Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Intel NUC-like recommendations for home usage? (100MB fiber & ~3 VPN users)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    26 Posts 8 Posters 8.5k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • M
      messerchmidt
      last edited by

      this is cheaper

      http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173097

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        switchman
        last edited by

        @xelibri:

        Isn't this http://www.hystou.com/products/mini-pc-thin-client/mini-desktop-computer/barebone-fanless-mini-computer-desktop-pc-intel-celeron-1037u-htpc-alloy-case-with-usb30-1084.html way smarter choice because of better price and faster CPU? Physically it is a bit bigger but that is not a problem especially for this price difference.

        There's a whole thread on these boxes, https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=75415.0.  Basic consensus, by people that own them is that they appear to work fine, if you get the version with the intel nics.  I have one and there are no issues.  I use it as a pure router, no wireless or other functions.  I purchased mine from here, http://www.aliexpress.com/store/800900.  This is the basic info I posted about it, https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=75415.msg489551#msg489551.

        There is no support, so if there are any issues, you must pay to ship back to china.  If you want support, I would suggest a name brand board.  I would probably go with one new atom boards if I was building one now.  As you want three VPNs, I would probably stay away from this board.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • X
          xelibri
          last edited by

          Does anyone know which ethernet chip this model http://www.pcpsol.com/index.php?m=Products&a=show&id=113 is using? So far it looks to be the best among MSI http://ipc.msi.com/product/pages/ipc/MS-9A69.html

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • X
            xelibri
            last edited by

            OK. After doing some research I found out that EMB-S294B1-M is using Realtek's NICs so that's about it.

            At this moment the only i3 boxes which are using Intel NICs are:

            MSI MS-9A69 & Shuttle DS57U3

            MSI is almost impossible to buy atm and Shuttle is over 400€(after RAM and SSD/USB storage). :( The hunt goes on…

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • X
              xelibri
              last edited by

              Has anyone spoted any new NUC-like models with Intel's LAN chips & HW AES-NI support?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • jahonixJ
                jahonix
                last edited by

                Your best bet is still:
                https://store.pfsense.org/SG-2220/    or
                http://store.netgate.com/ADI/RCC-DFF-2220.aspx

                With your purchase you support this project AND you get 1 year Gold-Membership ($99) with all the benefits as well.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • E
                  edwardwong
                  last edited by

                  @BlueKobold:

                  @xelibri:

                  Isn't this http://www.hystou.com/products/mini-pc-thin-client/mini-desktop-computer/barebone-fanless-mini-computer-desktop-pc-intel-celeron-1037u-htpc-alloy-case-with-usb30-1084.html way smarter choice because of better price and faster CPU? Physically it is a bit bigger but that is not a problem especially for this price difference.

                  It is a really shiny platform but do you know if this is or will be supported by pfSense?
                  If it runs not on this bare bone you spend money for nothing! But to make a break between all the solutions
                  or to come closer to the point that you will be able to build one good box, it could be that this ready to go
                  solution is able to buy for you.
                  Jetway 4 GB LAN Port
                  Jetway 5 GB LAN Port

                  Otherwise it would be goo to know what exactly your budget is! This will help many times more then
                  we play here a guesswork game.

                  Don't choose the 5xLAN one, it's 1 x LAN onboard + 4 x LAN using daughter board, which is PCI-E x1 only, definitely won't be able to run at full speed at the same time.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • X
                    xelibri
                    last edited by

                    @jahonix:

                    Your best bet is still:
                    https://store.pfsense.org/SG-2220/    or
                    http://store.netgate.com/ADI/RCC-DFF-2220.aspx

                    With your purchase you support this project AND you get 1 year Gold-Membership ($99) with all the benefits as well.

                    As I've already stated I do not want Atom box because of poor AES-NI support.

                    I've just found this box under 200€ (excluding RAM) with dual Intel NICs: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Partaker-I4-Mini-Computer-Fanless-Mini-PC-Windows-10-Core-i3-4010U-i5-4200U-i7-4510U/32608793402.html

                    ps. Thans for the Prime Circle tip. Based on a few songs they sound very good. ;)

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • JeGrJ
                      JeGr LAYER 8 Moderator
                      last edited by

                      As I've already stated I do not want Atom box because of poor AES-NI support.

                      That is not a very informed decision of you. You can't compare earlier 3-digit Atom CPUs with current top of the Line Atoms like the Exxxx or even the mentioned C2000 Atom Cores. Those are FAR better than their old bad reputation. As already confirmed, a C2758 Appliance for example DOES support AES-NI AND QuickAssist and can easily rund and encrypt near Gigabit wirespeed. A C2358 or C2558 (the 2 and 4 core variants) are also having support for AES and QA and do happen to satisfy those, that need around 100-200MBit/s fully encrypted. So no need for strange or shady desktop'ish CPUs with high TDPs.

                      Don't forget to upvote 👍 those who kindly offered their time and brainpower to help you!

                      If you're interested, I'm available to discuss details of German-speaking paid support (for companies) if needed.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • E
                        edwardwong
                        last edited by

                        Can you be more specific, what do you mean by "poor AES-NI support"?
                        The ATOM CPU is running a different AES-NI instruction, or something else? My understanding is, the instructions are the same for all Intel CPU if they are marked as "AES-NI" capacble

                        @xelibri:

                        @jahonix:

                        Your best bet is still:
                        https://store.pfsense.org/SG-2220/    or
                        http://store.netgate.com/ADI/RCC-DFF-2220.aspx

                        With your purchase you support this project AND you get 1 year Gold-Membership ($99) with all the benefits as well.

                        As I've already stated I do not want Atom box because of poor AES-NI support.

                        I've just found this box under 200€ (excluding RAM) with dual Intel NICs: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Partaker-I4-Mini-Computer-Fanless-Mini-PC-Windows-10-Core-i3-4010U-i5-4200U-i7-4510U/32608793402.html

                        ps. Thans for the Prime Circle tip. Based on a few songs they sound very good. ;)

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • X
                          xelibri
                          last edited by

                          Another solid option for pfSense HW: https://geizhals.eu/shuttle-xpc-slim-ds68u-peb-ds68u001-a1525974.html

                          http://www.shuttle.eu/fileadmin/resources/download/docs/spec/barebones/DS68U_e.pdf

                          • Dual Intel NICs
                          • AES-NI support
                          • Various storage options (SD card, USB, SSD etc)

                          Quite solid price even with a single 2 or 4GB DDR3 memory stick.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • M
                            messerchmidt
                            last edited by

                            zoltac ci323/ci325

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • W
                              W4RH34D
                              last edited by

                              One of the new NUC's has thunderbolt.

                              Does BSD support external pci cages for nics?

                              Did you really check your cables?

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • First post
                                Last post
                              Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.