOL, CL, and other IBM i program languages compiled on earlier platforms can typically run on Power11 after recompilation. Custom applications with hardware-specific dependencies or very old compiler versions may require assessment before upgrade.
Power11 Pricing
IBM Power11 pricing varies significantly by model, configuration, core count, memory, and software licensing. Entry-level S1014 configurations start in the low-to-mid five figures for base hardware. Larger S1022 and S1024 configurations range from the mid-five-figures to six figures depending on core count and memory. Enterprise E1080 configurations are priced in the six to seven figure range for large deployments.
IBM i software licensing is separate and additive to hardware cost. IBM i licenses are priced by processor tier designation, not by raw core count, which affects total cost calculations significantly. Working with an IBM Business Partner like Midland Information Systems is recommended for accurate Power11 pricing and IBM i licensing cost modeling.