IBM Power Systems vs Intel Server System comparison

IBM and Intel are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.7, while Intel is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.0. IBM holds a 9.1% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to Intel’s 5.4% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 66% of Intel users who would recommend it.

IBM Power Systems

Read 69 IBM Power Systems reviews

4,877 Views
3,452 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Intel Server System

Read 3 Intel Server System reviews

2,248 Views
2,054 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

IBM Power Systems

Intel Server System

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 23, 2025

Intel Server System and IBM Power Systems compete in the server solutions market. IBM Power Systems dominates in feature offerings, providing expansive benefits for complex enterprise environments.

Features: Intel Server System offers high processing power, versatile configurations, and cost efficiency. IBM Power Systems provides advanced virtualization, improved reliability, and extensive integration capabilities, making it ideal for enterprises.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Intel Server System is known for straightforward deployment and dependable customer service. IBM Power Systems features a streamlined deployment model coupled with robust support, enhancing service delivery.

Pricing and ROI: Intel Server System offers competitive pricing with quick ROI, ideal for budget-conscious businesses. IBM Power Systems, though with a higher initial investment, promises a strong long-term ROI with its comprehensive feature set, catering to businesses needing advanced functionality.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Power Systems vs. Intel Server System Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems vs. Intel Server System

March 2025

Download the complete report

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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

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

Intel Server System

Ranking in Rack Servers

7th

Average Rating

6.6

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 IBM Power Systems is 9.1%, up from 8.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Intel Server System is 5.4%, up from 5.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rack Servers

Featured Reviews

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

Sami Abughosh

Servers Senior Network Administrator at Dukat d.d.

A stable product that constantly enhances its functionalities like multithreading and caching

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is more stable than AMD for VMware. Intel Server System has a good track record for the last 20 years. Multithreading and caching are areas where improvements keep increasing. If you look at the last four years, you will see a big difference when it comes to the area concerning processors.

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

"PowerVM."

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

"The performance is the solution's most valuable asset. It has one of the highest levels of performance I have ever seen. It's quite remarkable, in that sense."

"The solution does not require any maintenance."

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

"The most valuable feature of our machines is their ability to replace faulty parts without causing any downtime."

"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."

More IBM Power Systems pros

"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is more stable than AMD for VMware."

"It uses well known architecture and it's easy to develop for."

"It is stable and easy to manage."

Cons

"Sometimes, the availability of additional services can be a challenge. Certain IBM software takes time to deliver to the client. It can be slow."

"The solution is quite expensive."

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

"The solution could improve the memory database for better integration with SAP HANA."

"One of the main challenges with IBM Power Systems is the functionality of live partnership mobility."

"It does not offer the ability to run any X86 or X64 Intel architecture-based application on Power Systems. There are a lot of applications, lots of business use cases that do not support this architecture as of now. If somehow application tasks can be ported on to IBM Power Systems, that would be a big improvement."

"If you asked me what I'd like added, I'd say that it'd be nice if they ran GPUs, however, I know that's not the direction they're going. That said, I would appreciate it if they offered GPU support."

"IBM should be more flexible with marketing or offer marketing events themselves and invite the partners to attend. That might be far more productive."

More IBM Power Systems cons

"The shipment time can be improved. When we order Intel products, we have to wait for a long time. They can increase the local services and engineers in China. Local engineers will be able to know and understand customer problems much better."

"We have to scale it ourselves but it scales. It depends on the software because it's mostly the hardware platform that Intel is managing."

"When you have an Intel Server System, the prices may be much higher since it is a different processor, making the solution's pricing part one of its shortcomings where improvements are required."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing of the solution is very good because we can beat any other competitor with the pricing. Lately, they have offered good pricing for their customer."

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

"The licensing costs are okay. With IBM Power Systems, it's inclusive, so you can differentiate the price of the hardware from the software itself."

"The price of the solution could be somewhat better and this is what lowers my rating of it to a seven or eight out of ten."

"IBM Power Systems is a really expensive product."

"When there is an error in the SAS drive of 10,000 RPM, my company buys support for 1,500 USD."

"Its price depends on the sizing."

"It is designed for a large workload, as opposed to a small workload. For our circumstances, and even as an independent, I can't buy a Power system to experiment on. It can't happen. You cannot buy them."

More IBM Power Systems pricing and cost advice

"It is not expensive."

"The price is competitive."

"I rate the pricing a ten on a scale from one to ten, where one is inexpensive, and ten is very expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

18%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

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

What do you like most about Intel Server System?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is more stable than AMD for VMware.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Intel Server System?

I rate the pricing a ten on a scale from one to ten, where one is inexpensive, and ten is very expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Intel Server System?

When you have an Intel Server System, the prices may be much higher since it is a different processor, making the solution's pricing part one of its shortcomings where improvements are required.

See all answers

Comparisons

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

HPE Apollo Systems vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 2% of the time

More IBM Power Systems Competitors

Oracle SPARC Servers vs Intel Server System

Compared 19% of the time

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs Intel Server System

Compared 4% of the time

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs Intel Server System

Compared 2% of the time

More Intel Server System Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems

March 2025

Download IBM Power Systems product report

Buyer's Guide

Rack Servers

March 2025

Download Intel Server System product report

Also Known As

IBM OpenPOWER LC

No data available

Overview

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

Storage is simple with the Intel Storage System JBOD2000 family, a 2U form factor system with support for twelve 3.5" LFF or twenty-four 2.5" SFF drives with a single or multi-cable connectivity. The JBOD2000 family includes redundant, hot-swap fans and the option for redundant, hot-swap power supplies. The JBOD2000S2 products support 6Gb/s SAS/SATA connectivity via industry-standard SFF-8088 connectors with the latest JBOD2000S3 version supports up to 12 Gb/s SAS connectivity via industry standard SFF-8644 connectors. All these JBOD offerings are designed to provide highly available and easily expandable storage for Intel servers at an affordable price point.

Intel

Sample Customers

Cipher

Emerson, Baosight, Pentamaster

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems vs. Intel Server System

March 2025

Free Report: IBM Power Systems vs. Intel Server System

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