Which Hikvision NVR Do I Need? 4, 8, 16 and 32 Channel Recorders Explained
Zenith Security Co. · Authorised Hikvision partner · Operating since 2012 · Trade counter and live showroom, Wolverhampton
Pick the right Hikvision recorder in five steps.
An NVR (network video recorder) records your IP cameras. Choose one by four things:
How many channels (cameras) you need
Whether you want built-in PoE (one cable powers each camera and carries the picture)
Which series matches your camera resolution: K, I or M
Whether you want AcuSense false-alarm filtering (NXI models)
Then size the hard drive for the days of footage you want to keep. Rather we did it for you? Call 01902 902251.
How do I read a Hikvision NVR model number?
Take DS-7608NXI-K1/8P as an example:
Part
Meaning
76
The 7600 family: compact recorders for homes and small to medium businesses. 7700 and 9600 families are larger units with more drive bays for bigger sites.
08
Number of camera channels: 04, 08, 16 or 32.
NI / NXI
NI is a network video recorder. NXI adds AcuSense human and vehicle filtering.
K / I / M
The series. K is the mainstream 4K range, I handles cameras up to 12MP, M supports 8K.
1 / 2 / 4
Number of hard drive bays. More bays means longer retention.
/8P
Number of built-in PoE ports. No /P means no PoE; add a PoE switch.
32 channel and above: warehouses, schools and multi-building sites, for example the iDS-7732NXI-I4/16P DeepinMind NVR with four drive bays.
You can't add channels to an NVR later. If you're between sizes, go up.
Step 2: Built-in PoE or a separate switch?
Built-in PoE (/4P, /8P, /16P) is simplest. Each camera runs on one network cable back to the recorder. The NVR powers it, finds it and adds it automatically. This suits houses and small premises where every cable can reach one point.
No PoE, with a separate PoE switch suits larger or spread-out sites. Put a switch in the outbuilding, at the far end of the warehouse or on each floor, and run one cable back to the recorder. Models such as the DS-7608NXI-K2 are built for this. Long-range PoE switches can carry power and data well beyond the standard 100 metres.
Step 3: Which series, K, I or M?
K series: the mainstream 4K range. Right for 4MP, 6MP and 8MP cameras in homes and most businesses.
If alerts to your phone matter, yes. An NXI recorder tells people and vehicles apart from everything else. Rain, pets, moths and headlights stop setting off notifications, and you can search recordings by person or vehicle.
It can also add that filtering to a limited number of cameras that don't have AcuSense themselves. That makes it a cost-effective upgrade for an existing system. Read more in our Hikvision AcuSense guide.
Step 5: What size hard drive do I need?
Storage depends on how many cameras, their resolution and frame rate, whether you record all the time or only on events, and how many days you need to keep.
Licensed premises are often asked for 31 days. Most homes are happy with two to three weeks.
Rough guide: four 4MP cameras recording all the time with H.265+ keep around two to three weeks on a 2TB drive. 8MP cameras need roughly double.
Two-bay recorders (K2, I2, M2) let you add a second drive instead of replacing the first.
Always use a surveillance-rated hard drive, which is designed for 24/7 writing. Tell us your cameras and retention target and we will size the drive, fit it and format it before dispatch.
What if my cameras use coax cable?
If your cameras are wired in coax rather than network cable, you need a DVR, not an NVR. The iDS-7204HUHI-K1/4S and iDS-7208HUHI-K1/4S AcuSense DVRs reuse the existing cable and still accept a few IP cameras. Browse all DVRs.
Why buy your Hikvision NVR from us?
Authorised Hikvision partner: genuine UK stock with manufacturer warranty and UK firmware, not grey imports.
Operating since 2012, supplying trade and retail, with delivery across England, Scotland and Wales within 1–2 working days, or collection from our Wolverhampton trade counter and live showroom.
Advice first: we go through the recorder, cameras, storage and cabling with you so you know what you are getting and how it will work before you commit.
Warranty and support from the source: Hik-Connect setup, adding cameras, SADP activation and password resets, by phone and email.
Need it fitted? We are a supplier, not an installer, but depending on your requirements and area we may be able to recommend a qualified trade installer.
Count the cameras you are fitting now and add the ones you are likely to add later, then choose the next size up. A 4-camera house is usually better served by an 8-channel NVR, because the recorder cannot be expanded later and the price difference is small.
What does /8P or /16P mean on a Hikvision NVR?
It is the number of built-in PoE ports. A DS-7608NXI-K1/8P has eight PoE ports, so eight cameras plug straight into the back of the recorder and take their power and data over one network cable each. Models without a /P suffix have no PoE ports and need a separate PoE switch.
What is the difference between NI and NXI Hikvision NVRs?
NXI models are AcuSense recorders. They can classify humans and vehicles to filter false alarms, including on a limited number of cameras that do not have AcuSense themselves. NI models are standard network video recorders.
What is the difference between K, I and M series Hikvision NVRs?
K series recorders are the mainstream 4K range and suit cameras up to 8MP. I series recorders accept higher resolution cameras, up to 12MP, and have more processing headroom. M series recorders support 8K and very high resolution cameras. The digit after the letter is the number of hard drive bays, so K1 has one bay and K2 has two.
What size hard drive do I need in a Hikvision NVR?
It depends on the number of cameras, their resolution, whether you record continuously or on events, and how many days you want to keep. As a rough guide, four 4MP cameras recording continuously with H.265+ will keep around two to three weeks on a 2TB drive. Tell us your cameras and retention target and we will size it, fit it and format it before dispatch.
Will a Hikvision NVR work with HiLook or other brands of camera?
Hikvision NVRs work with HiLook cameras, which are made by Hikvision. Other brands can usually be added over ONVIF for basic video, but smart features such as AcuSense events and plug-and-play activation work best with Hikvision and HiLook cameras.
