[shrimppersimmon]

They design and build not one but two CPU architectures, s390/Z and POWER.

Both have been around for many years, but neither is obsolete, they're just not designed for consumer applications.

They still generate $10-15 billion per year in revenue.

[eru]

Power was used in customer applications a long time ago? I think Apple used them for a while and so did some game consoles?

[shrimppersimmon]

Yes. Apple used PowerPC, and PowerPC was also in the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and Wii U. It was also widespread in embedded sectors like networking, automotive, and aerospace.

IBM eventually stepped away from the embedded market and eventually lost their foothold in consoles as well. While Raptor did offer Power9 systems at a somewhat accessible price point, the IBM-produced CPUs were still fundamentally enterprise-grade hardware, meaning they retained the high costs and "big iron" features of server tech.

[mghackerlady]

What I wouldn't give for raptor money... they've gotten more and more expensive as time went on

[kstrauser]

Sort of, in the form of PowerPC, which was an Apple-IBM-Motorola (“AIM”) collaboration. It’s closely related to IBM’s Power line, but more like a predecessor than a sibling.

[dcrazy]

Wasn’t PowerPC cut down from POWER?

[kitd]

They also designed the Cell CPU used in Nintendo Wiis, among others.

[tempest_]

Cell was PS3 and the Will used a Power cpu.

IBM had a hand in both however

[panick21_]

The designed many, many more CPU architectures.