Fanless N100 Mini PC for OPNsense: Picks and Alternatives

A fanless N100 mini PC for OPNsense should be selected by its exact Ethernet controllers, memory and SSD options, and passive cooling arrangement. The CWWK F6 N100 is the N100 option in this shortlist. The Protectli and Deciso models below are alternatives with different processors, included to explain when firmware support, component reuse or additional ports may change the purchase.

These are recommendations drawn from published specifications. They do not establish routing benchmarks or a measured thermal winner. For a complete N100 bill of materials, use the Intel N100 firewall build guide.

Fanless N100 shortlist: one N100 and three alternatives

Appliance	Processor	Published Ethernet configuration	Role beside an N100 build
CWWK F6, N100 configuration	Intel N100	Four Intel i226-V 2.5GbE ports	N100 option with DDR5 and NVMe storage
Protectli VP2430e	Intel N150	Four Intel i226-V 2.5GbE ports	Alternative with coreboot support
Protectli VP2420	Intel Celeron J6412	Four Intel 2.5GbE ports; confirm controller revision	Alternative for compatible DDR4 and SATA components
Deciso DEC750	AMD Ryzen Embedded	Three 2.5GbE ports and two 10G SFP+ ports	Alternative when SFP+ is part of the requirement

The rows describe different hardware, so their port speeds and processor names should not be turned into a performance ranking. Check the selected SKU, installed components and current terms on the manufacturer’s page before comparing total cost.

CWWK F6 N100: check the selected configuration

CWWK’s F6 specification lists an N100 configuration with four i226-V ports, one DDR5 SODIMM slot and NVMe expansion. The product family also offers an i3-N305 configuration. Confirm the CPU selection rather than relying on the shared product name.

The manufacturer describes an aluminium enclosure with cooling fins, a heat pipe and an internal heat-transfer assembly. It also offers optional fan installation. If passive operation is a requirement, confirm the supplied configuration and plan the installation around the enclosure’s cooling surfaces.

The buying case is straightforward: shortlist the N100 version when those four Ethernet ports and the documented storage options match the build. Ask for the board revision and firmware download location before ordering. Use the actual motherboard layout to check storage expansion; a photograph of a similar chassis is not a parts list.

Protectli VP2430e: an N150 alternative

The VP2430e product page specifies an N150, four i226-V ports, DDR5 memory, an M.2 NVMe slot on PCIe Gen3 x2, and coreboot support. Protectli describes a fanless aluminium enclosure and includes a two-year warranty, with optional extensions.

Its storage choice affects the cooling assembly: the manufacturer notes that selecting a 2.5-inch SSD means the large internal component heatsink will not be installed. Check that detail when choosing the configuration.

This model belongs beside the N100 shortlist when documented firmware options and the support terms matter to the buyer. Its specifications do not establish that an N150 installation will deliver a particular throughput advantage over an N100. Compare the complete configuration and support terms instead of assuming the CPU badge settles the decision.

Protectli VP2420: reuse DDR4 and SATA deliberately

Protectli’s VP2410/VP2420 hardware overview identifies the VP2420’s Celeron J6412, DDR4 memory and M.2 SATA storage. Its M.2 storage slot is not an NVMe slot. The NIC revision also matters: the hardware overview documents the change from i225-V to i226-V in this product family.

That makes it a conditional alternative when compatible components are already available or a particular unit meets the budget. Confirm its exact controller and storage support before transferring parts from another mini PC. Do not describe it as an N100 equivalent merely because it has four 2.5GbE sockets.

For the controller distinction, read the Intel I226-V vs I225-V NIC comparison.

Deciso DEC750: a different port requirement

The DEC750 specification describes a fanless Ryzen Embedded appliance with four cores and eight threads, 8 GB DDR4, 256 GB storage, three 2.5GbE interfaces and two 10G SFP+ interfaces. It is supplied with OPNsense.

Include it when SFP+ connectivity is already part of the network plan. It is a different appliance class with a different processor. Its published firewall and VPN figures cannot be used as evidence for what the CWWK N100 will achieve.

If all planned connections are copper 2.5GbE, first document what the extra interfaces would do. Additional sockets alone do not make a better fit for an otherwise simple N100 build.

RAM, NICs and throughput for a passive N100 build

OPNsense’s hardware guidance recommends 8 GB RAM and a 120 GB SSD, and identifies Intel NICs as a way to reduce CPU overhead. Use that as a configuration starting point, then account for the services the appliance will run.

Intel’s N100 specification lists one memory channel and a 16 GB maximum. A vendor advertising a larger capacity is making a board or module compatibility claim that needs its own confirmation. Do not silently substitute that claim for Intel’s published limit.

The FreeBSD igc manual documents support for the I225 and I226 families. Check both the fitted controller and the driver on the intended OPNsense release. A listing that only says “2.5G LAN” does not answer that question.

Netgate’s sizing guidance explains that packet sizes, NIC quality and inspection packages affect throughput, and cautions against precise estimates for third-party boxes. Treat a 2.5GbE link specification as a port capability, with the finished firewall’s throughput still to establish.

Before buying and after first boot

Request the exact CPU and NIC model, RAM type, SSD interface, cooling configuration and firmware source. Compare barebones and configured offers using the same component list. Preserve the specification for the SKU that was actually ordered.

After installation, confirm that the hardware matches that list and that the expected link speeds remain stable. Evaluate the intended routing and inspection workload with the enclosure in its planned position. Use the i226-V link-drop checklist if a port disconnects or renegotiates.

Keep wattage planning with the dedicated N100 idle and load power draw guide. Processor power, power-supply rating and whole-appliance consumption describe different things.

For a fanless N100 purchase, the CWWK configuration is the starting candidate here; the other rows answer specific requirements that may justify a different CPU or appliance. Use the N100 throughput and power calculator to explore estimated headroom before selecting the final configuration. For a broader platform-specific shortlist, continue to OPNsense hardware choices.