Upgrade Economics
A decision framework for keeping Power8/Power9 versus buying used Power10 versus buying new Power11, using the Power Value Index and remaining useful life as the deciding inputs.
Upgrade timing is where the Power Value Index earns its keep. The question is never just "which generation scores highest" -- it is "given what I already own, what I am about to pay, and how long I plan to keep it, which move actually saves money."
The three decisions buyers actually face
Keep what you have
Rational when remaining useful life is still meaningful and maintenance costs have not escalated past a sustainable level. Not rational once standard IBM service has ended, as it already has on the full Power8 line and on Power9 scale-out models.
Buy used Power10
Currently the standout value move: real modeled support runway, softening prices as the secondary market forms, and performance close to current-generation Power11 for most workloads.
Buy new Power11
Justified when you need maximum remaining useful life, are buying for a decade-long hold, or have workload requirements Power10's capacity ceiling cannot comfortably absorb.
The breakeven question
Every keep-vs-replace call comes down to comparing the ongoing cost of staying put -- rising maintenance, software tier renewal, and support risk -- against the acquisition and transition cost of moving. See our Breakeven Point glossary entry for the concept, and Annualized Ownership Cost for the generation-by-generation cost model to run the comparison.
Quick-reference decision guide by current generation
| If you currently run | Standard Support Status | Recommended Path |
|---|---|---|
| Power8 | Ended (Oct 2024) | Replace now; you are on extended/third-party support already. See our Power8 profile. |
| Power9 (scale-out) | Ended (31 Jan 2026) | Replace soon, or budget an extended-support bridge; the runway you are on is short. |
| Power9 (E980) | Runs to Dec 2027 | You have a defined window -- plan the next move now, execute within it. |
| Power10 | No EOS announced; withdrawn from new sale 31 Jul 2026 | Keep, or expand on the used market -- currently the highest PVI value score in the line-up. |
| Power11 | Current generation | Keep; you are already on the newest available platform. |
This table is a starting point, not a substitute for running your own numbers against Annualized Ownership Cost and your actual workload profile in Workload Value.