The iKOOLCORE R2 Max is a compact yet powerful mini PC that comes with the Intel N100 or the more powerful Intel Core i3-N305, allowing it to perform various tasks such as content creation, virtualization and office work.
Despite its small size, measuring just 15.7 x 11.8 x 4 cm, the R2 Max is well equipped with four high-speed Ethernet ports – two 10GbE ports powered by Marvell AQC113C-B1-C chips and two 2.5GbE ports running on Intel i226 -v controllers.
These could make it an excellent choice for users looking for a budget-friendly home web server with advanced networking capabilities.
Stay cool
Internally, the R2 Max supports up to 32GB of DDR5-4800 RAM in a single slot and includes dual M.2 NVMe slots (2242/2280) for storage, with support for up to 2TB. Although the PCIe 2.0 x1 lanes limit maximum SSD performance, they should be fast enough for file sharing and media serving.
The R2 Max also includes two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port for connecting peripherals, in addition to HDMI 2.0 and USB-C for 4K 60fps display output. Power can be supplied via a 19V DC input or a USB-C PD port, adding flexibility for users who want a battery backup.
Cooling is handled via a passive system, with a copper heatsink and a CNC metal top cover for heat dissipation, which should be more than sufficient for typical home server tasks. For heavier workloads, two optional fans can be added to improve airflow and prevent the system from overheating.
The R2Max does priced at $299 for the N100 barebone version and up to $709 for the fully featured N305 model with 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB SSD. The mini PC is compatible with Windows, Linux, pfSense, OPNsense, OpenWrt, Proxmox VE, VMware ESXi, Unraid and more.