Fanless Intel N100 Performance
Instead of going through the entire Linux-Bench test suite, we are going to show a few performance and power numbers here to give a general sense of performance. This also gives us the opportunity to test with Linux/ Ubuntu.
Here the new Intel N100 with the Alder Lake-N generation E-cores and that 6MB L3 cache really shines.
Python Linux 4.4.2 Kernel Compile Benchmark
This is one of the most requested benchmarks for STH over the past few years. The task was simple, we have a standard configuration file, the Linux 4.4.2 kernel from kernel.org, and make the standard auto-generated configuration utilizing every thread in the system. We are expressing results in terms of compiles per hour to make the results easier to read:
In these charts, we have the N100 and N200 highlighted since we covered both in the video. The key item to notice on these is that the performance versus the previous gen N5105/ N6005 and the J6413/ J4125 generations of the firewalls is showing a huge jump.
7-zip Compression Performance
7-zip is a widely used compression/ decompression program that works cross-platform. We started using the program during our early days with Windows testing. It is now part of Linux-Bench.
The jump is large enough that we are seeing the N100/N200 as being fairly competitive with Intel Core i5-6500T 35W TDP parts. This is where the E-cores are starting to replace older P-cores almost on a 1:1 basis. That should be shocking to folks.
OpenSSL Performance
OpenSSL is widely used to secure communications between servers. This is an important protocol in many server stacks. We first look at our sign tests:
Here are the verify results:
Again, there is a huge gap between these results and the previous generation. The N305 in these charts is the Beelink EQ12 Pro Review Intel i3-N305 so that has a fan. We recorded the video and did this review before any of the fanless N305 units arrived.
Intel N100 Geekbench Results
On the Geekbench side, we can see how these have evolved. Here is a look at the Geekbench 5 results for the previous generation Intel Pentium Silver N6005 and the Intel N100:
Let us just say 36% gen/gen performance gains are huge. Looking to the server roadmap, this is why we are so excited for Sierra Forest where there will be next-gen cores and over 100 of them on a single chip.
Next, let us get to power consumption.
Check the link on Aliexpress, gives 404
What about the i3-N305 version of this unit – it seems like 2x cores @ 3.8Ghz is way better, no?
The AliExpress link worked for me since I ordered one this morning. I’ve gotta say I was perplexed by it for just a moment when it was only $206. Then I saw that was for the N95 by default so I had to do N100. That’s $216 but it’s an easy selector tool
Now i’m waiting for it to ship
For anyone interested, there is a lot of useful info in the Nxx thread on the STH forum.
You can wring a little more performance out of the N100 with some BIOS tuning where it can slightly surpass the N200.
How’s the coil squeal?
Idle power is one area they can do an awful lot here. I’ve a selection of i5 and i7 laptops that can idle below 2w with screen off (only one Intel NIC, but less than 1-2w for 3 more). My aging Qotom i5-7200u unit with six 1 gig NICs idles below 5w.
I’d expect these with 4x i226 to be around that 5w figure. I know some in the Nxxx thread users are under 10w with tweaks, but still.
@PCK
Where did you see coils in the supplied pictures?
If there are any coils they are nicely hidden.
Such a nice one!
We plan to design our own models with N305, let’s expect the review！
I’d love one of these awesome fanless devices to come with 10gbe some day. Even just two ports
come on guys, the “G” on the front is labeled in one of the pictures: “GPIO”. so prolly a LED that can be controlled.
unfortunately no sfp+ :(
any throughput testing?
Hello there,
What about problems with data loss\disconnects on Intel i226-V/i225 adapters? There are countless reports with issues while using these adapters…
https://community.intel.com/t5/Ethernet-Products/Intel-R-Ethernet-Contoller-I226-V-connection-drop-for-a-few/td-p/1446822
https://community.intel.com/t5/Ethernet-Products/Intel-I225-V-connection-issues/m-p/1321431
https://community.intel.com/t5/Ethernet-Products/Intel-I225-V-disconnecting-in-Windows-11/td-p/1376227
Do you actually run any test at 2.5Gbps?
Obi-Wan – we are usually not running windows, and these are not Z790 chipset motherboards. It is a different PCIe layout.
Just for some sense, we literally have over 100 ports running 24×7 linked to 2.5GbE switches for the switch testing.
Chinese designers lost serial console in this new generation, which is pity :-(
Is this compatible with VMware?
I purchased one of these to use as a Pfsense firewall. Unfortunately it would crash nearly every time I tried to install a package, restore from a backup or upgrade to Pfsense Plus. For me this was a big disappointment because it is essentially useless for me.
@Steven – I’m having the same issue with mine, it seems to be quite crash-prone, but I’m not sure if it’s a memory issue, NVMe, CPU, or what… very strange behavior and it happens at different times (e.g. after live booting off USB, while installing an OS, etc.).
It doesn’t seem to be a thermal issue, either.
@Steven @Jeff how about installing Proxmox, then pfSense as a VM?
Anyone find a source for the 80mm fan with JST connector for these units. While it doesn’t absolutely need the fan, for my case, bit of noise isn’t an issue and cooler is always better. :)
HAVE PFSENSE / PROXMOX GOTTEN BETTER?
Yes. pfSense 2.7 CE and Proxmox VE 8.0 were released.
Hello, were you able to enable IOMMU PCI passthrough to VMs on PROXMOX? What I am seeing is that all related settings in the BIOS are enabled but PROXMOX reports that IOMMU is not enabled.
Answering my own question above, apparently, IOMMU for Intel CPUs is disabled by default and needs to be manually enabled, which involves several steps. Also found a good, though incomplete, overview of setting up the IOMMU here on STH https://www.servethehome.com/how-to-pass-through-pcie-nics-with-proxmox-ve-on-intel-and-amd/
Any hint on where VT-d is enabled on this BIOS?
I can’t get Proxmox 8 to recognize IOMMU: No IOMMU detected, please activate it.See Documentation for further information.
Changed (/etc/default/grub): GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet iommu=pt intel_iommu=on”
update-grub
I hit 58C in Memtest86 of 8GB of DDR5 on the CWWK N100, do I need to fix the heat sink?
How is the thermal performance of these units? the N5105 units are notorious for running hot, hopefully these are better/better thermal paste?
Had some issues with this running Proxmox where it would hang after running for a couple of hours. These issues disappeared when I disable cstates entirely in the BIOS