case recommendation mini-itx

kiokoman

yes
avoid realtek network card if you can,it is the cause of many problems, they are not very good for freebsd/pfsense
search for intel, better if it's dual nic, this way you don't have to use the integrated network card if it's a realtek, you only have one PCI-E 1x so take it in mind when you order the network card
idk take what you like the most / what is less expensive, small ssd are now very cheap

tiwing

Thank you! and also thx for the advice on intel based cards. I do have a 128GB SSD already that I used for the HTPC. Still hoping for some reco on a case from anyone with a similar setup. thanks!

tiwing

I also linked the wrong board. very similar specs though https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/AM1H-ITX/
except it has one 16x slot

cheers

kiokoman

then you can search for a quad port, you never know what the future holds...

NollipfSense

@tiwing It will be difficult to recommend a case as it depends on variables such as taste, budget, etc...although you said nothing fancy. Here's an eBay search result: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=mini-itx+enclosure&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=1&_osacat=0&_odkw=mini+pc+enclosure

Also, I seconded what Kiokoman said regarding the Intel NIC. The 128GB SSD is good...two would be even better for ZFS mirror.

akuma1x

@tiwing I would go cheap, like you said, it's hidden under the stairs.

https://www.amazon.com/darkFlash-MicroATX-Computer-Magnetic-Tempered/dp/B07R4L54NX?th=1

or, this one is rather large, but highly rated:

https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-110-KKN2-Midnight-Mini-ITX/dp/B00ID2FBU6

Jeff

tman222

Here's another recommendation for a Mini-ITX case:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DU6RVK8

I have the ML06B and have been pretty happy with it. Keep in mind that for case like this (and probably for some of the other Mini-ITX cases too), you'll need an NIC with a low profile bracket because of the small form factor.

One can find good deals these days Intel i340 NIC's - it's a solid quad port card.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/49186/intel-ethernet-server-adapter-i340-t4.html

Hope this helps.

tiwing

All very helpful, thank you for the suggestions! I've taken the advice here and have put together a working system in an old large case for the moment - 4 port intel card, mirrored zfs 128 SSDs. Still deciding on the case but will prob be one of the ones linked here. Before spending, wanted to ensure I could make it work how I wanted, with VPN set as default gateway, "kill switch", and an alias that contains all the stuff I want to always bypass the VPN. Last piece to sort out is high availability - not because I need it, but because I can :) So far so good though, this is a wonderful piece of software once you get past the pretty steep learning curve for networking noobs. Thanks again!

Edit: I think I actually settled on this case https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B015IYLSFS/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=AECIPMEQNVKO2&psc=1 - it came up in recommended when I was clicking around and seems to check all the boxes. small size, fits a single low profile card...

Tiwing

riften

@tiwing
For mini-ITX I use this: Thermaltake Cube
Reason being, they have 1x200mm fan so they are almost silent, are not too large, and it's easy to get the front off for cleaning. I've got a Gigabyte board with a Kaby I3 and everything stays nice and cool. The top, sides, front and bottom come off quick if you need to work in there, it's cake.
I even have my ESXI host in one, with 2 spinners and 4 SSDs running 6 vms. They sit side by side in a bedroom and I only hear the slightest woosh. PCI cards use standard height brackets BTW.

tiwing

Ohhhh I like that! Thanks for posting!