Hardware

I'm pretty excited about this build, it's my first real "challenge".

The problem:  Build the fastest router while being extremely quiet, and look like a network appliance.

What I did:  I purchased a CF to IDE adapter, the first obvious choice.  Used a 32MB Cannon card (shows up in BIOS as Hitachi).  I then am using a micro ATX motherboard with 1 wifi card, and 2 ethernet cards, both 3Com 3C905C's, and purchased a case that looks like a rack mountable device, with only one drive bay that doesn't even need to be punched out and still looks solid.  It also has TWO ethernet LED lights, which I will very well use.  For the CPU fan I chose an interesting custom made fan from a local company, that is designed to "cut" through the air while making the least friction, thus the least noise.  got that and got one for the PSU, and this machine is whisper quiet.

Specs?

Pentium III 933MHz
128MB RAM

This should be a beast and easily handle 100Mbps load like it was nothing.

Any suggestions?  When finished I will have pics.  Right now, here's the current situation.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/newm0n0.jpg
(It doesn't have any cards installed because the old router has the 3COM cards at this time.)

The current router I am using is an old PC that has been a m0n0wall router for 4 years.  It's been using the same CD and Floppy that it was setup with, never upgraded because it never failed.  Only now is it showing it's age where the internet seems slow behind the router, but fast in front of the router, it just can't keep up anymore with the high speed connections these days.  This one is:
Pentium II 333MHz
128MB RAM

So once again, any suggestions?  Will this new machine be a beast?

So once again, any suggestions?

For what?

Will this new machine be a beast?

No.

Obviously if it's not going to be a best for a router, then as to what would be needed, IS a suggestion.

So, you're asking what specs a "beast" router would have..?
4 socket motherboard, 4 quad core Xeons, X gigs of memory, same as most other "beast" computers I guess.

If you just wanted to show off your new build, that's fine as well

My totally silent Alix should be able to do around 100Mbps, I wouldn't call it a beast though, heh.

Is m0n0wall even multithreaded?  Would it even matter? 

Anyways, the new system is complete...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/rackm0n0.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/rackm0n02.jpg

Had to solder the network LEDs to the cards themselves.  Will physically rip out the LEDs on the card to boost the brightness of the LEDs on the front, as I think it's pulling a little too much current.