Hardware Sizing Question using DNSBLs

[Pocket_Sevens]

Good afternoon my friends.  I have a question about hardware sizing and using one or more DNS blocklists with Unbound.  The reason I ask is that I’ve noticed the more blocklist’s I use the more my internet connection locks up.

I’m running OPNsense on a Sony Vaio laptop.  I upgraded the cpu to an i5 running 2.4GHz with 4 cores.  Laptop has 4Gb memory.  Hard drive is a 250Gb 540 rpm disk drive.  Incoming connection is a direct connection from a gigabit ONT.  The OPNsense router is connected to a TP-Link Deco S4 mesh network system (WiFi backhaul). 

From the main Deco, I have a CAT5 cable to an old Archer C7 v2 with WiFi turned off.  Right now, it’s acting like an unmanaged switch for devices in my office.

If I set up my OPNsense setup with a modified Adblock DNS blocklist in Unbound, it seems everything works fine.  Wife can be streaming Netflix and I can either work from home or watch YouTube videos at the same time.

If I add additional DNSBLs, I find that, under heavy internet usage (multiple devices streaming video or watching YouTube videos or playing online games), the internet connection freezes and requires a full reboot of the router.  Light usage doesn’t seem to lock up the internet.

Recently, I got AdGuardHome working on my OPNsense box.  That meant no longer using my DNSBL in Unbound (or using Unbound at all).  However, I ran into the same issue = internet locking up on heavy internet usage.

I’ve reverted to my working setup but I’m wondering if I’m running into hardware limitations if I try to add too much.   Any thoughts or guidance would be greatly appreciated.