Hi guys, so I recently watched the L1Tech video on pfSense routers, and that along with the recent privacy law changes have inspired me to protect myself. However, I do not have any spare or surplus hardware at home, and after researching some of the "out of the box" solutions (from pfSense or other bare bone style systems), I have decided it would be a fun project to build my own. This is particularly relevant, because I would like to build a router that I can have for years to come (that will easily support a true gigabit connection). I am hoping you all can help me with some advice.
My goals are explicitly to:
* Learn networking fundamentals
* Build a router myself (for fun and great justice!)
* Insulate my network traffic from my snoopy ISP
* Have a future proof device that can support gigabit (I left Austin, TX, recently and I miss my fiber dearly)
My build list is primarily looking to be future proof, thus keeping with this chart (https://www.pfsense.org/hardware/):
10-20 Mbps We recommend a modern (less than 4 year old) Intel or AMD CPU clocked at at least 500MHz.
21-100 Mbps We recommend a modern 1.0 GHz Intel or AMD CPU.
101-500 Mbps No less than a modern Intel or AMD CPU clocked at 2.0 GHz. Server class hardware with PCI-e network adapters, or newer desktop hardware with PCI-e network adapters.
501+ Mbps Multiple cores at > 2.0GHz are required. Server class hardware with PCI-e network adapters.
Here's three approaches to the build:
MAXIMUM - $670
https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Kesl_Vrys/saved/GsdWZL (not all of the actual parts shown on the list)
$205 - Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
$20 - be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 35.1 CFM CPU Cooler
$80 - ASRock H170M-ITX/DL Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard
$100 - G.Skill FORTIS 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
$55 - Plextor M6M 64GB mSATA Solid State Drive
$65 - Corsair Obsidian 250D Mini ITX Case
$100 - Corsair RMx 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
$45 - I350-T4 PCI-Express PCI-E Four RJ45 Gigabit Ports Server Adapter NIC
Obviously, with this approach I would be doing much more than just running pfSense. This box would likely be virtualized and broken apart by cores, likely splitting it in half so 2x cores for pfSense and 2x cores for a web server or maybe a home media server/file server. Something along those lines.
MEDIUM - $440
https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Kesl_Vrys/saved/HhCcf7 (not all of the actual parts shown on the list)
$60 - Intel Pentium G4400 Skylake Dual-Core 3.3 GHz
$20 - be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 35.1 CFM CPU Cooler
$80 - ASRock H170M-ITX/DL Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard
$55 - Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2133
$55 - Plextor M6M 64GB mSATA Solid State Drive
$65 - Corsair Obsidian 250D Mini ITX Case
$60 - SeaSonic SSR-360GP 360W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS GOLD
$45 - I350-T4 PCI-Express PCI-E Four RJ45 Gigabit Ports Server Adapter NIC
This is the middle of the ground approach, not optimizing for performance or function or cost, but instead trying to be in the middle of both. Honestly, I dislike this approach generally. I feel like you should go one way or the other and just 'own' that choice, instead of trying to ride in the middle.
AFFORDABLE - $250
$170 - APU3a4 Board - https://www.pcengines.ch/apu3a4.htm
* AMD GX-412TC CPU - 4x cores @ 1.2 GHz
* 4 GB DDR3-1333 DRAM
* 3 i211AT LAN
$55 - mSATA Kingston SMS200S3/60G
$15 - case1d2-U BLK Enclosure
$10 - 15v/1.2A 18W AC-DC Power Adapter
This is optimized for cost, but a key question remains for me. Could this push a gigabit connection (true fiber) for a home network with 3-4 boxes on it? If it can, then I think this is clearly the choice as all the future proofing I will ever need is already there. If it cannot, then I am prone to go with the MAXIMUM choice.
Which one would you go with? Why? Would affordable be sufficient for pushing a true gigabit connection?
Thank you for your help and input!