The 13th Gen Intel Soft Router 210G SFP Mini PC (featuring 8x 2.5G LAN, 4x i226-V NICs, and 13th Gen Intel CPUs like the i5-1335U) is a high-performance, compact firewall and virtualization appliance. It supports Proxmox, pfSense, and OPNsense, delivering enterprise-grade networking, multi-Gbps throughput, and dual SATA storage for NAS or caching. Ideal for homelabs, SMEs, and edge computing.
How Does the 13th Gen Intel CPU Enhance Performance in This Mini PC?
The 13th Gen Intel CPUs (i5-1335U, 1240P, U300E) provide up to 10 cores/12 threads, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and 28W TDP for sustained workloads. These processors enable hardware-accelerated virtualization (VT-d, VT-x), AES-NI encryption for VPN/firewall tasks, and efficient power management. Benchmarks show 40% faster packet processing vs. older Celeron-based routers.
The hybrid architecture of 13th Gen CPUs combines Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores), allowing the system to prioritize time-sensitive networking tasks while handling background virtualization workloads efficiently. This design proves particularly effective when running multiple services simultaneously—for example, routing traffic through a pfSense VM while hosting a Plex media server. The integrated Intel DLBoost technology further accelerates AI-driven security applications like Suricata intrusion detection, achieving 15 Gbps throughput with deep packet inspection enabled. Thermal performance is another standout feature: even under full load with 10G SFP+ modules active, CPU temperatures remain below 75°C thanks to the advanced 10nm SuperFin process.
What Networking Capabilities Do the 8x 2.5G LAN and 4x i226-V Ports Offer?
The 8x 2.5G LAN ports (Intel i226-V controllers) support 2.5Gbps speeds, LACP aggregation, and VLAN tagging. Combined with the 210G SFP slots (upgradable to 10G/25G modules), this enables 20Gbps+ WAN/LAN throughput. Use cases include multi-WAN failover, VLAN segmentation, and hosting high-bandwidth services like Plex or game servers.
| Port Type | Max Speed | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5GBase-T (i226-V) | 2.5 Gbps | LAN segmentation, NAS connections |
| SFP+ | 10 Gbps | Backhaul links, ISP handoffs |
| LACP Group | 20 Gbps | VM traffic trunking |
Why Choose This Appliance for Proxmox Virtualization?
With 64GB DDR5 RAM support, dual SATA bays, and PCIe Gen4 NVMe slots, this mini PC runs 10+ VMs concurrently. Proxmox VE 8.1 benefits from CPU passthrough for dedicated firewall VMs, ZFS storage pools, and cluster management. Users report 98% uptime when hosting OpnSense, Home Assistant, and Docker Swarm on a single node.
The appliance’s hardware design aligns perfectly with Proxmox’s requirements for nested virtualization. By allocating two P-cores exclusively to the hypervisor, users maintain consistent network performance even when guest VMs spike in CPU usage. The dual M.2 NVMe slots (PCIe 4.0 x4) deliver 7,000 MB/s sequential read speeds, enabling rapid VM snapshot operations. For organizations implementing hyper-converged infrastructure, three units can be clustered via 10G SFP+ direct-attach cables, achieving 99.999% availability with Ceph storage replication. Real-world deployments show the system can handle 150 Docker containers and 8 lightweight VMs simultaneously without throttling.
How Does the Dual SATA Support Expand Storage Options?
The dual SATA III slots (6Gbps) allow RAID 0/1 configurations for NAS setups. Paired with 2x NVMe drives (up to 4TB each), users achieve tiered storage—SSD caching for VMs and HDDs for backups. Real-world tests show 550MB/s read speeds with WD Red SSDs, ideal for media servers or surveillance NVRs.
When Should You Upgrade to This 210G SFP Firewall Appliance?
Upgrade if your current router struggles with 1Gbps+ internet plans, lacks VPN throughput (e.g., <500Mbps on WireGuard), or can’t handle 50+ devices. This device replaces standalone firewalls, switches, and servers—cutting power use by 60% vs. running separate gear. Ideal for IoT-heavy smart homes or MSPs managing client networks.
Where Does This Mini PC Outperform Traditional Network Hardware?
Unlike off-the-shelf routers, this appliance offers customizable NICs (SFP+ for fiber, 2.5GBase-T for copper), x86 software flexibility, and scalable storage. It processes 4M+ firewall rules 3x faster than Ubiquiti UDM Pro, while costing 30% less. Silent operation (fanless chassis options) suits audio-sensitive environments like studios.
Expert Views
“This 13th Gen Intel platform redefines edge networking. The i5-1335U’s hybrid architecture balances single-threaded routing tasks and multi-core virtualization. With 8x 2.5G ports, it’s future-proofed for Wi-Fi 7 deployments. For SMEs, it’s a Swiss Army knife—firewall, VPN endpoint, and VM host in one.”
— Network Architect, Tier 1 Hardware Vendor
Conclusion
The 13th Gen Intel Soft Router 210G SFP Mini PC merges enterprise networking, robust storage, and Proxmox-ready virtualization. Whether deploying as a pfSense firewall, Kubernetes node, or all-in-one homelab server, its 13th Gen Intel CPUs and 8x 2.5G ports deliver unmatched versatility. A game-changer for tech enthusiasts and IT professionals alike.
FAQ
- Q: Can it run ESXi instead of Proxmox?
- A: Yes—tested with ESXi 8.0; requires NIC driver injections via ISO customization.
- Q: Does the i5-1335U support ECC memory?
- A: No. For ECC, opt for the Xeon-powered variant (not included in base models).
- Q: What’s the power consumption under load?
- A: 18W idle, 45W peak (measured with 2x NVMe, 10G SFP+ module).