IBM Power S824L (8247-42L)
The S824L (8247-42L) is the 4U Linux-only Power8 server, the one sold with NVIDIA GPU options. It does not run IBM i. IBM standard support ended March 31, 2024.
The Power S824L (8247-42L) is the 4U, two-socket, Linux-only Power8 machine, and it is the one IBM sold with NVIDIA GPU options during the OpenPOWER push. Ten-core modules run at 3.42 GHz and twelve-core modules at 3.02 GHz, which puts a fully populated 8247-42L at 24 cores.
Where the S824L stands in 2026
It shares a system backplane and a good deal of its parts list with the 8286-42A S824, which is useful to know when you are sourcing replacement components. It does not share the operating system. The 8247 machine types are Linux only, so an S824L cannot absorb an IBM i workload no matter what the physical similarity suggests.
Machine type check: the 8247 prefix means Linux only. If you need IBM i on Power8 hardware, you are looking at an 8284 or 8286 scale-out machine or an enterprise 8408, 9119, or 9080 system instead.
Specifications
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | 2-socket, 4U rack mount |
| Sockets | 2 |
| Max Cores | 24 cores (2 x 12-core at 3.02 GHz) |
| Processor Technology | POWER8 |
| Memory Type | DDR3 and DDR4 CDIMM depending on build |
| Accelerator Support | Sold with NVIDIA GPU options for Linux workloads |
| Operating System Scope | Linux only ... this machine type does not support IBM i or AIX |
Machine type, model designation and support dates verified against IBM published documentation. Configuration details vary by build ... read the system VPD for the machine in front of you.
Processor options
| Feature Code | Cores | Clock Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54E8 | 10 | 3.42 GHz | Processor module, per IBM system parts documentation |
| 54E4 | 12 | 3.02 GHz | Processor module, per IBM system parts documentation |
Processor module identifiers and descriptions from IBM system parts documentation for 8247-42L, 8286-41A and 8286-42A.
Lifecycle and support status
| Attribute | Status |
|---|---|
| EOS Date | March 31, 2024 |
| EOS Status | Past IBM standard hardware support. |
| IBM i Ceiling | Not applicable ... the L-generation machine types are Linux only |
End-of-service dates per the IBM Power8 end of service announcement. IBM i release support dates per IBM i lifecycle documentation.
Best fit
GPU-accelerated Linux on Power workloads from the OpenPOWER era. This is the Power8 machine type most likely to be found doing analytics or early machine-learning work rather than running a business system.
Related
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The S822L (8247-22L) is the two-socket Linux-only Power8 server. It does not run IBM i. IBM standard support ended March 31, 2024.
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IBM Power S824 (8286-42A)
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You have an S812 8284-21A. Here's what that means in 2026: IBM's smallest Power8 box, out of standard IBM support since July 2025, and the last model in the family to lose it.