iKOOLCORE R2
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The iKOOLCORE R2 is a tiny networking mini PC aimed at firewalls, routers, and home-lab servers rather than desktop use. Four 2.5GbE ports (three on Intel i226-V controllers, one Realtek over USB) make it a fit for pfSense, OPNsense, OpenWrt, or Proxmox. It comes with an Intel N95 (4 cores) or the faster 8-core Intel i3-N300, paired with soldered LPDDR5 (8GB or 16GB) and an M.2 2242 NVMe SSD up to 2TB.
For ports beyond the four NICs, it has USB-A 3.2 and a USB-C 3.2 that doubles as a DisplayPort 1.4a output, plus an HDMI 2.0 port, both 4K-capable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Four 2.5GbE ports in a palm-sized chassis | The fourth NIC (Realtek over USB) can be finicky in pfSense/OPNsense |
| Choice of N95 or 8-core i3-N300 | LPDDR5 RAM is soldered; no upgrades |
| Low power; runs firewall/router/home-lab OSes | No microSD slot (the R1 Pro had one) |
| Copper heatsink and PWM fan keep it cool | Wi-Fi is an optional add-in card, sold separately |
| USB-C DisplayPort plus HDMI, both 4K | Single M.2 slot; storage is limited |
| Compact home-lab node (reviewers’ verdict) | Niche networking box, not a general desktop |
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iKOOLCORE R2 Comparison Chart
 iKOOLCORE R2 | iKOOLCORE R2 | iKOOLCORE R2 | iKOOLCORE R2 | |
| Price | List Price: $329.00 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $259.00 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $389.00 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $359.00 Amazon Prices: |
| Version | 16GB/512GB/Intel N95 | 8GB/128GB/Intel N95 | 8GB/512GB/Intel i3-N300 | 8GB/128GB/Intel i3-N300 |
| Performance Rating | 4.9 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Operating System | None (Barebone) | None (Barebone) | None (Barebone) | None (Barebone) |
| Processor | Quad-core 3.40 Ghz (max 3.40 Ghz) Intel Processor N95 | Quad-core 3.40 Ghz (max 3.40 Ghz) Intel Processor N95 | Octa-core 3.80 Ghz (max 3.80 Ghz) Intel Core i3-N300 | Octa-core 3.80 Ghz (max 3.80 Ghz) Intel Core i3-N300 |
| GPU | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics |
| RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Internal Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | 512 GB | 128 GB |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 2.96 x 2.96 x 2.05 inches (75.18 x 75.18 x 52.07 mm) | 2.96 x 2.96 x 2.05 inches (75.18 x 75.18 x 52.07 mm) | 2.96 x 2.96 x 2.05 inches (75.18 x 75.18 x 52.07 mm) | 2.96 x 2.96 x 2.05 inches (75.18 x 75.18 x 52.07 mm) |
| Weight | 0.93 lbs (0.42 kg) | 0.93 lbs (0.42 kg) | 0.93 lbs (0.42 kg) | 0.93 lbs (0.42 kg) |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet | 4 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps | 4 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps | 4 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps | 4 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps |
| HDMI | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port |
| DisplayPort | DisplayPort over USB-C, Type 1.4a | DisplayPort over USB-C, Type 1.4a | DisplayPort over USB-C, Type 1.4a | DisplayPort over USB-C, Type 1.4a |
| VGA | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (One USB-C PD power connection, one USB-C audio port backed by a Realtek ALC897 audio controller, one USB-C full sevice with DisplayPort) | 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (One USB-C PD power connection, one USB-C audio port backed by a Realtek ALC897 audio controller, one USB-C full sevice with DisplayPort) | 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (One USB-C PD power connection, one USB-C audio port backed by a Realtek ALC897 audio controller, one USB-C full sevice with DisplayPort) | 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (One USB-C PD power connection, one USB-C audio port backed by a Realtek ALC897 audio controller, one USB-C full sevice with DisplayPort) |
| Thunderbolt Ports | No | No | No | No |
| OCuLink | No | No | No | No |
| Internal SATA Ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports |
| Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader |
| Headphone Jack | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Fanless | No | No | No | No |
| VESA Mount | No | No | No | No |
| In the Box | Mini PC, 12V 4000mA DC adapter, USB-C to DC barrel jack adapter | Mini PC, 12V 4000mA DC adapter, USB-C to DC barrel jack adapter | Mini PC, 12V 4000mA DC adapter, USB-C to DC barrel jack adapter | Mini PC, 12V 4000mA DC adapter, USB-C to DC barrel jack adapter |
| Expandability | E-key socket available for optional Wi-Fi 6/6E cards. Single M.2 slot. | E-key socket available for optional Wi-Fi 6/6E cards. Single M.2 slot. | E-key socket available for optional Wi-Fi 6/6E cards. Single M.2 slot. | E-key socket available for optional Wi-Fi 6/6E cards. Single M.2 slot. |
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Hardware and networking
At 2.96 x 2.96 x 2.05 inches the R2 is tiny for a four-NIC box. The soldered LPDDR5 runs at 4800MHz. Three Intel i226-V 2.5GbE controllers handle the networking, with a fourth 2.5GbE port over a Realtek USB adapter, alongside the USB-A ports and the USB-C that carries DisplayPort 1.4a.
It runs the OSes a networking box needs, including Windows, Linux, pfSense, OPNsense, OpenWrt, Proxmox VE, VMware ESXi, and Unraid, and the AMI EFI BIOS supports Auto Power-on and Wake-on-LAN. Cooling is a full-copper heatsink with a PWM fan for the CPU, while the CNC metal top cover passively cools the SSD.
Reviewer Insights
Three homelab channels reviewed the R2 and describe a low-power four-NIC box that works as a compact firewall or home-lab node.
ServeTheHome
ServeTheHome reviewed the i3-N300 model and praised the four 2.5GbE ports in such a small chassis. They liked the changes over the R1 Pro, including the USB 3 port that doubles as DisplayPort 1.4a and the combo audio jack moved into a USB-C port, but noted the R1 Pro’s microSD (TF) slot is gone and that the LPDDR5 RAM is soldered. With quiet cooling and low power in testing, they rated it a strong compact home-lab node.
Everything Smart Home
The CNC aluminum build and the mix of Intel and Realtek NICs drew praise from Everything Smart Home, which put it to work as a homelab server, a role where it sits alongside boxes like the MINISFORUM MS-A2. He ran VMs and containers and pushed several transcoding streams through it, and called out the power efficiency as a reason it suits an always-on homelab.
2GuysTek
On the N95 sample, 2GuysTek framed it as a balance of performance and power for a home lab or firewall. He flagged that the fourth, Realtek-over-USB NIC can be finicky under pfSense and OPNsense, found the i3-N300 a good middle ground, and recommended paying up for the 16GB RAM model over any 8GB version.
A four-port firewall box, best in the 16GB N95 build
It suits IT enthusiasts who want four 2.5GbE ports and pfSense or Proxmox support in a palm-sized box. The 16GB N95 is the most flexible configuration, since both i3-N300 builds come with 8GB.
To compare it with other models, use Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the iKOOLCORE R2 be used as a firewall or router?
Yes. Four 2.5GbE ports and support for pfSense and OPNsense make it a firewall or router box by design. The fourth port, the Realtek-over-USB one, can be finicky in those OSes.
What processor options are available for the iKOOLCORE R2?
Two are offered. The Intel Processor N95 has four cores; the more powerful Intel i3-N300 has eight.
Is the RAM in the iKOOLCORE R2 upgradable?
No. The onboard LPDDR5 is soldered, so pick 8GB or 16GB at purchase.
Does the iKOOLCORE R2 support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?
Not by default. A standard E-key socket takes an optional Wi-Fi 6/6E card, and those cards can include Bluetooth, but no module ships with the machine.
What type of storage does the iKOOLCORE R2 support?
NVMe/SATA M.2 2242 SSDs on a PCIe 3.0 x 2 interface, up to 2TB.
Can the iKOOLCORE R2 be powered by a USB-C charger?
Yes, from a USB-C charger that supports the PD protocol, GaN chargers included. A 12V 4000mA DC adapter comes in the box.
What operating systems are compatible with the iKOOLCORE R2?
Windows and Linux, plus server and firewall platforms including pfSense, OPNsense, OpenWrt, Proxmox VE, VMware ESXi, and Unraid.
How many Ethernet ports does the iKOOLCORE R2 have, and what are their speeds?
Four ports, each capable of 2.5G speeds. Three are driven by Intel i226-V controllers, and the fourth runs off a Realtek RTL8156 over USB 3.
What display outputs does the iKOOLCORE R2 have?
An HDMI 2.0 and a Type-C display output, both supporting 4K resolution at 60fps. The Type-C port also serves as a DisplayPort 1.4a.
Is the cooling system in the iKOOLCORE R2 efficient?
Yes. A full-copper heatsink and a PWM-controlled fan cool the processor, and the CNC metal top cover passively cools the M.2 SSD.