The 4xi226-V 2.5G Solid Firewall Mini PC combines Intel’s N-series processors with DDR5 memory and dual NVMe support in a fanless chassis, making it ideal for firewall routing, Proxmox virtualization, and edge computing. Its 2.5G multi-gig ports and industrial-grade construction deliver enterprise networking capabilities in a compact, energy-efficient form factor.
Power Consumption of Mini Computers
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 N-Series Processor Optimize Performance?
The Intel Processor N100 (Alder Lake-N) features 4 cores/4 threads with 6MB cache and 6W TDP, achieving 3.4GHz burst frequency. Compared to previous Celeron models, it offers 28% faster single-thread performance and 2.5x better AI processing through integrated UHD graphics. The hybrid architecture balances power efficiency with burst capability for firewall rule processing and VM hosting.
The processor’s Gracemont microarchitecture introduces instruction set improvements specifically beneficial for networking workloads. With 4 dedicated efficiency cores, it handles background tasks like log analysis and traffic monitoring without interrupting foreground packet processing. The Smart Cache technology dynamically allocates up to 6MB between cores, reducing latency during concurrent VPN connections and IDS pattern matching. Intel’s Thread Director ensures time-sensitive networking operations receive priority access to turbo boost frequencies.
| Feature | N100 | J4125 |
|---|---|---|
| PassMark Score | 3,812 | 2,543 |
| Encryption Throughput | 2.1Gbps | 850Mbps |
| VM Density | 8-10 | 3-4 |
What Security Features Does the 2.5G Firewall Support?
Four 2.5GbE Intel i226-V controllers enable hardware-accelerated VLAN tagging, QoS prioritization, and IPSec offloading. The platform supports enterprise firewall distros like pfSense Plus, OPNsense, and Sophos XG with DPI capabilities exceeding 3.5Gbps. AES-NI encryption acceleration ensures VPN throughput up to 2.1Gbps while maintaining sub-10W power consumption.
Can It Handle Proxmox Virtualization Effectively?
With 32GB DDR5-4800 support and dual PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe slots, this mini PC sustains 8-10 lightweight VMs or containers in Proxmox VE. The N100’s Intel VT-x/VT-d virtualization reduces hypervisor overhead to 12%, enabling smooth operation of Opnsense VMs alongside Docker hosts and Home Assistant instances.
Why Choose Fanless Design for Network Appliances?
The extruded aluminum chassis with copper heat pipes maintains component temperatures below 75°C without moving parts. This design ensures silent operation (0dB noise) while achieving MTBF ratings exceeding 100,000 hours – critical for 24/7 firewall deployments in dusty industrial environments where fan failures commonly cause downtime.
What Storage Configurations Maximize Throughput?
Dual M.2 2280 slots support RAID 0/1 NVMe arrays achieving 3,500MB/s sequential read speeds. Combined with 2.5G networking, this eliminates storage bottlenecks when hosting Suricata IDS databases or pfBlockerNG threat lists. The SATA III expansion port allows adding 2.5″ SSDs for backup without sacrificing primary storage performance.
How Does DDR5 Memory Enhance Networking Tasks?
DDR5-4800 modules provide 38.4GB/s bandwidth – 1.5x faster than DDR4-3200. This benefits Snort rule processing by reducing memory latency during concurrent packet inspection and VPN tunneling. Error correction (on-die ECC) improves reliability when handling sustained 2.5G traffic loads exceeding 200,000 concurrent connections.
The dual-channel memory architecture enables simultaneous access to threat intelligence databases and active connection tables without bus contention. At 4800MT/s, DDR5 completes memory writes in 16.67ns compared to DDR4’s 25ns latency, crucial for real-time processing of encrypted traffic flows. When handling 10Gbps of decrypted traffic (via 4×2.5G aggregated links), DDR5 maintains consistent 68μs access times versus DDR4’s 102μs spikes during peak loads.
“The 4xi226-V redefines compact networking gear by balancing x86 compatibility with ARM-like efficiency. Its PCIe flexibility allows enterprises to deploy it as a primary firewall, then repurpose hardware for Kubernetes nodes without forklift upgrades. The real innovation is thermal design – we’ve stress-tested it at 40°C ambient with zero throttling.”
– Network Infrastructure Architect, Tier 1 OEM
Conclusion
This mini PC delivers enterprise-grade networking through careful hardware selection: Intel’s efficient N100 CPU, future-proof DDR5, and multi-gig Ethernet controllers. Its fanless construction and Proxmox compatibility make it equally suitable for edge computing deployments and hyper-converged infrastructure pilots. For SMBs needing commercial-grade security without datacenter costs, it sets a new price/performance benchmark.
FAQs
- Can this run VMware ESXi?
- Yes, ESXi 8.0 supports the N100 processor. However, GPU passthrough requires careful driver configuration due to Intel UHD graphics limitations.
- What’s the maximum WAN throughput?
- With IPSec VPN enabled: 1.9Gbps. For basic NAT routing: 3.8Gbps aggregate across ports. Suricata IDS with 5k rules reduces throughput to 1.2Gbps.
- Is the chassis rack-mountable?
- Optional 1U rack brackets (sold separately) allow horizontal mounting. Vertical VESA mounting is supported out-of-box using the included plate.
- Power consumption under load?
- 12-14W with 4×2.5G links saturated. Drops to 6W idle. Includes 36W GaN power adapter with 90-264V AC input range.