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    Need help on my choice of hardware for a pfSense router

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    • W
      wba
      last edited by

      I want to build the hardware for a pfSense router privately used within 3 users. I thought to use the following hardware:

      mainboard: asus n3050m-e

      2 x SATA 600 7-pin
          1 x PCIe
          1 x gigabit-ethernet Realtek RTL8111H
          1 x ATX 12 V 4 pol
          1 x Intel Celeron n3050 (1 x memory controller capable of handling max. 8 GB on 2 slots via a 240-pin DIMM connector)

      RAM: kingston KVR16N11S8K2/8

      2 x 4 GB DDR3RAM 1600 MHz 240-pin DIMM

      SSD: patriot blast PBT240GS25SSDR

      1 x 240 GB connected via SATA 600 7-pin

      2nd Ethernet adapter: edimax, EN-9260TX-E, Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express Adapter

      1 x gigabit-ethernet PCIe

      I would like to know:

      1.) how is the SSD drive powered? Over the SATA 600 7-pin connection or by a separate cable?

      2.) By using Toms-Hardware guide and energy calculator, the estimated power need for the set-up is about 78W (MainBoard, 15W, CPU 55W, RAM 6W, SSD 1W, Ethernet 1W). Is that number realistic? Would it be possible to take a high-end note-book power-supply unit and to use the ATX 12 V 4 pol connector on the asus board to power the set-up 24/7? Would you have any recommendation of such a PSU?

      3.) I thought to build the case out of wood and plexi glass. What would be an argument against a self made, electrical non conducting case? Evt. to not shield electromagnetic fields, from both sides?

      Thank you for your help.

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      • M
        mauroman33
        last edited by

        I guess there is something wrong.

        TDP of the Celeron N3050 is 6W:
        http://ark.intel.com/it/products/87257/Intel-Celeron-Processor-N3050-2M-Cache-up-to-2_16-GHz

        I do own a mini PC with the Celeron N3150, 1x8GB SODIMM, 1x SSD 120GB, 2 NICs Realtek and its total power need, under load, is about 11W.

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        • W
          wba
          last edited by

          @mauroman33: Thank you for your reply. VERY HELPFUL! Which PSU are you using?

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          • M
            mauroman33
            last edited by

            this one

            input: 100-240 50/60Hz 0.8A
            output: 12V 3A

            psu.jpg
            psu.jpg_thumb

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            • W
              whosmatt
              last edited by

              @wba:

              3.) I thought to build the case out of wood and plexi glass. What would be an argument against a self made, electrical non conducting case? Evt. to not shield electromagnetic fields, from both sides?

              Thank you for your help.

              I don't see any problem with a home built case of wood and plexi.  I've thought about doing something similar.  I wouldn't worry about shielding or anything like that; that's not the purpose of a computer case, and, in fact, there are many cases on the market made of plastic, glass, etc.

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              • T
                tirsojrp
                last edited by

                Go for an APU2c4 kit and add an msata SSD or another mini pc with integrated intel nics. Cheaper, better and smaller.

                Limited to 4gb ram, but by the time you reach that limit you would be out of cpu power.

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