IBM Power11: everything we know so far

Post in constant update

The evolution of the Power architecture has always been a topic of curiosity and debate in our community. With each new generation, IBM has tried to balance innovation with market demands, though not always with the expected impact. Now, with the imminent arrival of Power11, it’s time to analyze what could come and what we hope IBM has learned over the years. We also leave you here what we asked of Power11 (if wishes could come true…🙄)

What do we know so far?

IBM Power11 may include models (to be confirmed and subject to errors):

• S1122 (entry range for AIX, Linux and IBM i, with one or two sockets, replacing the S922 or S924).
  • S1124 (the new mid-range, more labor intensive and critical applications, with various expansion capabilities).
    • E1150 (future all-rounder with 4 sockets and hopefully up to 16TB of RAM).
      • E1180 (the king of kings, the most powerful with up to 16 sockets).

The nomenclature “S1112”, is not pure chance: the “1” indicates a single processor socket system, and the “2” indicates a 2U (two rack units high) system.

While the exact details remain a mystery, if Power’s trajectory since 2010 has taught us anything, it is that each generation responds, in one way or another, to a constantly evolving market.

So what is more evolving than AI? One of the CONFIRMATIONS IS THE INTEGRATION OF THE IBM SPYRE ACCELERATOR. This component, designed for AI, promises to revolutionize the processing of generative AI and complex models.

Why is IBM Spyre Accelerator important?

The IBM Spyre coprocessor is of great strategic importance, as it could position IBM as a key competitor in a highly competitive market, where players such as NVIDIA with its GPUs (the recently announced RTX 50 series) and new RISC-V based architectures are rapidly gaining ground. This move represents a bid to advance the field of high-performance computing, enabling IBM to offer more specialized and efficient solutions, especially for Machine Learning (ML) model inference, that respond to the demands of today’s market.

Power11 processor innovations

The Power11 processor offers higher clock speeds and up to 25% more cores per chip than Power10. This processor continues to enhance the key capabilities we introduced with Power10, such as improved reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS), better energy efficiency and power management, as well as enhanced quantum security.

Innovation in processor manufacturing technologies

We know that the Power11 processor will take advantage of new integrated stacked capacitor (ISC) technology, along with cooling innovations such as improved heat sinks and more efficient fans.

This will optimize power delivery, improve thread and core endurance, and increase system capacity.

DDR5 memory: Better performance and efficiency

The integration of DDR5 memory, along with the continuation of the Open Memory Architecture (OMI), reinforces Power11’s strategy, positioning it as a platform that is not only more powerful, but also more energy efficient. DDR5 memory offers superior performance and higher bandwidth, which will enable Power11 to handle more demanding workloads without sacrificing power efficiency. DDR5 memory support has also been confirmed for Power10 (and possibly DDR4 as well), which will allow reuse of memory from refurbished equipment.

In addition, we are on the eve of DDR6 memory, which could bring future Power servers even further to the forefront if it is integrated in the future.

What role does KVM play in Power11?

Another key aspect that could boost Power11’s capabilities is the integration of KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine), one of the most flexible and efficient virtualization solutions in the IT infrastructure world. With KVM, Power11 could offer full support for Linux virtual machines, which would position it as an even more open and scalable platform, adapting perfectly to multi-cloud environments and hybrid solutions. This not only optimizes the use of resources, but also facilitates the management of more complex and dynamic workloads.

The use of KVM in Power11 would reflect a more open virtualization approach, aligned with best practices in the Linux world. By enabling virtualization in additional layers, Power11 could provide an efficient platform for companies looking to consolidate infrastructures and reduce operational costs, while improving the flexibility and scalability of their systems.

Conclusion

Power11 is not just a new generation of hardware; it is an opportunity for IBM to realign its strategy and reconnect with its community. If it can balance technological innovation with an open and collaborative approach, it could deliver a platform that is versatile, powerful and, above all, relevant to a market that demands flexibility and modernity.

Want to learn more about how Power can transform your infrastructure? At SIXE, we are experts in all things Power, whether you have your architecture already in place or want to migrate.