Intel has new:
(https://www.servethehome.com/new-intel-e610-nics-shown-for-low-power-10gbase-t-and-2-5gbe/)
e610 dual 10G muti = 5w
e610 quad 2.5G = 8w
Realtek 8126 and 8127 use less.
x86 finally makes sense to use for routing.
What? Are You new to computers? X86 was always better…
not all people are W hunters, some just don't care if the server uses 20 or 60W.
Like most, the OP does care very much about power consumption, noise, and size. All of that has only been a recent change just like multigig copper NIC's that are 2w/port. An x86 router with a 60W+ idle is insane in almost 2026.
@M10 
Your 4w idle 8th gen lenovo was released in 2019. Even you can see x86 only recently makes sense. You are currently cooking your m920q because your fiber NIC doesn't support ASPM, so you completely understand where x86 is lacking.
FYI, I use a N100: https://tinyurl.com/3kkbda97
works absolutely fine with 2.5G , my fiber modem has 2.5G and also on lan side my Asus AX4200 is hooked up via 2.5G. On LAN side I use vlans. Idle consumption is around 9-10W.
Regarding ASPM:
root@N100:~# dmesg | grep -i aspm
[ 0.411672] ACPI FADT declares the system doesn't support PCIe ASPM, so disable it
[ 0.561010] acpi PNP0A08:00: _OSC: OS supports [ExtendedConfig ASPM ClockPM Segments MSI HPX-Type3]
[ 0.564476] acpi PNP0A08:00: FADT indicates ASPM is unsupported, using BIOS configuration
I think the N100 + AX4200 is a pretty good combo
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I’m using this one:
I’ve abandoned OPNSense and PfSense and adopted ipfire.org router software. Lots of power and yet very simple to set up with lots of the same packages. Version for x86 and ARM CPU too. Raspberry Pi’s work with it.
The computer I use as main router listed above connects to two OnHub routers with OpenWrt set up as Bridged Access Points. The computer was in the $50 range when I bought it, but I see it’s gone up quite a bit since.
Did You tried tomato64 ? Sophos xg home also is a good choice. I’m playing with mikrotik chr as vm since it have 60day free licence.
I like ipfire because it has all the best power, parts and features of OPNSense and PFSense but far simplified and more applicable to what a regular home user would want. I was never satisfied with mesh and went to the hassle of wiring Cat 6E under my house using the existing telephone receptacles (not the wires) so I have wired connection available all over the house and access points at each end.
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I have tried it and I’ve used Tomato longer than OpenWrt on even older routers than I’m using now.