Firewall Mini PC N150 32GB RAM 512GB SSD - Fanless 4 x 2.5GbE

In this review the Firewall Mini PC N150 with 32GB DDR5 and a 512GB SSD is presented as a compact, fanless hardware appliance aimed at small offices and advanced home networks. The bottom line: it is for users who need a dedicated, low-power firewall or soft router platform with multiple 2.5GbE ports and flexible OS support; the primary reason to buy is the combination of a Twin Lake N150 processor with DDR5 memory and four i226V 2.5GbE LAN ports that deliver real-world throughput without the noise or bulk of a rack unit.

Key Features

• 12th Gen N150 Processor: Delivers four cores and up to 3.6 GHz burst for routing, VPN and lightweight virtualized workloads while keeping power draw low.
• 4 x 2.5GbE i226V LAN: Four native 2.5GbE ports provide multi-WAN or segregated LAN segments at 2.5x gigabit speed for faster internal transfers and firewall throughput.
• DDR5 Expandability: Single DDR5 SO-DIMM slot supports high-speed 4800 MHz memory up to 48GB for improved packet processing and caching performance.
• Dual M.2 NVMe and SATA Storage: Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots plus two SATA 3.0 ports let users configure fast OS drives and additional storage or caching for logging and analytics.
• Fanless with optional fan support: Passive cooling allows quiet operation for desktop or office use, with a small 12V 4-pin fan option if extra cooling is needed.
• Flexible OS support: Ships with Windows 11 Pro but explicitly supports OPNsense, Linux, ESXi, OpenWrt and other firewall or hypervisor platforms for appliance use.

Who It's For

This mini appliance suits small business IT administrators, homelab enthusiasts and network integrators who need a compact, low-noise platform with multiple high-speed LAN ports and the ability to run OPNsense or other router software. It is especially useful where 2.5GbE connectivity increases throughput between NAS devices, servers and client segments.

It is less appropriate for users seeking a simple plug-and-play consumer router with built-in wireless; this is a headless micro appliance designed for those comfortable installing or configuring firewall firmware and managing OS-level settings. Heavy virtualized server workloads beyond lightweight VMs will outgrow the N150 platform.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Fanless design gives quiet operation suitable for office or desktop placement.
• Four i226V 2.5GbE ports provide real multi-gig networking for modern LANs.
• Good storage and memory expandability with 2 M.2 NVMe slots and SATA ports for OS and logging drives.
• Supports a wide range of operating systems including OPNsense and ESXi for flexible deployment.

Cons

• Single SO-DIMM limits memory expansion to one slot; maximum 48GB may be restrictive for heavy virtualization.
• No built-in Wi-Fi, so a separate access point is required for wireless networks.

Specifications

Processor	Twin Lake N150, 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz, 6W TDP
LAN Ports	4 x i226V 2.5GbE
Memory	1 x DDR5 SO-DIMM 4800 MHz, up to 48GB
Storage	2 x M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0, 2 x SATA 3.0 (SATA cable included)
Graphics / Display	Integrated UHD Graphics, 2 x HDMI, 1 x DP, 1 x Type-C, 4K@60Hz support
Ports	2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x TF card slot, Type-C
Cooling	Fanless design; 12V 4-pin fan support (fan cable included)

Our Verdict

The N150 mini firewall appliance is a strong choice for small networks that need multiple 2.5GbE interfaces, quiet operation and flexible OS support at a compact footprint. It offers good value for IT pros who will use it as a dedicated firewall, soft router or small hypervisor host, provided they accept the single memory slot and lack of integrated wireless.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this run OPNsense out of the box?
Yes, the unit supports OPNsense and other router OS options, though BIOS setup may be required to select boot and power settings.

Is the device noisy during operation?
It is designed as fanless for silent use; a small 12V fan can be added if additional cooling is desired.

How many drives can be installed?
Up to two M.2 NVMe drives plus two 2.5 inch SATA drives can be attached using the included SATA cable.