Multi Monitor Video Card

Quote from gnome:

If you get 290's, you'll probably have to buy new from a retailer... they just are not that common yet. Cost for 2, approx $300.

Or, you could get 2, 285s on eBay for around $60 -$80.

The 290s have 256MB VRAM (specifically for Vista), the 285s [mostly... the earliest ones have 64MB RAM, but availability is low] have 128MB VRAM. Both are "overkill" for trading. (That G200 OP is concerned about has only 32MB VRAM to run 4 monitors... 8MB/monitor... and that is adequate. And I used to run the same program setup I have now with 4 ATI singleheads, each with only 4MB RAM... even they never skipped a beat.)
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The T-3400 comes with the Nvidia NVS 290 x16. In their specifications they say that if you want 4 monitors, you can use the Nvidia NVS 290 x1 PCIe card. About $150. I don't get the difference between x1 and x16....don't understand the nomenclature.

By the way, is there any reason to upgrade the power supply to 525Watts from 375 Watts?

OldTrader
 
Quote from armoured saint:

I'm getting sick of buying into the bloat-ware. Just read an article that claimed to run Vista efficiently with your apps you may need at least 4 GIGS of RAM! WTF? 8 would be better! Jesus..8 freaking GIGS! And that's just to get it loaded.

20 yrs ago i could land a shuttle on moon with 512K :D

Seriously,
Is LINUX a viable alternative for trading software. Can it be made to work? I hate inefficient use of resources and have an uneasy feeling that VISTA is FULL OF IT!
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I think the computer that landed the first moon mission had 64k of ram.

John
 
Quote from OldTrader:

The T-3400 comes with the Nvidia NVS 290 x16. In their specifications they say that if you want 4 monitors, you can use the Nvidia NVS 290 x1 PCIe card. About $150. I don't get the difference between x1 and x16....don't understand the nomenclature.

By the way, is there any reason to upgrade the power supply to 525Watts from 375 Watts?

OldTrader
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The x16 card fits into the x16 PCIE slot on the mobo. The x1 card fits into ANY PCIE slot on the mobo... the bottom part of the card where it plugs into the slot is longer or shorter for the various sizes. The x16 has larger bandwidth, but the x1 is adequate for trading.

You can't alter a PSU to "upgrade" it... just replace with bigger. The PSU is one part not to skimp on the quality.
 
RAM restrictions are the only reason I am upgrading. My Dell 4400 has a limit of 1 gig, which now maxes out now when running too many DOM entry screens along with my charting, and I run XP. Just a recent prob, but still want 2 gigs with XP, would get min of 3 with Vista. I like having plenty of excess cause future software upgrades may be hogs whether its my OS, TA software, or broker software.

Just my opinion. Besides, desktop RAM is cheap unless you buy it from Dell!

Quote from gnome:

Don't necessarily agree with "get lots of RAM". The correct amount is "enough so that a modest amount remains available.. above what your system is using when all of your apps are running". For many people, that will be only 512MB... I know, that's heresy.... But if you check your Task Manager and Physical Memory Available, you'll see how much "room" you have. Buying excess RAM is mostly a waste of money.

The reason "lots of RAM" is probably not really necessary is because Windows is quite efficient at paging out lower priority functions and leaving plenty of physical RAM available, "just in case" it's needed.

Of course anybody can buy 2-4G of RAM, but if it just sits there unused, why have it?

As for Vista... what little bit I've read (and that's been only a little because I have zero interest in ever running it myself) says that Vista trys to "cache almost everything" during a session. In Vista's case, perhaps "the more RAM the better".
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Jeez, the guy makes a few bucks on an ES short and next thing you know he's upgrading computers.....:p
Quote from OldTrader:

Several years ago I installed a Matrox G200 MMS video card in an older Dell Computer, to operate 4 monitors. It has worked well.

I'm just getting started in upgrading my computer. Will probably get a new Dell. I'm wondering when I do whether I can re-install the Matrox G200 MMS video card in the new computer.

I notice that the Matrox website does not show the G200. Either I didn't look hard enough or they don't support it anymore. Any problems with reinstalling the G200?

OldTrader
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Quote from wwx:

OldTrader

If you plan to get a new Dell to run 4 monitors, the new Precision T3400 is worth a serious look. It allows the use of 2 PCIe x16 display cards, and can be configured with 2 Quadro NVS 290 cards which, as gnome pointed out previously, is one of the best graphics cards for trading (and relatively inexpensive to boot). 2 NVS 290 cards support a total of 4 (DVI) LCD panels.

Happy trading!

wwx
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I took a look at the tech specifications on the T3400. Here's what they said about video card slots:

Slots
2 PCI-e x16 graphics slots
1 PCI-e x8 slot wired as x4
3 PCI 32bit/33MHz slot with support for 5v cards

So in the case of the T3400 it looks to me like you're right, using 2 quadro NVS 290 PCIe x16 cards would be the ticket, one that comes with the computer, and one that you would buy separately and install.

Anyone disagree with that?

Thanks again for all the input.

OldTrader
 
Quote from Pa(b)st Prime:

Jeez, the guy makes a few bucks on an ES short and next thing you know he's upgrading computers.....:p
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Glad to tell you Pabst that I made a little more than the cost of a new computer. :p

OldTrader
 
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PNY-FX370&src=

http://www2.pny.com/NVIDIA-Quadro-FX-370-PCIE-font-colordc0431NEWfont-P2532C329.aspx

this is what you want...........best card for the money......PNY came out with these professional cards with Directx10, 3D at a entry price for a professional card in hopes you will later upgrade to the super expensive ones.

They will work terrific for trading 2D stuff (thats all charting etc is ) but later if you neeed 3D (vista with interface etc euro etc) you will be good to go, Dierctx10 is what all the new whizbang games will have, so be prepared. Now i never suggest you play games on a trading puter. But this card is an "ALL AROUND" dam good card. Have fun

lets have another week where +6/-6 opening range breakout stuff makes you a champion .. .. :) :eek:
 
OldTrader

Quote from OldTrader:

So in the case of the T3400 it looks to me like you're right, using 2 quadro NVS 290 PCIe x16 cards would be the ticket, one that comes with the computer, and one that you would buy separately and install.
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It's possible to configure a T3400 online and select two NVS 290 cards with a full Dell warranty. There's no need to buy the second one separately.

wwx
 
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