This is CRITICAL. ANYONE who tells you that A DVR will run on an AMD processor isn't necessarily lying to you, they're just not telling you the whole truth. The FACT of the matter is, many of the cards WILL run on an AMD, BUT the performance will be sub-standard. Would you buy a car and have them put a lawn mower engine in it to save a few bucks? EVERY SINGLE DVR Card in the world was built FIRST AND FOREMOST to run on an INTEL Platform. As an afterthought, the software gets coded to "allow" it to run on other motherboards and cpu combinations. While it "works," it simply doesn't use the full potential of the card and software. Check with your vendor about the Motherboard Chipset and CPU. It makes a HUGE difference. Find out how much RAM is in the machine, what speed is the CPU, etc. RAM is a SUPER CRITICAL issue. If someone tells you that you only need 256 mb of RAM, expect the worst experience you've ever had in your life. A MINIMUM of 512 Mb and that is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM....for best results, get a GB of RAM. These are the kinds of things that will turn your DVR into a horror story. We use ONLY Genuine Intel Chipsets and CPU's in our DVR Systems.

2. Frame Rate

Lots of people say their systems run in "real time." Make sure you understand this because it means different things to different people in different scenarios. First off, REAL TIME (as in watching Live TV) is 30 Frames per Second in NTSC mode and 25 Frames Per Second in PAL (European Standard). A card that features 30 frames per second and has four channels, is NOT delivering REAL TIME (unless you are running ONE camera ONLY AND the software allows you to change the Frame Rate on each camera, which MANY of the cards do NOT allow - HOWEVER, ALL of OUR cards DO allow this). A 30 FPS card with four cameras, will typically deliver 7.5 Frames Per Second per camera, or ONE QUARTER REAL TIME. To get REAL Time on 4 cameras, you need a 120 Frames Per Second Card. Now, you probably do NOT require real time performance, BUT you shouldn't pay for something and not get what you expect. You should KNOW whether the system you are buying is a Software Compression or Hardware Compression unit. There's nothing wrong with software compression systems BUT you will GIVE UP frame rate to get resolution...and that's a fact. Also, the Software Compression systems require bigger CPU's, Video Cards and RAM as they steal "clock cycles" from all three to accomplish their performance whereas the Hardware Compression systems have their own processors right on board. There is a significant difference in performance yet AMAZINGLY enough, in many cases, hardware compression is less expensive. This is a MAJOR deal as most companies that build software compression systems simply can't be price competitive.....Why? It's simple really, Software Compression is on it's way out, and older technology ALWAYS cost more than newer technology. It's a sign of the times.

3. There is a difference in Live View, Playback and Record Speeds.

On many DVR cards, the record and playback speeds will differ from the live view. Check the specs carefully, if you can't easily find the answer, be sure to ASK your sales rep. If the answers aren't forthcoming, find another vendor.

4. What does STACKABLE mean?

Many DVR cards are NOT stackable. When you purchase a four channel card that is NOT stackable, if you decide to upgrade to 8 cameras, you have to take the four channel out and buy an eight channel card. A Stackable card allows you to simply add another card, thus saving the old card and it's associated expense. Our H.264 products will stack to 64 channels.

5. Get your questions answered - BEFORE you buy!

You can avoid a ton of problems by getting your questions answered before you make a purchase. Make sure your vendor TAKES the time to go over each aspect of a DVR with you. If you don't know what questions to ask, consider these:

Are you putting a DVR card in your computer? If you are, then you should find out what chipset your motherboard has, what make and model of CPU you have, how much ram you have, what kind of video card and what size hard drive. These are really critical factors and your vendor should ASK YOU these questions. If not, you may already be in trouble.

If you're buying a complete system, make sure you get all the specifications. Find out if you can Multi-task the system. How often is the software updated? Are the updates Free? Who will actually provide technical support for you? The Vendor? Is the service toll free? Do the people on the Tech Support line speak and understand English? Are they real technicians or just someone who has answer A for Question A, etc.

Be prepared to discuss the type of setting you're going to put the DVR in....is it home use? Commercial? Industrial? What kind of lighting conditions exist, are the cameras going indoors or outdoors? Are any of your indoor cameras looking through glass or into a rising or setting sun? Again, these are things you should discuss and get answers to, it will make your experience MUCH easier and more enjoyable. Keep in mind that you can turn a $20,000.00 DVR into a piece of junk with cheap cameras that are not designed for the conditions you are putting them in. If you're trying to catch a license plate number off a car - there are specialized cameras for that. Make sure you ask about this type of thing and you're out of the box experience will be a happy one.

Make sure someone explains FRAME RATE to you and that you understand it clearly. If you don't, KEEP ASKING until you do. If you don't get a clear answer, find someone else.

This is NOT rocket science, but any time you make a purchase, you should understand what you're getting, and get what you expect. We work hard to make sure your expectation level is proper and that we meet or exceed that expectation. NEVER be afraid to ask lots of questions. If the company is reputable, they'll work through the questions until you understand it all.

6. Make sure you're getting original boards and legitimate software.

There are a  TON of fake (copy) boards out there today. You'll find them on Ebay and many websites. You can always tell a copy board by it's price....usually 150.00 or less for boards that legitimate dealers sell for 500.00 plus. What's the difference? Software that actually works and has an actual license to be fully functional (most pirated software will operate in a limited demo mode), Real Tech Support, Continual FREE upgrades to the software, Manufacturer support, a REAL warranty and a REAL RETURN policy. Plus, the real thing actually WORKS the way it was supposed to. We get five or six calls a day from customers who have been taken to the cleaners after buying a 75.00 DVR card on Ebay or from some unscrupulous salesman. They are looking for answers and help. Unfortunately, there's not much ANYONE can do for them as the manufacturers will simply NOT provide support for either the hardware OR the software. It's very sad, but the old rule of thumb holds true....if it sounds to good to be true, it probably IS. We sell ONLY legitimate DVR Cards with LICENSED fully functional software. When you purchase a card from us, you can be ASSURED that it's the real deal, and that we will support it for as long as you own it. You also will get FREE UPGRADES for the life of the card. See what a difference it makes to buy legitimate product and support!

7. Get PROFESSIONAL help

There is a HUGE proliferation of web sites today, all proclaiming to have this deal or that deal. Then when you try to call, you don't get answers or they don't have time to LISTEN to what you're asking for and solve your DVR questions. It's simple, if they don't have time for you BEFORE the sale, how much time will they spend with you AFTER they've got your money. We ask a lot of questions, we listen to your answers, we take the time to get you the RIGHT system. We're security professionals. It's what we do, and ONLY what we do. Give us a call and ask away, see what a difference there is in talking to someone who cares versus someone what just wants the deal. There IS a difference!

8. Ask About Technical Support AFTER the Sale

Is there a TOLL FREE number for technical support? If so, is it IN the United States or India or where? Do the people who man the support lines speak actual ENGLISH? Are they REALLY technicians who understand the technology or are they just reading a script? Are they employees of the company or are they subcontractors who really just want to get you off the phone? Make sure you have a support system, we're talking about a SECURITY product here, it could be your business or your life on the line.

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