What is the lowest power combination of server motherboard, CPU, reliable drives, ECC memory, fans and case that would make for a good powerful home router for one person with a lot of computer equipment?
When choosing a motherboard, CPU, and other components for a home router, it's important to consider the level of performance and reliability you need. You should also consider the power consumption of the components, as a low-power system will be more energy-efficient and potentially save you money on your energy bills.
For a powerful home router for one person with a lot of computer equipment, you might consider using a motherboard with a low-power CPU, such as an Intel Atom or a Qualcomm processor. These CPUs are designed for low-power applications and can provide sufficient performance for routing and other basic tasks. You'll also want to choose reliable drives, such as solid-state drives (SSDs), to ensure that your router is always available.
In addition to the motherboard and CPU, you'll also need to choose ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory, which is designed to detect and correct memory errors to improve reliability. You should also choose fans that are suitable for your case and are capable of keeping your components cool.
Finally, be sure to choose a case that is suitable for your needs. You'll want a case that is sturdy and able to protect your components, as well as one that provides adequate ventilation to keep your system cool.
Overall, the combination of a low-power motherboard, CPU, reliable drives, ECC memory, fans, and case should provide a powerful and reliable home router for one person with a lot of computer equipment.
Given your prior answer, can you help me select the specific components?
Sure, I can recommend some specific components for a low-power home router for one person with a lot of computer equipment. Keep in mind that these are just suggestions, and you may want to consider other options based on your specific needs and budget.
- Asrock J3355B-ITX — This is a mini-ITX motherboard that uses an Intel Atom processor, which is a low-power CPU that is suitable for routing and other basic tasks. It has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and supports ECC memory, which is important for reliability.
- Intel Atom x5-E3930 — This is a low-power CPU that is suitable for routing and other basic tasks. It has two cores and four threads, and it has a base clock speed of 1.3 GHz.
- Kingston A2000 500GB NVMe SSD — This is a reliable solid-state drive (SSD) that is suitable for use as the main storage for your router. It has a capacity of 500GB, which should be sufficient for most users.
- Kingston KVR24E17D8/16 — This is a 16GB kit of DDR4 ECC memory that is suitable for use with the Asrock J3355B-ITX motherboard. It has a speed of 2400 MHz and is designed to improve reliability by detecting and correcting memory errors.
- Noctua NF-A4x10 5V PWM — These are low-noise fans that are suitable for use in a small case. They have a noise level of only 20.8 dB(A) and can be controlled using PWM (pulse-width modulation).
- Silverstone Fortress FT05 — This is a compact case that is suitable for a home router. It has a minimalist design and provides good ventilation to keep your components cool. It can also accommodate a mini-ITX motherboard and an ATX power supply. Overall, this combination of components should provide a powerful and reliable home router for one person with a lot of computer equipment.
What software would you recommend I run on this router?
There are many different software options that you can use on a home router, depending on your specific needs and preferences. Here are a few popular choices:
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DD-WRT: This is an open-source firmware that is designed for routers and provides a range of advanced features such as support for virtual private networks (VPNs), Quality of Service (QoS) settings, and bandwidth monitoring. It is a popular choice for users who want to customize their router's features and settings.
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pfSense: This is an open-source firewall and router platform that is designed to be easy to use and highly configurable. It offers a range of features such as support for VPNs, traffic shaping, and web filtering.
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Tomato: This is another open-source firmware that is designed for routers and provides a range of advanced features such as support for VPNs, QoS settings, and bandwidth monitoring. It is known for its user-friendly interface and ability to be easily customized.
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OpenWRT: This is an open-source firmware that is designed for routers and provides a range of advanced features such as support for VPNs, QoS settings, and bandwidth monitoring. It is a popular choice for users who want to customize their router's features and settings.
Ultimately, the best software for your router will depend on your specific needs and preferences. You may want to consider trying out a few different options to see which one works best for you.
Why did you not mention OpnSense when suggesting software?
I apologize for the oversight. OpnSense is a free, open-source firewall and router platform that is based on the FreeBSD operating system. It offers a range of features such as support for virtual private networks (VPNs), traffic shaping, and web filtering, and it is known for its stability and security.
OpnSense is a good software option for a home router, and it can be a good choice for users who want a reliable and secure platform for routing and firewall functions. It is similar to other open-source router software options such as DD-WRT, pfSense, and Tomato, and it may be worth considering alongside these options depending on your specific needs and preferences.
You recommended ECC memory but the motherboard you suggested does not support ECC memory. Can you give another recommendation?
I apologize for the error in my previous recommendation. The Asrock J3355B-ITX motherboard does not support ECC memory. ECC memory is designed to detect and correct memory errors, which can improve reliability, especially in mission-critical applications such as servers.
If you are looking for a motherboard that supports ECC memory and is suitable for use as a home router, you might consider the following options:
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ASRock J4105-ITX: This is a mini-ITX motherboard that uses an Intel Celeron J4105 processor and supports ECC memory. It has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and provides good performance for routing and other basic tasks.
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Gigabyte B450N WiFi: This is a mini-ITX motherboard that uses an AMD Ryzen processor and supports ECC memory. It has built-in WiFi and two Gigabit Ethernet ports, and it provides good performance for routing and other basic tasks.
Keep in mind that these are just a few examples, and there are many other options available. You may want to consider other factors such as the type of CPU, the number of Ethernet ports, and the overall power consumption of the motherboard when selecting a motherboard for your home router.
Of those two motherboards, which would draw less power?
It is difficult to accurately compare the power consumption of different motherboards without more specific information about the components that will be used with them. The power consumption of a motherboard will depend on factors such as the type and speed of the CPU, the type and number of memory modules, and the overall workload of the system.
That said, in general, the Intel Celeron J4105 processor used in the ASRock J4105-ITX motherboard is a low-power CPU that is designed for efficient performance. It has a thermal design power (TDP) of only 10 watts, which means it should consume relatively low levels of power.
The AMD Ryzen processor used in the Gigabyte B450N WiFi motherboard is a higher-performance CPU that is typically more power-hungry than the Intel Celeron J4105. The specific TDP of the AMD Ryzen processor used in the Gigabyte B450N WiFi motherboard will depend on the specific model, but it is likely to be higher than the TDP of the Intel Celeron J4105.
Overall, if power consumption is a major concern for you, the ASRock J4105-ITX motherboard with an Intel Celeron J4105 processor may be a better choice, as it is likely to consume less power than the Gigabyte B450N WiFi motherboard with an AMD Ryzen processor.
Could you also recommend an ethernet card to support two 2.5Gbps ports and alternately one with two 1Gps ports of which I will choose to use only one of them?
Sure, here are a few options for Ethernet cards that support either two 2.5Gbps ports or two 1Gbps ports:
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TP-Link TL-SF1005D: This is a Fast Ethernet switch that has five 10/100Mbps ports. It can be used to add additional Ethernet ports to your home router, and it is suitable for use with devices that support 1Gbps speeds.
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TP-Link TL-SG105: This is a Gigabit Ethernet switch that has five 10/100/1000Mbps ports. It can be used to add additional Ethernet ports to your home router, and it is suitable for use with devices that support 2.5Gbps speeds.
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Netgear XS505M: This is a 2.5Gbps Ethernet switch that has five 10/100/1000Mbps ports. It can be used to add additional Ethernet ports to your home router, and it is suitable for use with devices that support 2.5Gbps speeds.
Keep in mind that these are just a few examples, and there are many other options available. You may want to consider factors such as the number of ports, the speed of the ports, and the overall price and performance of the Ethernet card when selecting one for your home router.
Are those ethernet ports compatible with the motherboard you recommended?
The Ethernet ports on the TP-Link TL-SF1005D, TP-Link TL-SG105, and Netgear XS505M Ethernet switches are not directly compatible with the Asrock J3355B-ITX motherboard that I recommended earlier. These switches are designed to add additional Ethernet ports to a system, rather than being integrated into the motherboard.
To add additional Ethernet ports to the Asrock J3355B-ITX motherboard, you will need to use an Ethernet card that is compatible with the motherboard's expansion slots. The Asrock J3355B-ITX motherboard has one PCI Express x1 slot, which is suitable for use with an Ethernet card that uses a PCI Express interface.
Here are a few examples of Ethernet cards that are compatible with the Asrock J3355B-ITX motherboard and support either two 2.5Gbps ports or two 1Gbps ports:
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TP-Link TL-SG105PE: This is a Gigabit Ethernet card that has two 10/100/1000Mbps ports. It uses a PCI Express interface and is suitable for use with devices that support 2.5Gbps speeds.
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Netgear XS505M-100NAS: This is a 2.5Gbps Ethernet card that has two 10/100/1000Mbps ports. It uses a PCI Express interface and is suitable for use with devices that support 2.5Gbps speeds.
Again, these are just a few examples, and there are many other options available. You may want to consider factors such as the number of ports, the speed of the ports, and the overall price and performance of the Ethernet card when selecting one for your home router.