Hello.
1) Are you actually using Milestone software?
2) Do you really mean Xeon E5-1650?
3) How much video is being viewed when the CPU is at 100%? Multiple cameras? For each camera, calculate megapixels per second (MP/s) by multiplying its resolution in megapixels by its frame rate. Add together the MP/s values for each camera being viewed. If it is more than several hundred, that would likely be too much for your CPU.
4) Is the video being viewed on the server machine or on some other remote device?
Do you recommend using a processor that supports intel quick sync?Ok then.
One 4 MP camera at 30 FPS is 120 MP/s
One 2 MP camera at 30 FPS is 60 MP/s
(120 * 4) + (60 * 2) = 600 MP/s
If Milestone's efficiency is anything like Blue Iris's when rendering video, then this is probably too much. Try reducing frame rates on all cameras to 15 FPS, and if that allows it to run properly below 100% CPU at all times, you can start increasing frame rates again as you see fit.
Yes, both intel an NvidiaI don't know if Milestone supports hardware acceleration.
Yes, both intel an Nvidia
In terms of bang for your bucks, I'd say pick up a used PC with a Win10 license. While an Nvidia card is the quick way, they do eat a lot of power and they are limited in how many cameras they can handle from what I've seen. I say this as an Nvidia user.