Advantages of a NVR Vs. Blue Iris and a PC?
- Thread starter Chust
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I was 100% set on BI and a PC, though thanks to a forum member I scored a great deal for a complete system with NVR on newegg. The only real advantage of a NVR that I know of is cost, a capable PC to run BI is around $300+ if you don't have one, I believe the software is like $50? Could be wrong. That is what my entire setup + 2 TB HDD cost. I'd definitely go for BI if you don't care about cost as much, and I may do so later, though I just couldn't justify spending 2-3x as much after buying everything to get BI running.
fenderman
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There is no real advantage other than cost. Blue iris is superior in every way...you could not pay me to use an NVR..
klasipca
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It depends what you are trying to accomplish. BI + PC is certainly superior in terms of software, but NVR is simpler, efficient, cheaper and easier to maintain then a full blown pc.
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For the price I have decided to go with a NVR for my next build. I will of course keep Blue Iris. Now if and when Blue Iris offers hardware acceleration, and if when AMD comes out with an efficient 16 core CPU, hopefully in 2016. Then until then, yeah a NVR is the way to go for the money.
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@Chust ..not sure if you just need a nvr but check out the thread in this sub-forum about the newegg special that @fenderman posted. The nvr alone is supposedly $300 and the cameras are around $125 a piece. All that for $299. I ordered 1, probably ordering another.
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vector18
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I've never used BI, but I've used PC nvr's and have found that PC's give more of a headache than an actual NVR. I have seen DVR's and NVR's running trouble free for years and years, and I am constantly returning to customers that have PC's as recorders to troubleshoot issues. Manufacturers have spent a ton of money to design something to run 24/7 and IMO, a PC is not designed to run 24/7. For those that are in favor of a PC and it's (superior) software, can you give some examples of something that it could do that an NVR cannot?
fenderman
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@vector18, were the pc's you were troubleshooting modern systems with decent vms? or were the old systems using analog cameras with encoder cards built into the pc?
Here are just a few things - there are many many more. This is for blue iris.
1) use a combination of almost any cameras
2) Set distinct motion sensitivity recording vs alerts, this is important to minimize false alerts but still capture all movement.
3) Set distinct motion settings for night vs day based on sunrise sunset (so it adjust automatically through the year)
4) easily disable/enable motion detection or alerts when you get home or leave-you can pick and choose which cameras will still be active..for example, you can have the indoor cameras to be disabled but the outdoor cams to record and alert.
5) The mobile app is MUCH easier to use and review video than NVR's
6) The server app is much easier to use than an NVR interface.
7) simultaneously record to local storage and nas.
8) you can setup storage so that some cameras (primary) store footage for longer periods than others.
9) You can take a single camera feed and split it onto several virtual cameras (this helps if you want to give a user access to only a specific portion of the camera feed).
10) if your camera supports audio out (talk) you can send any prerecorded alert to play though the camera upon motion.
11) If you camera supports audio in your can trigger recording on audio detection.
12) if you have a matrix setup for live view where one camera is larger than others so you can see it better, you can set blue iris to display the camera that is detecting motion on the larger view.
13) easily upload video to ftp.
I have over 20 blue iris machines running as smooth as butter..the key is using a quality machine dedicated to the vms.
Also with a pc, if there is a hardware issue you can quickly replace it with a pc from any local store and just import the config file..whereas if your NVR dies a to order it wait for delivery and reprogram it (if its not the same model).
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vector18
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1) Even on an NVR you can use different brand cameras, maybe not as many, but you can.
2) An NVR can adjust sensitivity and even set different sensitivity levels in different areas of the image
3) An NVR can set a different schedule for different types of recordings
4) In an NVR you can disable/enable motion detection alerts and chose which cameras
5) I never saw the BI app, but I really like IDMSS
6) Once I program my NVR, I don't need my phone to change settings
7) Certain NVR's, not low end ones can record to an external HDD and internal at the same time
8) Some NVR's have Quota option
9) not sure what you mean
10) I might be able to do this with an alarm option, I think the cube camera even does this and lets you upload an audio file of your own?
11) I do not think an NVR can do this
12) Better NVR's can do this, spot monitoring
13) I do not use FTP, but I believe an NVR can
I have over 200 NVR's that I have personally installed in the past 2 years alone. I think I had to return two of them due to a problem and that was a week after install so more than likely it was defective. I'm not saying a quality PC cannot do the job and a tech savy person can use BI to it's full potential, but I am personally more interested in more user friendly, simple plug and play for the end user, and less maintenance. If I gave PC's to every one of my installs, I just feel that it would be a nightmare for myself.
2) An NVR can adjust sensitivity and even set different sensitivity levels in different areas of the image
3) An NVR can set a different schedule for different types of recordings
4) In an NVR you can disable/enable motion detection alerts and chose which cameras
5) I never saw the BI app, but I really like IDMSS
6) Once I program my NVR, I don't need my phone to change settings
7) Certain NVR's, not low end ones can record to an external HDD and internal at the same time
8) Some NVR's have Quota option
9) not sure what you mean
10) I might be able to do this with an alarm option, I think the cube camera even does this and lets you upload an audio file of your own?
11) I do not think an NVR can do this
12) Better NVR's can do this, spot monitoring
13) I do not use FTP, but I believe an NVR can
I have over 200 NVR's that I have personally installed in the past 2 years alone. I think I had to return two of them due to a problem and that was a week after install so more than likely it was defective. I'm not saying a quality PC cannot do the job and a tech savy person can use BI to it's full potential, but I am personally more interested in more user friendly, simple plug and play for the end user, and less maintenance. If I gave PC's to every one of my installs, I just feel that it would be a nightmare for myself.
fenderman
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1) yes but you are very limited, particularly if you want to use advanced motion detection available in the camera.
2) I mean different sensitivity for motion recording vs motion alerts. You cannot do that with an nvr. This allows you to set the threshold higher for alerts (to avoid false alerts, but lower for recording so you never miss anything)
3) To clarify, with an NVR you need to manually set day/night, this time changes though the year. With blue iris it will automatically adjust relative to sunrise sunset in your specific location - this lets you dial in perfect motion settings for day/night. You can also set different thresholds for when you are away vs home etc..
4)Yes, but not on the fly from the app with one press of a button like you can with blue iris. What do people do when they get home? You cant expect someone to manually make the changes each time. This is my biggest issue with NVR;s.
5) I never used idmss, but its light years ahead of hikvisions ivms4500.
6) I mean the server application - the software running on the pc, for video review and setup.
7) can they record to nas? even if so, you need to buy the more expensive units
8) I havent seen an NVR with a per camera quota but if so, its likely the more expensive units.
9) You can take a single camera feed and virtually split it into two cameras.
10) If you mean the hik cube, i dont believe this is possible.
11) agreed
12) I haven't seen this option is the 200-400 range nvr's
13) At least with hikvision, video cannot be uploaded ftp.
There are many more features and functions that usera like about blue iris, would take all day to discuss them. But even for above functions alone I would not switch back even if the NVR was free to me. I'm not saying NVR's are bad - for most folks who just want basic recording and forget about the device, its the best solution. But personally I could never user one after seeing what pc based software can do. The developer constantly adds function to the software as well.
2) I mean different sensitivity for motion recording vs motion alerts. You cannot do that with an nvr. This allows you to set the threshold higher for alerts (to avoid false alerts, but lower for recording so you never miss anything)
3) To clarify, with an NVR you need to manually set day/night, this time changes though the year. With blue iris it will automatically adjust relative to sunrise sunset in your specific location - this lets you dial in perfect motion settings for day/night. You can also set different thresholds for when you are away vs home etc..
4)Yes, but not on the fly from the app with one press of a button like you can with blue iris. What do people do when they get home? You cant expect someone to manually make the changes each time. This is my biggest issue with NVR;s.
5) I never used idmss, but its light years ahead of hikvisions ivms4500.
6) I mean the server application - the software running on the pc, for video review and setup.
7) can they record to nas? even if so, you need to buy the more expensive units
8) I havent seen an NVR with a per camera quota but if so, its likely the more expensive units.
9) You can take a single camera feed and virtually split it into two cameras.
10) If you mean the hik cube, i dont believe this is possible.
11) agreed
12) I haven't seen this option is the 200-400 range nvr's
13) At least with hikvision, video cannot be uploaded ftp.
There are many more features and functions that usera like about blue iris, would take all day to discuss them. But even for above functions alone I would not switch back even if the NVR was free to me. I'm not saying NVR's are bad - for most folks who just want basic recording and forget about the device, its the best solution. But personally I could never user one after seeing what pc based software can do. The developer constantly adds function to the software as well.
vector18
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All good points and I don't think we disagree with each other. Hopefully this would help someone decide between the two. As I have mentioned and I'm sure you agree, you need a well suited PC to run
the software and record the cameras. You need to be semi tech savy have the needs for more options available than a standard NVR. If someone is looking for basic recording, remote viewing, and several options that an NVR offers, than an NVR is the way to go. If someone is looking to fully customize their options and wants to able to do more things, than a PC is the way to go.
the software and record the cameras. You need to be semi tech savy have the needs for more options available than a standard NVR. If someone is looking for basic recording, remote viewing, and several options that an NVR offers, than an NVR is the way to go. If someone is looking to fully customize their options and wants to able to do more things, than a PC is the way to go.
fenderman
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That was a very educational thread on NVR Vs. BI
This newbie thanks both of you!
This newbie thanks both of you!
klasipca
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Can someone share actual numbers with wattage usage running a few cams with poe switch + PC? In my case 5 cams connected to NVR (3 are power hungry Huisun) I am using up ~40 watts during day and ~60 watts during night, Also have 3 wireless cams which record to it, so that's probably another +10 watts.
fenderman
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Here is a power sample for PC only. The power consumption of the poe switch/cameras will be static so the only variable is the pc.
https://www.ipcamtalk.com/showthread.php/5696-PC-NVR-Power-Consumption-Sample?highlight=consumption
klasipca
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Well I wanted to find out realistically what's the total power usage when everything is combined pc with bi + poe + all the cams
fenderman
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just add the power consumption of the cameras/poe switch to the BI consumption...disconnect your nvr and measure or put the meter on the poe switch power supply.....
The number will vary by load on the processor as well.
On an average 6 camera 1080p system with the BI machine consuming 40w-70w (depending on machines) and the cameras consuming 3-5w (dahua/hikvision) you are looking at 60-90w in power consumption...these numbers are very general as it depends on the pc's efficiency, processor, and total camera resolution load.
Great discussion, thanks for the review of feature sets of both NVR & BI. Ive only ever used BI and would like to learn how to configure some of those things mentioned by Fenderman. My usage seems pretty basic. I'd like to give an NVR a go some time. Vector 18, what is a couple of NVR's you would recommend?
This is why ipcamtalk needs a wiki. I keep finding gems like this. Thankyou 