OptiPlex 390 (i3-2120 w/ 8GB RAM) good for pfSense custom setup (Home)?

Kasazn

Hi good people!

I recently scored a Dell OptiPlex 390 from my office for cheap and I plan to use it as a pfSense box.

It has the following specs:

CPU: Intel i3-2120
RAM: 8GB
NIC: Intel i350 T4V2 (4 ports) - going to buy this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/144884767014

ISP speed: 100Mbps down / 50Mbps up

Plan to setup 2 or 3 seperate networks or VLANs

1st for my own personal network (gaming and productivity - TrueNAS SCALE server)

2nd for guest network (strictly for guests only)

3rd for IOT devices (Smart TVs, CCTVs, smart plugs, mobile phones)

Can this OptiPlex handle these?

Reference post on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PFSENSE/comments/13kx5rf/optiplex_390_i32120_w_8gb_ram_good_for_pfsense/

keyser

@kasazn Easily - it’s wastly overpowered since your WAN is only 100Mbps. It will handle Gbit WAN without issues as well. (Although it might be squeezed a bit on Gbit if you go full suricata and NtopNG)

NollipfSense

@kasazn Never played with the i3 processor; however, you shouldn't see issues with a modern processor. I would bump up the RAM to 16GB though...

keyser

@nollipfsense For what use? You really need to use almost all feeds in pfBlockerNG and run NtopNG to close in on using 8Gb.
16Gb would need all feeds and suricata/snort or something like that. I have never had any of my boxes above about 4Gb memory use with my selected pfBlockerNG feeds and lists I use combined with NtopNG and quite a few other packages (syslog-ng, nut, lldp and more.

NollipfSense

@keyser It's what I would do...I like plenty RAM as I run IDS/IPS on multi-interfaces.

JKnott

@nollipfsense said in OptiPlex 390 (i3-2120 w/ 8GB RAM) good for pfSense custom setup (Home)?:

Never played with the i3 processor; however, you shouldn't see issues with a modern processor. I would bump up the RAM to 16GB though...

I have been running with the computer in my sig for a couple of years. It works well, even when getting over 900 Mb down on speedtest.

PFgate

In my home lab I have three boxes I use/rotate for pfSense Plus. One is a Dell OptiPlex 390. Running 23.05-RC on it at the moment.

Kasazn

Thanks guys. I am going for it. Now waiting for my NIC to arrive.

Kasazn

Hi people, my NIC arrived and it's running so fine. Love it!

Will buy a Netgate 2100 in the future for the low running cost of 5W only!