[bridanp]

Depends on the model honestly. You purchase the maximum capacity frame you would ever want to run on the z14, and then you purchase the capacity you actually want to run right now. IBM has 4 models listed in the specs, so you purchase one of those models, then you configure the z14 to run at a certain capacity. You are about dead on with it being $300k for a basic frame, but then you have to add the "maintenance" to run your stated capacity. And then you pay a monthly fee for whatever capacity your company actually runs.

That's what we do anyway. Companies can run full capacity frame and not do the sub-capacity pricing, but that's a lot more up front. Better, IMO, to pay the monthly rate and spread the cash payments out over 5 years.