cheap 24/7 computer?

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Hi i'm looking to setup a 24/7 cctv type webcam for my home but i can't find a cheap way of doing it. I'v bought a rasberry pi but it's soo slow and annoying it's useless for using for this purpose. I just need something i can leave on 24/7 all year with windows and a small hard drive. Any suggestions. thanks.
 
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Yeah, second hand would be a good shot. Even an old dell tower could do you just fine, saw a Q6600 machine go on the 'bay for about £60 w/ a monitor!
 
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That Synology Diskstation is it able to run a webcam with motion detect software and able to view it on a tv or is it purely for storage.

I want the cctv setup for my driveway.

You should be able to attach a USB web cam to it, or network IP camera to it as it has a single camera license installed by default.

The surveillance station software allows you to setup all manner of things, including motion detection.

https://www.synology.com/en-uk/support/tutorials/467

However you need a camera that supports motion detection. And if you want it to record 24/7 you will want a camera that can see in the dark and uses infrared light.

Add a 4TB drive and it will do 720p video at 10 frames per second and write over itself every 24 hours. You'll need a more powerful NAS for more FPS or longer write over times. My DS413J will do 1080p at 30fps write over every 24 hours.

The following link you can pin down a specific NAS for your requirements.
https://www.synology.com/en-uk/support/nvr_selector/

The following link you can demo the Synology operating system, including seeing how the functionality of the surveillance station software is laid out.
http://www.synology.com/en-uk/products/dsm_livedemo

In short, the cheapest way to do surveillance is through a NAS, and it doesn't actually work out that cheap once you factor in the NAS, HDD and camera. But it's cheaper than trying to build or buy a custom computer for it as well as camera and then a windows license and then surveillance software.
 
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How about a second hand nettop?

The HP Microservers are great bits of kit also and can be had for £100 after cashback.

A nettop is no more powerful than a NAS in most cases. Unless it's using newer Intel Atom processors, in which case you're not going to get one for under £100, even second hand, unless you're lucky. And there's quite a few Synology NAS's that use new Intel Atoms as well, but they're not cheap (the DS112J and my DS413J use Marvell ARM chips, just at different clock speeds).

The HP micro server is a good buy. But then you still need to buy an IP camera (such as Foscam), an HDD or two, a Windows license and surveillance software. Or you could use an open source alternative. But then that comes down to how handy you are with Linux / Unix and if you think the hassle is worth the time when you could buy a NAS that has it already done for you (I can use Linux / Unix quite happily and I choose to use a Synology because screwing around is not worth the time).
 
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I already have a 1080p webcam i intend to use with motion software i just need something small compact preferably silent i can hide away under my desk which supports windows and it's cheap as possible.
 
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