Understanding DVR Card Differences

The DVR card, also known as a video capture card, is the component in the DVR system that determines the quality of the entire system. If the card is not performing effectively, the capabilities of the whole DVR system will be greatly limited. The DVR card contains the compression-decompression (CODEC) software that has the ability to capture, compress, and decompress the video data. The cards are available for purchase in industrial quality, economy quality, and consumer quality versions.

The quality of the DVR card is important because it will determine the quality of the whole DVR system. The higher quality cards have faster, more efficient processors for compressing and decompressing video data as quickly as possible. The cards come in various speeds, just like computer processors, and have various abilities encoded into them. In some cases, multiple processors may be imbedded into a single DVR card in order to maximize the performance of the card. Many cards have a single processor for each individual video channel, but a number of the higher quality cards have the ability to encode multiple video channels into a single processor.

Many people believe that most frustrating problem associated with DVR card efficiency is a condition known as �bottlenecking.� Bottlenecking tends to occur when there is a substandard component performing slower than the rest of the DVR system. This will slow down the entire system, as the system can only be as fast as its slowest component. This condition can be easily observed in high performing systems when a single component goes bad. Weak and damaged components need to be repaired or replaced quickly to avoid system stoppage, freezing, or failure.

The success of any specific type of DVR card in the US market is dependent on the product design, predictability of the card, quality and number of features included, technical support, and the ability to upgrade the product. There are many manufacturers that claim that their card is the best and most efficient product available, but without careful research, you may be purchasing a product that is substandard that will reduce the effectiveness of the entire DVR system. Careful attention to the quality of the product and the reputation of the manufacturer may save you from making a costly mistake.

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