Do You Need a Hard Drive for an NVR? My Honest Experience

PRODUCT REVIEW –Amcrest NV1104E 1080p POE NVR (4CH 1080p/3MP/4MP/5MP) Network Video Recorder

When I first started setting up a home security system, I didn’t realize how important the NVR (network video recorder) actually was — or how much setup it might require.

One of the biggest surprises was learning that not all NVR systems come ready to record right out of the box.

If you’re considering a budget NVR system, here’s what I learned from setting one up myself.

When I was researching this NVR, I kept seeing people mention installing a hard drive. I assumed it came with a small one already installed and that people were just upgrading for more storage — but that wasn’t the case.

This unit does not come with a hard drive, even though the manual makes it sound like it does. That’s something to be aware of before buying. You’ll need to purchase and install one separately if you want to record footage.

Luckily, I had an extra hard drive available, but if not, this would have been an unexpected extra cost. It’s also worth noting that it’s designed for a 3.5” drive, so if you’re trying to use a different size, you may need additional parts or adapters.

🔌 Setup & Compatibility

I connected two outdoor cameras to the system. One connected easily, but the second (a POE camera) had some limitations. While I could view it on my computer, it didn’t display properly on the NVR monitor, which was frustrating.

📱 App & Remote Access

I also ran into some issues with the app and remote viewing. At times, the system would show the camera as offline, even though it was working. Customer support confirmed this was a known issue at the time.

On the plus side, support was helpful and walked me through an alternative way to access my cameras remotely.

💻 Mac vs PC Experience

If you’re using a Mac, be aware that compatibility can be limited. I wasn’t able to fully access playback features through my browser, which made the experience less seamless.

This system seems to work more smoothly on a PC.

✅ Final Thoughts

Overall, this NVR works well once everything is set up, and it fits my needs. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• It does not come with a hard drive

• Setup may require extra steps depending on your system

• Mac users may run into limitations

If you’re okay with a bit of setup and troubleshooting, it can still be a solid budget NVR option.

If you’re just getting started, I also shared my experience with a budget home security camera here.

Amcrest NVR buy it here on Amazon