DS-7608NI-I2/8P replacement: current 8-channel PoE NVRs
Which recorders replace the Hikvision DS-7608NI-I2/8P, whether your IP cameras keep working, and what changes on the swap.
The DS-7608NI-I2/8P is an 8-channel Hikvision PoE recorder with two hard drive bays. Of the 8-channel PoE recorders we stock, the DS-7608NI-M2/8P is the closest match, because it also has 8 PoE ports and two SATA bays. The DS-7608NXI-K1/8P is a simpler swap with one bay. Both are ONVIF-compatible network recorders, so IP cameras on the PoE ports should carry over. You will need to set up a hard drive in the new recorder and add it again in the Hik-Connect app.
What the old recorder offered
According to the product specifications published by Security Wholesalers and the Hikvision datasheet, the DS-7608NI-I2/8P records 8 IP cameras at up to 12MP, with 80 Mbps incoming bandwidth. It has 8 built-in plug-and-play PoE ports, two SATA bays, and HDMI output up to 4K with VGA output. Match these figures against your cameras and your storage when you choose a replacement.
Two recorders that fit
Hikvision DS-7608NI-M2/8P: the closest match, with more headroom
This 8-channel NVR has 8 PoE ports and accepts up to 8 IP cameras of up to 32MP, with decoding of 8 channels at 8MP. Incoming bandwidth is up to 128 Mbps, and it uses H.265+, H.265, H.264+ and H.264 video. It keeps the two SATA bays of the old recorder, each taking a drive up to 16TB, with NAS and iSCSI network storage also supported. It has a Gigabit network port and HDMI output up to 8K. Choose it if you use both drive bays today, or want room for higher-resolution cameras.
Hikvision DS-7608NXI-K1/8P: the simpler swap
This 8-channel AcuSense NVR has 8 PoE ports (IEEE 802.3af/at, up to 75 W in total) and 80 Mbps incoming bandwidth, the same as the old recorder. It records up to 12MP and decodes 1 channel at 12MP, 2 at 8MP, 4 at 4MP or 8 at 1080p. It has one SATA bay for a drive up to 10TB and HDMI output up to 4K. Choose it if one drive is enough and your cameras are 4K or below.
Will my existing cameras keep working?
IP cameras on the PoE ports, or elsewhere on your network, should keep working. Both recorders are ONVIF-compatible (the K1 model supports profiles S and G), so Hikvision cameras and most other ONVIF cameras can be added. Check two limits against your cameras. First, the recorder can only decode the resolutions it supports: the K1 model decodes two channels at 8MP, while the M2 model decodes eight. Second, the combined bitrate of all cameras must stay within the incoming bandwidth, 80 Mbps on the K1 model and 128 Mbps on the M2 model. Cameras that need more power than a PoE port gives, or that are not on PoE, need their own power supply or a PoE switch.
What changes when you swap
- Hard drives: drives from the old recorder have to be initialised in the new one, which erases the old footage. Use surveillance-rated drives. The K1 model has one bay, so if you use two drives today, choose the M2 model.
- Hik-Connect: add the new recorder to the app with its own QR code or serial number, then check the cameras appear.
- Settings: recording schedules, motion detection and user passwords are set again on the new recorder.
Live price and delivery are on each product page. Browse all 8-channel NVRs or the full NVR range.
Sources: Hikvision DS-7608NI-I2/8P specifications (Security Wholesalers); Hikvision DS-7608NI-I2/8P datasheet. Specifications of the current recorders are from the product data on this site.