Context and intent
This mini PC was deployed as a dedicated firewall appliance running OPNsense. The primary reason for this purchase was a required upgrade from 2.5 Gb/s to 10 Gb/s networking. Internet speed is a driving factor for business operations, and the existing firewall had become a limiting factor.
The goal was not benchmarking for its own sake, but validating whether this system can reliably function as a small form factor perimeter device: always on, network centric, stable under load, and fast enough to handle modern firewall features. The system is used in production and measured as deployed, not evaluated under artificial or vendor optimized conditions.
Hardware overview
The hardware came as barebone and I added 16GB DDR5 RAM and an NVMe hard disk.
CPU: Intel Core i3 N305, Alder Lake N, 8 cores, 8 threads
RAM: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: NVMe (capacity not performance critical for this role)
LAN NIC: Intel based Ethernet (board integrated)
OS: OPNsense
Build quality and design
The enclosure is compact and clearly designed for infrastructure use rather than consumer aesthetics. Materials feel more solid than entry level mini PCs. Cooling is active but conservative. Under sustained load, the system remains thermally stable and acoustically unobtrusive. This is not a fanless design, but noise is not intrusive in a technical environment. Expansion options remain limited, as expected for a firewall oriented mini PC, but internal layout and component choice suggest a focus on reliability rather than minimum cost.
Benchmark results
All benchmarks below were executed on this exact unit.
Synthetic benchmark summary
Benchmark Result
Novabench Overall 868
Novabench CPU 481
Novabench GPU 31
Novabench RAM 231
Novabench Disk 125
Cinebench R23 CPU Single 852
Cinebench R23 CPU Multi 2614
Geekbench CPU Single 1312
Geekbench CPU Multi 3999
Geekbench GPU OpenCL 5926
PCMark 10 Overall 3604
PCMark 10 Essentials 7504
PCMark 10 Productivity 5192
PCMark 10 Digital Content Creation 3261
Storage performance
CrystalDiskMark 8.0.6 results
Test Read MB/s Write MB/s
Sequential SEQ1 890.46 810.51
SEQ1M Q1T1 724.15 785.47
Random 4K Q32T1 330.61 214.94
Random 4K Q1T1 50.57 97.47
What the numbers actually say
Compared to entry level N100 systems, the Core i3 N305 is a clear step up. Single core performance is higher and more consistent. Multi core performance scales significantly better thanks to the higher core count. While this is still a low power CPU class, it no longer feels constrained in the same way. For firewall workloads that include inspection, logging, VPN termination, and intrusion detection, the additional cores matter more than peak single thread speed.
Disk performance is notably better than typical budget mini PCs. Sequential and random results are strong enough that storage will not be a limiting factor for firewall logs, state tables, or updates. RAM performance is also improved thanks to DDR5, which helps with concurrent packet processing and background services.
GPU performance is irrelevant for the intended role and behaves exactly as expected for an infrastructure focused system.
Networking: the decisive factor
Unlike cheaper mini PCs that rely on Realtek or MotorComm Ethernet controllers, this system uses Intel based networking. In a firewall context, this is not a detail but a requirement. Driver maturity, interrupt handling, and long term stability are all significantly better. It has several 10Gb/s interface. Under OPNsense, the network stack behaves predictably, with no link negotiation issues or unexplained drops. For a perimeter device, this alone justifies the platform choice over lower cost alternatives.
Power usage and thermals
Despite the higher performance envelope compared to N100 based systems, power usage remains reasonable for 24 7 operation. The cooling solution keeps the CPU within safe operating limits without aggressive fan curves or throttling. For a firewall appliance that must remain stable under sustained traffic, this balance is appropriate.
Suitable use cases
Good fit
Dedicated firewall or router
OPNsense or pfSense deployments
VPN concentrator
Network segmentation and monitoring
Small office or home lab perimeter security
Poor fit
Silent living room PC
Battery powered scenarios
GPU accelerated workloads
General purpose desktop replacement
Verdict
Measured performance shows that this Core i3 N305 mini PC is well suited for serious firewall and network infrastructure use. It offers a meaningful performance uplift over entry level low power systems while maintaining acceptable power consumption. Most importantly, the choice of Intel networking makes it a reliable foundation for OPNsense. This is not a general purpose machine pretending to be a firewall. It is a compact system that aligns well with its intended role. For users who need a stable, capable, small form factor firewall and are willing to pay more than the absolute minimum, this platform makes technical sense.