- IBM unveiled its next-generation Power 11 server line, marking the company’s first major update to its Power systems since 2020.
➤ Release & Availability
- Announcement Date: July 8, 2025.
- General Availability: July 25, 2025—covering high-end, mid-range, and entry-level models (E1180, E1150, S1124, S1122), also available on IBM Power Virtual Server in public cloud from day one
- IBM Spyre Accelerator: Q4 2025
What Tech Publications Are Saying
• Resilience & Zero Downtime
TechRadar highlights Power11’s “99.9999%” uptime promise using autonomous patching, live updates, and rolling upgrades—effectively eliminating planned downtime. Reuters confirms this ultra‑high availability, noting just ~30 seconds of unplanned annual downtime.
• Security & Ransomware Defense
Tom’s Hardware emphasizes the Cyber Vault feature with immutable snapshots and sub‑one‑minute ransomware alerting—though caveats remain around alert vs remediation.
• AI‑Ready & Energy‑Efficient
TechRadar and CRN underscore Power11’s focus on inference acceleration and vibrant hybrid-cloud support; note 55% core‑performance boost over Power9 and standout power‑per‑watt gains thanks to a new “Energy Efficient” mode.
➤ Key Features at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core Performance ↑ | ~55% over Power9, up to 25% more cores vs Power10 |
| Energy Efficient Mode | Up to 28% better efficiency vs Max-Performance |
| AI Accelerator | On-chip AI support now; full Spyre chip arrives Q4 2025 |
| Ransomware Protection | Cyber Vault snapshot + <1‑minute alert |
| Hybrid‑Cloud Ready | Day‑1 public cloud availability via Power Virtual Server |
Voices from IBM
“This is going to be one of the bigger—if not the biggest—IBM Power launches ever,” said Bargav Balakrishnan, VP of IBM Power product management.
“We are taking advantage of the full IBM stack to deliver hybrid cloud, AI, and automation capabilities,” added Tom McPherson, General Manager of Power Systems :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
Why It Matters
Power11 provides enterprises with a single platform that blends ultra‑high performance, AI inference, security, and energy efficiency—across on‑premise and cloud environments. It’s a clear signal that IBM is doubling down on hybrid‑cloud, AI‑driven, mission‑critical infrastructures.
➤ Timeline Summary
- July 8, 2025: Official announcement.
- July 25, 2025: Power11 GA — hardware & cloud release of server models.
- Q4 2025: Release of Spyre AI accelerator chip and watsonx/data integration expanding AI capabilities.
Stay tuned as the Spyre chip and watsonx ecosystem roll out later this year, further extending Power11’s AI and hybrid-cloud promise.