Pfsense Box Build
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Hello all! I'm currently searching motherboard options for my future pfsense box for home use. I came across a fairly cheap mini-itx board on Newegg and wanted to know if it would work with pfsense 2.0.3.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131841
I am aware that it has a Realtek NIC and am searching for dual intel port cards. Are there any dual intel port cards that are fairly cheap? I did a quick search on Newegg and majority of them are well over $100. Or are there intel mini-itx boards out there that already come with dual intel ports? I will be running and i3 and an old 500GB WD HDD.
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http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4405#sp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128646
Those two links are for the same board. Newegg's description was lacking.
The DUAL NICs are realtek, but thats not worse than the one above.
I like the price - Its alot less than the one you originally listed, and it supports all the same specs.
I'm also partial to the gigabyte "ultra durable" mobos with all those solid capacitors.With the difference in price, you can afford to go onto ebay and buy a used DUAL port Intel gigabit NIC.
Then you can run your WAN and LAN off the intel NIC and you will have 2 free ports you can use for optional LAN ports.
(Although, in all probability the built-in network ports will work great for you)It really does look altogether better in every way to your original choice. (To me $$$)
I'd just ask if anyone sees any driver issues.And there is this, which encourages me:
http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=57985.0
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I just built a system with this board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128567Dual Realtek NICS, I can verify from personal experience that they work with 2.1 but not 2.03. The Intel Centrino Wifi does not work with PFSENSE but who knows maybe a future version they will.
This board has been working well for me with a G2030 cpu. This would give you a WAN and LAN, I threw in a PCI express dual port Intel NIC for two optional interfaces, I picked that up for $30 (used) on Ebay.
P.S. You can see if your i3 is compatible with this board here:
http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=4338 -
Thats a nice board and pretty much similar to what I recommended except it costs more and includes features that don't work with pfsense. Don't hold your breath waiting for that wifi to start working. By the time there is a driver for that, if ever, that board will be selling for $10 on ebay.
Other than the paying for stuff you can't use problem, it looks extremely durable.
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Yeah both boards are probably great. I did not see the one you posted had dual NICs, I just brushed over that part. I actually think I will buy your board for a HTPC build that I don't need wireless on. Both boards look very similar, having handled the one I installed I can tell these are quality boards.
And yes I won't hold my breath for that wifi to be supported :)
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If 2.1 were not "so close" to release, I wouldn't recommend these boards because I don't think they would support 2.03 very well, but these days 2.1 is the flavor of the day and most people are installing it. I even have 1 running.
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Appreciate the advice guys. I have a Intel G620 that is not being used so I went ahead and purchased a Foxconn motherboard from Amazon and a HP NC360T from Ebay.
http://www.amazon.com/Foxconn-H61S-Intel-Mini-Motherboard/dp/B0065SM75M/
http://ark.intel.com/products/53480/
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Sounds cool, just curious what case are you going to use?
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Let me know when you get it running - I'd love to know how it works for you.
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I will be using the Apex MI-008 with a low profile heatsink.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001H0BA24/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PLWJCC/
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I probably would have looked for double ball bearing permanently sealed lubricated fan… For ease of maintenance.
The way that fan is designed, when it goes, and it will, it will require you to pull the heatsink... I don't like it. -
They can be pricey, but I'm current a fan (pun intended) of Noctua.
Aside from being really well-made and quiet, they have some of the prettiest and most complete packaging.
Plus, 6 year warranty.
I have one of these on a via cpu right now and it's doing a good job. I'm waiting to see how long it lasts, since I average about 1-2 fans per year on that board.
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Looks good…
My 1.4 AMP Nidec TA450DC far outlasted the use of the computer it was in... Its my desk fan now. (-:
You get what you pay for. Fan/heatsink is a terrible place to save money for sure.
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I can confirm that this build works with 2.0.3. Onboard NIC works as well.
http://www.amazon.com/MI-008-Tower-Black-Chassis-Supply/dp/B001H0BA24/
http://www.amazon.com/Foxconn-H61S-Intel-Mini-Motherboard/dp/B0065SM75M/
http://ark.intel.com/products/53480/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PLWJCC/
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/nc360t/
