IBM 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.
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.
S1124 at a glance
Processor options
S1124 processor feature codes
| Feature Code | Cores | Clock Speed | CPW | rPerf (SMT8) | Software Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP3X | 16-core | 3.4-4.2 GHz | 433,000 | 572.9 | P20 |
| EP3H | 24-core | 3.05-4.15 GHz | 649,800 | Not published | P30 |
| EP3Y | 30-core | 2.8-3.95 GHz | 812,250 | Not published | P30 |
| EP3X | 32-core | 3.4-4.2 GHz | 823,000 | 1,117.1 | P20 |
| EP3H | 48-core | 3.05-4.15 GHz | 1,118,500 | 1,529.0 | P30 |
| EP3Y | 60-core | 2.8-3.95 GHz | 1,345,900 | 1,736.8 | P30 |
Processor table verified against the IBM Power S1124 9824-42A product listing at Midland Information Systems.
Memory, storage, and I/O
Platform configuration limits
| Area | S1124 Detail |
|---|---|
| Memory | 64 GB to 8 TB DDR5 across 32 DDIMM slots |
| Internal storage | Up to 244.8 TB NVMe (16x 15.3 TB) or 102.4 TB (16x 6.4 TB) |
| Direct I/O | 4 direct PCIe slots (Gen4 x16 or Gen5 x8 mix) |
| Expansion | 2 NED24 NVMe expansion drawers, 2 Gen4 I/O expansion drawers (24 slots each) |
S1124 processor options require the P20 or P30 IBM i software tier, one to two steps above the S1122's P10 tier. Confirm current IBM i licensing costs at your target tier before comparing total configuration price against the S1122.
Midland Information Systems cites a 26% improvement in energy efficiency and 22% more rPerf per watt for the S1124 versus its Power10 predecessor, the S1024.
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.
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.
Sources
- IBM Power 11 Scale-Out Servers Redbook ... IBM Redbooks
Reference Documents
Related
IBM 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.
IBM 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.
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.
IBM 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.
Related Reading
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.
IBM i Licensing and Software Tiers on Power 11: P05, P10, P20, P30 Explained
IBM i software cost on Power 11 is set by the processor feature code's software tier, not the model name. Here is how P05 through P30 map across every current model.
Frequently Asked
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 the Power S1122 and S1124?
Both share the 9824 machine-type family and a similar 60-core ceiling, but the S1124's EP3X/EP3H/EP3Y processor options deliver roughly 3.5x to 10x higher CPW than equivalent S1122 core counts, at the cost of stepping up into the P20 or P30 IBM i software tier instead of the S1122's P10. The S1124 also supports double the memory (8 TB vs 4 TB) and internal storage (244.8 TB vs 122.4 TB).