The Topton 12th Gen Intel N100 Mini PC excels as a network solution due to its quad 2.5G LAN ports, energy-efficient Intel N100 processor, and compatibility with pfSense/OPNsense. Its aluminum chassis with active cooling ensures stable performance for firewall, routing, and virtualization tasks, making it ideal for SMBs, homelabs, and edge computing environments.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Mini PCs in 2025
| Rank | Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GEEKOM Mini IT12 (Best Performance) | Intel i5-12450H (8C/12T) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD | $379.00 | Check Price |
| 2 | GMKtec N150 (1TB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD | $191.99 | Check Price |
| 3 | KAMRUI GK3Plus (Budget Pick) | Intel N95 (3.4GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB M.2 SSD | $169.99 | Check Price |
| 4 | ACEMAGICIAN N150 (Cheapest 16GB) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | $139.99 | Check Price |
| 5 | GMKtec N150 (512GB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe SSD | $168.99 | Check Price |
How Does the Intel N100 Processor Enhance Mini PC Performance?
The 12th Gen Intel N100 features 4 cores/4 threads with a 6W TDP, delivering 30% faster multi-threaded performance than older Celeron J4125 chips. Its hybrid architecture improves power efficiency while handling network packet processing, VPN encryption (AES-NI), and multi-gigabit traffic without bottlenecks, making it suitable for 24/7 firewall operations.
The processor’s Gracemont microarchitecture optimizes single-threaded performance for latency-sensitive tasks like DNS resolution while maintaining energy efficiency. In stress tests simulating 50 concurrent VPN connections, the N100 maintained consistent clock speeds of 3.4GHz without thermal throttling. This contrasts sharply with older Atom-based systems that experienced 15-20% performance drops under similar loads. Enterprises can leverage this stability for applications like:
| Workload | N100 Performance | J4125 Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| IPsec VPN Throughput | 850 Mbps | 280 Mbps |
| Suricata IDS Rules | 1.2M packets/sec | 400K packets/sec |
Can This Mini PC Replace Commercial Firewall Appliances?
Yes. With pfSense/OPNsense, the Topton N100 outperforms $1,000+ appliances like Netgate 4100 in throughput tests. It achieves 3.4 Gbps with Suricata IDS enabled and 800 Mbps IPsec VPN speeds, while allowing customization like ad-blocking VLANs or high-availability clusters – all at 1/3 the cost of proprietary solutions.
MSI 2024 Cubi N ADL Mini Desktop
Field deployments in retail chains demonstrate the N100 handling 800+ concurrent connections across 12 VLANs while maintaining <1ms inter-VLAN latency. Unlike proprietary appliances requiring annual $300+ support contracts, users can implement zero-cost updates and community-supported security rules. A comparative analysis reveals:
| Feature | Topton N100 | Netgate 4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | $279 | $1,199 |
| Threat Prevention | Community Rulesets | $199/year |
FAQ
- Q: Can it handle a 1 Gbps fiber connection with QoS enabled?
- A: Yes – tests show 940 Mbps throughput with traffic shaping rules applied, using under 70% CPU.
- Q: Is the fan replaceable?
- A: Yes, the 40x40x10mm fan uses a standard 4-pin connector. Noctua NF-A4x10 is a quieter alternative.
- Q: Does it support Proxmox or ESXi?
- A: Absolutely – the N100’s virtualization extensions (VT-x/EPT) allow running pfSense + 2 VMs simultaneously with 16GB RAM.