Reading IBM's Power8-Power11 End-of-Service Pattern for Budgeting
Power8's full model line completed end-of-service by October 2024, roughly ten years after its 2014 general availability. Power9 scale-out models reached end-of-service 31 January 2026, about eight years after its 2018 general availability. That gives us two real, IBM-confirmed data points: an 8-to-10 year window between a Power generation's launch and the date IBM stops standard support on it.
Why this matters for Power10 and Power11 buyers
IBM has not announced an end-of-service date for Power10 (GA 2021) or Power11 (GA 2025). Power10 was withdrawn from new-unit marketing on 31 July 2026, which typically precedes end-of-service by several years based on the Power8 and Power9 pattern, not concurrent with it. Applying the same 8-to-10 year window puts a modeled Power10 end-of-service somewhere around 2029-2031, and Power11 around 2033-2035.
These modeled dates are not IBM commitments. Budget planning should treat them as a reasonable planning assumption, not a guarantee, and should be revisited whenever IBM makes a formal announcement.
How this feeds the Power Value Index
Remaining Useful Life is the second-heaviest weighted input in the Power Value Index at 20%. Power8 scores 5 out of 100 on this input (support already ended), Power9 scores 10 (support ended for scale-out models essentially now), Power10 scores 55 (meaningful modeled runway remaining), and Power11 scores 100 as the newest generation with a full lifecycle ahead.
GA-to-EOS pattern used for RUL modeling
| Generation | GA Year | EOS Status | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power8 | 2014 | Complete (Oct 2024) | IBM-published |
| Power9 | 2018 | Complete for scale-out (Jan 2026) | IBM-published |
| Power10 | 2021 | Not announced; modeled ~2029-2031 | Krisada Estimate |
| Power11 | 2025 | Not announced; modeled ~2033-2035 | Krisada Estimate |
Modeled dates use the 8-10 year GA-to-EOS window observed on Power8 and Power9. See Power Value Index for how this feeds the RUL subscore.
The budgeting takeaway
Any Power8 system still in production today is already past standard support and should be treated as a keep-vs-replace decision, not a budgeting question. Power9 buyers are purchasing a defined, short window. Power10 and Power11 both carry real but unconfirmed runway -- the practical difference between them, for most buyers, comes down to price and capacity today, not support risk.
Sources
- https://www.ibm.com/new/announcements/ibm-power8-end-of-service
- https://community.ibm.com/community/user/discussion/power-9-reminder-end-of-standard-service-is-31-january-2026
- https://powersystemsadvisors.com/guides/ibm-power-end-of-life
Related Generations
IBM Power8
IBM's 2014 Power generation. Standard IBM service ended across the full line by October 2024. Cheapest to acquire, but scores lowest overall on the Power Value Index because remaining useful life and value retention are near zero.
IBM Power9
IBM's 2018 Power generation. Standard IBM service for scale-out models ended 31 January 2026. Currently the strongest cost-per-CPW zone on the secondary market, for a defined, short remaining runway.
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.