Firewall Mini PC Quad Core N150 - Fanless 2.5GbE Mini Router

In this review the Firewall Mini PC Quad Core N150 is examined as a compact, fanless firewall appliance aimed at small offices, home labs, and networking enthusiasts who need reliable throughput and flexible storage. The single biggest reason to buy is its combination of a 12th Gen N150 processor with four 2.5GbE ports, which delivers noticeably better routing performance than standard gigabit boxes while remaining compact and largely silent in normal use.

Key Features

• 12th Gen N150 Processor: Provides four cores and up to 3.6 GHz burst speed for fast packet processing and lightweight virtualization tasks.
• 4 x 2.5GbE i226V LAN: Four wideband wired interfaces give room for uplink and multiple LAN segments without immediately needing a separate switch.
• DDR5 Memory Support: A single DDR5 SO-DIMM slot supports high memory clocks for firewall rulesets, caching, and VM guests when running OPNsense or Linux.
• NVMe and Expandable Storage: M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe3.0 x4 plus a multifunction M.2 slot allow fast system and cache storage and room for secondary SSDs.
• Dual 4K Display Outputs: HD and DisplayPort support 4K@60Hz for console access, diagnostics and local management displays.
• Fanless aluminium body: Quiet operation with an option to add a small 12V fan if workloads or ambient temperatures demand extra cooling.

Who It's For

The unit is best for small businesses, branch offices and advanced home users who want a compact hardware platform for OPNsense, OpenWrt or dedicated Linux firewall appliances and need more-than-gigabit LAN speeds without large rack gear. It is also suitable for home labs running lightweight VMs or ESXi where a quiet, small footprint device is required.

Users who need enterprise-grade line-rate switching for dozens of VLANs or heavy 10GbE infrastructure should look elsewhere; likewise, anyone requiring a fully passive, zero-warmth enclosure under sustained high CPU load should plan on additional cooling or a different chassis.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• High-performance N150 CPU with AES-NI support helps accelerate VPN and encrypted throughput.
• Four native 2.5GbE ports increase network headroom compared with gigabit appliances.
• Good build quality and stable behavior reported by owners, making it reliable for always-on use.
• Flexible storage options with NVMe and multifunction M.2 slot for varied deployment needs.

Cons

• Some users report mixed results with VLAN setups under certain firmware configurations.
• The unit can run warm under load; the fanless design may need the optional small fan in hot environments.

Specifications

Processor	Twin Lake-N 12th Gen N150, 4 cores/4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz
Network	4 x i226V 2.5GbE LAN ports
Memory	1 x DDR5 SO-DIMM slot, 4800MHz (compatible with 5200/5600MHz)
Storage	1 x M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe3.0 x4; 1 x multifunction M.2 slot; 1 x SATA 3.0
Graphics / Display	Integrated UHD Graphics; 1 x HD, 1 x DP (4K@60Hz)
Ports	2 x USB3.0, 6 x USB2.0, TF card slot, 8 USB total exposed
Cooling / Chassis	Aluminium alloy fanless body; optional 12V 4-pin small fan supported

Our Verdict

The Firewall Mini PC Quad Core N150 is a strong value for small networks that need more than gigabit performance in a compact, fanless package. It pairs a capable 12th Gen N150 CPU with four native 2.5GbE ports and flexible NVMe storage options, making it ideal for OPNsense or Linux firewall deployments. Buyers should be mindful of VLAN quirks and potential heat under sustained heavy loads but overall it offers reliable, quiet operation and useful expansion room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it support OPNsense and other firewall OS?
Yes; the hardware is compatible with OPNsense, Linux, ESXi and OpenWrt according to the product details.

Can the unit boot from the TF card or SATA?
The TF card slot supports data storage and system boot, and there is a SATA 3.0 slot but it cannot be used simultaneously with the multifunction M.2 slot.

Is active cooling required?
The chassis is fanless and quiet for typical loads, but an optional 12V 4-pin small fan can be added if sustained high CPU temperatures are expected.