Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs IBM Power Systems comparison

Dell Technologies and IBM are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Dell Technologies is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.7, while IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.9. Dell Technologies holds a 1.3% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to IBM’s 8.7% 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-Series

Read 11 Dell PowerEdge XE-Series reviews

658 Views
658 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Power Systems

Read 72 IBM Power Systems reviews

3,714 Views
3,714 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series

IBM Power Systems

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 26, 2025

IBM Power Systems and Dell PowerEdge XE-Series compete in the advanced server solutions category. IBM Power Systems holds an advantage in virtualization capabilities, while Dell PowerEdge XE-Series is noted for integration ease with security solutions.

Features: IBM Power Systems are known for exceptional virtualization, high performance, and robust security features. Users can efficiently manage complex workloads with features such as Live Partition Mobility and PowerVM. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series emphasizes ease of integration, extensive storage, and VMware compatibility, making it suitable for adaptable environments with external solutions.

Room for Improvement: IBM Power Systems receive criticism for complex licensing and high pricing, with users seeking more transparency. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series could improve in scalability and stability, particularly in hardware expandability and management interfaces for dynamic workloads.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Power Systems are often on-premises with reliable support, though responses can vary by region. Users value IBM's expertise but suggest faster support. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series offers on-premises and cloud deployment options, with responsive customer service; some users note location-based variability but appreciate the engagement.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Power Systems feature higher upfront costs, compensated by long-term reliability and performance, though challenging for smaller organizations. Dell PowerEdge XE-Series is more affordable, offering competitive initial pricing and adaptable licensing models, enhancing cost-effectiveness for various scales.

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

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE-Series vs. IBM Power Systems

September 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-Series

Ranking in Rack Servers

9th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.0

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

4.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge XE-Series is 1.3%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Power Systems is 8.7%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rack Servers Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
IBM Power Systems	8.7%
Dell PowerEdge XE-Series	1.3%
Other	90.0%

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.

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Foluso Jibowo

Product Manager at Hiperdist Ltd

Has empowered enterprises with secure and cost-effective solutions

When discussing disadvantages, I do not see many areas for improvement because we have received good testimonies from every client. IBM gives customers peace of mind. One challenge, which I would not really call a challenge, is that initially people have the notion that IBM Power Systems is quite expensive. However, IBM does not lose deals based on price. This is a message we need to keep communicating to people who feel that IBM is on the high side in terms of cost. We encourage them to have a discussion with us about their total cost of ownership over three or five years. There is a notion in the market that IBM is expensive, which is false. However, once we engage and show them their return on investments and their total cost of ownership savings, they tend to embrace IBM.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

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

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

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

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

"Its reliability and consistency are most valuable."

"PowerEdge XE servers are high-performing. We're hardly using 15 percent of their computing power, so there's a lot left over that we could utilize."

"The solution is flexible in my experience."

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

More Dell PowerEdge XE-Series pros

"It scales a lot, you can just keep on adding frames, you can add on CPUs, you get capacity on demand, you can tune the machine very easily to handle different workloads."

"The backups work great, data recovery works great."

"Power runs our resilient data systems, our high-end databases, stuff that can't go down."

"The availability of a solution depends on the requirement of the customer. The most valuable feature is the virtualization. You can have this one system or you can use it for many. They were using almost 120 servers within that specific service."

"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."

"It is a very scalable solution."

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

"From a reliability standpoint it has provided us with excellent performance."

More IBM Power Systems pros

Cons

"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."

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

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

"The quality and reliability could be improved."

"Upgrading can be a bit difficult."

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

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

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

More Dell PowerEdge XE-Series cons

"Its price can be improved. It is too high."

"In Power6, latency was an issue, but nowadays, we are on Power8, which doesn't have any such problems. Sometimes, we have issues when we are moving to a new version, which is the case with almost every company. Some new issues or problems show up suddenly, and you do not have the time to research and find the solution. That's when we contact IBM technical support."

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

"In the next release, I would like to see additional graphical dashboards to help the administrators access information more easily."

"I would like to see IBM Power Systems integrate with all cloud types."

"The price has room for improvement."

"I think IBM needs a little more work on managing the overall environment with eliminating Systems Director."

"Everyone likes speed. Not that speed has been an issue up until now but you can never be too fast."

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."

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

"The pricing model is quite competitive."

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

"This solution is priced very reasonably."

"Dell has competitive pricing."

"The cost model is great. There is so much built in to the technology, that if you know how to use it you can save yourself a lot of money."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"Its price depends on the sizing."

"There is a yearly licensing cost, and it's an expensive solution."

"IBM Power Systems is a really expensive product."

"IBM Power Systems is very expensive."

"Price-wise, I rate the solution a five out of ten."

"IBM Power is more expensive than other rack-mount servers, and you have to have a license for everything, including cores and memory."

More IBM Power Systems pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

Retailer

University

Financial Services Firm

13%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	17
Midsize Enterprise	18
Large Enterprise	42

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?

For Dell PowerEdge XE Servers, particularly for standalone servers, extendability would be a great improvement. This feature is currently available only with virtualization environment. Adding exte...

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?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Power Systems?

IBM Power Systems are used mainly in large organizations, generally in the financial industry, government, telecommunications, oil and gas sectors for their high availability environment. These sys...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 22% of the time

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Compared 17% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

Oracle SPARC Servers vs Dell PowerEdge XE-Series

Compared 14% of the time

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Compared 29% of the time

Dell PowerEdge R-Series vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 22% of the time

Oracle SPARC Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 17% of the time

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 17% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Rack Servers

October 2025

Download Dell PowerEdge XE-Series product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems

October 2025

Download IBM Power Systems product report

Also Known As

PowerEdge XE Servers

IBM OpenPOWER LC

Overview

The PowerEdge XE-Series caters to AI-centric workloads by offering exceptional GPU support and processing power for demanding tasks like inferencing and large-scale training, making it ideal for organizations aiming to innovate with AI.

PowerEdge XE-Series stands out in modern GPU-centric computing with its purpose-built design for AI acceleration. Known for handling extreme workloads like model fine-tuning and AI-driven applications, it supports high-density GPU configurations and advanced thermal management. Its vast storage capacity and compatibility with VMware ensure reliable performance across virtualization, big data, and analytics while providing trusted security integration and robust scalability options. However, improvements in processor support, reliability, and management monitoring are sought by users.

What are the key features of PowerEdge XE-Series?

High-Density GPU Support: Configures multiple GPUs for demanding AI tasks.
Advanced Thermal Design: Optimizes cooling for enhanced performance.
Vast Storage Capacity: Supports up to 32 drives for extensive data management.
Compatibility: Works seamlessly with platforms like VMware.
Security Integration: Includes trusted platform modules for data protection.

What benefits should users expect from PowerEdge XE-Series?

Efficient AI Management: Enhances AI workloads with advanced processing.
Scalability: Adapts to growing demands in virtualization and big data.
Security: Offers robust data protection and reliability.
Improved Resource Management: Facilitates straightforward setup and usage.

In different industries, PowerEdge XE-Series is utilized for hosting SaaS, high-performance computing, and general-purpose servers. System integrators use it in client networks for applications like Hadoop, backup, and ERP. It supports virtualization and hyper-converged infrastructure solutions. Real estate sectors leverage iDRAC for efficient management, enhancing data security, power, and network redundancy.

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-Series vs. IBM Power Systems

September 2025

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