TALK / NETWORKING
Yes, both run on ordinary x86-64 hardware. The network chip and the port count matter more than the CPU badge.
Short answer
Yes. OPNsense and pfSense are software for 64-bit x86 hardware, and a mini PC can host either. The official documentation sets modest minimums. What decides whether a particular mini PC is a good firewall is mostly its network interfaces and their drivers, plus the features you turn on.
What the official docs ask for
OPNsense lists a “reasonable” specification of a 1 GHz dual-core CPU, 4 GB of RAM and a 40 GB SSD, and a “recommended” one of a 1.5 GHz multi-core CPU, 8 GB RAM and a 120 GB SSD. Netgate’s pfSense minimums for non-Netgate hardware are a 64-bit CPU, 1 GB RAM, an 8 GB disk and one or more compatible network interface cards, and Netgate adds that the minimums are not suitable for all environments.
Both vendors say the load depends on features. OPNsense names the Squid caching proxy, large captive-portal deployments and very large connection tables as heavy. Netgate says certain packages significantly raise requirements, and that VPN speed benefits from cryptographic acceleration such as AES-NI.
Why the network chip matters
Netgate’s sizing guidance says the choice of NIC has a significant impact on performance, and that inexpensive low-end cards consume significantly more CPU than better ones such as Intel. OPNsense’s documentation likewise says Intel chipset NICs deliver higher throughput at lower CPU load, and notes that FreeBSD hardware lists drive its recommendations. Because OPNsense uses the FreeBSD kernel and drivers, hardware that FreeBSD does not support well is a risk.
So before buying, find the actual Ethernet controller named on the manufacturer’s page or in a verified teardown, then check it against the FreeBSD hardware notes and the firewall project’s hardware pages. A listing that says only “2.5G LAN” does not tell you the chip. We have not tested any mini PC as a firewall.
Test before you cut over
Set the firewall up alongside your existing router first, confirm that WAN, LAN, DHCP and DNS work, export the configuration, and only then switch over. Storage deserves a thought: OPNsense says its lowest tier excludes features that need disk writes, such as the caching proxy and the intrusion detection alert database, so choose an SSD of reasonable size if you plan to enable them. Keep the old router as a fallback until the new setup has run without trouble for a while.
Practical checks
Ports: you need at least two Ethernet ports (WAN and LAN); extra ports or a VLAN-capable switch help. Storage: OPNsense recommends an SSD, and some features write to disk. Power and cooling: a firewall runs 24/7, so a stable power supply matters; see our power article. Fallback: keep your old router until the new one is proven, and export the configuration after every change. For port-count context, see our dual-LAN guide.
Other perspectives
Adding to “Short answer”
OPNsense’s documentation says you can also buy hardware with the software pre-installed, and points to Deciso and its listed partners for turnkey boxes, which also support the project. If you buy a generic mini PC instead, make the Ethernet controller a pre-purchase question to the seller and keep proof of the answer. Budget for a managed switch or access point too, since the firewall replaces only the router part of your setup.
Adding to “Why the network chip matters”
Prefer units whose listing names an Intel network controller you can look up. For VPN-heavy use, check that the CPU lists AES-NI. For a home network with a light feature set, the CPU requirement in the docs is low; the controller and port count decide. Dual-port is the minimum; a spare port or a managed switch gives you room to grow. Check Wi-Fi separately: a firewall box is not automatically an access point.
Adding to “Practical checks”
Plan updates for a window when nobody needs the network. Keep a spare way in: a monitor and keyboard, or a serial or out-of-band method, in case the web interface is unreachable after a change. Back up the configuration file off the box. If you also host other services, think about isolating the firewall on its own machine, because rebooting a shared host drops your internet.
Quick questions
- Is an N100 or N150 enough for a home firewall?
- The CPU minimums in the docs are low. Throughput also depends on the NIC, drivers and features, which we have not tested.
- Can I run the firewall in a VM?
- Virtualised setups exist, but we did not review them here. A dedicated machine keeps your internet independent of other services.
Hardware mentioned
Plain links to manufacturer or project pages. They are not affiliate links, and we show no prices here because prices change; see our price and data policy.
- Beelink EQ14 (vendor lists an optional dual 2.5G LAN configuration) (manufacturer or project page, read 2026-10-24)
- Minisforum MS-01 (vendor lists SFP+ and 2.5G ports) (manufacturer or project page, read 2026-10-24)
What we checked
We separate documented facts from our own advice and from what we could not confirm. We did not run tests for this answer. See how we test and our editorial policy.
Facts from sources
- OPNsense reasonable/recommended specs as quoted (OPNsense hardware page).
- pfSense minimum requirements for non-Netgate hardware (Netgate docs).
- Netgate: NIC choice has significant performance impact; low-end NICs use more CPU than Intel.
- OPNsense: Intel chipset NICs give higher throughput at lower CPU load.
Our advice
- Ask the seller for the exact Ethernet controller.
- Keep the old router as a fallback.
Not confirmed
- No firewall throughput testing.
- Whether a specific listing's NIC is well supported was not checked.
Sources (read 2026-10-24)
- OPNsense documentation — Hardware sizing & setup — read 2026-10-24
- Netgate pfSense documentation — Minimum hardware requirements — read 2026-10-24
- Netgate pfSense documentation — Hardware sizing guidance — read 2026-10-24