IBM 9824-42A
The 9824-42A machine type is the IBM Power S1124, the 4U scale-out system in the Power 11 line, and the one where the processor feature you choose decides whether you pay P20 or P30 software pricing.
The 9824-42A is the machine type of the IBM Power S1124, the 4U scale-out Power 11 system. It carries the highest CPW per core in the scale-out line at 27,075, reaches 8 TB of memory and 244.8 TB of internal NVMe, and takes twice the I/O expansion of the 2U machines. It is also the one Power 11 machine type where the processor choice moves the software tier.
That tier boundary is the single most expensive decision on this machine type. The EP3X feature keeps the system at P20. Stepping to EP3H or EP3Y for more cores also steps the entire system into P30, and that applies to IBM i, the licensed program products and most third-party IBM i software for as long as you own the box. Two 9824-42A systems on the same rack elevation can carry very different annual software bills for that reason alone.
IBM 9824-42A datasheet
IBM Power S1124 (9824-42A) published specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Machine type-model | 9824-42A |
| Generation | IBM Power 11 |
| Sockets | Up to 4 |
| Maximum cores | 60 in the dual-socket configuration; higher-density builds available |
| Memory | 64 GB to 8 TB DDR5 across 32 DDIMM slots |
| Internal storage | 244.8 TB NVMe (16x 15.3 TB) or 102.4 TB (16x 6.4 TB) |
| PCIe | 4 direct slots, Gen4 x16 or Gen5 x8 mix |
| I/O expansion | 2 NED24 NVMe drawers and 2 Gen4 I/O drawers (24 slots each) |
| CPW per core | 27,075 |
| Operating systems | IBM i, AIX, Linux |
| Software tier | P20 with EP3X, P30 with EP3H or EP3Y |
Figures are the published maximums for this machine type. A specific installed system is defined by its processor feature code and activated core count, not by the machine type alone.
Processor feature codes for the 9824-42A
S1124 processor options
| Feature | Cores | Clock (GHz) | CPW | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3X | 16 or 32 | 3.4 ... 4.2 | 433,000 / 823,000 | P20 |
| EP3H | 24 or 48 | 3.05 ... 4.15 | 649,800 / 1,118,500 | P30 |
| EP3Y | 30 or 60 | 2.8 ... 3.95 | 812,250 / 1,345,900 | P30 |
Model the software cost of EP3X against EP3H before settling the configuration. The extra cores are often cheaper to buy and more expensive to own.
EP3X and the L1124 feature EP4C are both 16 or 32 cores at 3.4 to 4.2 GHz, but they are not the same part. EP3X belongs to the 9824-42A and EP4C to the 9856-42H. Always quote the feature code with the machine type.
How to confirm you have a 9824-42A
From IBM i
DSPSYSVAL QMODEL returns the model portion and DSPSYSVAL QPRCFEAT returns the processor feature code. Together those two values identify a 9824-42A build exactly, which is more than the S1124 name alone tells a vendor.
From AIX, Linux or VIOS
lsconf reports the machine type and model on the first lines of output. prtconf gives the same alongside processor implementation and clock speed.
From the HMC
Managed system properties shows the machine type-model and serial together, plus installed against activated cores. This is the view to screenshot when requesting a quote.
From the bezel
The 9824-42A is a 4U chassis with sixteen internal NVMe bays, twice the drive count of the 2U 9824-22A. The machine type-model and serial are on the front label.
Next steps for a 9824-42A
The tier consequence of each feature code is worked through on the Power 11 CPU page, with full per-feature rPerf by SMT level at IBM Power S1124. Compare against the 2U machine on the Power 11 specs page and price it through Power 11 pricing before committing to a processor feature.