Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs IBM Power Systems comparison

Dell Technologies and IBM are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Dell Technologies is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.3, while IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.7. Dell Technologies holds a 1.1% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to IBM’s 9.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Read 10 Dell PowerEdge XE Servers reviews

672 Views
378 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Power Systems

Read 69 IBM Power Systems reviews

4,877 Views
3,452 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

IBM Power Systems

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 8, 2024

IBM Power Systems and Dell PowerEdge XE Servers are competitors in the server industry, with each offering unique benefits. IBM Power Systems stand out for their performance and reliability, while Dell PowerEdge XE Servers are favored for innovative features.

Features: IBM Power Systems are known for scalability, robust architecture, and processing power, making them suitable for data-intensive applications. These systems are valued for their reliability and ability to handle complex tasks. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers focus on flexibility and performance with diverse configuration options, catering to various workloads and innovative technological advancements.

Room for Improvement: IBM Power Systems need better integration capabilities, more efficient software updates, and improved compatibility upgrades. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers could enhance thermal management, reduce power consumption, and improve overall hardware efficiency.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Power Systems offer straightforward deployment with comprehensive customer service, ensuring a seamless experience. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers involve a more complex setup, but responsive customer support provides guidance throughout the deployment, balancing complexity with active engagement.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Power Systems are priced higher initially, offering long-term ROI through durability and performance. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers present a more competitive price, generating ROI through flexibility and innovation. Cost-conscious buyers might consider Dell, while those seeking long-term value may prefer IBM.

To learn more, read our detailed Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Ranking in Rack Servers

10th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM Power Systems

Ranking in Rack Servers

4th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

8.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge XE Servers is 1.1%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Power Systems is 9.1%, up from 8.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rack Servers

Featured Reviews

Muzammil Nasim

Software Architect at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees

We're hardly using 15 percent of their computing power, so there's a lot left over that we could utilize

It should be easier to extend PowerEdge XE servers. We haven't architected them with an eye toward scalability. They have a fixed number of slots for hard drives, which is enough for our present use case, However, we would have more options if we could extend that. We could deploy the servers in a broader range of use cases with different requirements. It's fine for our current deployment with only a few thousand users. We're exploring other solutions like such as VxRail or PowerFlex for larger public-facing use cases.

Read full review

Omobolaji Olaloku

Senior Enterprise System Engineer at Zenith-bank

Extremely stable, good ROI, and scalable

The most valuable feature of our machines is their ability to replace faulty parts without causing any downtime. Our servers are equipped with advanced technology, making it possible to replace defective parts without having to bring down the servers. This is crucial, as any disruption to our services would result in inconvenience to our customers. Therefore, being able to service the machines and replace parts without causing any downtime is highly beneficial.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"One of the most valuable features of Dell PowerEdge XE Servers is the ease of fixing issues if there are any."

"The most valuable feature is the trusted platform module."

"The most valuable feature of these servers is the ability to store a lot—the capacity and the number of hard disk drives."

"The strong point of this solution is its compatibility with VMware and its resilience."

"Its reliability and consistency are most valuable."

"In general, it works well. We haven't had issues."

"The most valuable feature is that it can support up to 32 drives of internal storage."

"The solution is flexible in my experience."

More Dell PowerEdge XE Servers pros

"The initial setup is simple and straightforward."

"The virtualization and the quality you get from it is one reason we like the solution."

"The solution does not require any maintenance."

"IBM Power Systems are secure and have fast processing."

"The SMT that they've improved has really helped open up boundaries for other applications that can use it."

"Power Systems is like a dream solution for every IT person because it has redundancy, and it doesn't stop. It doesn't get affected easily. I don't see any weaknesses in this solution. At the moment, we have Power8. It is stable and runs smoothly. We have a big load, and it is working very well. It can be customized based on our needs. Flash copy is helping us amazingly. We have virtualization for vDisks, which is again very helpful. We are working on this virtualization technology, and we have a team that is working on redundancy and architecture."

"Active Memory Expansion allows you to compress your memory on the run time to allow you to have less physical memory available, but provision more memory to your partitions, as everything will be compressed on the fly."

"On the security side, we get regular security patch updates and system hardening. There are free tools available to harden the system."

More IBM Power Systems pros

Cons

"Upgrading can be a bit difficult."

"The support team must improve the speed of response."

"I would like to have support for performing a detailed analysis of the server from a mobile device."

"Dell PowerEdge XE Servers can improve by adapting HCI technology."

"In future releases, there should be more support options for the latest processor."

"The quality and reliability could be improved."

"We use OpenManager a lot, and that can be a bit clunky at times. They can make that better."

"It should be easier to extend PowerEdge XE servers. We haven't architected them with an eye toward scalability. They have a fixed number of slots for hard drives, which is enough for our present use case, However, we would have more options if we could extend that. We could deploy the servers in a broader range of use cases with different requirements. It's fine for our current deployment with only a few thousand users. We're exploring other solutions like such as VxRail or PowerFlex for larger public-facing use cases."

More Dell PowerEdge XE Servers cons

"I know lab services does a lot of work but systems, if they could include some kind of lab services and bundling of services to get you to the greatest and latest feature at the already included cost"

"I think the cost should be cheaper."

"IBM Power Systems could improve by having a cloud feature."

"It would be ideal if the solution was more simple to work with."

"The price has room for improvement."

"Its management can be made easier because it is not easy to manage. They should also find a new way for migrating from an old Power Systems to a new one. The migration process is currently very complicated. It should be made easier to scale. Currently, its scalability depends on the initial sizing, whereas in Nutanix HCI, you can add whatever you need and whenever you need it."

"There are improvements that can be made on the technical side."

"I would like to see firmware available to all of the systems."

More IBM Power Systems cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If you want an SLA for parts and equipment then you need to purchase a support agreement."

"Dell has competitive pricing."

"There are different types of licensing available, that works well for customers. The product is not very much to purchase."

"The pricing model is quite competitive."

"This solution is priced very reasonably."

"You always want slightly cheaper, but overall, they are quite comparable and quite neutral."

"I give the cost a one out of ten."

"Power Systems is a bit more costly than other products in the market, but in terms of ROI and the longevity, performance, and reliability that Power Systems provides, it's worth it in the long run."

"Power Systems is very cheap and provides good value for money."

"The additional software costs are high."

"The price of IBM Power Systems is expensive and could improve."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"Its price is too high."

"Why should I be charged for that use rather than a single CPU, a single socket?"

More IBM Power Systems pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

19%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

10%

University

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

The resource management features are valuable.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

Dell has competitive pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

The support team must improve the speed of response. The product should be promoted more in the market.

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM Power Systems?

IBM Power Systems provides very good performance and stability compared to other brands or processors.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Power Systems?

IBM should provide a platform where users can learn about the storage and security of IBM Power Systems.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Power Systems?

In my company, we use the system for the data center and our IBM Cloud Pak System.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 45% of the time

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers vs Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Compared 35% of the time

Dell XR2 Rugged Server vs Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Compared 19% of the time

More Dell PowerEdge XE Servers Competitors

Intel Server System vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 45% of the time

Oracle SPARC Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 17% of the time

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 16% of the time

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 14% of the time

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 5% of the time

More IBM Power Systems Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Rack Servers

March 2025

Download Dell PowerEdge XE Servers product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems

March 2025

Download IBM Power Systems product report

Also Known As

PowerEdge XE Servers

IBM OpenPOWER LC

Overview

Our newest addition to the Dell EMC PowerEdge family, PowerEdge XE servers are purpose-built for complex, harsh and compute-intensive workloads.

Dell Technologies

IBM Power Systems are built to crush the most advanced data applications - from the mission-critical workloads you run today to the next generation of AI.

IBM

Sample Customers

Epsilon, ROZETTA CORP, JIGUANG, RACKSPACE, NEW BELGIUM BREWING

Cipher

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

March 2025

Free Report: Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

Find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.

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