taggart’s search for an x86 based router fast enough to do SQM and VPN on a centurylink gigabit fiber connection.
Qotom¶
There is a brand name Qotom that make x86 SOC mini-PCs (like Intel NUC, etc) but that have multiple real Intel NICs in them. They have HDMI which we don’t care about for a router, but they also have a serial port. Some of the models are new enough to have CPUs with AES-NI which helps openvpn/wireguard a lot. They are also low power, fanless with nice big heatsinks.
- Q4 = 4 NICs, Q6 = 6 NICs
- The Intel AES-NI cpu extension can really help openssl/wireguard a lot
Models
| Model | CPU | Family | Release | Cores | Speed | Cache | $ | AES-NI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q180 | Celeron J1800 | BayTrail | 2013Q4 | 2/2 | 2.4/2.6 | 1mb | No | |
| Q190 | Celeron J1900 | BayTrail | 2013Q4 | 4/4 | 2.0/2.4 | 2mb | No | |
| Q301G4 | Celeron 2955U | Haswell | 2013Q3 | 2/2 | 1.4 | 2mb | $147 | No |
| Q305G4 | Celeron 3205U | Broadwell | 2015Q1 | 2/2 | 1.5 | 2mb | $160 | No |
| Q310G4 | Celeron 3215U | Broadwell | 2015Q2 | 2/2 | 1.7 | 2mb | $168 | No |
| Q320G4 | Pentium 3805U | Broadwell | 2015Q1 | 2/2 | 1.9 | 2mb | $168 | No |
| Q330G4 | Core i3 4005U | Haswell | 2013Q3 | 2/4 | 1.7 | 3mb | $202 | Yes |
| Q330G4Y | Core i5 4210Y | Haswell | 2013Q3 | 2/4 | 1.5/1.9 | 3mb | $195 | Yes |
| Q335G4 | Core i3 5005U | Broadwell | 2015Q1 | 2/4 | 2.0 | 3mb | $227 | Yes |
| Q350G4 | Core i5 4200U | Haswell | 2013Q3 | 2/4 | 1.6/2.6 | 3mb | $223 | Yes |
| Q350G4Y | Core i5 4300Y | Haswell | 2013Q3 | 2/4 | 1.6/2.3 | 3mb | $199 | Yes |
| Q355G4 | Core i5 5200U | Broadwell | 2015Q1 | 2/4 | 2.2/2.7 | 3mb | $251 | Yes |
| Q370G4 | Core i7 4500U | Haswell | 2013Q3 | 2/4 | 1.8/3.0 | 4mb | $248 | Yes |
| Q370G4Y | Core i7 4610Y | Haswell | 2013Q3 | 2/4 | 1.7/2.9 | 4mb | $248* | Yes |
| Q375G4 | Core i7 5500u | Broadwell | 2015Q1 | 2/4 | 2.4/3.0 | 4mb | $300 | Yes |
| Q510G6 | Celeron 3855U | Skylake | 2015Q4 | 2/2 | 1.6 | 2mb | $186 | Yes |
| Q515G6 | Celeron 3865U | Kaby Lake | 2017Q1 | 2/2 | 1.8 | 2mb | $193 | Yes |
| Q530G6 | Core i3 6100U | Skylake | 2015Q3 | 2/4 | 2.3 | 3mb | $274 | Yes |
| Q535G6 | Core i3 7100U | Kaby Lake | 2016Q3 | 2/4 | 2.4 | 3mb | $283 | Yes |
| Q550G6 | Core i5 6200U | Skylake | 2015Q3 | 2/4 | 2.3/2.8 | 3mb | $303 | Yes |
| Q555G6 | Core i5 7200U | Kaby lake | 2016Q3 | 2/4 | 2.5/3.1 | 3mb | $319 | Yes |
| Q570G6 | Core i7 6500U | Skylake | 2015Q3 | 2/4 | 2.5/3.1 | 4mb | $355 | Yes |
| Q575G6 | Core i7 7500U | Kabylake | 2016Q3 | 2/4 | 2.7/3.5 | 4mb | $561 | Yes |
| minisys? | Atom E3845 | BayTrail | 2013Q4 | 4/4 | 1.9 | 2mb | $249* | Yes |
| minisys? | Celeron J3160 | Braswell | 2016Q1 | 4/4 | 1.6/2.2 | 2mb | $339* | Yes |
other candidates¶
- espressobin – got one, sort of abandoned by manufacturer (like all ARM systems, they get it working and then stop supporting it)
- Intel NUC – only a few models with two NICs, none with more
- Gigabyte Brix
- Turris Omnia $280
- Turris Mox
- PC Engines APU2 – openwrt apu2 page
links¶
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For home I purchased Q355G4 for $215.00 + $33.64 shipping |
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