Wasn't sure where to post this...

[joemc]

Hi guys

I've been asked to look in to building a computer for a Security Guard which will only use it for looking at security cameras.

What I'm basically wanting help with is the Graphics Card. The computer will need to be built around this I guess? The computer itself, we will initially want 2 Screens, but over time going up to 4 Screens, all showing different cameras.

Wasn't really sure if I was right in saying this is something which a display port will work work with, or is it a Quad Head graphics card I'm looking for?

Sorry if it's a bit confusing, I'll keep up to date with this topic and answer questions... Any help would be much appreciated!


*edit: would 3 cheap GFX card with 2x DVI/VGA outputs work?

 

[Vekiq]

To begin with I would look what are requirements for your security guard.
Many security applications can display multiple cameras on one screen, its done through software.

To have multiple screens through hardware possibility you may want to look into eyefinity capable ati cards, but as i say, it may all revolve around your software and the way it works.

 

[joemc]

To begin with I would look what are requirements for your security guard.
Many security applications can display multiple cameras on one screen, its done through software.

To have multiple screens through hardware possibility you may want to look into eyefinity capable ati cards, but as i say, it may all revolve around your software and the way it works.

I've used one piece of software which we'll be using (damn non uniformed company ) and I could view 12 cameras view one piece of software.

 

[joemc]

Is it possible just to get 2 or 3 cheap graphics cards with 2 Display Outputs on each? Would that work? Or do all of the outputs need to be coming from one camera?

Basically, we have 4 sites, the Security Guard will most likely have 1 Site on each Screen - each with between 5-25 cameras, which can be switched between easily.

 

[ed79]

How many cameras inputs will be going into this PC, and how is that achieved? I looked at doing a home CCTV setup but the cards are pretty expensive... http://www.geovisioncctv.co.uk/products.php?pid=21&detail=true

The systems I've seen in the past usually have 4 cameras shown at once on each monitor. Is the reason for needing 4 screens to enable 16 cameras to be used at once?

 

[ed79]

With regards to getting a PC to output to 4 screens, that's easy. You could plug two identical Gfx cards each with 2 DVI outputs into the PC (they need to be the same model as you can't run 2 different gfx drivers at once in windows). That would indeed give you a 4 screen desktop. As has been said above though, you'll need whatever CCTV software you're using to have the option of using more than one screen.

There are also professional level cards (FireGL and Quadro) that have 2 dual link outputs that when used with the correct type of splitters can give 4 separate outputs from one card.

However...

Basically, we have 4 sites, the Security Guard will most likely have 1 Site on each Screen - each with between 5-25 cameras, which can be switched between easily.

am I reading this right that you have four sites EACH with 5-25 cameras? To be able to switch between them all on the PC as you describe then surely you'll need that PC to have inputs for between 20 and 100 cameras? Bear in mind that a 16 input PVR card costs nearly £1000.

 

[joemc]

With regards to getting a PC to output to 4 screens, that's easy. You could plug two identical Gfx cards each with 2 DVI outputs into the PC (they need to be the same model as you can't run 2 different gfx drivers at once in windows). That would indeed give you a 4 screen desktop. As has been said above though, you'll need whatever CCTV software you're using to have the option of using more than one screen.

There are also professional level cards (FireGL and Quadro) that have 2 dual link outputs that when used with the correct type of splitters can give 4 separate outputs from one card.

However...


am I reading this right that you have four sites EACH with 5-25 cameras? To be able to switch between them all on the PC as you describe then surely you'll need that PC to have inputs for between 20 and 100 cameras? Bear in mind that a 16 input PVR card costs nearly £1000.

The camera's already go in to a server, we will just be streaming them to this computer over the Network.

Sorry if I'm making it confusing, I don't really have much of an idea myself, just been asked to look in to getting a good enough computer.

 

[ed79]

Ah that makes more sense. It should be quite easy then just to put in 2 Gfx cards. I did something similar but I tried using my nvidia 8800GT and got a 2nd hand Quadro card. This didn't work because while you can plug in both cards fine (one was PCI express, the other just PCI) they used different drivers so you'd get "the driver couldn't start" type errors in device manager for one of the cards.

As long as they both run the same graphics driver it'll be quite straight forward.

 

[joemc]

Ah that makes more sense. It should be quite easy then just to put in 2 Gfx cards. I did something similar but I tried using my nvidia 8800GT and got a 2nd hand Quadro card. This didn't work because while you can plug in both cards fine (one was PCI express, the other just PCI) they used different drivers so you'd get "the driver couldn't start" type errors in device manager for one of the cards.

As long as they both run the same graphics driver it'll be quite straight forward.

Nice one. We were thinking of getting a quad head, but been quoted almost £200! May as well get 2 £50 Graphics Cards and just put them in the PCI slots

 

[Threepwood]

Surely all you need is a board that can take 2-4 cheap ati gpx cards? Depening on how many cameras you want on each screen?

Just one gpu will give you 3 screens, which will turn into 3, 6, 12 or 18 camera views.

 

[ed79]

Nice one. We were thinking of getting a quad head, but been quoted almost £200! May as well get 2 £50 Graphics Cards and just put them in the PCI slots

That should do it. Me being a cheap-skate, I'd see if I could find a couple of spare gfx cards kicking around at work and just test things before spending any money. Where I used to work there were loads of PCs in the stock room so I could cobble something together for an hour or two - not sure if you're able to do that though?

Surely all you need is a board that can take 2-4 cheap ati gpx cards? Depening on how many cameras you want on each screen?

Just one gpu will give you 3 screens, which will turn into 3, 6, 12 or 18 camera views.

But this would mean you'd need 3, 6, 12 or 18 monitors too! Bit costly and would take up lots of room.

Four screens that can recieve and swicth between all inputs via the network seems like the best solution, so it's a case of 2 cheap cards (any brand) or 1 expensive card that can output 4 screens at once.

 

[joemc]

That should do it. Me being a cheap-skate, I'd see if I could find a couple of spare gfx cards kicking around at work and just test things before spending any money. Where I used to work there were loads of PCs in the stock room so I could cobble something together for an hour or two - not sure if you're able to do that though?



But this would mean you'd need 3, 6, 12 or 18 monitors too! Bit costly and would take up lots of room.

Four screens that can recieve and swicth between all inputs via the network seems like the best solution, so it's a case of 2 cheap cards (any brand) or 1 expensive card that can output 4 screens at once.

Already looked and none with Graphics Cards in them

Well, the software I've seen for 2 of the sites, you can have 19 camera's available on 1 screen it would seem. Not sure how the other companies camera software works...

 

[Jakus]

Why can't you use a single GFX card into a 40" or so lcd for multi screen and a normal monitor for say close detail ?

Got to be cheaper, easier to setup and for maty better watching 1 big screen that wearing his neck out