Why Power10 Is the Value Pick the Month It Stopped Being New
On 31 July 2026, IBM withdrew most Power10 models from new-unit marketing. That is a quiet, easy-to-miss announcement, but it is the single most important event in this year's Power Value Index update, because it is the moment a generation's secondary market begins forming in earnest.
The pattern buyers should watch
Withdrawal from marketing does not mean withdrawal from support -- no Power10 end-of-service date has been announced. So today's buyer gets a generation with real, if unconfirmed, remaining support runway, entering a market phase that historically produces the fastest price softening of any point in a generation's life: sellers moving inventory, early trade-ins from Power11 upgraders, and no more IBM new-build list competing at the top of the range.
Why Power10 outscores Power11 on the Market Price input specifically
Power11 still wins on overall PVI (86 vs. 76) because Performance and RUL are the two heaviest-weighted inputs. Power10's edge is specific to value, not capability.
| Input | Power10 | Power11 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance (25%) | 88 | 100 |
| Capacity (15%) | 85 | 100 |
| Remaining Useful Life (20%) | 55 | 100 |
| Market Price (15%) | 70 | 40 |
| Value Retention (10%) | 75 | 60 |
Power11 leads on every input except Market Price and, marginally, Value Retention -- see Power Value Index for the full weighted calculation.
The practical read
If your workload needs Power11-class performance headroom or you are buying for a decade-long hold, Power11's Remaining Useful Life advantage likely justifies its price. If your workload fits comfortably inside Power10's capacity and you are optimizing cash outlay per unit of usable capacity over a shorter window, this is the specific month that trade favors Power10 most.
Sources
- https://www.itjungle.com/2025/11/17/stacking-up-power10-and-power11-systems-price-performance/
- https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpapers/pdfs/redp5728.pdf
Related Generations
IBM Power10
IBM's 2021 Power generation, withdrawn from new-unit marketing 31 July 2026. Currently scores highest on the Power Value Index's value measure: strong performance, real modeled runway, and a secondary market that just started forming.
IBM Power11
IBM's current 2025 Power generation. Highest overall Power Value Index score, leading on performance, capacity, and remaining useful life, but the only generation carrying zero acquisition discount.