14 monitor setup

[Dart]

Well, I'm working on setting up 14 monitors to run off one pc. Anyone tried this? Seems a bit challenging. I'm waiting on my displayport MST hubs to come so I can run six monitors off each ati radeon video card, and I've got two of them so 12 of them hopefully will run off of the pci express cards. My 12 monitors are running 1920x1080 each, 4 are 21.5 inch, and 8 are 23 inch widescreen, and then my two middle ones (one above the other) are running 2560x1600, 30 inch dell IPS displays. I'm going to power the two main big monitors hopefully from the two hdmi ports on my video card, and run the other 10 from the hubs and two dvi connectors on the cards. Then for the 13th and 14th monitor I'm running two usb displaylink adapters.

The stands for the two 30 inch monitors (one above the other) are kinda rare, in fact I only found one company that makes them, Chief model KTP230B.

For the other monitors I am running three high single stands for each stack of three, so four of those stands. I got them on ebay for a good price, $85 a stand shipped.

My resolution is 3200 pixels high with the two big displays, and 3240 on my three little ones. The three little ones are 40 pixels taller than the two 30 inch screens, so a little bit more screen on my stacks of three monitors. Sidenote: I got all my little monitors for $130 or less on newegg shipped, and they are all IPS displays so wide viewing angle.

All the little monitors will all run on hdmi, converted from displayport and dvi.

My operating system is Windows 7 ultimate 64bit, on an 8 core 4ghz AMD processor with 16gb ram, and raided solid state hard drives with HD 7850 and 7970 ATI video cards.

Any thoughts on my setup?

 

[wrbtrader]

Quote from Dart:

Well, I'm working on setting up 14 monitors to run off one pc. Anyone tried this? Seems a bit challenging. I'm waiting on my displayport MST hubs to come so I can run six monitors off each ati radeon video card, and I've got two of them so 12 of them hopefully will run off of the pci express cards. My 12 monitors are running 1920x1080 each, 4 are 21.5 inch, and 8 are 23 inch widescreen, and then my two middle ones (one above the other) are running 2560x1600, 30 inch dell IPS displays. I'm going to power the two main big monitors hopefully from the two hdmi ports on my video card, and run the other 10 from the hubs and two dvi connectors on the cards. Then for the 13th and 14th monitor I'm running two usb displaylink adapters.

The stands for the two 30 inch monitors (one above the other) are kinda rare, in fact I only found one company that makes them, Chief model KTP230B.

For the other monitors I am running three high single stands for each stack of three, so four of those stands. I got them on ebay for a good price, $85 a stand shipped.

My resolution is 3200 pixels high with the two big displays, and 3240 on my three little ones. The three little ones are 40 pixels taller than the two 30 inch screens, so a little bit more screen on my stacks of three monitors. Sidenote: I got all my little monitors for $130 or less on newegg shipped, and they are all IPS displays so wide viewing angle.

All the little monitors will all run on hdmi, converted from displayport and dvi.

My operating system is Windows 7 ultimate 64bit, on an 8 core 4ghz AMD processor with 16gb ram, and raided solid state hard drives with HD 7850 and 7970 ATI video cards.

Any thoughts on my setup?

Do you already know someone doing something similar via one PC only ?

I've seen 10 monitor setups on one PC but they were not traders and they didn't mind the buggy (slow) web browsing. They're friends doing youth hockey presentation at an international hockey tournament.

 

[Dart]

Quote from wrbtrader:

Do you already know someone doing something similar via one PC only ?

I've seen videos of people that have done this, but no, I don't actually know any other traders in person where I live that have.

 

[Dart]

Quote from wrbtrader:

I've seen 10 monitor setups on one PC but they were not traders and they didn't mind the buggy (slow) web browsing. They're friends doing youth hockey presentation at an international hockey tournament.

In response to your edit, I'd say that's not gonna happen with an 8 core 4ghz processor, and most of the monitors running on gaming grade video cards. Also, I'm running usb 3.0 on the additional displaylink cards, so those should be pretty fast too I think.

 

[wrbtrader]

Quote from Dart:

I've seen videos of people that have done this, but no, I don't actually know any other traders in person where I live that have.

What's wrong with doing such via two PCs considering you're doing this for trading and two PCs will essentially ensure you have one backup just in case one of the PCs fails or crashes doing a trade with your hard earned money on the line.

Simply, I've learned a long time ago to NOT trade via one PC only without any backup computer already booted up and ready to go when (not if) the worst happens while I'm in the middle of a trade.

This has saved my butt on three occasions in the past 12 years.

 

[Dart]

Not a bad idea, I'll probably add a second pc sooner or later to the setup, though at this point my backup most likely will be a laptop. However, using two mice to navigate the screens is why I want to set it up to run on one pc, so I can drag things around the monitors, and easily navigate them on a daily basis. In my time trading I've always had a backup ready to go just in case, running in the background. Thus far I personally have never used it though, so I doubt I'd do any serious trading on a second pc unless the main one fails for some reason.

I grew up fixing computers, so mine run pretty smoothly though. I'm incidentally A+ certified as well.

 

[wrbtrader]

Quote from Dart:

Not a bad idea, I'll probably add a second pc sooner or later to the setup, though at this point my backup most likely will be a laptop. However, using two mice to navigate the screens is why I want to set it up to run on one pc, so I can drag things around the monitors, and easily navigate them on a daily basis. In my time trading I've always had a backup ready to go just in case, running in the background. Thus far I personally have never used it though, so I doubt I'd do any serious trading on a second pc unless the main one fails for some reason.

I grew up fixing computers, so mine run pretty smoothly though. I'm incidentally A+ certified as well.

What markets you trading that would require you to use 14 monitor setup ?

Yet, I'm aware that you may be using a trade strategy for one market that requires you to watch other price actions to help with trading that one particular market.

 

[Dart]

Quote from wrbtrader:

What markets you trading that would require you to use 14 monitor setup ?

Yet, I'm aware that you may be using a trade strategy for one market that requires you to watch other price actions to help with trading that one particular market.

I used to trade silver futures, and three 1600x1200 pixel 21 inch crt's was plenty. I'm looking at trading currencies, which it seems are rather interdependent, so the more markets you can watch at a time the better it seems. This setup was so cheap I didn't really try to justify it, as I'm not trading currencies yet. I figure I can use them, since so many markets come into play with something as broad as a currency.

 

[wrbtrader]

Quote from Dart:

I used to trade silver futures, and three 1600x1200 pixel 21 inch crt's was plenty. I'm looking at trading currencies, which it seems are rather interdependent, so the more markets you can watch at a time the better it seems. This setup was so cheap I didn't really try to justify it, as I'm not trading currencies yet. I figure I can use them, since so many markets come into play with something as broad as a currency.

I don't know where you're setting up your system at (home or retail office), lighting in the office, ventilation and so on...

I will tell you that typically a trader can efficiently handle 3 - 4 monitors full of charts on each monitor. Thus, as you increase the number of monitors beyond 3 - 4 monitors...you should be monitoring LESS charts on each monitor to prevent information overload. Also, that many monitors has a psychological impact on the human brain...traders having problems shutting down after each day, focusing problems, increased levels of stress...more difficulty in unplugging mentally from the markets when needed during their real (in person) social interactions.

So the more markets you can watch at a time the better it seems

Therefore, the issue is two fold...the number of markets you're watching by yourself via the number of monitors and/or other devices without the help of anyone else in the same office. In addition, the other issue is the "room environment"...the more information you're trying to process...the more important your environment becomes.

I know the above opinion isn't what you were asking about. Yet, consider this, your workplace with workstation do impact your trading...good or bad unless you're fully automated and you're out of the office playing golf or something.

* Start slow with a few currency markets on only a few monitors.

P.S. I've been trading +25 years and via my network of personal friends that are institutional traders and retail traders...14 monitors for currency trading will (not maybe) cause you a ton of problems.

 

[Dart]

Quote from wrbtrader:

I don't know where you're setting up your system at (home or retail office), lighting in the office, ventilation and so on...

I will tell you that typically a trader can efficiently handle 3 - 4 monitors full of charts on each monitor. Thus, as you increase the number of monitors beyond 3 - 4 monitors...you should be monitoring LESS charts on each monitor to prevent information overload.

Also, that many monitors has a psychological impact on the human brain...traders having problems shutting down after each day, focusing problems, increased levels of stress...more difficulty in unplugging mentally when needed.

So the more markets you can watch at a time the better it seems

Therefore, the issue is two fold...the number of markets you're watching by yourself via the number of monitors and/or other devices without the help of anyone else in the same office. In addition, the other issue is the "room environment"...the more information you're trying to process...the more important your environment becomes.

I know the above opinion isn't what you were asking about. Yet, consider this, your workplace with workstation will eventually impact your trading...good or bad.

* Start slow with a few currency markets on only a few monitors.

P.S. I've been trading +25 years and via my network of personal friends that are institutional traders and retail traders...14 monitors for currency trading will (not maybe) cause you a ton of problems.

Depends on trading style, and no I'm not gonna do what most people do, cram a bunch of charts per monitor. I like to work with full charts, to feel the overall trend. I've done work with fewer monitors already, I tried three 30 inch monitors and it clearly did not allow me to monitor enough markets without making the charts small and less easy to discern. I see your point, but I do not agree that it will be a problem. I appreciate your concern though.

I'm set up in a family room, with not much else in it but my trading system. So plenty of airy space around. It wont be too cramped I hope.