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 8.6, 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 5.1% 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

4,225 Views
2,912 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Intel Server System

Read 3 Intel Server System reviews

1,875 Views
1,653 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

IBM Power Systems

Intel Server System

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 29, 2025

Intel Server System and IBM Power Systems compete in business applications hardware solutions. IBM Power Systems have the upper hand in high-performance capabilities and scalability for demanding workloads, while Intel Server System offers competitive pricing and support for budget-conscious buyers.

Features: Intel Server System provides compatibility with a wide range of processors, extensive configuration options, and flexibility for various applications. IBM Power Systems offer advanced features like reliability, availability, and serviceability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Intel Server System deployment is straightforward, with broad compatibility simplifying integration. IBM Power Systems provide comprehensive customer support and proven reliability for smooth operation in complex environments.

Pricing and ROI: Intel Server System is cost-effective upfront, appealing to businesses with immediate budget constraints. IBM Power Systems might require higher initial investment but offer superior long-term ROI through robust performance.

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

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems vs. Intel Server System

June 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

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 July 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of IBM Power Systems is 9.1%, up from 8.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Intel Server System is 5.1%, up from 4.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rack Servers

Featured Reviews

Rohintan-Karanjia

Advisory Services at Nangia Andersen LLP

Offers security features, including HIPs, Postgres, intrusion prevention systems, and AI for specific tasks

We've found that sometimes, certain setups require better servers. Ideally, the next level of model that IBM offers would be perfect for those situations. Sometimes, the availability of additional services can be a challenge for some software. Certain IBM software takes time to deliver to the client. It can be slow. So deployment is an area for improvement.

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

"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."

"It is a very scalable solution."

"The initial setup is simple and straightforward."

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

"Power VM gives us the flexibility to increase or decrease machine resources when required."

"I can have what they call multi-tenancy, meaning that I can have multiple tenants within the same server."

"The best features of the solution are its robustness and service level."

More IBM Power Systems pros

"It is stable and easy to manage."

"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."

Cons

"The lack of software vendors moving onto the platform, as opposed to fleeing the platform, is an issue."

"Technical support and documentation need to be improved."

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

"The solution is quite expensive."

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

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

"One of the features that we would like, and I think they are also adapting to the latest trends in the market, is to make it more open, more flexible... With VMware, anybody can create a virtual machine without any knowledge of the server side. But with AIX it's a bit difficult."

"In my country, there are power supply interruptions. IBM could find ways to make the product stable through these interruptions."

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

"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."

"It's more about the value you get for the price. Considering its stability and performance, the pricing is good."

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

"The pricing is reasonable."

"Its price depends on the sizing."

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

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

"The additional software costs are high."

More IBM Power Systems pricing and cost advice

"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."

"It is not 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

Manufacturing Company

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

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 18% of the time

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 16% of the time

Oracle SPARC Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 15% of the time

Lenovo ThinkSystem Rack Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 5% of the time

HPE Apollo Systems vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM Power Systems Competitors

Oracle SPARC Servers vs Intel Server System

Compared 20% of the time

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs Intel Server System

Compared 5% 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

June 2025

Download IBM Power Systems product report

Buyer's Guide

Rack Servers

June 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

June 2025

Free Report: IBM Power Systems vs. Intel Server System

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