Micro Jordan

Say. No matter for Hardware or software compression cards, build the DVR system should always notice the heat airflow. Especially the hardware compression cards. As I know, the specifications of A2D video decoders, most of them can work up to 70C degrees. But those DSP(Codecs) or PCI bridge is only 60C degree.... So, before the Video Decoder such as BT878 out of work, PCI bridge or DSP will out of work first. PCI express interface seems a very important issue for the coming year. Most DVR system builder use consumer motherboards, such as ASUS, Gigabyte, or MSI... There will be not much PCI slots left on the motherboards. For CPU usage, Most H/W compression DVR have no good Software compression technology. Either the De-Compression. So, playback seems to be very limit and use more CPU usage then Software Compression products. Some HW Cards also need to de-compress playback thru the card. I think most of them can only do 1 CH playback, or 4CH playback at the same time, not 16CH.... So here comes your choice again. Live Display quality is also concerned. I don't see any H/W compression DVRs have good Live Display quality especially when they use Quad IC for realtime display. But really, 1CH live full screen display is great because a signel CH Full D1 display is also Quad IC's main feature. But, 4CH composed realtime display is always not good. You can see GeoVision's 1480 card and compare the 1CH full screen and all 16 CH realtime display.... Dual Core CPU, HyperThreading CPU, I would highly suggest Dual Core CPU. Hyper Threading CPU have very serious Heat problem... Dual Core CPU is developed by INTEL's P-3 or Centrino development team. Not very high frequency but, Power consumption is a lot better. But, Both, Software, Driver, Codec(Software), Motion detection modules..etc., should be optimized carefully for Dual Core/HyperThreading to utilized the CPU usage. If a DVR software been well optimized, Then INTEL's Dual Core Pentium-D 2.66GHz will be a very cost effective choice for DVR system builder. Anyway, before you choose a software or hardware compression product. Hear the reputation of the system and get some know-how of system builder is quite important to make a reliable system. Ooops... If you also need good remote surveillance, IP surveillance features, Software compression system is highly recommanded. Most of them can extra adjust the remote video streams compression engine. No need to use Hardware compression chips to compress again.

I have this problem using UltraVNC to do remote control. So, you can minimize your DVR program first. Right click on the Windows Desktop (Remote machine) Select properties. Last page "Settings" button Advanced button Trouble shooting something. Reduce the acceleration level to .... about 3 or 2, The one which disable the Direct X stuff. Then you will be able to see live video. But this will cause a bad live display quality, Not record quality. higher CPU usage.....

I believe H.264 or MPEG-4 should be not the main point, take a look at the real machine and playback quality should be the key for evaluation for quality. There are many H.264 cards from China, but stability is an issue and I don't see good image quality on H.264. reliable machine should consider heat problem, hardware compression should consider very good cooling system. Mostly I use UltraVNC for remote desktop control, full function and very useful. It also support Linux version, and Free of charge.

GeoVision probably have PCI express cards. not on it's web information yet. But should be available soon I guess. They are the market leader I think anyway. Huperlab has several PCI express DVR cards. I'm not sure they can recording 480FPS, but they claim to have better image quality using PCIe cards. Software recording probably need a high end PC spec, dual core CPU something. Should calculate for cost before using it. Provideo have 2 or 3 several PCI express DVR cards, I found them on Globalsources.com Softwell have PCI express DVR cards, maybe good for linux systems. Is anyone know Linux system support PCI express performance? I didn't see PCI express card from China sources. even Korean sources. Probably more manufacturing experience in Taiwan on PCI express.