IBM Power 11 Spec Guide
The Complete IBM
Power 11 Spec Guide
Structured, machine-readable profiles for every IBM Power11 model, processor option, memory and storage configuration, hardware upgrade, and sourcing vendor -- organized deeper than IBM's own documentation.
Every IBM Power 11 Model
Structured, machine-readable profiles for all seven current Power11 models.
IBM Power S1112 (9242-21B / 9242-21T)
The entry point into the IBM Power 11 generation: a single-socket, half-width 2U rack or tower system built for branch, edge, and smaller IBM i, AIX, and Linux deployments.
9824-22AIBM Power S1122 (9824-22A)
A dense, dual-socket 2U scale-out server offering up to 60 Power 11 cores and 4 TB of DDR5 memory, IBM's mainstream choice for growing IBM i, AIX, and Linux environments.
9824-42AIBM Power S1124 (9824-42A)
A quad-socket-capable, high-performance 4U scale-out server offering up to 60 Power 11 cores and 8 TB of DDR5 memory, built for enterprises and regional data centers.
9856-22HIBM Power L1122 (9856-22H)
The Linux-optimized sibling of the S1122: a dual-socket 2U server with the same hardware ceiling but licensed for Linux-first environments, with limited AIX/IBM i core use.
9856-42HIBM Power L1124 (9856-42H)
The Linux-optimized sibling of the S1124: a high-throughput scale-out server for open-source databases and Red Hat OpenShift, with the same DCM processor ceiling as the S1124.
9043-MRUIBM Power E1150 (9043-MRU)
A 4U enterprise scale-up server built for memory- and data-intensive AIX and Linux workloads, offering up to 120 Power 11 cores and 16 TB of DDR5 memory per node. Does not support IBM i.
9080-HEUIBM Power E1180 (9080-HEU)
IBM's flagship Power 11 system: a modular multi-node enterprise server scaling up to 256 cores and 64 TB of DDR5 memory across up to four system nodes, built for the largest mission-critical AI-era workloads.
Features & Upgrades
Processor modules, memory, storage, expansion drawers, and the HMC console that make up a Power11 configuration.
Power 11 DCM Processor Modules
The Dual-Chip Module (DCM) processor option used across S1122, S1124, L1122, L1124, E1150, and E1180 for maximum core count and throughput.
Power 11 eSCM Processor Modules
The entry Single-Chip Module (eSCM) processor option used on S1112 and S1122 for cost-effective smaller-core configurations.
DDR5 DDIMM Memory Kits for Power 11
Differential DIMM (DDIMM) DDR5 memory modules used across every Power 11 model, scaling from 512 GB on the S1112 up to 64 TB total on the E1180.
NVMe U.2 Internal Storage for Power 11
Direct NVMe U.2 storage bays built into every Power11 chassis, scaling from 12.8 TB raw on the S1112 up to 244.8 TB raw on the S1124 and L1124.
NED24 NVMe Expansion Drawer
An external NVMe expansion drawer that extends direct-attached flash storage capacity beyond a Power 11 chassis's internal drive bays.
Gen4 PCIe I/O Expansion Drawer
A 12- or 24-slot PCIe expansion drawer that adds adapter capacity beyond a Power 11 chassis's direct PCIe slots for networking, SAN, and tape connectivity.
From the Library
Power 11 S1112 for Healthcare AI: Local Inference and IBM i Continuity
How the IBM Power S1112 fits healthcare AI infrastructure planning when hospitals and health-adjacent teams need compact Power 11 capacity, local inference, and IBM i continuity.
IBM FlashSystem Storage for Power 11: What Attaches Where
Power 11 has three separate flash storage paths: internal NVMe U.2, the NED24 expansion drawer, and external SAN-attached FlashSystem storage built on FlashCore Modules. Here is how they differ and when each applies.
CPW and rPerf Explained: How to Actually Compare Power 11 Processor Options
CPW and rPerf are IBM's relative-performance benchmarks for IBM i and AIX/Linux respectively. Here is how to read them correctly when comparing Power 11 feature codes.
Common Questions
What are the IBM Power 11 model numbers?
There are seven current IBM Power 11 models: the entry S1112 (machine type 9242-21B rack, 9242-21T tower), the scale-out S1122 (9824-22A) and S1124 (9824-42A), the Linux-optimized L1122 (9856-22H) and L1124 (9856-42H), and the enterprise scale-up E1150 (9043-MRU) and flagship E1180 (9080-HEU). See our full Power 11 model directory for structured specs on each.
What is the difference between Power 10 and Power 11?
Power 11 succeeds Power 10 with DDR5 DDIMM memory, on-chip Matrix Math Acceleration for AI workloads, higher-bandwidth Open Memory Interface (OMI) throughput, higher CPW and rPerf ratings at comparable core counts, and a hard requirement for HMC v11 (7063-CR2 or vHMC). See our full Power 10 vs Power 11 comparison for numeric detail across memory bandwidth, storage, and I/O.
How much does an IBM Power 11 server cost?
IBM does not publish fixed list prices for Power 11 hardware. Total cost depends on the processor feature code, memory, storage, IBM i/AIX/Linux software tier, and services. As a real published example, Midland Information Systems shows a single-partition IBM i S1122 configuration (10 users, 128 GB memory) running roughly $69,968 total (hardware plus software). Larger, unlimited-user configurations run well over $200,000. See our Power 11 pricing page for the full pricing model.
What HMC version do I need for Power 11?
Every Power 11 server requires HMC v11, delivered as either the 7063-CR2 hardware appliance or the IBM vHMC software appliance. The prior 7063-CR1 hardware appliance is not supported for Power 11, so buyers upgrading from Power 10 or earlier should budget for a console refresh alongside the server hardware.
What operating systems does Power 11 support?
Power 11 supports IBM i 7.6, IBM i 7.5 TR6 and later, and IBM i 7.4 TR12 and later; AIX 7.3 TL4 SP1+ and AIX 7.2 TL5 SP12+; RHEL 9 and 10 for Power LE and Red Hat OpenShift; and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6+. VIOS 4.1.1.30 or later is required for virtualized I/O across all models.
What is the difference between S-series and L-series Power 11 models?
S-series (S1112, S1122, S1124) and L-series (L1122, L1124) models share nearly identical hardware, but carry different machine-type licensing. L-series machines are Linux and Red Hat OpenShift-first, with IBM i and AIX capped at roughly 25% of activated cores. If your workload is primarily IBM i or AIX, choose the equivalent S-series model instead.
Glossary
- AS/400 — IBM's original 1988 midrange server line and the common industry shorthand still used today for the IBM i and Power server ecosystem.
- CPW — Commercial Processing Workload, IBM's relative-performance benchmark for IBM i systems, used to compare processor options across Power models.
- DCM — Dual-Chip Module, a Power 11 processor packaging that pairs two processor chips per module for higher total core counts.
- DDIMM — Differential DIMM, IBM's buffered DDR5 memory module design used across every Power 11 model for improved bandwidth and reliability over standard DIMMs.
- eSCM — Entry Single-Chip Module, a lower-core-count Power 11 processor packaging option available on the S1112 and S1122.
- Feature Code — IBM's alphanumeric code identifying a specific orderable component, such as a processor option (EJMT, EBGA) or memory kit, on a Power 11 configuration.
- FlashCore Module (FCM) — IBM's custom NVMe drive for FlashSystem storage, performing inline compression and encryption in the drive controller. Not the same as Power 11's internal NVMe U.2 or NED24 drives.
- Healthcare AI — Artificial intelligence used in healthcare workflows, from clinical support and administrative automation to operational forecasting, patient communication, and medical data analysis.