What is my best option?

I am running BI5 with I7-3770, Win10, 12GB ram DDR3, I have set all the options for a better cpu usage(direct to disk, lower frame rates, etc.). I have 14 cams and my cpu goes ~98% during the day and %50 at night when night vision is more active.
I need at least 4 more cams since I do not have any coverage for the east side of my lawn.
I would like to keep my original setup and add an NVIDIA card. I came across this:
Video Encode and Decode GPU Support Matrix

Would BI5 will use this HW accelerated decode graphics for the supported cards listed if I change some of my cams to work with the NVIDIA settings?
Would I get a lower cpu usage?
Thanks,
TC

look at
Blue Iris Update Helper
and compare it to your performance.

You have not provided enough information, What is the size of each camera there is a big difference from 720P to 4K, What is the frame rate on each camera, or the average , what is the total MP/SEC for your cameras. .

I do not think an additional Graphics cared would help. If you are going to spend that kind of money, they get a faster computer.

What is the CPU and GPU utilization from the windows task manager, a screen shot would help.

Sorry, I just realized that the info for the cams is missing...
I can get a Graphic card for about $150. A new computer will cost more than double.

set all cameras in the camera to have a frame rate of 15 or less, with the Iframe having the same value. You are not shooting a Hollywood movie.

Your GPU load is only 20%. You are not using what you have. Something is not set correctly.

A screen shot from the Windows 10 task manager for cpu and gpu load, sorted by cpu.

I have changed all cams to work on low frame rate, and that puts my cpu usage down to ~75% where BI5 virtually using all of it.
This is a big change... I cannot see my GPU usage on task manager in win10, for some reason it shows %0 all the time.
That is why I have used a different tool. I think it shows real gpu usage.
Is there a reason why NVIDIA GPU is not helpful? Maybe users buy a gpu card that doesn't have the right capabilities listed in this table:
Video Encode and Decode GPU Support Matrix
Or perhaps BI5 is not yet set to utilize the NVIDIA HW?
Thanks,
-TC

I am not at my BI system, I can not remember what the screen names are. You should see the GPU in the task manager.
Screen shots of the settings for using hardware acceleration in BI, there is one setting for the whole system and one setting for each camera.

It is my understanding that the NVIDIA uses more power and more heat then the Intel. You need to figure out why you are not using what you have. The NVIDIA has just recently been supported in BI and the performance has not been good.

What GPU driver are you using. Look here for the recommend driver
Memory Leak: Quick Sync (Hardware Acceleration) | IP Cam Talk

Looking at your screenshot of the cameras, it looks like five of them don’t have a # next to them which I believe means they’re not using hardware acceleration. Is that how you have them set?

And are each of the cameras set to use “direct to disc” encoding?

Do a forum search for “Nvidia”, there are a few threads about how BI does with it. I don’t recall anyone posting about it making a big difference, but I may have missed some threads.