Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs IBM Power Systems comparison

Dell Technologies and IBM are both solutions in the Rack Servers category. Dell Technologies is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.5, while IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6. Dell Technologies holds a 1.2% mindshare in Rack Servers, compared to IBM’s 9.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Read 10 Dell PowerEdge XE Servers reviews

658 Views
658 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Power Systems

Read 71 IBM Power Systems reviews

4,225 Views
4,225 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

IBM Power Systems

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 8, 2024

IBM Power Systems and Dell PowerEdge XE Servers are competitors in the server industry, with each offering unique benefits. IBM Power Systems stand out for their performance and reliability, while Dell PowerEdge XE Servers are favored for innovative features.

Features: IBM Power Systems are known for scalability, robust architecture, and processing power, making them suitable for data-intensive applications. These systems are valued for their reliability and ability to handle complex tasks. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers focus on flexibility and performance with diverse configuration options, catering to various workloads and innovative technological advancements.

Room for Improvement: IBM Power Systems need better integration capabilities, more efficient software updates, and improved compatibility upgrades. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers could enhance thermal management, reduce power consumption, and improve overall hardware efficiency.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Power Systems offer straightforward deployment with comprehensive customer service, ensuring a seamless experience. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers involve a more complex setup, but responsive customer support provides guidance throughout the deployment, balancing complexity with active engagement.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Power Systems are priced higher initially, offering long-term ROI through durability and performance. Dell PowerEdge XE Servers present a more competitive price, generating ROI through flexibility and innovation. Cost-conscious buyers might consider Dell, while those seeking long-term value may prefer IBM.

To learn more, read our detailed Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

July 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers

Ranking in Rack Servers

10th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM Power Systems

Ranking in Rack Servers

4th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

3.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Rack Servers category, the mindshare of Dell PowerEdge XE Servers is 1.2%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Power Systems is 9.1%, up from 8.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rack Servers

Featured Reviews

Muzammil Nasim

Software Architect at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees

We're hardly using 15 percent of their computing power, so there's a lot left over that we could utilize

It should be easier to extend PowerEdge XE servers. We haven't architected them with an eye toward scalability. They have a fixed number of slots for hard drives, which is enough for our present use case, However, we would have more options if we could extend that. We could deploy the servers in a broader range of use cases with different requirements. It's fine for our current deployment with only a few thousand users. We're exploring other solutions like such as VxRail or PowerFlex for larger public-facing use cases.

Read full review

Rohintan-Karanjia

Advisory Services at Nangia Andersen LLP

Offers security features, including HIPs, Postgres, intrusion prevention systems, and AI for specific tasks

We've found that sometimes, certain setups require better servers. Ideally, the next level of model that IBM offers would be perfect for those situations. Sometimes, the availability of additional services can be a challenge for some software. Certain IBM software takes time to deliver to the client. It can be slow. So deployment is an area for improvement.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution is flexible in my experience."

"The most valuable feature is the trusted platform module."

"In general, it works well. We haven't had issues."

"The resource management features are valuable."

"PowerEdge XE servers are high-performing. We're hardly using 15 percent of their computing power, so there's a lot left over that we could utilize."

"The most valuable feature is that it can support up to 32 drives of internal storage."

"The strong point of this solution is its compatibility with VMware and its resilience."

"The most valuable feature of these servers is the ability to store a lot—the capacity and the number of hard disk drives."

More Dell PowerEdge XE Servers pros

"We've been using it for a long time, and it's stable."

"The availability of a solution depends on the requirement of the customer. The most valuable feature is the virtualization. You can have this one system or you can use it for many. They were using almost 120 servers within that specific service."

"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."

"The solution does not require any maintenance."

"From a software developer standpoint, virtualization is really the key, as we can more easily spin up a new partition, virtual instance of IBM i."

"I can have what they call multi-tenancy, meaning that I can have multiple tenants within the same server."

"The installation is easy."

"IBM Power Systems provides very good performance and stability compared to other brands or processors."

More IBM Power Systems pros

Cons

"In future releases, there should be more support options for the latest processor."

"It should be easier to extend PowerEdge XE servers. We haven't architected them with an eye toward scalability. They have a fixed number of slots for hard drives, which is enough for our present use case, However, we would have more options if we could extend that. We could deploy the servers in a broader range of use cases with different requirements. It's fine for our current deployment with only a few thousand users. We're exploring other solutions like such as VxRail or PowerFlex for larger public-facing use cases."

"We use OpenManager a lot, and that can be a bit clunky at times. They can make that better."

"Upgrading can be a bit difficult."

"I would like to have support for performing a detailed analysis of the server from a mobile device."

"It is mostly stable, but the usual problem would be, for example, upgrading to a newer version of VMware or dealing with compatibility issues during the process."

"Dell PowerEdge XE Servers can improve by adapting HCI technology."

"The quality and reliability could be improved."

More Dell PowerEdge XE Servers cons

"I would like to see firmware available to all of the systems."

"IBM should provide a platform where users can learn about the storage and security of IBM Power Systems."

"The price has room for improvement."

"IBM systems are old technologies. I couldn't renew and get to use IBM Power Systems, and it offers users very expensive support."

"The pricing is high."

"The price is a bit high and could be improved."

"Technical support and documentation need to be improved."

"The lack of software vendors moving onto the platform, as opposed to fleeing the platform, is an issue."

More IBM Power Systems cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Dell has competitive pricing."

"You always want slightly cheaper, but overall, they are quite comparable and quite neutral."

"The pricing model is quite competitive."

"There are different types of licensing available, that works well for customers. The product is not very much to purchase."

"This solution is priced very reasonably."

"If you want an SLA for parts and equipment then you need to purchase a support agreement."

"IBM Power is more expensive than other rack-mount servers, and you have to have a license for everything, including cores and memory."

"Price-wise, I rate the solution a five out of ten."

"The additional software costs are high."

"The cost model is great. There is so much built in to the technology, that if you know how to use it you can save yourself a lot of money."

"It is designed for a large workload, as opposed to a small workload. For our circumstances, and even as an independent, I can't buy a Power system to experiment on. It can't happen. You cannot buy them."

"IBM Power Systems is very expensive."

"Its price is too high."

"The price of the solution depends upon the configuration part of it. Based on what configuration you want to go for it, there is a range like IBM Power Systems POWER9 and IBM Power Systems Power10."

More IBM Power Systems pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

11%

University

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

The resource management features are valuable.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

Dell has competitive pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Dell PowerEdge XE Servers?

The support team must improve the speed of response. The product should be promoted more in the market.

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM Power Systems?

IBM Power Systems provides very good performance and stability compared to other brands or processors.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Power Systems?

What I see is that with HP or Dell systems, there may be power failures in India, twice in a year. We have faced such situations where abrupt shutdowns occur due to cooling or power, and when the s...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Power Systems?

We have been providing IBM Power Systems. We do government bidding also, in which certain cases have specific requirements that are catered by IBM Power Systems.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 39% of the time

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Compared 19% of the time

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Compared 16% of the time

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Compared 16% of the time

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Compared 1% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Rack Servers

July 2025

Download Dell PowerEdge XE Servers product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Power Systems

July 2025

Download IBM Power Systems product report

Also Known As

PowerEdge XE Servers

IBM OpenPOWER LC

Overview

Our newest addition to the Dell EMC PowerEdge family, PowerEdge XE servers are purpose-built for complex, harsh and compute-intensive workloads.

Dell Technologies

IBM Power Systems are built to crush the most advanced data applications - from the mission-critical workloads you run today to the next generation of AI.

IBM

Sample Customers

Epsilon, ROZETTA CORP, JIGUANG, RACKSPACE, NEW BELGIUM BREWING

Cipher

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

July 2025

Free Report: Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems

Find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerEdge XE Servers vs. IBM Power Systems and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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