Thinking of returning my Netgear Nighthawk X4S & look for something else

[Ralphort]

Edited...

 

[Antec800]

I would go for the ASUS rt 3100 i had both and just returned the x4s

 

[avtella]

The R7800 is a better device hardware wise with a better CPU and newer WiFi chipset with better range and performance, unfortunately let down by a lack of advanced user options. Only way to get client VPN is to use Voxel’s custom firmware which is based on stock or use OpenWRT. Otherwise go for the Asus 86U, it’s performance is at least close to the R7800 both WiFi and CPU wise with much better VPN performance than the AC3100. The R7800’s CPU is about 65% more powerful than the AC3100 in terms of raw power and the AC86U also uses a newer CPU that has acceleration for VPN. Go for the 86U if you don’t like the X4S.

Also even with hardware NAT acceleration disabled, the 86U and R7800 would be able to maintain higher throughout levels than the AC3100.

CPU performance assuming each CPU is clocked at the same MHz.
Cortex A57 > Qualcomm Krait (R7800)~Cortex A15 > Cortex A9 (AC3100)~Cortex A53 (AC86U)

However AC86U’s Cortex A53 based CPU has hardware crypto which allows it to compete with the Krait if not beat it in VPN performance.

 

[avtella]

Netgear’s own firmware for the X4S is based on OpenWRT/LEDE... but uses a much dated version. LEDE is pretty well documented all you have to do is visit the site for the source etc and documentation. LEDE and OpenWRT are remerging, most of the devs left OpenWRT last year to form LEDE due to internal conflicts but it seems resolved.