Thin Clients as pfSense Firewall Hardware
pfSense runs on 64-bit amd64 (x86-64) hardware and needs a CPU, RAM, network ports and storage that match the throughput and features you require. Netgate's documented minimum is a 64-bit CPU, 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of disk. Throughput and enabled features such as VPN, IDS/IPS and traffic shaping drive the real sizing, not the minimum.
A fanless thin client can serve as a compact pfSense appliance for home and small office networks. Fanless designs produce no fan noise and have no moving parts to wear out in dusty or warm locations. Reports on the HP t740 show that some thin clients have been repurposed as 10 GbE pfSense routers using less than 50 W, which illustrates the form factor and power profile this class of hardware has.
Thinvent Thin Clients Compared for Firewall Use
The Thinvent range uses two processor families. The Thinvent Micro 5R uses an ARM Cortex A53 processor (4 cores, up to 2.0 GHz) with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB eMMC storage. ARM Cortex A53 is a 64-bit ARM processor, so the Micro 5R should be checked against pfSense's amd64-only requirement before use as a firewall.
The Thinvent Neo S uses an Intel Celeron J1900 processor (4 cores, up to 2.4 GHz, 2 MB cache), which is an x86-64 processor. Neo S models are offered with 4 GB or 8 GB DDR3 RAM, SSD storage from 32 GB to 256 GB, and Ubuntu Linux, Windows 11 Pro, DOS or no operating system. The Neo S has no WiFi, which suits a wired firewall role.
| Model | Processor | Cores | Max Frequency | RAM | Storage | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thinvent Micro 5R | ARM Cortex A53 | 4 | 2.0 GHz | 2 GB | 16 GB eMMC | Thinux Embedded Linux |
| Thinvent Neo S | Intel Celeron J1900 | 4 | 2.4 GHz | 4 GB or 8 GB | 32 GB to 256 GB SSD | Ubuntu, Windows 11 Pro, DOS or none |
Choosing a Model for pfSense
Select a Neo S model when the firewall must run on x86-64 hardware. Choose 8 GB RAM for heavier state tables or added packages, and 4 GB RAM for basic routing. Models with 256 GB SSD storage give more room for logs and packages. Models without an installed OS suit custom pfSense installations.
Confirm the NIC count and port type against your network design before purchase, since the listed specifications do not describe network ports beyond HDMI and speaker output.
Thinvent Products for pfSense Firewall Use
The Thinvent Neo S Thin Client (Intel Celeron J1900, 4 cores, up to 2.4 GHz) is the Thinvent product in this range built on the x86-64 architecture that pfSense requires. Models are available with 4 GB or 8 GB DDR3 RAM and 32 GB to 256 GB SSD storage. The Thinvent Micro 5R uses ARM and is not an x86-64 platform.
