IBM Power11 S1112 Compared with Power10 S1014, Power10 S1012, Power9 S914, and Power8 S814
IBM Power Systems have advanced substantially across the Power8, Power9, Power10, and Power11 generations. For organizations evaluating an IBM i Power system in the P05 software tier, the IBM S1112 provides the strongest comparison baseline because it is the newest platform and has the highest maximum CPW rating of all the Power system models compared.
The systems and configurations included in this comparison are:
- IBM Power11 S1112, machine type 9242-21B, EJMT 4-Core Processor
- IBM Power10 S1014, machine type 9105-41B, EPG0 4-Core Processor
- IBM Power10 S1012, machine type 9028-21B, EPG3 1-Core Processor
- IBM Power10 S1012, machine type 9028-21B, EPG7 4-Core Processor
- IBM Power9 S914, machine type 9009-41G, EP50 4-Core Processor
- IBM Power8 S814, machine type 8286-41A, EPXK 4-Core Processor
All performance percentages compare each older power system directly to the new four-core Power11 S1112 4-Core Processor configuration, of which are all in the IBM i P05 Software Tier.
IBM Power System Processors in the P05 Software Tier Comparisons
| Specification | Power11 S1112 | Power10 S1014 | Power10 S1012 1-Core | Power10 S1012 4-Core | Power9 S914 | Power8 S814 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine type and model | 9242-21B | 9105-41B | 9028-21B | 9028-21B | 9009-41G | 8286-41A |
| Processor module | 1 eSCM | 1 eSCM | 1 eSCM | 1 eSCM | 1 SCM | 1 DCM |
| Available processor cores | 4 or 10 | 4, 8, or 24 | 1, 4, or 8 | 1, 4, or 8 | 4, 6, or 8 | 4, 6, or 8 |
| IBM i P05 processor configuration | EJMT 4-core, 3.6–4.0 GHz | EPG0 4-core, 3.0–3.90 GHz | EPG3 1-core, 3.0–3.90 GHz | EPG7 4-core, 3.0–3.90 GHz | EP50 4-core, 2.3–3.8 GHz | EPXK 4-core, 3.02 GHz |
| CPW per core | 29,325 | 26,575 | 29,000 | 27,825 | 13,125 | 9,360 |
| Maximum P05 CPW | 117,300 | 106,300 | 29,000 | 111,300 | 52,500 | 37,440 |
| Power11 maximum CPW advantage | Baseline | 10.1% | 303.4% total capacity | 5.1% | 122.9% | 212.5% |
| Maximum IBM i memory | 64 GB installed and usable | 64 GB installed, 50 GB usable | 64 GB installed, 50 GB usable | 64 GB installed, 50 GB usable | 64 GB installed, 50 GB usable | 64 GB installed, 50 GB usable |
| Memory bandwidth | 256 GB/s | 204 GB/s | 102 GB/s | 102 GB/s | 170 GB/s | 192 GB/s |
| Power11 memory-bandwidth advantage | Baseline | 25.5% | 151.0% | 151.0% | 50.6% | 33.3% |
| Memory slots | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 8 |
| Memory technology | 4000–4800 MHz 16-Gbit DDR5 DDIMM | 3200 MHz 8-Gbit DDR4 DDIMM or 16-Gbit DDR5 DDIMM | 3200 MHz 8-Gbit DDR4 ISDIMM | 3200 MHz 8-Gbit DDR4 ISDIMM | 2666–2933 MHz 16-Gbit DDR4 RDIMM | 1600 MHz 4-Gbit DDR4 CDIMM |
| L2 cache per core | To be determined | 2 MB | 2 MB | 2 MB | 512 KB | 512 KB |
| L3 cache per core | To be determined | 8 MB | 8 MB | 8 MB | 10 MB | 8 MB |
| Maximum internal IBM i storage | 12.8 TB raw or 6.4 TB mirrored | 6.4 TB raw or 3.2 TB mirrored | 12.8 TB raw or 6.4 TB mirrored | 12.8 TB raw or 6.4 TB mirrored | 6.4 TB raw or 3.2 TB mirrored | 3 TB |
| Maximum IBM i drives | 4 NVMe U.2 | 4 NVMe U.2 | 4 NVMe U.2 | 4 NVMe U.2 | 4 NVMe U.2 or 10 HDD/SSD | 10 HDD/SSD |
| SAN attachment | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| I/O drawer | Half I/O drawer | Half I/O drawer | Not available | Not available | Half I/O drawer | Not supported |
| Maximum PCIe slots | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 |
| Maximum users | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Power11 Performance Baseline
The Power11 S1112 uses an EJMT four-core processor configuration operating between 3.6 and 4.0 GHz, and is the only IBM Power11 P05 software tier system. It provides:
- 29,325 CPW per processor core
- 117,300 maximum CPW
- 256 GB/s of memory bandwidth
- 64 GB of memory fully usable by IBM i
- Up to 12.8 TB of raw internal NVMe storage
Commercial Processing Workload, or CPW, is IBM’s relative performance measurement for IBM i commercial workloads. CPW is useful for estimating comparative processing capacity, although actual application performance also depends on memory, storage, database design, software configuration, and workload characteristics.
Power11 Performance Comparison Summary
| Older system or configuration | Maximum P05 CPW | Power11 advantage | Power11 performance multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power10 S1012 four-core | 111,300 | 5.1% higher | 1.05× |
| Power10 S1014 four-core | 106,300 | 10.1% higher | 1.10× |
| Power9 S914 four-core | 52,500 | 122.9% higher | 2.23× |
| Power8 S814 four-core | 37,440 | 212.5% higher | 3.13× |
| Power10 S1012 one-core | 29,000 | 303.4% higher total capacity | 4.03× |
The one-core S1012 should be interpreted separately because the comparison measures four active Power11 cores against one active Power10 core.
Power11 S1112 Versus Power10 S1012 Four-Core
The four-core Power10 S1012 is the closest older Power System compared to the Power11 in the IBM P05 Software Tier. The IBM S1112 provides 117,300 CPW compared with 111,300 CPW of the S1012. IBM Power11 therefore provides approximately 5.1% more total processing capacity.
The same difference applies per core:
- Power11: 29,325 CPW per core
- Power10 S1012: 27,825 CPW per core
- Power11 advantage: approximately 5.1%
Power11 S1112 advantages over the Power10 S1012
- 5.1% more per-core and maximum P05 CPW
- 151% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Higher processor clock range
- Newer DDR5 memory technology
- Support for a half I/O drawer
- Newer Power11 system architecture
- Longer expected platform lifecycle
Power11 EJMT to Power10 EPG7 Processor Comparison
The Power11 S1112 EJMT processor operates between 3.6 and 4.0 GHz, while the Power10 S1012 EPG7 processor operates between 3.0 and 3.90 GHz. Although clock speed alone does not determine system performance, the higher clock range and newer Power11 architecture contribute to the 5.1% CPW advantage.
Power11 to Power10 Memory Comparison
Both systems can have 64 GB of installed memory. However:
- Power11 S1112 provides 64 GB usable for IBM i workloads.
- Power10 S1012 only provides 50 GB usable by IBM i, loosing some of its memory for firmware.
Power11 therefore provides 14 GB more usable capacity, representing a 28% increase. However the memory-bandwidth difference is more substantial:
- Power11: 256 GB/s
- Power10 S1012: 102 GB/s
- Power11 advantage: approximately 151%
- Power11 bandwidth multiple: approximately 2.51×
This greater bandwidth can improve data movement for IBM Db2 for i, complex SQL queries, batch processing, Java applications, and multiple concurrent workloads. Furthermore, even though both the Power11 and Power10 systems use the same DDR5 memory, only Power11 servers are able to take advantage of
Power11 to Power10 Storage Comparison
Both systems support:
- Four NVMe U.2 drives
- 12.8 TB of raw internal IBM i storage
- Approximately 6.4 TB after mirroring
The S1112 Power11 does not provide a capacity advantage over the S1012, but it does support a half I/O drawer and the S1012 does not support an external I/O drawer.
Power11 Upgrade assessment
An S1012-to-Power11 upgrade only offers a moderate CPW increase but a major improvement in memory bandwidth, usable memory, expansion capability, and platform lifecycle.
Power11 S1112 Versus Power10 S1014
The Power11 S1112 provides 117,300 CPW compared with 106,300 CPW for the EPG0 four-core Power10 S1014. The Power11 therefore provides approximately 10.1% more CPW performance.
The same percentage applies per core:
- Power11: 29,325 CPW
- Power10 S1014: 26,575 CPW
- Power11 advantage: approximately 10.1%
Power11 S1112 advantages over the Power10 S1014
- 10.1% more CPW
- 25.5% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Twice the internal IBM i storage capacity
- Higher processor clock range
- Faster DDR5 memory
- Newer processor and system architecture
- Longer expected platform lifecycle
Power11 EJMT to Power10 EPG0 Processor Comparison
The S1112 Power11 EJMT processor operates between 3.6 and 4.0 GHz, and the S1014 Power10 EPG0 processor operates between 3.0 and 3.90 GHz. The S1112 Power11 combines its higher clock range with architectural improvements to deliver 2,675 more CPW per core.
Power11 to Power10 Memory comparison
Power11 provides:
- 256 GB/s of memory bandwidth
- 64 GB of usable IBM i memory
The S1014 provides:
- 204 GB/s of memory bandwidth
- 50 GB of usable IBM i memory
Power11 therefore provides 25.5% more memory bandwidth and 28% more usable memory.
Storage comparison
The Power11 S1112 supports:
- 12.8 TB raw
- 6.4 TB after mirroring
The Power10 S1014 supports:
- 6.4 TB raw
- 3.2 TB after mirroring
Power11 provides twice the listed internal IBM i storage capacity of the S1014. Both systems support a maximum of four NVMe U.2 drives, indicating that the Power11 capacity advantage comes from support for higher-capacity drives.
Expansion comparison
The S1014 provides five PCIe slots compared with four on Power11. Both support a half I/O drawer. Organizations with numerous network, Fibre Channel, SAS, tape, or other adapters should compare slot requirements before moving to Power11.
Upgrade assessment
The performance improvement from the S1014 to Power11 is incremental compared with upgrades from Power9 or Power8. However, Power11 provides meaningful gains in storage capacity, usable memory, bandwidth, and lifecycle positioning.
Power11 S1112 Versus Power10 S1012 One-Core
The one-core Power10 S1012 provides 29,000 total CPW, while the four-core Power11 S1112 provides 117,300 CPW. Power11 therefore provides:
- 303.4% more total CPW
- Approximately 4.03 times the configured processing capacity
This is primarily a configuration difference rather than a large generational difference.
Per-core performance
The one-core comparison is much closer:
- Power11: 29,325 CPW per core
- Power10 S1012: 29,000 CPW per core
- Power11 advantage: approximately 0.9%
The S1012 one-core configuration delivers almost the same CPW per active core as Power11.
Power11 advantages over the one-core S1012
- Four active P05 processor cores instead of one
- Approximately 4.03 times the total CPW
- 151% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Half I/O drawer support
- More capacity for growth and workload consolidation
Workload positioning
The one-core S1012 may be appropriate for:
- Small IBM i production environments
- Low transaction volumes
- Light batch processing
- Development and test systems
- Small databases
- Organizations prioritizing licensing and acquisition costs
Power11 is better positioned for:
- Larger production environments
- Growing transaction volumes
- Multiple concurrent applications
- Database-intensive processing
- Java and web application workloads
- Workload consolidation
- Long-term growth
Power11 S1112 Versus Power9 S914
The Power11 S1112 provides 117,300 CPW compared with 52,500 CPW for the Power9 S914. Power11 therefore provides:
- 122.9% more maximum P05 CPW
- Approximately 2.23 times the processing capacity
The same relationship applies per core:
- Power11: 29,325 CPW per core
- Power9: 13,125 CPW per core
Power11 advantages over Power9
- 122.9% more CPW
- 2.23 times the processing capacity
- 50.6% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Twice the listed internal storage capacity
- Faster DDR5 memory
- Newer processor and PCIe architecture
- Newer IBM i operating-system support
- Longer expected platform lifecycle
Processor comparison
The Power11 EJMT processor operates between 3.6 and 4.0 GHz. The Power9 EP50 processor operates between 2.3 and 3.8 GHz. The newer Power11 architecture delivers more than twice the CPW per licensed processor core. This can provide significant advantages where IBM i and third-party software licensing are tied to the number of activated cores.
Memory comparison
Power11 provides 256 GB/s of memory bandwidth compared with 170 GB/s for Power9. Power11 therefore provides approximately 50.6% more bandwidth. It also provides 64 GB of usable IBM i memory compared with 50 GB on Power9.
Storage comparison
Power11 supports:
- 12.8 TB raw
- 6.4 TB mirrored
- Four NVMe U.2 drives
Power9 supports:
- 6.4 TB raw
- 3.2 TB mirrored
- Four NVMe U.2 drives or ten HDD/SSD drives
Power11 provides twice the listed internal IBM i capacity, while Power9 provides greater flexibility for configurations using numerous traditional drives.
Expansion comparison
Power9 provides eight PCIe slots compared with four on Power11. Both systems support a half I/O drawer. A Power9 migration should include an inventory of existing adapters and internal drives to determine whether an I/O drawer, SAN storage, or adapter consolidation is required.
Upgrade assessment
A Power9-to-Power11 migration represents a major performance and infrastructure upgrade. Power11 can provide meaningful improvements in:
- Transaction response time
- Batch completion
- Database processing
- SQL query performance
- Java and web workloads
- Workload consolidation
- Growth capacity
Power11 S1112 Versus Power8 S814
The Power11 S1112 provides 117,300 CPW compared with 37,440 CPW for the Power8 S814. Power11 therefore provides:
- 212.5% more CPW
- Approximately 3.13 times the processing capacity
The same relationship applies per core:
- Power11: 29,325 CPW
- Power8: 9,360 CPW
Power11 advantages over Power8
- 212.5% more per-core and maximum P05 CPW
- Approximately 3.13 times the processing capacity
- 33.3% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Approximately 4.27 times the raw internal storage capacity
- DDR5 DDIMM memory instead of DDR4 CDIMM memory
- Modern NVMe storage
- Support for a half I/O drawer
- Newer IBM i operating-system support
- Substantially longer expected platform lifecycle
Processor comparison
The Power11 EJMT processor operates between 3.6 and 4.0 GHz. The Power8 EPXK processor operates at 3.02 GHz. Architectural improvements between Power8 and Power11 are more significant than the clock-speed difference alone. Power11 provides more than three times the rated CPW per core.
Memory comparison
Power11 provides:
- 256 GB/s of bandwidth
- 64 GB usable by IBM i
- 4000–4800 MHz DDR5 DDIMMs
Power8 provides:
- 192 GB/s of bandwidth
- 50 GB usable by IBM i
- 1600 MHz DDR4 CDIMMs
Power11 provides 33.3% more memory bandwidth and 28% more usable capacity.
Storage comparison
Power11 supports 12.8 TB of raw internal IBM i storage compared with 3 TB on Power8. Power11 therefore provides approximately 4.27 times the internal capacity.
The Power8 supports up to ten HDD or SSD drives for IBM i, while Power11 supports four higher-capacity NVMe U.2 drives. Although Power11 has fewer internal drive positions, NVMe technology can provide much greater throughput and lower latency than older disk technology.
Expansion comparison
Power8 is listed with a maximum of eight PCIe slots:
- Two PCIe x16 slots
- Five PCIe x8 slots
These entries account for seven slots, so the final Power8 slot configuration should be verified when preparing a detailed migration plan. Power8 does not support an I/O drawer in this configuration, whereas the Power11 supports a half I/O drawer.
Upgrade assessment
A Power8-to-Power11 migration offers the largest generational improvement in the comparison. In addition to more than three times the CPW, Power11 provides newer memory, NVMe storage, greater capacity, newer IBM i support, and a longer expected lifecycle.
Usable IBM i Memory Comparison
| System | Installed memory | Memory usable by IBM i | Power11 usable-memory advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power11 S1112 | 64 GB | 64 GB | Baseline |
| Power10 S1014 | 64 GB | 50 GB | 28% |
| Power10 S1012 one-core | 64 GB | 50 GB | 28% |
| Power10 S1012 four-core | 64 GB | 50 GB | 28% |
| Power9 S914 | 64 GB | 50 GB | 28% |
| Power8 S814 | 64 GB | 50 GB | 28% |
Power11 provides 14 GB more usable IBM i memory than every older system in the spreadsheet.
Memory Bandwidth Comparison
| System | Memory bandwidth | Power11 advantage | Power11 multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power11 S1112 | 256 GB/s | Baseline | 1.00× |
| Power10 S1014 | 204 GB/s | 25.5% | 1.25× |
| Power10 S1012 one-core | 102 GB/s | 151.0% | 2.51× |
| Power10 S1012 four-core | 102 GB/s | 151.0% | 2.51× |
| Power9 S914 | 170 GB/s | 50.6% | 1.51× |
| Power8 S814 | 192 GB/s | 33.3% | 1.33× |
Power11 provides the greatest bandwidth advantage over the Power10 S1012, despite the S1012 delivering per-core CPW relatively close to Power11.
Internal Storage Comparison
| System | Maximum internal IBM i storage | Power11 capacity advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Power11 S1112 | 12.8 TB raw or 6.4 TB mirrored | Baseline |
| Power10 S1014 | 6.4 TB raw or 3.2 TB mirrored | 2.00× |
| Power10 S1012 one-core | 12.8 TB raw or 6.4 TB mirrored | Equal |
| Power10 S1012 four-core | 12.8 TB raw or 6.4 TB mirrored | Equal |
| Power9 S914 | 6.4 TB raw or 3.2 TB mirrored | 2.00× |
| Power8 S814 | 3 TB | Approximately 4.27× |
Power11 and the S1012 provide the greatest listed internal IBM i storage capacity. Power11 provides twice the capacity of the S1014 and Power9, and more than four times the capacity of Power8.
PCIe and I/O Expansion Comparison
Power11 S1112
- Four PCIe slots
- Two PCIe Gen4 x16 direct slots
- Two PCIe Gen4 x8 direct slots
- Half I/O drawer supported
Power10 S1014
- Five PCIe slots
- One PCIe Gen5 x8 or Gen4 x16 direct slot
- Three PCIe Gen5 x8 direct slots
- One PCIe Gen4 x8 direct slot
- Half I/O drawer supported
Power10 S1012
- Four PCIe slots
- Two PCIe Gen4 x16 direct slots
- Two PCIe Gen4 x8 direct slots
- I/O drawer not available
Power9 S914
- Eight PCIe slots
- Three PCIe Gen4 x16 slots
- Five PCIe Gen4 x8 slots
- Half I/O drawer supported
Power8 S814
- Eight maximum PCIe slots
- Two PCIe x16 slots specifically listed
- Five PCIe x8 slots specifically listed
- I/O drawer not supported
Newer systems may provide greater bandwidth per slot, but Power9 and Power8 provide more physical PCIe positions. Adapter requirements should be reviewed as part of any migration.
IBM i Operating-System Support
| System | Minimum listed IBM i support | Latest listed IBM i support |
|---|---|---|
| Power11 S1112 | IBM i 7.6 TR2, IBM i 7.5 TR8, or IBM i 7.4 TR12 with required PTFs | To be determined |
| Power10 S1014 | IBM i 7.3 TR12 with PTF SI80671 | IBM i 7.6, to be determined |
| Power10 S1012 | IBM i 7.4 TR10 | IBM i 7.6, to be determined |
| Power9 S914 | IBM i 7.2 RS 720-Q | IBM i 7.5 |
| Power8 S814 | IBM i 7.1 TR8 | IBM i 7.4 |
Values marked “to be determined” should be verified before preparing a final customer configuration, proposal, or published technical specification.
Power11 Upgrade Summary
From a four-core Power10 S1012
Power11 provides:
- 5.1% more CPW
- 151% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Equal internal storage capacity
- I/O drawer support
- A newer architecture and longer lifecycle
From a Power10 S1014
Power11 provides:
- 10.1% more CPW
- 25.5% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Twice the internal IBM i storage capacity
- A newer processor and memory architecture
From a Power9 S914
Power11 provides:
- 122.9% more CPW
- Approximately 2.23 times the processing capacity
- 50.6% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Twice the internal storage capacity
- Newer IBM i and platform support
From a Power8 S814
Power11 provides:
- 212.5% more CPW
- Approximately 3.13 times the processing capacity
- 33.3% more memory bandwidth
- 28% more usable IBM i memory
- Approximately 4.27 times the raw internal storage capacity
- Modern DDR5 memory and NVMe storage
Compared with a one-core Power10 S1012
Power11 provides:
- 303.4% more total configured CPW
- Approximately 4.03 times the total processing capacity
- Only 0.9% more CPW per active core
- 151% more memory bandwidth
- Four active processor cores instead of one
Conclusion
The Power11 S1112 provides the highest IBM i P05 performance in this product analysis.
The four-core Power10 S1012 is the closest configuration, with Power11 providing approximately 5.1% more CPW. The Power10 S1014 follows, with Power11 providing approximately 10.1% more CPW.
The difference is significantly greater for older generations. Power11 provides approximately 2.23 times the CPW of the Power9 S914 and approximately 3.13 times the CPW of the Power8 S814.
Power11 also provides:
- All 64 GB of installed memory as usable IBM i capacity
- The highest listed memory bandwidth
- Twice the internal storage capacity of the S1014 and Power9
- More than four times the internal storage capacity of Power8
- A newer processor, memory, and system architecture
- Stronger long-term lifecycle positioning
The final system selection should consider CPW, usable memory, memory bandwidth, storage capacity, adapter requirements, IBM i release compatibility, software licensing, application support, workload growth, and expected system lifecycle.