Intel CPU most ideal for new BI setup?

[Jackson Polish]

I’m about to migrate from an NVR to Blue Iris and hope I can get some reassurances before going to the computer store. My impression from reading this forum is a reasonably recent Intel CPU with video sync can greatly reduce CPU load and power consumption. However, from reading recent posts here, people are reporting satisfaction with with AMD-based mini-pc’s so I hope I get get some input from the community here.

I’d rather not going with an old business system due to reliability concerns and I imagine power efficiency has improved in recent years to justify a new, dedicated computer. I currently have 5 turret Dahua 5442’s that have long been favorites here, but would like to add at least two point and tilts and at least 7 more turret versions of the most recent cameras.

Power efficiency is important because I intend to use it with a UPS that will keep the whole setup running for at least 12 hours in case of power outage. I’m willing to pay more for reliability. I’ve heard recent generation of Intel CPU’s have QC issues with bent pins and endless microcode updates to patch security issues, not to mention I hear they draw up to 300 watts. I was thinking of getting a new M4 Mac Mini and run BI under emulation, but I see people here warning against that.

I haven’t looked at Windows PC’s in 15 years, but I did build some PC systems in my teens so I should be okay with some good advice here. If power efficient CPU’s aren’t suitable for a reliable security system, maybe I can set up a UPS with a bank of car batteries to give it the backup power required? I hear battery technology has also much improved, so maybe I can just buy a ready-made UPS with a lithium Iron phosphate battery, and maybe down the road have some solar panels hooked up to it.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your inputs.

 

[wittaj]

Once BI added the ability to use substreams it took the "dependency" and need for Intel chips down dramatically.

Regarding QuickSync and thus hardware acceleration and GPUs, around the time AI was introduced in BI, many here had their system become unstable with hardware acceleration (Quick Sync) on (even if not using DeepStack or CodeProject). Some have also been fine. I started to see errors when I was using hardware acceleration several updates into when AI was added.

This hits everyone at a different point. Some had their system go wonky immediately, some it was after a specific update, and some still don't have a problem, but the trend is showing running hardware acceleration will result in a problem at some point.

However, with substreams being introduced, the CPU% needed to offload video to a GPU (internal or external) is more than the CPU% savings seen by offloading to a GPU. Especially after about 12 cameras, the CPU goes up by using hardware acceleration. The wiki points this out as well.

My CPU % went down by not using hardware acceleration.

Here is a recent thread where someone turned off hardware acceleration based on my post and their CPU dropped 10-15% and BI became stable.

But if you use HA, use plain intel and not the variants.

Some still don't have a problem, but eventually it may result in a problem.

Here is a sampling of recent threads that turning off HA fixed the issues they were having....

No hardware acceleration with subs?


Hardware decoding just increases GPU usage?


Can't enable HA on one camera + high Bitrate


Getting a new computer just for BI is wasting money.

People have got 3rd and 4th gen computers for free or $25 at a County auction running over 30 cameras just fine. No issues.

These computers coming off business leases are typically beefier than the typical home computer and most of the time haven't even been used. I have bought several off ebay and there wasn't a scratch, dent, or dust on them.

Or get a newer one say 9th or newer off a lease for $200ish and will still be energy efficient and cost a fraction of a new one. Running a 9th gen at 1-3% CPU will sip power and not be a hog.