This Topton-brand mini-ITX motherboard on AliExpress seems like a pretty decent choice for an Opnsense/Pfsense-based home router setup. It has four Intel 2.5gbe ports, an integrated 10W TDP CPU, and way more storage options than necessary for my use case.
However, I’m leery of just about everything from AliExpress. In this case, I assume security is probably a distant consideration after function and price point.
Am I being overly paranoid? Are products like this riddled with back doors and other exploitable components? Has anyone else out there built a router using this board?
Why buy a mobo when you could get this for cheaper, in a smaller footprint, and comes with a case and PSU? Do you really need the SATA ports?
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtmaWfo
I definitely don’t need the SATA ports. I have a vision of putting this board in a 1u chassis. I’m sure AliExpress also has a 1u version of this hardware…
I bought the N100 version of what I linked above and it’s been great so far. Obviously you have your own requirements, but IMO this is a waste of a U. The system is so compact that you’re better off putting it on a shelf with other things.
More powerful N100, smaller, cheaper, no brainer to me.