The purpose of this blog is provide a high-level comparison between IBM’s new Power11 compared to Power10.
Disclaimed: IBM i is an operating system. AS400 and iSeries are legacy servers. I use these terms interchangeably to make it easier for folks to find this kind of information on the web.
The IBM i Power11 systems (announced July 2024, GA July 26, 2025) bring significant enhancements over Power10. Additionally, Power11 introduces new licensing considerations and architectural trade-offs. Here’s an overview of pros and cons when comparing Power11 to Power10 for IBM i workloads:
IBM i Power11 Pros & Cons Compared to Power10
1. Higher Core Performance
- Power11 cores deliver ~25–30% performance gain over Power10 cores (based on IBM benchmarks).
- Improved per-thread performance supports heavier IBM i transactional workloads with fewer cores.
2. More Efficient Throughput
- Enhanced I/O bandwidth and memory throughput reduce high-volume transaction constraints.
- Better suited for workloads with intense I/O demands, like batch processing or ERP.
3. Advanced Reliability Features
- Enhanced Live Partition Mobility (LPM) and Dynamic System Optimizer (DSO) improvements with newly announced zero-downtime firmware updates support..
- Reduced patching and maintenance downtime in production environments.
4. Future-Proofing
- Latest chip technology and support for future OS versions.
- Ideal for clients planning long-term infrastructure or multi-year upgrades..
5. Improved Virtualization and AI Readiness
- Enhanced support for PowerVM, PowerVS, and AI workloads, especially for mixed environments (IBM i, AIX, Linux).
- Accelerated compute and memory access improves hybrid cloud and container scenarios.
IBM i Power11 Cons Compared to Power10
1. Higher Core Licensing Requirements
- IBM i on Power11 requires a minimum of 2 active cores, even if your workload needs only one—raising entry cost for small shops or LPARs.
- You may also need an extra core to run features like Concert (IBM’s AI-based performance advisor).
2. Potentially Higher Software Costs
- With per-core licensing (IBM i, DB2, Rational tools), expect additional core requirements increase licensing costs—especially for SMBs with small workloads.
3. Limited Entry Models at Launch
- At General Announcement, only higher-end P10-class Power11 systems are available.
- No P05-tier Power11 system announced yet—suggesting cost-conscious customers may still prefer Power10 or Power9.
4. Ecosystem Readiness
- Some third-party software and backup/recovery vendors may not yet be fully tested or certified for Power11.
- Delay in ISV adoption or firmware tuning could affect early adopters.
5. Higher Upfront Hardware Costs
- Power11 systems may come with a price premium over Power10, especially when factoring in memory and storage upgrades.
Power10 Pros – Power10 May Still Be Better If:
- You have modest IBM i workloads (1–2 active cores).
- You’re on a tight budget or require a P05 or small P10 footprint.
- You need ISV certification or hardware that matches existing infrastructure.
- You want stable, fully supported tools (e.g., some HA/DR tools may lag behind for Power11).
Summary Table
Conclusion
If you’re hosting many small clients on shared LPARs, Power11 can offer strong density and performance benefits per watt.
But for single-tenant SMBs, Power10 may remain the sweet spot until smaller Power11 tiers or better licensing models arrive.
Who Am I?
I’m Bob Losey. My career has focused on Small-to-Medium (SMB) business with IBM midrange servers (S/3X, AS400, iSeries, IBM i) and software solutions including ERP, High Availability, and Business Analytics. Over the decades I have earned numerous IBM and software developer certificates in addition to working in the field.
Need Help?
Call me at 714-593-0387 or email me at [email protected]. Let us know how we can help!
To learn more about us, and view our customer testimonials, please visit our website: www.Source-Data.com and see our other links:
1) IBM I on POWER (iSeries/AS400)
https://www.source-data.com/ibm-i-on-power-server/
2) IBM I (iSeries/AS400) Cloud Hosting
https://www.source-data.com/cloud-400/
3) IBM I (iSeries/AS400) Disaster Recovery Options
https://www.source-data.com/cloud400-disaster-recovery/
4) IBM I (iSeries/AS400) Version Upgrade
