IBM Power 720 Express (8202-E4B / E4C / E4D)
Use the 8202 model suffix and processor feature to identify the exact Power 720, its CPW range, its IBM hardware date, and the replacement decision it creates.
The model suffix tells you which Power 720 you have. E4B and E4C are POWER7 systems with 3.0 GHz processor choices. E4D is the 3.6 GHz POWER7+ refresh. That suffix changes the feature codes, memory ceiling, peak CPW, end-of-marketing date, and IBM end-of-support date.
Power 720 machine type and processor feature lookup
Midland Power 720 processor configurations
| Machine Type | Processor Feature | Cores and Clock | Maximum CPW | IBM i Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8202-E4B | 8350 | 4 cores at 3.0 GHz | 23,800 | P05 |
| 8202-E4B | 8351 | 6 cores at 3.0 GHz | 33,050 | P10 |
| 8202-E4B | 8352 | 8 cores at 3.0 GHz | 46,300 | P10 |
| 8202-E4C | EPC5 | 4 cores at 3.0 GHz | 23,800 | P05 |
| 8202-E4C | EPC6 | 6 cores at 3.0 GHz | 34,900 | P10 |
| 8202-E4C | EPC7 | 8 cores at 3.0 GHz | 46,300 | P10 |
| 8202-E4D | EPCK | 4 cores at 3.6 GHz | 28,400 | P05 |
| 8202-E4D | EPCL | 6 cores at 3.6 GHz | 42,400 | P10 |
| 8202-E4D | EPCM | 8 cores at 3.6 GHz | 56,300 | P10 |
Configuration names, processor feature codes, IBM i tiers, and CPW values follow Midland Information Systems' curated Power7 catalog. CPW varies with active processors.
Power 720 at a glance
Power 720 lifecycle decision table
Power 720 lifecycle by exact model
| Machine Type | IBM End of Marketing | IBM End of Support | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8202-E4B | February 21, 2012 | September 30, 2019 | Verify third-party hardware coverage and set the replacement date. |
| 8202-E4C | October 7, 2013 | September 30, 2019 | Verify third-party hardware coverage and set the replacement date. |
| 8202-E4D | September 29, 2015 | December 31, 2020 | Treat it as the later POWER7+ refresh, but still past standard IBM hardware support. |
| All Power 720 models on IBM i | Not applicable | IBM i 7.3 standard support ended September 30, 2023 | Confirm the current paid Service Extension or plan the software move. The extension ends September 30, 2028. |
Hardware dates follow IBM Product Lifecycle records. IBM i dates follow IBM's release lifecycle page.
Feature codes must match the 8202 model
A feature name that looks similar is not enough. E4C uses processor features EPC5, EPC6, and EPC7. E4D uses EPCK, EPCL, and EPCM, with paired processor-card features behind those configurations. Memory features also vary by model. Midland's current catalog lists examples such as EM01 memory risers plus EM4B, EM4C, and EM4D memory options for E4D systems.
Use the machine type, serial number, installed processor feature, active core count, memory layout, software tier, and current workload together. A CPW number alone is not enough to size the replacement.
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Related Reading
What IBM Power7 End of Support Actually Means
End of support is not a shutdown switch. Here is exactly what changed -- and what didn't -- when IBM Power7 passed its own end-of-service dates in 2019 and 2020.
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