Dell T5400 still usable?

B

bwoodroaster

I have been using Dell Workstations since the post from @WinstonTJ back in 2014 and have recently lost the power supply on my Dell T5400 (Specs Below). I have been using my ThinkPad T560 or x250 in a dock with dual monitors just fine for the time being. Research proves the T5400 still works, but is it just time to move on? My Thinkpad will support a 4K monitor, so I was thinking maybe it is time to upgrade. I could probably do most of my trading on an iPad realistically. I even looked at going to a VDI / Daas / AWS Workspace option on a Chromebox / NUC setup. My needs are ThinkorSwim / MT4 / Chrome / Firefox / MS Office, but almost all of those could live in the browser.

T5400 Dual CPU e5430
32GB Ram
SAMSUNG SSD (network sync for backups)
2 Quadro 600's
It is pretty stripped down, no DVD or excess junk inside.

Thinkpads are both 16GB / SSD
I have a pro dock, two monitors connected and they just work.

Before I start overthinking am I missing anything here?


* I should also add that bigger setup / more monitors has not made me any more profitable, so my needs rely more in context, systematic approach / prep to markets I trade.
 
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I have Dell computers.
Dell likes to use proprietary parts ie parts are not standard.
So if your PSU is damaged, you have to go to Dell to get replacement.

How many monitors needed for trading?
It depends on what sort of traders you are.
I do day trading. So speed and having a good overall view of what's happening in the world is important. Ideally, I'd love to have four 42" monitors, portrait format
with special high chair to view the portrait format monitors.

If you are not doing day trading, then more monitors may not make sense.
 
I can source the power supply as a refurb for $50 +/- , so I'm not so worried about the proprietary nature of Dell for this machine. I am more concerned that it has passed the usefulness in a modern trading environment similar to what you would use at a prop firm. I had 4 monitors setup before. I am not "day trading" necessarily. I am trading currencies on a daily to weekly tf, futures intraday, equities 1-3month tf typically. This is why the 43" 4k monitor and Intel NUC or just Laptop seems appealing.

Maybe this is just a dumb question since this is part of how I make a living... Moving to a new computer is always such a pain.
 
(My opinion...) You're spot on with your paranoia, and spot on with your doubt.

Your system has LOTS of years of use to go -- the primary bottleneck in 2019 is not CPU, but GPU, which you have covered. Power supply? A quick couple of clicks off eBay and you're all set.

To address your paranoia? Set out now to price your replacement: if the whole thing had a melt-down tomorrow, with what would you replace it? You can spend the next twelve hours answering that in detail -- writing down your reasoning -- maybe save a couple of eBay searches in your account -- and revisit all of this every 6-months for an hour. If the death-stroke comes? Your a couple clicks away, again.

[Oh, that and a reliable, off-site hard-drive....!]

That's my vote, anyway. Having survived a good bit over the years.
 
bwoodroaster said:
I have been using Dell Workstations since the post from @WinstonTJ back in 2014 and have recently lost the power supply on my Dell T5400 (Specs Below). I have been using my ThinkPad T560 or x250 in a dock with dual monitors just fine for the time being. Research proves the T5400 still works, but is it just time to move on? My Thinkpad will support a 4K monitor, so I was thinking maybe it is time to upgrade. I could probably do most of my trading on an iPad realistically. I even looked at going to a VDI / Daas / AWS Workspace option on a Chromebox / NUC setup. My needs are ThinkorSwim / MT4 / Chrome / Firefox / MS Office, but almost all of those could live in the browser.

T5400 Dual CPU e5430
32GB Ram
SAMSUNG SSD (network sync for backups)
2 Quadro 600's
It is pretty stripped down, no DVD or excess junk inside.

Thinkpads are both 16GB / SSD
I have a pro dock, two monitors connected and they just work.

Before I start overthinking am I missing anything here?


* I should also add that bigger setup / more monitors has not made me any more profitable, so my needs rely more in context, systematic approach / prep to markets I trade.
More...

If you can run W10 on your T5400, you're good until the hardware breaks down (should you care to use it that long).

Look for used PSU on ebay.
 
bwoodroaster said:
I have been using Dell Workstations since the post from @WinstonTJ back in 2014 and have recently lost the power supply on my Dell T5400 (Specs Below). I have been using my ThinkPad T560 or x250 in a dock with dual monitors just fine for the time being. Research proves the T5400 still works, but is it just time to move on? My Thinkpad will support a 4K monitor, so I was thinking maybe it is time to upgrade. I could probably do most of my trading on an iPad realistically. I even looked at going to a VDI / Daas / AWS Workspace option on a Chromebox / NUC setup. My needs are ThinkorSwim / MT4 / Chrome / Firefox / MS Office, but almost all of those could live in the browser.

T5400 Dual CPU e5430
32GB Ram
SAMSUNG SSD (network sync for backups)
2 Quadro 600's
It is pretty stripped down, no DVD or excess junk inside.

Thinkpads are both 16GB / SSD
I have a pro dock, two monitors connected and they just work.

Before I start overthinking am I missing anything here?


* I should also add that bigger setup / more monitors has not made me any more profitable, so my needs rely more in context, systematic approach / prep to markets I trade.
More...
You can buy a Power supply online for like $40. https://www.newegg.com/
 
bwoodroaster said:
Thanks guys. To eBay it is. :thumbsup:
More...

My Dell T3500s have a PSU with a modular connection. I don't know how generic or proprietary it is, there there are many new and used eBay for $60/$30-ish. Easy to replace.

I suspect there's something similar available for the T5400.

A primary advantage to getting a Dell replacement is that they put the wiring harness between the mobo and the case side... which keeps it from cluttering the inside. (You could do that with any PSU if you wanted to take the mobo out and replace it.)

If you don't want to use the Dell PSU, you can always buy a standard one and have the wiries "in the way".
 
Yes, correct. It is an easy eBay refurb purchase for under $50. It is a 875watt power supply so the Dell part replacement is worth it. I might even throw a USB 3.0 card in there while I have it taken apart.
 
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