Skip to content
Voltarum Mini PC Guide

Router and firewall (OPNsense, pfSense, OpenWrt)

Replacing your ISP router: at least two network ports, ideally 2.5 GbE with Intel controllers.

5 great fits and 2 good ones out of 23 devices.

Cheapest great fit

Great fit

Derived from the specs
DeviceWhyPrice from
ZimaBoard 2Intel N150Great fit
  • 2 network ports, up to 2.5 GbE
  • Intel i226 controllers: the safe choice for OPNsense and pfSense
$279
Beelink EQ14Intel N150Great fit
  • 2 network ports, up to 2.5 GbE
  • Intel i226 controllers: the safe choice for OPNsense and pfSense
$385
Beelink ME miniIntel N150Great fit
  • 2 network ports, up to 5 GbE
  • Intel i226 controllers: the safe choice for OPNsense and pfSense
$525
Minisforum MS-01Intel Core i9-13900HGreat fit
  • 4 network ports, up to 10 GbE
  • Intel i226 controllers: the safe choice for OPNsense and pfSense
$679
NanoPi R6SRockchip RK3588SGreat fit
  • 3 network ports, up to 2.5 GbE
  • Arm: OpenWrt rather than OPNsense or pfSense
—

Good

Derived from the specs
DeviceWhyPrice from
Orange Pi 5 PlusRockchip RK3588Good
  • 2 network ports, up to 2.5 GbE
  • Arm: OpenWrt rather than OPNsense or pfSense
$109
Minisforum MS-A2AMD Ryzen 9 9955HXGood
  • 4 network ports, up to 10 GbE
  • Realtek controllers: OPNsense and pfSense need an extra driver
  • Intel i226 controllers: the safe choice for OPNsense and pfSense
$799

Limited

Derived from the specs
DeviceWhyPrice from
Raspberry Pi 4Broadcom BCM2711Limited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
$68
Raspberry Pi 5Broadcom BCM2712Limited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
$78
Orange Pi 5 MaxRockchip RK3588Limited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
$95
GMKtec G3 PlusIntel N150Limited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
$330
Beelink SER8AMD Ryzen 7 8845HSLimited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
$799
ASUS NUC 14 ProIntel Core Ultra 5 125HLimited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—
ThinkCentre M920qIntel Core i5-8500TLimited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—
Radxa X4Intel N100Limited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—
EliteDesk 800 G4 MiniIntel Core i5-8500TLimited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—
OptiPlex 7070 MicroIntel Core i5-9500TLimited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—
Radxa ROCK 5BRockchip RK3588Limited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—
Orange Pi 3BRockchip RK3566Limited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—
Orange Pi Zero 3Allwinner H618Limited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—
Le PotatoAmlogic S905XLimited
  • One network port: only as a 'router on a stick' with VLANs and a managed switch
—

Not suitable

Derived from the specs
DeviceWhyPrice from
Pi Zero 2 WRaspberry Pi RP3A0 (BCM2710A1)Not suitable
  • No wired network port
$15
Mac mini M6Apple M6Not suitable
  • No OPNsense, pfSense or OpenWrt for it
$899