Yet ANOTHER computer thread lol

w1zofaz

w1zofaz

Getting the hang of it
Mar 28, 2016
225
8
East TN. USA
Okay, wife has given me a "soft" green light to start serious looking at PC's.

Intel core i7 with QuickSync for hardware decoding
16GB RAM (I just told her 16 GB hehe)
Microsoft Windows 8.1 or 10, 64 bit
nVIDIA graphics adapter for efficient screen display
7200+ RPM drives and/or SSD drive

Here is where it gets a bit confusing to me. The above does say a graphics adapter. I thought that was a graphics card, but yet I see posts about pulling the graphics cards out of a PC????

I have yet to see details on a PC that says "with QuickSync".

Also sucks that sites like Best Buy and HHGregg do not give hardly any hard specs on their machines. (plus they are expensive)

I go to the Dell Outlet and I never see the $500 machines you talk about. :P

What kind of power supply is needed. I would like to be eco, but also be able to power the machine.

Oh, and also am considering bumping up to maybe 8-10 cams running 1080p. This machine will be dedicated to the cam system and will also be getting a bigger PoE switch. I will probably not be doing direct to disk.

Crap, this is starting to get really expensive. :P
 
1. Yes, remove nvidia card as you'll want to use integrated graphics to get Hardware Acceleration... BI has yet to add hardware acceleration support offered by the gaming gfx cards, its limited to intel integrated gfx only at the moment.
2. The specs will list CPU model, lookup model and check its specs on intel's website for QuickSync
3. Fuck big box stores, build it your self before it comes to that.
4. The cheap dell boxes vanish instantly, I believe you have to setup alerts and be quick to get one.
5. Just because you put a 500w power supply in it dont mean its drawing 500w.. it will use only what it needs, you want to look at efficency ratings.. if its energy star certified it should be good enough, but try to get something in the high 90% range. Ie, a 100w load on a 80% efficient PSU is going to require 120w, and on a 90% efficient PSU its going to require 110w
6. You probably will be going direct to disk, why wouldn't you if you want to be green?
7. You have no idea brother.

final suggestion: 64gb ssd for operating system, if anything the quick boot time will be worth every penny to minimize downtime from updates and they run off relatively no power... then 6TB WD Purple for video, its 5400rpm.. you dont need 7200rpm for video, just requires more electricity to do the same thing.
 
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Get her to go for my $852.61 solution...

Dell OptiPlex 7040 Mini Tower
Intel Core 6th Generation i7-6700 Processor @ 3.4GHz
8GB (2x4G) 2133MHz DDR4 Memory
Samsung EVO 500GB SSD (System Drive)
500 GB SATA Hard Drive @ 7200 RPM (BI Video Drive)
Windows 10 Pro 64 BIT
Dell 3 Year Hardware Service with Onsite/In-Home Service
$852.61 Total

Had to cut a few corners to stick to the budget. Wanted 16GB Ram (will upgrade later) and wanted a 1TB+ for the BI video drive (will also upgrade the drive later).

Explain to her that the new i7 machines use on 65 watts (yes that not the entire truth...but it is a true statement)...sooooo...the savings in power should pay for the machine some years down the line! Also, the faster processing will result in better video encoding honey....which will result in better SECURITY for our home and for our family! Win! Win! Honey?

- - - Updated - - -

Alternatively you may want to try the "This Will Be My Birthday and Christmas Presents For All of 2016" ploy.
 
Forgot to add I view and record at 15fps

This may sound like I am a dummy (just very prone to getting confused and forgetful now a days sorry) but how exactly do I set up alerts for one of those boxes?

Okay, I understand now about the why of removing the vid card. It has been eons since I have run with no vid card.

Oh, the reason I don't like Direct to Disk is because when I tried it before and tried to watch saved clips directly from my PC it would not work. Windows can not play the files. I like being able to play the saved files even with BI not running.

Thank You.
 
Or perhaps resort to the "Sneak It Into The Basement Via The Outside Basement Entrance" methodology. Then, when she's not looking, swap out the old computer with the new computer (as long as they are both the same color she won't notice bro).
 
re: d2d, yeah but then you loose more important features, like being able to play back recording instantly instead of waiting for the current clip to finish.. watch clips from your PC via BI WebUI, and if you need to remove them from the NVR in a more portable format simply export it.

playing the files directly is over-rated, you have to change the encoding and formatting in real time and that will increase power usage dramatically.. your NVR should just be saving the video to disk unmolested, thats its job.. making it process the video just so you can do something on occasion is not really worth the sacrifice.
 
Q2U said:
Get her to go for my $852.61 solution...

Dell OptiPlex 7040 Mini Tower
Intel Core 6th Generation i7-6700 Processor @ 3.4GHz
8GB (2x4G) 2133MHz DDR4 Memory
Samsung EVO 500GB SSD (System Drive)
500 GB SATA Hard Drive @ 7200 RPM (BI Video Drive)
Windows 10 Pro 64 BIT
Dell 3 Year Hardware Service with Onsite/In-Home Service
$852.61 Total

Had to cut a few corners to stick to the budget. Wanted 16GB Ram (will upgrade later) and wanted a 1TB+ for the BI video drive (will also upgrade the drive later).

Explain to her that the new i7 machines use on 65 watts (yes that not the entire truth...but it is a true statement)...sooooo...the savings in power should pay for the machine some years down the line! Also, the faster processing will result in better video encoding honey....which will result in better SECURITY for our home and for our family! Win! Win! Honey?

- - - Updated - - -

Alternatively you may want to try the "This Will Be My Birthday and Christmas Presents For All of 2016" ploy.
Click to expand...

ROFLMBO!!!! When she bought me the Fall Out 4 game with season pass she already told me that covered all of 2016. lol And that game is part of the problem. My current PC does not run to well with BI and all the cams running while trying to play FO4. Apparently I have been grumpy because I am suffering from FO4 deprivation because security is more important than a game. **sigh**

I am afraid if I do not buy the set up that I probably need IE: 16gb of ram and at least 1 TB of secondary HD that I will not get another shot at PC stuff for another 6-7 years. lol
 
Okay switched one of my cams to Direct to Disk. Started a recording with it using the BI Start/Stop at top of screen. Recorded about 15 seconds of nothing going on then stopped recording. Its been about 4 minutes and the new recording is not showing up in the Clips section like recordings usually do. Ideas?
 
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I have never tried to check a clip like that. I view them all in BI. Are you trying to play the clip file in WMP or in BI?

Regarding a PC: buy one of these, sell the video card or put a better one in to game off of it. You will hear recommendations not dual task the machine. Do what you want with the OS drive, SSD is nice. I just bought one. It had 13 powered on hours on the HDD.
 
Q2U said:
Get her to go for my $852.61 solution...

Dell OptiPlex 7040 Mini Tower
Intel Core 6th Generation i7-6700 Processor @ 3.4GHz
8GB (2x4G) 2133MHz DDR4 Memory
Samsung EVO 500GB SSD (System Drive)
500 GB SATA Hard Drive @ 7200 RPM (BI Video Drive)
Windows 10 Pro 64 BIT
Dell 3 Year Hardware Service with Onsite/In-Home Service
$852.61 Total

Had to cut a few corners to stick to the budget. Wanted 16GB Ram (will upgrade later) and wanted a 1TB+ for the BI video drive (will also upgrade the drive later).

Explain to her that the new i7 machines use on 65 watts (yes that not the entire truth...but it is a true statement)...sooooo...the savings in power should pay for the machine some years down the line! Also, the faster processing will result in better video encoding honey....which will result in better SECURITY for our home and for our family! Win! Win! Honey?

- - - Updated - - -

Alternatively you may want to try the "This Will Be My Birthday and Christmas Presents For All of 2016" ploy.
Click to expand...


I think you should build a system, I am with @nayr

Ive been building since my first K6 200mhz and lord is it ever easier now than what it used to be. One day I will have to try this blue iris to see what it's about.
 
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pal251 said:
I think you should build a system, I am with @nayr

Ive been building since my first K6 200mhz and lord is it ever easier now than what it used to be. One day I will have to try this blue iris to see what it's about.
Click to expand...

I am comfortable switching out HD's, DVD drives, and things like that. But as far as the actual building from scratch of a system I don't trust myself. LOL! :P
 
w1zofaz said:
I am comfortable switching out HD's, DVD drives, and things like that. But as far as the actual building from scratch of a system I don't trust myself. LOL! :P
Click to expand...
It is more expensive to build a system. Makes no sense to build in today's market. Also, if you buy a business system you will have three years of next day service/parts in case you have any issues.
 
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w1zofaz said:
Oh, the reason I don't like Direct to Disk is because when I tried it before and tried to watch saved clips directly from my PC it would not work. Windows can not play the files. I like being able to play the saved files even with BI not running.
Click to expand...

I had trouble the last time I tried mp4 format too. Maybe because of using direct to disc then? If it is worth anything, I have noticed that ffmpeg can load .bvr format that was recorded with direct to disk. That means the "ffplay" player should handle it too. Though that player was very crude last time I checked, so maybe you don't want to use it.

nayr said:
re: d2d, yeah but then you loose more important features, like being able to play back recording instantly instead of waiting for the current clip to finish..
Click to expand...

With Blue Iris, you can start playing a clip while it is still being written to as long as the file format is ".bvr". Direct to disc has nothing to do with that.
 
w1zofaz said:
Okay switched one of my cams to Direct to Disk. Started a recording with it using the BI Start/Stop at top of screen. Recorded about 15 seconds of nothing going on then stopped recording. Its been about 4 minutes and the new recording is not showing up in the Clips section like recordings usually do. Ideas?
Click to expand...

Make sure you are displaying All Clips and not just Alerts. I tried it your way and it works fine.
 
anijet said:
Make sure you are displaying All Clips and not just Alerts. I tried it your way and it works fine.
Click to expand...

Yup, that was the problem. Someone else in another thread pointed that out. I banged my head on my desk because I was an idiot and over looked it. :)
 
bp2008 said:
I had trouble the last time I tried mp4 format too. Maybe because of using direct to disc then? If it is worth anything, I have noticed that ffmpeg can load .bvr format that was recorded with direct to disk. That means the "ffplay" player should handle it too. Though that player was very crude last time I checked, so maybe you don't want to use it.



With Blue Iris, you can start playing a clip while it is still being written to as long as the file format is ".bvr". Direct to disc has nothing to do with that.
Click to expand...


I am now using the DTD. I will just follow the advice of "crap I'm old I have forgotten who suggested it" and just export convert the clips of interest to me.
It cut my resources from33% average to 26% average.
 
I can never catch any good price on the Dell Outlet. When at the pc I keep twitter up, but nothing. :P
 
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