Router options for gigabit VPN

VPN
1

Hello!
As the title suggests I’m wondering if anybody could recommend a router for use with VPN

I have a gigabit line to the property and want to use wireguard but I understand running a vpn on an underpowered router causes a lot of speed loss.

I’ve even thought of the new raspberry Pi 5 as an access point and running a VPN on there. It’s only need to serve 1/2 devices but I don’t want to lose too much speed with hardware that isn’t powerful enough.

Any suggestions?

2

I’ve even thought of the new raspberry Pi 5

I was running a Rpi4 with 4GB RAM as a failover edge router.

It’s a greate device and you can flash openWRT on it.

You won’t get a cheaper, better router for the money, but I also only paid 40€ before the prices hikes for it.

3

Get an n100 box from aliexpress. I got one with 4x 2.5gbe for $130. Runs pfsense just fine.

4

For gigabit VPN use, consider high-performance routers like the Netgear Nighthawk series or ASUS RT-AX88U, which offer strong processors capable of handling VPN encryption without significant speed loss. Alternatively, using a dedicated device like a Raspberry Pi as a VPN gateway can also be effective, especially for a small number of devices.

5

Yeah I don’t think the 4 will be quite fast enough for me. The Pi5 seems to peak around 5/600 mbps. Which I can live with but would like faster. I’m considering the NanoPi R series also.

6

This!
There will be always firewall distributions available, cheap and power without end. And always updates, if in the future the encryption algorithms are changing.

7

I actually JUST got the AX86U yday and using OpenVPN per ExpressVPN’s ASUS guide, I noticed a signifcant loss…

my Roku4k Hulu and Disney+ apps specifically no longer work no matter the ExpressVPN location, near or far… Wondering if I may have to disable the VPN on specific devices (Roku4k for specific apps, Xbox One X for speeds, desktop PC for gaming… thought there would be minimal speed loss with router-level VPN… )

  • I hear even bypassing this whole OpenVPN, the Aircove/specific ExpressVPN router only achieves up to 312Mbps [and that’s w/o VPN features enabled]…

When we’re paying for gigabit (Download speed: up to 1200 Mbps, Upload speed: up to 35 Mbps specifically), is there no client/consumer grade solution with VPN at the router…?

new ASUS RT-AX86U w/OpenVPN:
nperf desktop app
avg: dload 132.9 Mb/s;
upload 32.12 Mb/s;
Latency: 75.4ms;
Browsing test 88.89%;
Streaming test 87.12%

old Nighthawk X4S AC2600 WiFi (R7800), no VPN
nperf desktop app
avg: dload 937.4 Mb/s;
upload 40.65 Mb/s;
Latency: 15.8ms;
Browsing test 88.47%;
Streaming test 96.29%

*Am debating disabling OpenVPN @ router level and returning this AX86U and keeping the Nighthawk since w/o VPN speeds are similar on both but…

8

To further clarify it will be used as a client. To mainly encrypt one device. Occasionally an extra 1 but mainly just 1. I’m thinking of keeping my current router and adding the Pi5 as an access point(as it’s cheaper than buying a full new router setup) but can’t find any benchmark tests

9

I pushed 550-570 Mbit with a Pi4. The Pi5 should be a little bit faster.

10

why not just run the wireguard on client itself?

11

Is that running wireguard? Or just a straight throughout test?

12

This could be a option, seems wireguard peaks around 550 which could be okay for me. However the NanoPi R series, 4/5 or 6 all seem like they could be more suited for the task for the same or less cost.

13

Wireguard over a 1 Gbit WAN connection to a VPS.

Without wireguard I saturated my 1 Gbit connection.

14

yeah, the pi isn’t specialized for router.

15

Okay so a Pi5 could theoretically get me most of the way there then. Could be more of an option that I thought. Plus the Pi5 has AES(cryptographic extensions) where as the Pi4 doesn’t so it should push it a long a bit.

16

Yeah agreed. The NanoPi is looking more promising I think.