The cost of running a workload can be lower on the mainframe than on other platforms you may be considering.

When considering the economics of the mainframe, simple benchmark test results can be misleading. Variability in workload demand and workload management are examples of factors that affect the cost of delivering a workload. Typically, administrators achieve significant operational efficiencies on the mainframe. A variety of workloads can be virtualized and consolidated using Linux on System z®, which results in lower overall software costs when compared to other platforms.

Customized total cost of ownership studies are offered by IBM® that can look at different line items of cost to help you determine whether the mainframe is the correct platform for your workloads.

This IBM Redbooks® Point-of-View publication discusses why the mainframe still makes good economic sense.