Torn between two hardware setups for pfSense

mcmxvi

I believe the Akasa Euler requires you use a 35W TDP processor so you'd need to choose a 'T' variant.

As to sufficient processing power, what is your WAN connection speed? Do you need to max out that connection with OpenVPN traffic?

Steve

Decided to order the G2130 and the Euler..

Now, if I wanted to make my pfSense into a wireless access point as well, what mini PCI-e card would fit, now that I've already saturated the full height mini PCI-e slot with the mSATA SSD?!

Will this antenna, with this mini PCI-e card and this cable do the trick?!

Or do I need an Atheros specific card? I'm not sure about compability.

mcmxvi

@Applied, ahhhh thats an excellent alternative to the euler! I'm going to change my order to the streacom F08! Looks great, and the added expansion slot is most welcome!

Do you have any insight on my WLAN access point question?

Btw, stephen, my WAN speed will be 50/10 or 100/10 :)

stephenw10

Nope that Intel wifi card almost certainly won't work. There is no support for 802.11N in pfSense, the best you can do is get an Atheros 'N' card and run it at G speed.

See this for the most complete information:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AojFUXcbH0ROdHgwYkFHbkRUdV9hVWljVWl5SXkxbFE&hl=en

Steve

Aluminum

@stephenw10:

Nope that Intel wifi card almost certainly won't work. There is no support for 802.11N in pfSense, the best you can do is get an Atheros 'N' card and run it at G speed.

See this for the most complete information:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AojFUXcbH0ROdHgwYkFHbkRUdV9hVWljVWl5SXkxbFE&hl=en

Steve

pfsense wifi primer for 2.0.3 and now 2.1:

Unless you only need G wifi and your system has a slot for an old PCI/mini-PCI atheros card (NOT express, NOT minicard), don't bother.

I have several AR9280 cards (9002 series, which is the first mainstream full pci-e chipset atheros released back in 2009) and even with 2.1 drivers it is still not working properly in AP mode @ G rates. You can bet the farm 9003 and any of the stuff dual branded with qualcomm won't work yet either.

stephenw10

Indeed. I am running an AR5005G with good results. 802.11N is not important for me in that location.

Steve

Aluminum

@mcmxvi:

@Applied, ahhhh thats an excellent alternative to the euler! I'm going to change my order to the streacom F08! Looks great, and the added expansion slot is most welcome!

Do you have any insight on my WLAN access point question?

Btw, stephen, my WAN speed will be 50/10 or 100/10 :)

I hope you haven't ordered this yet, the heatpipe design of the FC8 won't reach the cpu socket location on the DQ77KB or any other thin-itx board.
(intel wrote the spec and it mandates socket in that corner for compatibility with a "zero profile" blower)

FWIW the wesena version without heatpipes and even a pricey small footprint cooler (like NH-L9i) looks just as nice and still cheaper. Not fanless though.

mcmxvi

I have ordered and received it, but I can always return it.

So, I guess the F7C Evo is the next best thing, with a Noctua NH-L9i and an 80mm fan (most likely a noiseblocker multiframe S1).

Looking at the fan that comes with the noctua cooler, its 1700rpm WITH the low noise adapter. Unacceptable. So another 92mm fan is needed to replace it, preferably another low profile one, or take my chances that a regular 25mm will fit.

Another option is, again, the Akasa Euler. It'll be like a toaster for the memory module and mSSD at perpetual CPU load, but it'll at least by completely silent, and leave a smaller footprint (albeit not by much).

Right now I don't see an immediate need for extra NICs beyond what the DQ77KB offers, but I'm building this router to last anywhere from 5 to 10 years (not knowing what the future might bring in terms of pfSense functionality and computing power needed for it), and as such, I want to future proof as much as possible.

The router will be in my living room, underneath my TV. The living room isn't particularly big, hence noise is of a considerable concern. The F7C passes the WAF test, and I can't imagine the Euler doing worse either.

Applied

@Aluminum:

I hope you haven't ordered this yet, the heatpipe design of the FC8 won't reach the cpu socket location on the DQ77KB or any other thin-itx board.
(intel wrote the spec and it mandates socket in that corner for compatibility with a "zero profile" blower)

If so, I apologize.
However, I feel I did point to the Streacom "in good faith".

At least I had found several mentions of such builds (Streacom FC8 & Thin mini ITX) on the internet.
The relevant posts didn't mention any specific problems with this cooling:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=64379
http://www.xbmcnerds.com/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=27605
http://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/f89/intel-dq77kb-core-i5-3470t-919589.html (2nd post)
http://techsupport.perfecthometheater.com/Components%20in%20conflict-ST.htm (bottom!)

(Intel DH61AG is Thin Mini-ITX as well)

mcmxvi

So in essence, the problem is that the heatpipes are too short? Or barely long enough to fit just about half the cpu socket? If so, I guess I'll take my chances. Can't imagine the G1630 roasting itself?! Adding a silent 80mm exhaust fan will probably shave some 8-10 degrees off as well, no?

Aluminum

@mcmxvi:

So in essence, the problem is that the heatpipes are too short? Or barely long enough to fit just about half the cpu socket? If so, I guess I'll take my chances. Can't imagine the G1630 roasting itself?! Adding a silent 80mm exhaust fan will probably shave some 8-10 degrees off as well, no?

Too short and if I remember correctly the socket is actually a bit in front of one of the pipe brackets.

I actually own both, let me see if I can dig up an old picture.