Axis M3114-VE Review

[paarlberg]

I tried to download the demo version of CastleKeeper, but it said the evaluation period had passed, or something similar

Wanted to see how well it would work for my needs and to compare the features.

[paarlberg]

I finally added the 4th M3114-VE



I still like BlueIris, except for the CPU usage. I don't really want to upgrade my desktop to handle it though.

I have an Intel Atom server that I can use, but 4 streams would kill it. I have another server box with a Core 2 Quad 6600, but that is the same as my desktop, I doubt I would see much improvement other than being a cleaner install.

[buellwinkle]

Thats the reason I switched from Blue Iris to ACTi NVR software, CPU went from being pegged and stuff running painfully slow to 20% usage. The reason is the software only now records an event when the camera's motion detection tells it to where BlueIris and most other software is watching each camera 24/7 and it's handling the motion detection. Ask Ken at BlueIris if he can do the same, record only when the camera detects motion.

If you can't find software that uses less CPU, what may be an ideal PC for this is the Mac Mini, 500GB hard drive, I5 Sandy Bridge processors, about $599, tiny small, just run Windows on it instead of OS X.

They sell nettop PC's that use the AMD 350 chip, about twice as fast as Atom for not much more dough. Just not sure it's enough.
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For network camera articles and reviews, visit my blog at http://ipcamnetwork.wordpress.com

[paarlberg]

I dropped the fps to 15 from 20 and it seems much better, only using about 45-55% now. So that is better.

Any other sw that does a good job? I get a couple alerts a night, some are cats and deer. Better to be a little sensitive than to miss a short thief.

[buellwinkle]

The problem with video motion detect that you are doing now is that outdoors, a mild breeze blowing a bush or tree casting a moving shadow or car headlights triggers it. Does you camera have the capability to add an external PIR motion detect sensor? If so, they are not that expensive and will only trigger on heat motion like a person or a deer but not shadows or lights. Way more dependable, less stuff to watch when tracking down an issue and maybe BlueIris has the ability to only record on a PIR motion detect which would lower CPU use dramatically as it's now analyzing 4 streams for motion. I asked Ken about this a while ago and he said it was doable but by then I switched to ACTi software as it was free and worked.
_________________
For network camera articles and reviews, visit my blog at http://ipcamnetwork.wordpress.com

[paarlberg]

The cameras have PIR builtin. I will check with Ken, he has updated BI a lot in the last few months.