Parts-list of my DIY router needs to be checked for incompatibilities.
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The Case and the Case Fan probably are not on the FreeBSD hardware compatibility list. ;)
How bad are the repecussions for this? The case is probably not changeable, but another fan could be found…any suggestions?
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Just as @kpa said - mobo has realtek NIC. If you are investing in new system, consider choosing one with Intel NIC, doing othervise seems questionable.
I have made a list for Mini ITX having dual Intel NICs here. If you need only one WAN and LAN, then you don't even need to spend on PCIe card.
CPU has both AES-NI and AVX instructions.
If you wish to squeeze - instead of one 8GB RAM you culd use 2x4GB ram (which costs ~ same) to get dual channel mode going.
SSD - having different mobo capabilities would allow you to use M.2. It is so much smaller, no cables, screw it to mobo and that's it. M2 SATA SSD 32/64/128Gb comes super cheap. Less power consumption and speed increase if using M2 NVMe drive (over SATA).I am aware of the problems of Realtek chips with pfSense. That is why I have the Intel EXPI9402PT. Bought it around a year ago…only component I actually have. The RAM on my parts-list is 2x4GB:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
...unless I am misreading the Newegg blurb. At least its supposed to be. Did I screw that up? I'm not good with RAM.
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The Case and the Case Fan probably are not on the FreeBSD hardware compatibility list. ;)
How bad are the repecussions for this? The case is probably not changeable, but another fan could be found…any suggestions?
He jokes with you ;D
If you wish to squeeze - instead of one 8GB RAM you culd use 2x4GB ram (which costs ~ same) to get dual channel mode going.
The RAM on my parts-list is 2x4GB:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
…unless I am misreading the Newegg blurb. At least its supposed to be. Did I screw that up? I'm not good with RAM.
You're right, it is 2x4GB, it also wouldn't matter if it were only one stick. Dual channel RAM is not double performance and wouldn't matter for your router even if it were.
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I am aware of the problems of Realtek chips with pfSense. That is why I have the Intel EXPI9402PT.
yeah, but if you are buying new mobo, why would you buy one with realtek onboard lan that you will not use? for me it seems waste of space (any unused ports on mobo in this usage context are imho waste) & money (unless that mobo is so much cheaper, but gigabyte catalogue when checking Mini ITX and Intel NIC filters gives 27 options, so i really doubt it). just saying.
CML8GX3M2A1600C9 indeed is 2x4GB kit, i googled it before answering and some page made me think otherwise. -
Dual channel RAM is not double performance and wouldn't matter for your router even if it were.
That may be true of a lesser connection but the OP is talking about a Gb connection. @jwt and others have stated that dual channel RAM does impact performance quite a bit more as the need for more packet processing increases. Add to that the OP's planned use of an IDS package and I would say the dual channel memory is a must for his use case.
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Dual channel RAM is not double performance and wouldn't matter for your router even if it were.
That may be true of a lesser connection but the OP is talking about a Gb connection. @jwt and others have stated that dual channel RAM does impact performance quite a bit more as the need for more packet processing increases. Add to that the OP's planned use of an IDS package and I would say the dual channel memory is a must for his use case.
:-X I stand corrected!
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:-X I stand corrected!
No worries, just sharing information. That's what this place is for. ;)
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I am aware of the problems of Realtek chips with pfSense. That is why I have the Intel EXPI9402PT.
yeah, but if you are buying new mobo, why would you buy one with realtek onboard lan that you will not use? for me it seems waste of space (any unused ports on mobo in this usage context are imho waste) & money (unless that mobo is so much cheaper, but gigabyte catalogue when checking Mini ITX and Intel NIC filters gives 27 options, so i really doubt it). just saying.
CML8GX3M2A1600C9 indeed is 2x4GB kit, i googled it before answering and some page made me think otherwise.I will be buying the case, even though I have zero intention of not switching out its fan and PSU, just because its the least objectionable case I could find. I bought the Intel EXPI9402PT with every intention of using it. Why would I go the extra mile to find a board with onboard Intel chips, then deploy the NIC card? When I looked at boards, it came down to an Asus one or the one I choose. Neither had onboard Intel chips. Don't recall if any of the twenty micro-ATX models had that. Onboard Intel chips were never a consideration. I find no evidence to suggest that onboard Intel chips are any better than the NIC card I have. I chose the board for the same reason as the case…the GA-B85M-DS3H-A was the least objectionable of the litter, had the best buyer reviews at Newegg, Amazon, etc., and the price was reasonable.
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Agreed, I've never understood why most people Chase a Mobo with integrated Intel NICs, especially dual integrated NICs unless they need a whole lot of ports. PCIe NICs are cheap and work great. Limiting yourself to boards with integrated Intel is just that, limiting yourself.
Only do it if you actually need the NICs.
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@kpa:
Get a mini-ITX motherboard instead, I'm sure you can find something that is almost equivalent in features and maybe even comes with a better integrated NIC (Intel instead of Realtek).
Sorry, but that would require me to basically start over. I'd have to research all the boards on the list 'kroko' provided to find one I can live with, then research the RAM it requires, probably another CPU, etc. I see no major advantage of mini-ITX over micro-ATX, nor onboard Intel chips over the Intel EXPI9402PT. About the only real advantage I see is the M2 SATA SSD capability, but I can easily live without that, since I'd have to throw out all the research already done, and start from scratch. I have consulted many forums in putting together this parts-list, and 'messerchmidt' is not the only one to call this build "overkill". Overkill suggests to me that its more than enough to get the job done, which was my intent. If Sonic.net or LMI fail to deliver on their promised gigabit speed, I don't want them whining that its due to my subpar router.
Anyway, starting over is not an option. My custom build PC is nearly finished, except for RAM and a few minor parts, but has been put on hold until this project is done….no way I would expose it to the internet without a router guard-dogging it. Long story short, this router needs to get done ASAP, so I can finish my PC and say bye-bye to the gawd-awful public PCs.
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While I agree with you that integrated Intel NICs are not necessary, I can think of one reason you might consider integrated.
You mention that you want to get full gigabit speeds. It might be worth it to get a supermicro board with integrated 2.5 or 10 GbE NICs to ensure absolutely no question about your routers ability to get full gigabit.
