Security Camera DVR Build *Update 2-23-07 With Pictures!*

[Pimp Racer]

The minium requirements state only that I need

Recommened PC Specifications: 2.8 GHz processor, Windows XP, 512 mb RAM, 250 Gig HD, Network, 128 mb VGA Card, CDRW. Motherboard: 2 PCI Slots, 2 Onboard USB Connections. We recommend the the Intel 945 chip set. **Not recommended for use with AMD processors or Dell, Compaq or Gateway PC's**

Ok I got everything figured out except the above. Ignore everything in this post. I will just leave it up for anyone who wants to catch up on the story.

Hey I am kinda short on time so bare with me I will try to explain as best as I can. So I got a 8 camera security system with night vision, remote internet access and recording functionality from a VERY good company for around 2-3 grand about last year. I think I we installed the 15 FPS for each camera system. But anyways the real question is I am wanting to buy from that company again as we need to install some security cameras at another one of my parents business. But the problem starts now. It has to be 16 cameras, night and day, outdoor and indoor, and 15FPS, and remote access. So I looked at that same site I got the 8 camera one from about a year ago for another one of our locations and they had what I was looking for but it was around I think $4,300 USD and thats excluding the monitor. Now I see the same thing on their site but it doesnt include PC or monior and it costs only $3,200 USD. So what I was thinking was just build a PC for around $600 USD to make the total less than 4 grand. But the problem starts now! I can build a PC for cheap but do I need some kinda special video capture card? I mean I see most of them and they come with some 120 FPS - 480 FPS video capture card and range from 400-1500 USD for the capture card alone and that would kinda get me over budget. I am also too far away from the other camera system that we bought and installed so I cant just open up the PC and check. So can someone tell me what kinda special capture card I need? DO I need one of these cards? And if so what would the "proper" FPS or whatever be? http://www.2mcctv.com/product_info-G...onGV20088.html The "specs" of the camera and FPS and what not is Professional Grade offers all the features of version 3.0 including hi-resolution [640x480], 30 frames per second viewing and 10 frames per second recording for each security camera. For those high end, high performance applications the Professional Grade version is probably the best choice. Thanks for the help guys, Sorry if I am unclear on some of the things but I think I might have more time tommorow.

[Pimp Racer]

Originally Posted by thamar We have a geovision card in the shop, the 16 one, GV800 or 900 I think. With 4 IR camera's, more to come probably. But the thing is, it records 24/7 and CPU-load is huge! We have a 3.2Ghz P4 in it and that's running 60% all the time. But it's good stuff. Remote access we don't use, no need for it. In the near future it'll be upgraded to a core2duo setup when more camera's arrive. I would suggest a Core2Duo e6300, 1GB of memory and the HD-space you need...

Hey I just called up the people instead and they had a picture of including the card but didnt state wether they include it or not. But anyways I got that cleared it up, it was a typo on their part. They include the Card, so thats a shit load of stress and worrying off on my part.


Now I need some help building the Computer for around ~500.

I saw in Ronin's thread that he has a

E4300 - 175.99
GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 - 118.99

I can afford that and then just get two sticks of 512mb of ram and thats around 100 bucks?
So total so far would be around 395
But what the main things I would like to make sure is:

1. I can connect a video card, and two more PCI cards to the motherboard?
2. I can connect two IDE channels to the motherboard?
3. The computer uses 240 Pin Ram so this ram will work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227115
4. I can connect 4 of these HDD'
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148138
5. What kinda PSU does can I use? A 20 + 4 pins is good?
6. Can I use this Proc with the motherboard stated above?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115005
7. Whats better E6300 or E4300? I assume E6300?
8. Whats a good atleast 128MB Graphics card for this mobo for around 50 bucks? Note I MUST have atleast 2 PCI slots free.

I figured since what Thamar said the Pentium 4 might be on too much stress so I think This C2D should do the job?
Thanks for the help guys very much!


So far the prices are a bit more than 3200 for the cameras, then around $450 for (4) 400 gig Perpendicular Seagate HDD's (ATA) if anyone can find me anything better with more space then PLEASE POST!

So thats around $3650 USD
Then add 176 for the proc, 120 for the mobo, and 100 for the ram and 50 bucks for PCI Graphics card. I get around $4,100 USD. I can supply a case and power supply if its the rite kind and I think thats about all I need? I got a few DVD/CD burners lying around and a bunch of fans I pulled so would there be anything else I need to make this running other than an OS which I already got? (XP PRO SP2 Retail)

*EDIT*
I think my dad said the budget is 4,000 so I'll have to talk to him about the extra 100 bucks but hell its worth it imo and I think he might just say yeah. ( I talked him into paying 3 grand more for something else yesterday. ) Also if all goes well and this is all I need then I will post pictures of the cameras and computer when the build is done with some custom pictures or something and just for the hell of it and because its picture or STFU. Also after this build there is gonna be another build but I think I might just get a IBM/Lenovo desktop for that "application".

[RC45]

Interesting to read this.

Typical "small business" mindset.

Here you have the specs needed for a system to protect a business interest.

Analysing this project is really simple.

What value does you father place on "protecting" his business with surveillance? There must be a reason for having all the security - either insurance demands it and its just a token gesture, in which case a $500 on fake cameras and an old VCR are good enough....

Or the real aim is to have a system with usable images to help catch folks who steal the merchandise.

How much of a discount does the security system allow him to get on his insurance, and how much "theft" does he think a system will prevent in say 2 years.

If the total amount of expected "savings" is around $5,000 for example, then why is he nickle and dimeing and fucking around with getting "budget' system to begin with?

Let's say you build the system for $4,000 - now who and when is it going to be "serviced" or maintained etc etc?

In my opinion, he should just bite the bullet and pay some pros to come in and give him a turnkey solution (with a support contract of course) so he can get his actual moneys worth.

[Pimp Racer]

Originally Posted by RC45 Interesting to read this. Typical "small business" mindset. Here you have the specs needed for a system to protect a business interest. Analysing this project is really simple. What value does you father place on "protecting" his business with surveillance? There must be a reason for having all the security - either insurance demands it and its just a token gesture, in which case a $500 on fake cameras and an old VCR are good enough.... Or the real aim is to have a system with usable images to help catch folks who steal the merchandise. How much of a discount does the security system allow him to get on his insurance, and how much "theft" does he think a system will prevent in say 2 years. If the total amount of expected "savings" is around $5,000 for example, then why is he nickle and dimeing and fucking around with getting "budget' system to begin with? Let's say you build the system for $4,000 - now who and when is it going to be "serviced" or maintained etc etc? In my opinion, he should just bite the bullet and pay some pros to come in and give him a turnkey solution (with a support contract of course) so he can get his actual moneys worth.

Well its not really a small business. I mean its not a gas station or something. Its required by our Franchise. This particular building that the cameras will go on is 3 stories tall. We plan on having 3 on the third floor, 3 on the second floor, 6-8 on the ground floor, and the rest in the parking area.

I dont think in our business people can easily "steal" anything but they can vandilize, and so on. We had a huge problem like this in two of our other locations. And now it has really helped a shitlod. Again this will not help catch theifs, but because its required by our franchise.

Now you speak of biting the bullet? I dont think so man. Because the first time we "bited the bullet" it ened up being over $14,000 USD and nothing too special that this camera cant do. Just labor and shit was alot and what not I suppose?

So this is why we bought one and installed it our self in another one of the locations we accuried in Tennesse. The one we have in Graham, Texas (Its next to Mineral Wells and like 2 hours aways from Forth Worth/Dallas Area) is the expensive one.

Also I would tell you what kinda business this is but it would be kinda hard ot back it up and I would have nothing but blue prints for the one we are working on rite now in the Tallashaee, FL region. I dont wanna sound like I aqm Bsing but if all goes rite like I said earlier I will post pics of everything for custom proof and shit but for now I need help damnit!

Also as of now I think the final specs is around.....$4,100 USD which is pretty good and Labor I believe we will just do as we know how to do it and have done it before. Now if you really wanna know what kinda property this system is gonna go on then just have paient because for sure within 2-3 weeks we will have to run the cables before they start doing the sheet rock.

[RC45]

Originally Posted by Pimp Racer Also I would tell you what kinda business this is but it would be kinda hard ot back it up and I would have nothing but blue prints for the one we are working on rite now in the Tallashaee, FL region. I dont wanna sound like I aqm Bsing but if all goes rite like I said earlier I will post pics of everything for custom proof and shit but for now I need help damnit!

Oh - I am not trying to suggest you are talking BS at all... all I am saying is in the grand scheme of things, if the business is profitable then nickle and dimeing (taking cheap shortcuts to save on the front) really are of no help.

So - the first system cost $14,000 - how much did it "save" in the form of prevented vandalism? Thats the bigger issue.

This is what I am getting at - if a $14,000 system that works and has porper support behind it saves you from having to do $50,000 worth of cleanup and repairs per year, then STFU already and just buy the system

If on the other hand vandalism is just a pain in the arse and costs $1000 to repaint then you really dont need to worr abotu a super-duper camera system any way

SImple cost-benefit analysis .

[Pimp Racer]

Originally Posted by RC45 Originally Posted by Pimp Racer Also I would tell you what kinda business this is but it would be kinda hard ot back it up and I would have nothing but blue prints for the one we are working on rite now in the Tallashaee, FL region. I dont wanna sound like I aqm Bsing but if all goes rite like I said earlier I will post pics of everything for custom proof and shit but for now I need help damnit! Oh - I am not trying to suggest you are talking BS at all... all I am saying is in the grand scheme of things, if the business is profitable then nickle and dimeing (taking cheap shortcuts to save on the front) really are of no help. So - the first system cost $14,000 - how much did it "save" in the form of prevented vandalism? Thats the bigger issue. This is what I am getting at - if a $14,000 system that works and has porper support behind it saves you from having to do $50,000 worth of cleanup and repairs per year, then STFU already and just buy the system If on the other hand vandalism is just a pain in the arse and costs $1000 to repaint then you really dont need to worr abotu a super-duper camera system any way SImple cost-benefit analysis .

Yeah I understand where you were coming from but you know nowadays kids and the damn internet = a bunch of bs just waiting to be read.

Now the first system probably just saved probably less than 1 grand in a course of the 3 years its been open. That one and the current one was easy to wire as we built the buildings. But the second one was a Pain in the ass to wire as we bought the place ready made. I think we probably saved around 1 grand over a course of 2 years since accuired the place. We even had a fire there but that wasnt a user accident it was some overheated phone modem on a hot Tennesse day in a low air flow area while probably receiving alot of strain as the 4 (I think) lines were busy and just caught on fire.
So I guess you can say the system's arent really worth it but we must look at the franchise aspect of it as well as we must stasify them too. And we figure why install some "cheap" system for like 1-2 grand when you can get a pretty good/decent system for around less than 4 grand?

Speaking of 50 grand I dont think it can save us anywhere near that much. Unless someone burnt the whole damn thing down but then we would be talking in the "millions" as you gotta count everything inside the building. Also that 14K system is just utter crap. It was nowhere near what anyone thought it would be. The second system was I think either 8 or 12 cameras and we used those up very quickly on a 2 story building. But this building is 3 stories and sits on about 2 acre's parking lot included I believe and we just want to make sure we have eveything in sight.

BTW here is a list of parts for the PC I have came down to. If there is more than two in a catgory then that means one or the other not both....unless its the HDD. I had to downgrade those as I dont think we really need 4 X 400 gig HDD's

Some help me which MotherBoard & CPU combo I should get!!!! Motherboard & CPU http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...406&CatId=2406 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...955&CatId=2406 Memory/RAM http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...t=pricegrabber http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134216 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820208039 Graphics http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...mp&dcaid=15890 HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...8595&CatId=139

[Pimp Racer]

Aight well an update guys. Finally had the time to get some wires. RG 59 cable with power. 1500 ft for now but will need more around 2500 FT but this will be good enough for now.

Also pictures of the cableing to prove that this is serious talk and not just BS. heheh
*CLICK TO MAKE BIGGER*

*CLICK TO MAKE BIGGER*
Also this was thrown into the van instead of the truck incase it rains overnite or someone steals it and what not.
BTW RC I thought about what you said and told my dad to contact the security people just for the hell of it and this is a quote they gave us. $21,000 USD Also I removed our name and shit to "protect" our identity. :roll: Also the guy's phone number and shit is on there incase ya wanna contact him.