I need to clarify my lack of understanding on this new for me area. I was referring to my overall desktop PC specs and what is needed. I must say Im sorry because networking/it is not my field. I am a manufacturing level guy. I deal with mostly PLCs, Robots, and until lately CNCs. Plus all of the ancillary electronics and industrial controls involved. Apples and oranges on many levels.
When I said new box I ment just upgrading my PC desktop to a new one that met the needs of controlling and monitoring several cams and feeding the data to a storage HD and live viewing on a monitor and forwarding to mobile devices and even a hard wired TV as well.
Id just rather see the money a NVR costs go to a upgrade and better merger of my home PC network after dealing with a analog cam set and dvr that was a PIA to use and access.