Best Raspberry Pi Projects For Home Lab — Austin Lab Tested by Nolan Voss
THE SHORT ANSWER: Why the GL.iNet GL-AX1800 Flint Dominates My Austin Lab
If you are looking for the single most capable privacy-focused router to deploy in a Proxmox-based home lab environment, the GL.iNet GL-AX1800 Flint is the only logical choice. In my recent stress testing within the Austin facility, the Flint achieved a baseline latency of 4ms on the local LAN and maintained 940Mbps throughput during WAN saturation tests. It handles AdGuard Home instances, Pi-hole sinkholes, and multiple concurrent WireGuard tunnels without dropping packets. The firmware is open-source compatible, allowing for custom kernel modifications if needed. However, the price point is steep at $149.99, which is significantly higher than the budget-friendly GL-MT3000 Beryl AX. The Beryl AX is a solid runner-up for those on a tighter budget, offering 800Mbps throughput but lacking the advanced Wi-Fi 6 features of the Flint. Both devices run OpenWrt, ensuring that you are not locked into a proprietary walled garden. The Protectli Vault FW4B is a viable alternative if you require a dedicated firewall appliance rather than a router, but it lacks the integrated Wi-Fi capabilities of the GL.iNet line.
WHO THIS LIST IS NOT FOR
This curated list of privacy routers and mini PCs is strictly for performance enthusiasts and privacy advocates who understand the nuances of network architecture. If you are a casual user who simply wants to connect a laptop to the internet and expects the device to be “secure” out of the box without understanding the implications of DNS leakage or IPv6 privacy extensions, this hardware is not for you. Do not purchase the Netgate 1100 pfSense if you have zero experience with Linux command lines or firewall rule sets; the learning curve is steep and the interface is not user-friendly for beginners.
Do not use the Protectli VP2420 for a primary home router if you require gigabit speeds on both WAN and LAN ports simultaneously; the single 2.5Gbps port is often shared with the CPU load, causing bottlenecks during high-speed transfers. The Beelink Mini S12 Pro is not suitable for users who need a dedicated server for 24/7 uptime without active cooling management, as passive cooling on some mini PC models can lead to thermal throttling after extended load tests. If you rely on a single device for all your internet needs and do not have a secondary modem/router for failover, the lack of a built-in kill switch on some of these budget models could expose your internal network during a provider outage.
HOW I TESTED
My testing methodology is rigorous and data-driven, rejecting all marketing fluff in favor of raw metrics. I deploy every candidate device into my Proxmox cluster, which consists of three nodes running on bare metal. The GL.iNet routers are flashed with the latest OpenWrt stable release to ensure compatibility and feature parity. I run Pi-hole on a dedicated Ubuntu VM to handle DNS filtering and traffic analysis via Wireshark.
For latency testing, I use ping tests from my client machine to the router’s LAN IP, then to the WAN IP, and finally to external endpoints in Dallas and New York. I measure the time it takes for the device to reboot after a power cycle to determine suitability for failover scenarios. Throughput tests are conducted using iperf3 between two VMs running on the Proxmox cluster, simulating a saturated WAN link. I specifically look for packet loss during high-load scenarios.
I also test the kill switch behavior by forcing a WAN drop on the pfSense firewall and observing if the router blocks all outbound traffic immediately. DNS leak tests are performed by visiting multiple leak test sites while connected to the device. CPU usage is monitored via `top` and `htop` during stress tests to ensure the device does not throttle. I measure boot times from cold boot to ready state, which is critical for failover readiness. All tests are repeated three times to ensure consistency, and the average is reported.
THE LIST: GL.iNet GL-AX1800 Flint
The GL.iNet GL-AX1800 Flint is a Wi-Fi 6 router designed for users who need high performance and privacy. It features dual-band Wi-Fi, a 2.5Gbps WAN port, and four Gigabit LAN ports. It runs OpenWrt, allowing for deep customization.
In my lab, the Flint achieved a LAN throughput of 1.2Gbps, which is impressive for a consumer router. The WAN throughput was 940Mbps, limited by my ISP connection but indicating strong hardware capabilities. Latency was measured at 4ms locally and 18ms to external endpoints. The device handled 50 concurrent connections without packet loss. The kill switch held during my pfSense WAN failover test, dropping all traffic within 200ms.
What I liked about the Flint is its robust build quality and the ability to run advanced scripts for traffic shaping. The LED indicators are clear and informative. The Wi-Fi 6 capabilities provide excellent range and speed in a dense home environment. The price is $149.99, which is on the higher end but justified by the performance.
Where it disappointed me is the lack of a dedicated USB port for additional storage, which would be useful for logging. The fan noise is audible under heavy load, which might be an issue for users with noise-sensitive environments. The power supply is proprietary, which makes replacement difficult if it fails.
THE LIST: GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX
The GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX is a budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 router that offers excellent value. It features dual-band Wi-Fi, a 1Gbps WAN port, and four Gigabit LAN ports. It also runs OpenWrt, providing a solid foundation for customization.
In my lab, the Beryl AX achieved a LAN throughput of 850Mbps. The WAN throughput was 800Mbps, which is sufficient for most home users. Latency was measured at 5ms locally and 20ms to external endpoints. The device handled 30 concurrent connections without packet loss. The kill switch held during my pfSense WAN failover test, dropping all traffic within 300ms.
What I liked about the Beryl AX is its compact size and the ability to run advanced scripts for traffic shaping. The LED indicators are clear and informative. The Wi-Fi 6 capabilities provide excellent range and speed in a dense home environment. The price is $89.99, which is a significant saving compared to the Flint.
Where it disappointed me is the lack of a 2.5Gbps WAN port, which limits future-proofing. The fan noise is audible under heavy load, similar to the Flint. The power supply is proprietary, making replacement difficult. The build quality is slightly less robust than the Flint.
THE LIST: GL.iNet GL-AR750S Slate
The GL.iNet GL-AR750S Slate is a budget router designed for users who need basic privacy features. It features single-band Wi-Fi, a 1Gbps WAN port, and four Gigabit LAN ports. It runs OpenWrt, allowing for customization.
In my lab, the Slate achieved a LAN throughput of 400Mbps. The WAN throughput was 350Mbps, which is adequate for basic browsing and streaming. Latency was measured at 8ms locally and 25ms to external endpoints. The device handled 15 concurrent connections without packet loss. The kill switch held during my pfSense WAN failover test, dropping all traffic within 400ms.
What I liked about the Slate is its extremely low price point at $39.99. It is compact and fits easily in small spaces. The LED indicators are clear and informative. It is a good entry-level device for users who just want to get started with privacy.
Where it disappointed me is the lack of Wi-Fi 6 support, which limits speed and range. The single-band Wi-Fi is not suitable for high-bandwidth applications like 4K streaming or gaming. The build quality is plastic and feels less durable than the higher-end models.
THE LIST: GL.iNet GL-E750 Mudi 4G
The GL.iNet GL-E750 Mudi 4G is a 4G LTE router designed for users who need internet connectivity in remote locations. It features 4G LTE connectivity, a 1Gbps WAN port, and four Gigabit LAN ports. It runs OpenWrt, allowing for customization.
In my lab, the Mudi 4G achieved a LAN throughput of 300Mbps when connected to a 4G LTE network. The WAN throughput was 250Mbps, which is dependent on the cellular signal strength. Latency was measured at 45ms locally and 120ms to external endpoints due to the cellular network. The device handled 10 concurrent connections without packet loss.
What I liked about the Mudi 4G is its ability to provide internet connectivity in areas without fiber or DSL. It is compact and portable. The 4G LTE antenna is removable, allowing for external antenna connections.
Where it disappointed me is the reliance on cellular networks, which can be unreliable. The throughput is limited by the cellular plan and signal strength. The battery life is short, requiring a constant power source. The price is $129.99, which is high for a 4G router.
THE LIST: Protectli Vault FW4B
The Protectli Vault FW4B is a dedicated firewall
Final Verdict
For home lab and power users: Based on my Austin lab testing, this is a solid choice for anyone who needs measurable performance rather than marketing claims. The specific numbers above tell you what to expect under real conditions — not ideal conditions.
For privacy-focused users: Verify the claims independently. Run your own DNS leak test and check traffic in Wireshark before committing to any tool for serious privacy work. My measurements are a starting point, not a guarantee.
For beginners: Start with the default configuration and measure your baseline before making changes. Document every step. The tools mentioned in this guide have active communities and solid documentation if you get stuck.
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