Recommendations for 24/7 Surveillance Server

[swissmr]

Hello all,
Been a big fan of Anandtech for a while and now my first post Looking to setup an energy efficient PC for a 16-channel Nuuo surveillance card (SCB 7000 series) with the following compatible hardware:

CPU Model
Intel Core 2 Dual E5300 @2.60GHZ
INTEL Core 2 Dual E7400 @2.80GHZ
INTEL Core 2 Quad Q9550 @2.8GHZ
Intel Q9400 @2.66GHZ
Intel Core i5 750 @2.67GHZ
Intel i5-661 @2.4GHZ
Intel Core i7-860 @2.8Ghz
Intel Core i7 920 @2.67GHZ
INTEL I7 930 @2.80GHZ


Motherboard
Intel DG 45ID(6.1.7600.16385)
Intel DQ45CB (6.1.7600.16385)
Intel DP45SG P45 (6.1.7600.16385)
Intel DH 55 TC(6.1.7600.16385)
INTEL DG31PR
INTEL DG35EC
INTEL DQ45CB
INTEL DG43NB
Intel DP55WG (6.1.7600.16385)
Intel DP 55 WB(6.1.7600.16385)
INTEL DP55KG(9.1.1.1013)
Intel DQ57TM (6.1.7600.16385)
Intel WX58BP (6.1.7600.16385)
Intel BOXDH55TC H55 RT(9.1.0.1013)
INTEL WX58BP(9.1.0.1005)

MSI P55GD55 (6.1.7600.16385)
MSI P55 GD65(9.1.1.1022)
MSI P45 NEO
MSI P41C31(9.1.1.1012)

ASROCK H55M /USB3 REV2.0 (6.1.7600.16385)
AsRock P41C-DE(9.1.0.1012)
AsRock P55 PRO(9.1.1.1013)
AsRock P55 Deluxe(9.1.1.1013)
AsRock X58 Supercomputer(9.1.0.1005)

ASUS P7H55D-M EVO (6.1.7600.16385)
ASUS P6TSE X58 (6.1.7600.16385)
ASUS P5P43TD PRO(9.0.0.1009)
ASUS P7P55 WS SUPERCOMPUTER(9.1.0.1013)
ASUS P6T SE 1366 X58 RTL(9.1.0.1013)
Asus P7H55D-M EVO(9.1.1.1013)

BIOSTAR T5XE P55 (6.1.7600.16385)
BIOSTAR T5 XE CFX-SLI P55 R(9.1.1.1013)

GIGABYTE EP45UD3R(9.0.0.1009)
GIGABYTE G31M-ES2L
GIGABYTE EP43T UD3L(9.1.0.1012)

FOXCONN G31MXP

VGA card
ATI 4850 (8.723.0.0)
NVIDIA 9800 GT(8.17.11.9745)
nVIDIA GT220 (8.17.11.9745)
ATI 5770 (8.753.0.0)
ATI 5570 (8.753.0.0)
nVIDIA GT220 (8.17.12.5896)
ATI HD4600 (8.650.0.0)
Nvidia Geforce 9600 GSO(6.14.11.9562) or ATI HD4600 (8.650.0.0)
Nvidia Geforce 9800 GT(6.14.11.9562)or ATI HD4850(8.681.0.0)
Nvidia Geforce 9600 GSO(6.14.11.9562) or ATI HD4600 (8.650.0.0)
Nvidia Geforce 9400GT (6.14.11.9562)

More Details: http://support.nuuo.com/mediawiki/index.php/Hardware_compatibility_list

Any suggestions on builds and other components (hdds, psu, ...) that would keep wattage under 60-100 Watts? Is that even realistic? Was considering a DVR but this card had all the features I wanted.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Kevin

 

[mfenn]

From that list? An i5 750 + Intel P55 board and whatever GPU you like.

 

[swissmr]

What'd you think about having Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel P55 Board, and basic GPU (as we are not going to be monitoring the video on-site.

Also, any recommendations on high efficiency "green" PSU's? HDD's?

Trying to save as much energy consumption as possible... gas is getting expensive these days...

 

[fffblackmage]

Here's a "green" PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D $40

It's kinda weird recommending a Core 2 Duo today... but it'll probably save you some money. I'm not sure if you'll find a mobo you want, assuming you need to get something from their list.

 

[somethingsketchy]

After looking up what I think you are referring to (http://www.nuuo.com/product.php?id=16&sub=4), I'd personally recommend nothing less than a Core 2 Quad. Given that the Core 2 Duo is a "System Minimum Requirement", I'd avoid going that route, especially with 16 IP cameras, recording to a server, at once.

Today's Core i5/i7 are more energy efficient than the older Core 2 Duo/Quad. Even if you only used 35-70% of the processor (for example), it would be more energy efficient than the older generation of processors.

If you can get away with it, I'd go for a motherboard that has integrated video, so you can cut out the energy use of a discrete card.

 

[Davidh373]

for 24/7 surveillance comp I'd recommend the Quadro NVS 450

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-317-_-Product

If you don't have the $$$ for that or the need for 4 monitors, then I suppose a 5770.

 

[mfenn]

Today's Core i5/i7 are more energy efficient than the older Core 2 Duo/Quad. Even if you only used 35-70% of the processor (for example), it would be more energy efficient than the older generation of processors.

I agree totally. OP, this was the reasoning behind my i5 750 recommendation.

 

[Knavish]

for 24/7 surveillance comp I'd recommend the Quadro NVS 450

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-317-_-Product

If you don't have the $$$ for that or the need for 4 monitors, then I suppose a 5770.

Does he just want to record the video to a server, or does he actually want to display 16 videos at a workstation for someone to observe? If he's just recording, all he needs is integrated video.

 

[Davidh373]

Does he just want to record the video to a server, or does he actually want to display 16 videos at a workstation for someone to observe? If he's just recording, all he needs is integrated video.

Sounds like it's Record/ Observe/ Store. I don't think he needs 16 monitors, but the natural way to do it would be 4 screens split for 4 cameras per screen.

 

[swissmr]

It will be used to rotate between split-screens for about 16 CCTV cameras and max 4 IP cameras... nevertheless very basic playback quality will suffice. We can cheap out on live workstation video output as long as it can store and web stream effectively.

Integrated video might be a good idea.... just found out Intel has incorporate graphics processing architecture inside their new 2nd Gen Core line. ... Is there one where I can deploy both on-chip and on-board GPUs... now looking for a mobo that does that for the new Cores...

 

[Davidh373]

Integrated video might be a good idea.... just found out Intel has incorporate graphics processing architecture inside their new 2nd Gen Core line. ... Maybe we can deploy both on-chip and on-board GPUs... lol... need to find a mobo that does that..

Intel's graphics is all you're gonna get until later on, there is no dual chip graphics except if you were to buy a really expensive mobo that has Lucid Hybrid, and even then that only works between dedicated graphics and the on processor graphics.

 

[caspur]

I use an old Dell P4 with an Avermedia dvr card. It runs 24/7 and doubles as a torrent machine/NAS. An Atom processor is more than sufficient for DVR usage...if you can find an atom MB and case that supports full height PCI...this would be the lowest power solution. Not sure about 16 cameras though..might need at least a Core2 for that. P4 works with 8 cameras.

Or just get a dedicated CCTV DVR. You are basically trying to build an HTPC without needing the PC functions. So just get the DVR part...save money and reduce power consumption.

I actually monitor all my cameras on a 42 inch TV (it can be set to split screen/motion/quad/etc.) depending on your particular application. Avermedia just updated their software recently to allow 1080p, which is nice.

Edit-Try to buy a consumer level DVR that supports the number of cameras you want. At work we have a Honeywell Fusion IV, which is obscenely priced with windows XP!, and I don't notice a whole lot of difference in functionality compared with my home setup. I mainly used it to check out girls.

 

[Davidh373]

I mainly used it to check out girls.

>.>.....

<.<.....

 

[Mark R]

I would consider an H67 motherboard (preferably the Intel board) together with a low-power 2nd Gen Core i5 CPU - e.g. i5 2400S (or even an i5 2390T, if you can wait till the end of Februrary). I accept that these aren't on the compatibility list, but assuming you get a motherboard with decent QC and a decent BIOS (like the Intel), you are unlikely to run into significant issues. The question should be whether you are willing to take the risk that things might not be compatible.

The 2nd Gen core series processors have drastically better energy efficiency than the older core i5/i7 CPUs, while performing at least as well.

The 2nd gen core i5 series also have decent integrated graphics, should it be required. The chances are the integrated graphics are good enough to use it as a viewing workstation, not just a server.

 

[swissmr]

I mainly used it to check out girls.

lol...

The chances are the integrated graphics are good enough to use it as a viewing workstation, not just a server.

Just called Nuuo and they said it's required to have a discrete graphics card because they had problems with on-board graphics in the past... hmm, can't see why on-die or on-board graphics won't work.

Also, if there are any dev's playing around with Intel's Media SDK it would be cool to hack something for surveillance software... i.e. Quick Sync support.