🚀 Review: Topton Fanless Mini PC (X2E / X2B) – The Ultimate Router-Firewall for pfSense and Proxmox?

The Topton Fanless Mini PC (X2E / X2B) has established itself in our lab as a true silent giant for network infrastructure and microservers.

Its combination of four Intel i226-V 2.5 Gbps network cards and a passive aluminum chassis offers absolute 24/7 stability without emitting a single decibel.

If you're looking to set up a professional firewall or a low-power home virtualization cluster, this is one of the smartest purchases on the market today.

• ✅ The best: 4 ultra-stable Intel i226-V 2.5G LAN ports, 100% silent design with no moving parts, DDR5 support and 5G SIM (X2E model) and minimal power consumption (6W-15W).

• ❌ Areas for improvement: The NVMe SSD builds up heat under continuous heavy virtualization loads, and the M.2 slot is internally limited to PCIe 3.0 x1 (~900 MB/s).

🛍️ View Offer on AliExpress (Official Topton Shipping)

📦 Unboxing and Box Contents

The package arrives in a well-protected, industrial-grade, neutral box. Upon opening it, we find:

• 1x Topton Fanless Mini PC (Model X2E or X2B selected).

• 1x DC power adapter (12V with plug compatible according to your region EU/US/UK/AU).

• 1x SATA combined data and power cable (for connecting an additional 2.5″ SSD/HDD).

• 1x VESA mount with screws (optional, perfect for mounting the device behind a monitor or on a wall).

📊 Key Technical Specifications

🛠️ Design and Construction Quality

Upon first holding this Mini PC, its rigidity is striking. It's built entirely on a single block of extruded aluminum alloy that acts as a passive heatsink. The upper thermal fins are noticeably deeper than those found on previous models, maximizing airflow through natural convection.

With ultra-compact dimensions of 146 x 133 x 57 mm, it fits in the palm of your hand or in any network rack. Its dark anodized finish prevents fingerprints and conveys the feeling of a robust product ready for 24/7/365 operation.

🖥️ Screen and Multimedia

Although its primary purpose is to operate as a headless server (without a screen), it does not skimp on video outputs:

• 1x HDMI 2.0 + 1x DisplayPort (DP): Permite multimonitor con doble pantalla 4K a 60Hz.

• Hardware Decoding: The Intel UHD Graphics iGPU smoothly handles hardware acceleration of H.264, HEVC, and AV1 video (on the N150). This allows it to be used seamlessly as a 4K media player for digital signage or as a Jellyfin/Plex node with lightweight transcoding.

🚀 Performance and Software

Testing the X2E version with an Intel N150, the system performs exceptionally well in Linux (Ubuntu Server, Debian) and Windows 11 Pro environments. It includes no bloatware , and the AMI BIOS offers complete control over advanced networking and virtualization features.

• AES-NI Hardware Acceleration: Essential for encrypting and decrypting VPN connections at maximum speed without overloading CPU cores.

• Commercial Server Features: Supports Watchdog, remote network boot ( PXE ), network wake-up ( Wake-on-LAN ), automatic power on after power outage ( Auto Power On ) and real-time clock ( RTC ).

🛍️ View Offer on AliExpress

⚡ Energy Consumption

Its low energy consumption is a real blessing for the electricity bill in systems that are switched on all year round:

• Idle Power: 5.5W – 7.2W.

• Average Load (1 Gbps Routing + firewall rules): 9.8W – 12W.

• Maximum Load (Stress test CPU + 4 active LAN ports): 15.4W – 18.2W.

🌡️ Temperature and Noise (Actual Thermal)

Because it lacks fans ( fanless ), the noise level is 0 dB (absolutely silent).

The chassis dissipates heat reasonably well: at idle, the CPU stays between 38°C and 44°C. During extreme tests with Proxmox running 5 heavy containers, the CPU reached peaks of 68°C.

💡 Lab tip: Although the CPU handles this temperature well, the internal space of the M.2 SSD accumulates residual heat. If you plan to use it with virtual machines 24/7 under heavy load, we recommend placing a small 5V USB fan (120mm) on the chassis fins. This will lower the overall temperature by more than 18°C, extending the storage's lifespan.

🌐 Connectivity and Extras

• Network Ports: 4 RJ45 2.5 GbE ports governed by the Intel i226-V chip (the corrected revision that resolves the disconnection problems of the old i225 series).

• USB ports:

  • Model X2E: 2x USB 3.0 + 4x USB 2.0.

  • Modelo X2B: 2x USB 3.0 + 2x USB 2.0.

• Industrial Communications: Includes 1x RJ45 COM Console port on the front panel. Optionally supports DB9 COM serial outputs (RS232 / RS485).

• Mobile Networks: Integrated SIM card slot (supports 4G modems on X2B and 4G/5G modules on X2E via internal mPCIe slot).

🔧 Expansion and Upgrades

• RAM memory:

  • Model X2E (N150): 1x SODIMM DDR5 slot at 4800 MHz (supports modules up to 32GB or 48GB).

  • Model X2B (J6412/J5005/7305): 2x DDR4 SODIMM Slots (supports up to 32GB in Dual-Channel).

• Dual Storage:

  • 1x M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slot (bus limited to PCIe 3.0 x1, with a practical ceiling of ~900–1000 MB/s).

  • 1x SATA 3.0 port for 2.5 inch (7mm) SSD or HDD drives using the included cable.

• Wireless Card: 1x mPCIe slot for installing WiFi/Bluetooth cards or 4G/5G mobile data modems.

🧠 RAM Memory (Maximum Supported)

Model X2E (Intel N150):

• Intel Official Limit: 16 GB DDR5.

• REAL motherboard limit: Up to 32 GB or 48 GB DDR5 SODIMM (4800 MHz) in its single slot ( Single-Channel ).

• Technical details: Although Intel datasheets usually list 16 GB as the limit for N-series chips, the integrated memory controller seamlessly recognizes and manages individual 32 GB and the newer 48 GB DDR5 non-ECC modules .

Modelo X2B (Celeron J6412 / J5005 / 7305 / 6305):

• REAL motherboard limit: Up to 32 GB DDR4 SODIMM distributed across its 2 slots (2x 16 GB at 2400/2666/3200 MHz).

• Technical details: With 2 SODIMM slots, it allows you to take advantage of Dual-Channel technology , which improves internal bandwidth, especially useful if you use virtualization with Proxmox.

💾 Storage (Maximum Supported)

The system supports a dual hybrid configuration (2 simultaneous drives):

1. Puerto M.2 NVMe (Disco Principal):

• Maximum Capacity: Up to 4TB or more (1TB, 2TB or 4TB NVMe M.2 2280 SSDs are 100% compatible).

• Bandwidth Limitation: It accepts any M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD (Gen3 or Gen4), but the slot operates at PCIe 3.0 x1 speed . This limits the maximum speed to ~900-1000 MB/s.

  Tip: There's no need to spend money on an ultra-fast PCIe Gen4 SSD (7000 MB/s), because you won't benefit from the extra speed. Any budget-friendly NVMe Gen3 SSD will give you the maximum capacity and performance you can afford.

2. SATA3 2.5" Port (Secondary Drive):

• Maximum Capacity: No technical capacity limit (will support any 2.5" SATA SSD of 1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB, or HDD hard drives up to 2TB/4TB that are 7mm thick ).

🆚 Comparison with Direct Competitors

⭐ Reviews on Well-Known Pages and Community

On platforms like AliExpress, this model boasts an outstanding rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars accumulated from more than 58 ratings from real buyers.

In specialized Homelab and networking communities (Reddit r/pfSense, r/HomeServer, r/Proxmox), the assessments agree on key points:

1. i226-V port stability: Users celebrate the complete disappearance of micro-disconnections associated with older i225 controllers.

2. Performance with pfSense / OPNsense: Capable of saturating 1G and 2.5G symmetric fiber connections by running complex IPS/IDS (Suricata) rules without breaking a sweat on the CPU.

3. Absolute silence: Highly valued by users who install their network node in bedrooms or living rooms.

🧪 Technical Tests Performed in the Laboratory

🎮 Gaming and Emulation

Although it's not a computer designed for gaming, its integrated Intel UHD graphics allow for certain leisure uses:

• Light PC Games: 2D or indie titles ( Stardew Valley, Terraria, Hollow Knight ) run at a stable 60 FPS. In competitive 3D games like Valorant or CS:GO, you can achieve 30–45 FPS at 720p with minimum graphics settings.

• Retro Emulation (Batocera / Lakka): Excellent performance emulating PS1, N64, PSP, and Dreamcast games at 1080p. More demanding consoles like PS2 or GameCube are only playable with less demanding titles.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use it like a normal desktop PC with Windows 11?

Yes. It officially supports Windows 11 and performs smoothly in web browsing, office suites, and 4K content playback.

Why doesn't my NVMe SSD exceed 1000 MB/s if I install a faster drive?

Because the internal PCIe lane assigned to the M.2 slot is PCIe 3.0 x1. This is done to prioritize bandwidth for the four 2.5G network cards. It does not affect actual routing or server performance in any way.

Does it come with pfSense pre-installed?

It is usually delivered in barebone format (without an operating system) or with an evaluation version of Windows. Installing pfSense, OPNsense, or Proxmox takes less than 10 minutes using a USB flash drive.

🏁 Final Conclusion: Who is it ideal for?

The Topton Fanless Mini PC (X2E / X2B) is a well-rounded solution for network administrators, cybersecurity enthusiasts, or users looking to replace their ISP's router with a professional firewall.

If you're looking for maximum efficiency and support for fast memory, the X2E version with an Intel N150 processor is the winning variant.

🛒 Where to Buy

You can purchase the different variants (Barebone or with included memory/storage) through the following links:

• 🛍️ View Offer on AliExpress (Official Topton Shipping)