Hi guys,
I've read a lot of threads on here and data sheets from Hikvision and can say I'm still not much wiser on what NVR to choose.
I plan on having 7 or 8 DS-2CD2142FDW-I cameras on my system, eventually. So I'll be starting small with 1 or 2 cameras and adding the rest over time.
I had originally planned on getting a DS-7608NI-E2/8P/A however I've read multiple threads on here (and elsewhere) now of people having issues with 4MP cameras and this NVR. People never seem to get to the bottom of it and just buy a better spec'd NVR. But at the same time there are people on here and other places saying the the NVR is more than capable of running 8x 4MP cameras, I've yet to see anyone confirm they have this as their set-up though! Mysteriously the data sheets from Hikvision make the situation no clearer by mentioning every resolution EXCEPT 4MP!
So, I assume I need one of the more expensive NVR's - would the DS-7616NI-E2/8P do the job? That is claimed to have 160Mbps incoming bandwidth which is more than enough to handle 8x 4MP cameras running at their maximum bitrate. Although as with the 7608 the data sheets make no mention of 4MP, I assume its just an error in the documentation though?
If I had all 7/8 cameras ready to go then I wouldn't hesitate in buying the cheaper 7608 and if it didn't do the job I could return it. But as I'll be building the system over months, I don't want to find out later down the line its not up to the job and have problems trying to return the unit and buy one that does work.
I've read a lot of threads on here and data sheets from Hikvision and can say I'm still not much wiser on what NVR to choose.
I plan on having 7 or 8 DS-2CD2142FDW-I cameras on my system, eventually. So I'll be starting small with 1 or 2 cameras and adding the rest over time.
I had originally planned on getting a DS-7608NI-E2/8P/A however I've read multiple threads on here (and elsewhere) now of people having issues with 4MP cameras and this NVR. People never seem to get to the bottom of it and just buy a better spec'd NVR. But at the same time there are people on here and other places saying the the NVR is more than capable of running 8x 4MP cameras, I've yet to see anyone confirm they have this as their set-up though! Mysteriously the data sheets from Hikvision make the situation no clearer by mentioning every resolution EXCEPT 4MP!

So, I assume I need one of the more expensive NVR's - would the DS-7616NI-E2/8P do the job? That is claimed to have 160Mbps incoming bandwidth which is more than enough to handle 8x 4MP cameras running at their maximum bitrate. Although as with the 7608 the data sheets make no mention of 4MP, I assume its just an error in the documentation though?
If I had all 7/8 cameras ready to go then I wouldn't hesitate in buying the cheaper 7608 and if it didn't do the job I could return it. But as I'll be building the system over months, I don't want to find out later down the line its not up to the job and have problems trying to return the unit and buy one that does work.