Looking for hardware suggestions for a 12 input PC based DVR

[Agent 0]

I'm looking to build a PC based DVR system. I would like to build a PC, add some BNC input cards, and install some control software. I'm pretty PC literate and looking forwards to the project. Heres some specs I hope/need to meet.

 

Input:

2 Audio Channels

12 Video Channels

POS integration available apon later upgrade

 

Output:

http access

SVGA

DVD-RW for archives

At least 7 days, prefer 20 days, of storage.

 

I want to build this EXTREMELY cheap, I have a 2000 dollar budget, and make sure the whole thing is upwardly scalable. I want reasonably cheap cameras to play with, but want the option to make them better later while using the already lain cable.

 

I need 2 infared cameras, 2 cameras with pan and zoom capabilities with manual control, and 8 standard color cameras.

 

I am at a loss for a which software solution I should use as well. All I keep finding seems to be marketing hype, but not a lot of first hand suggestions on the control software. This software needs to have archiving, motion sensor triggering, timed mode changes, etc.

 

I am assuming that the PC should be built around HDD access, so some suggestions on what components to use would be nice. Stable chipsets and mobo combos and RAID controllers are of particular intrest. Personally, I've been outta the PC hardware scene for so long everything seems greek to me (and extremely cheap!).

 

Also, I know NOTHING about these cards. Which are good for their price? Will they work with the software? Will I have any problems putting 3 of them in the PC?

 

Thank you very much for all of your help!

[VST_Man 1]

I am a Video Insight Retailer/Installer.................

 

I'd go with a VJ120 card and at 3.2Ghz Pentium 4, i915Gm-PL Aopen micro ATX motherboard, 1Gb ram, a 250Gb main hard drive and a 300Gb storage, DVD/CDRW, and a Aspire Xcube case (xQpack micro), and XP Pro. You can it all from new egg for less than 900 delivered.

 

Call Thomas at VideoInsight for card prices http://www.video-insight.com

 

Starter Camera's; http://www.cctvimports.com/index.php?cPath=1_17&sort=2a&page=3 these are ok and willlast a while so you can improve them over time. I'd buy 6 and then learn more about camera's before you go hardcore.

 

Your $2000.00 bugdet will be hard to stay behind. You'll still need a 16 channel power supply (12vdc), which I'd buy from Juan at 1-888-422-8826, a cheapie but works well. Juan can also help you with budget camera's.

 

You might be able to buy a refurbished 3.2 online, HP type, on the cheap side so that will save you a bit.

 

Buy Siamese cable (RG-59) w/95% braided) from Spytown ONLY if they givbe you free shipping.................

 

Connectors from http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?query=&type=store&category=185&orderby=INVENTORY%2Estore%5Fquantity%2CORGANIZATION%2Ecategory%2CINVENTORY%2Ebrand%2CINVENTORY%2Emodel&start=16&limitcategory=&template=&searchfields=&match=&searchtype= and any good crimper will work.

 

terminals from http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=755&type=store

get the smaller plastic stips and cut them into pairs...use them to connect the power on camera's.

 

Whatever you do don't go below a 3.2 Ghz on the PC. CPU power is what the PC based is all about and if you want quality (hig res) recording one day stick to that.

 

Video Insight speaks for itself so go ahead and search and ask others. very nice features and the support is the best. Call them and find out.

 

later

[Agent 0]

Video Insight will work with other DVR cards right? Those cards are a fortune compared to the cheapies.... kinda hoping one of them will work for now and plan to upgrade later.

[Agent 0]

Also, the i915Gm-PL Aopen micro ATX motherboard seems to have a very limited number of PCI slots. If I decide later to add audio input or something, I won't be able to.

[VST_Man 1]

call Thomas at Video Insight. He will answer all the questions you have concerning. Work with other Video cards? If your asking if it works with multiple Vidoe Insight cards then the answer is yes and then some. You'll like what Thomas has to say.

 

In the case of Video Insight, the main reason I went with them from the start was because thier Support is awesome......nobody else can touch them. AND, the features of the softwrae compared to others is beyond what others can do right now. Video Insight can integrate into any infrastructure and deliver seemless productivity. I know it sounds like a sales pitch but I don't get anything for this..............I recomend based on facts and what I've experimented with before I made my decision. Once you have the card all you need to do is build around it. You'll actually have fun doing it.

[VST_Man 1]

Aopen has a ATX version also..................what this board brings to the table is an awesome overclocking feature. I recently started "burning" CPU's and found out some interesting things about overclocking.......but that is another thread for sure. The Aopen has what is called "Power Master" and is one of the leading "throttle" type boards that allows you to overclock in different modes. Check them out. I've been overclocking my test box for 6 months now and it has been running great. same config as above. am also running 16 cam's at 640x480 no problems........65%, 53', no hotter than 55' at full load. I wanted to see if it could be done with minium risk via the Aopen mb. Aopen ONLY overclocks when it is needed, not all the time. ie...peak recording with multiple web viewers. Next project is to overclock a 3.6................ much harder to do.

 

oh, get the chip and mb in 775. better performance.

 

this board has video, audio, and network..........great chip set.

[Thomas 0]

At this time we do not support other cards.

[Agent 0]

This is the hardware I ordered for the system.

 

Gigabyte GA-K8U-939 MB

Athlon 64/3800+

1GB PC3200 400FSB DDR RAM

2x300 GB Maxtor HDD's with coolers (For a RAID 0)

And all the extras. The hardware cost 1300 dollars. I'll post what cards and cameras I use when I get them.