1080P Wi-Fi Security Camera Module

IP Camera/DVR/NVR’s SoC, What’s it? What it does?

SoC is the acronym of System on Chip, it’s the core processor of each IP cameras, DVRs and NVRs. Hence the SoC is the main factor determines the performance of your network CCTV equipment. For IP cameras, the SoC integrates image signal processor (ISP), video codec engine (encoding), digital signal processor (DSP), network peripheral interfaces, intelligent video analysis engine etc all the components.

Unlike personal computers (equipped with Intel or AMD CPUs), users are not able to replace the SoC if planning to upgrade or even repair the system. All IP cameras and standalone DVRs/NVRs use embedded Linux system that stored in NAND flash, updating or upgrading the operating system needs to flash the firmware.

IP Camera SoC Block Diagram
IP Camera SoC Block Diagram

Besides the CMOS image sensor, SoCs become the most expensive component in your CCTV equipment. Today’s top-notch SoC has 4K UHD video encoding and decoding in H.265/H.264 standard capability. No matter we choose the IP cameras or DVRs and NVRs, we need to pay attention to which SoC has been utilized in the hardware design of the device. Generally, a high-end SoC is equivallent to high-end IP security equipment. Many factors determine the performance of the SoC, they are:

  • Architecture of the SoC, dual core or quad-core, speed
  • ISP capability including WDR, HDR, DOL etc
  • Encoding/Decoding capability
  • Maximum resolution and frame rate
  • Network and other I/O peripheral interfaces (e.g. 100Mbps or 1Gbps)

As long as we know which the SoC has been used, we are able to do comparison for IP cameras which share the similar features from different brands. However, many IP camera manufacturers don’t disclose the SoC that they use in their products. Amabrella, Hisilicon, Texas Instruments are three prominent and common manufacturers in the IP security SoC field. Well known IP security equipment brands such as Hikvision and Dahua mainly adopt the Ambarella SoC, Uniview and Tiandy uses Hisilicon SoC.

Hisilicon NVR SoC
Hisilicon NVR SoC

Hisilicon SoC for IP CCTV System

Application Model Core Encoding Codec ISP Features/Decoding Mark
IP Camera Hi3518EV200/201 ARM926@550MHz 1280x960 30fps / 1920x1080 15fps H.264 DWDR, Tone Mapping Mainstream
  Hi3516CV100/200 ARM926@440/550MHz 1080P 30fps+VGA 30fps H.264 DWDR, Tone Mapping Mainstream
  Hi3516CV300 ARM926@800MHz 1080P 30fps+720p 30fps H.264/H.265 WDR, Tone Mapping Mainstream
  Hi3516DV100  Cortex A7@600MHz 3MP 30fps / 4MP25fps / 5MP 15fps  H.264/H.265 WDR, Tone Mapping Advanced
  Hi3516AV100 Cortex A7@600MHz 5MP 30fps + VGA 30fps H.264/H.265 WDR, Tone Mapping Mainstream
  Hi3519V101 Cortex This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.+Cortex A7@800MHz  4K 30fps + 1080P 30fps H.264/H.265  4-frame WDR Advanced
 HD DVR Hi3520DV200 Cortex A9@660MHz 4CH 720P 25fps + 4CH CIF 25fps  H.264 1CH 720P Decoding Entry-level
  Hi3520DV300  Cortex A7@800MHz 4CH 720P 25fps + 4CH CIF 25fps  H.264 4CH 720P Decoding  Mainstream
  Hi3521AV100  Cortex This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 4CH 1080P 30fps + 4CH CIF 30fps H.264 1CH 1080P Decoding Mainstream
  Hi3531AV100 Dual-core ARM Cortex This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  8Ch 1080P 30fps + 8CH CIF 30fps H.264 4CH 1080P Decoding  Mainstream
 NVR Hi3535V100  Dual-core ARM Cortex This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 1CH 1080P 30fps H.264 5CH 1080P 30fps Mainstream
  Hi3536CV100 Dual-core ARM Cortex A7 @1.3 GHz 1CH 1080P 30fps H.264/H.265 4CH 1080P 30fps Multifunctional
  Hi3536V100 Quad-core ARM Cortex A17 @1.4 GHz + Mali-T720 GPU 2CH 1080P 30fps H.264/H.265 4CH 4K 30fps Multifunctional

Ambarella SoC for IP Cameras

Application Model Core Encoding Codec ISP Features/Decoding Mark
IP Camera S2L Cortex-A9 CPU 5MP 30fps H.264 WDR/Multi-exposure HDR Offering S2Lm low-power version
  S2E Cortex-A9 CPU @1GHz 4K or 8MP 30fps H.264 WDR/Multi-exposure HDR Mainstream
  S3L Cortex-A9 CPU @1GHz 5MP 30fps H.264/H.265 WDR/Multi-exposure HDR S3Lm low-power version
  S5L Cortex®-A53 4K 30fps H.264/H.265 WDR/Multi-exposure HDR Advanced

Texas Instruments SoC for IP Cameras

Application Model Core Encoding Codec Video Acceleration Mark
IP Camera DM369 ARM9 Max. 432MHz CPU 1080P 30fps H.264 1 MJCP, 1 HDVICP 100Mbps
  DM368 ARM9 Max. 432MHz CPU 1080P 30fps H.264 1 MJCP, 1 HDVICP 100Mbps
  DM365 ARM9 Max. 300MHz CPU 720P 30fps H.264 1 MJCP, 1 HDVICP 100Mbps
  DM388 Cortex-A8 Max. 1GHz CPU 1080P 60fps H.264 HDVICP2 1Gbps
  DM385 Cortex-A8 Max. 1GHz CPU 1080P 60fps H.264 HDVICP2 1Gbps

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