IBM Power Systems vs Oracle SPARC Servers comparison

IBM and Oracle are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6, while Oracle is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.0. IBM holds a 9.2% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to Oracle’s 3.8% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of Oracle users who would recommend it.

IBM Power Systems

Read 69 IBM Power Systems reviews

4,711 Views
3,344 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Oracle SPARC Servers

Read 7 Oracle SPARC Servers reviews

2,039 Views
1,439 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

IBM Power Systems

Oracle SPARC Servers

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 23, 2025

Oracle SPARC Servers and IBM Power Systems compete in the high-performance server market. Oracle SPARC Servers offer impressive security and scalability advantages, whereas IBM Power Systems lead in processing power and application flexibility.

Features: Oracle SPARC Servers have robust security, scalability, and built-in virtualization optimized for Oracle applications. IBM Power Systems excel in database management efficiency, adaptability for AI workloads, and operational flexibility across environments.

Room for Improvement: Oracle SPARC Servers can improve their cost-efficiency and broaden support beyond Oracle-centric environments. They also need to enhance integration with non-Oracle applications. IBM Power Systems could improve ease of use in non-traditional IBM environments, reduce complexity in initial setup, and lower entry-point pricing for smaller enterprises.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Oracle SPARC Servers offer integrated system setups for consistent operations and dedicated Oracle-focused support. IBM Power Systems allow versatile deployment in various environments, with extensive customer service options catering to diverse client requirements.

Pricing and ROI: Oracle SPARC Servers involve higher initial costs justified by built-in security, offering significant ROI for Oracle-focused businesses. IBM Power Systems require substantial upfront investment but ensure high ROI through efficient performance and scalability, proving cost-effective in mixed deployments.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Power Systems vs. Oracle SPARC Servers Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems vs. Oracle SPARC Servers

April 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

Oracle SPARC Servers

Ranking in Rack Servers

8th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of IBM Power Systems is 9.2%, up from 8.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle SPARC Servers is 3.8%, up from 3.8% 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

Abdul-Salam

Sr. Manager - System Analyst (Datacenter Infrastructure) at Sohar International

A rock-solid OS and rich virtualization features for hosting many VMs on one box

Oracle doesn't have a good roadmap for the solution because they are moving to the x86 platform. Oracle is focusing on the cloud platform with a PCA and standard x86 architecture. Linux is their other OS and is mostly in the cloud. We don't see much development happening on Solaris even though it came as an acquisition from Sun Microsystems. Eventually, the solution and its platform will die because there has been no new development on the Solaris end and we haven't seen new servers in the last five years. At this point, we are pretty sure there is no real roadmap or future for the solution. There is a shortage of expert engineers because Oracle is not pushing the technology. It is hard for us to find engineers because the number of people supporting us has considerably reduced.

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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

"From a software developer standpoint, virtualization is really the key, as we can more easily spin up a new partition, virtual instance of IBM i."

"The main feature that I have found most valuable is PowerVM - its virtualization feature which is the most powerful."

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

"I use the hypervisor of IBM Power Systems a lot."

"We value the stability and technology capability of this solution the most. It is very stable, and the processor technology of IBM is very good. When you have a CIO and you are dealing with C-level every day, you can, without any doubt, support the core banking or critical applications with this solution."

"The most valuable feature of IBM Power Systems is its performance."

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

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

More IBM Power Systems pros

"The Oracle server is very powerful. They are more powerful and durable compared to Intel hardware. Which has been a benefit to our organization."

"The performance is the best feature."

"The processor is very helpful and the licensing is very flexible."

"I have found the LDAP facilities most valuable. In addition, I like the CPU."

"Our customers are happy with many features in Oracle SPARC Servers, like the automatic ASR feature."

"The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that Oracle Database functions very well with Oracle SPARC Servers."

"The operating system is rock solid and the best I have ever used."

Cons

"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."

"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."

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

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

"Its pricing could be better."

"We have a problem with the storage software. The media to restore data is also not found."

"Technical support and documentation need to be improved."

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

More IBM Power Systems cons

"I would like to see a reduced price point."

"Oracle doesn't have a good roadmap for the solution because they are moving to the x86 platform."

"They have declared the end of life of the hardware."

"Like IBM, Oracle SPARC Servers should be able to run other open operating systems like Linux."

"The solution could improve by giving a clear roadmap about the future. I'm not seeing a lot of improvements on the OS side of the software. They need to work more on the operating system."

"Oracle SPARC Servers should be fine-tuned well enough to work with the other servers and software products in the market, as it is an area where Oracle SPARC Servers lack."

"They need some sort of modeling because IBM has different types of models."

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"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."

"Its price depends on the sizing."

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

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

"IBM Power Systems is a really expensive product."

"The machine is good and has a comparatively good price."

"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."

More IBM Power Systems pricing and cost advice

"The application running on it is very important to us and this makes the price worth it."

"My company makes yearly payments toward the licensing costs attached to the solution."

"The licensing is flexible."

"The hardware is expensive but it has very rich virtualization features that make it economical."

"Oracle SPARC Servers are expensive to manage, this is because after five years Oracle will increase the support charges for the hardware. The licensing policy for Oracle is different for Intel and Sparc. It will cost you less if you use your Oracle hardware with Oracle SPARC Servers."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

23%

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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 Oracle SPARC Servers?

The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that Oracle Database functions very well with Oracle SPARC Servers.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle SPARC Servers?

My company makes yearly payments toward the licensing costs attached to the solution. My company's clients, who have paid for the licensing costs attached to the solution, have also engaged with so...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Oracle SPARC Servers?

Oracle products are usually fine-tuned with the software of other Oracle products, like Oracle WebLogic Server Services, Oracle Database, and Oracle Core Banking Software and Solutions, as all the ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Intel Server System vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 41% of the time

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs IBM Power Systems

Compared 17% of the time

HPE ProLiant DL 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 2% of the time

More IBM Power Systems Competitors

Intel Server System vs Oracle SPARC Servers

Compared 27% of the time

HPE ProLiant DL Servers vs Oracle SPARC Servers

Compared 12% of the time

Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers vs Oracle SPARC Servers

Compared 10% of the time

Dell PowerEdge FX vs Oracle SPARC Servers

Compared 4% of the time

HPE Apollo Systems vs Oracle SPARC Servers

Compared 3% of the time

More Oracle SPARC Servers Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems

May 2025

Download IBM Power Systems product report

Buyer's Guide

Rack Servers

May 2025

Download Oracle SPARC Servers 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

Oracle's SPARC S7, T7, and M7 Servers with always-on memory intrusion protection and comprehensive data encryption secure data with no performance penalty. Security in silicon features and Oracle Solaris protect data in memory from unauthorized access and stop malware before it gets in.

Oracle

Sample Customers

Cipher

University Hospitals Leuven, B&H Photo, Tuscon Electric Power, IS Nordic, Siemens

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems vs. Oracle SPARC Servers

April 2025

Free Report: IBM Power Systems vs. Oracle SPARC Servers

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