Should I build my own or buy refurbished

Quote from Scataphagos:

That's plenty. You should be able to get 4 x 24" for $1,200 or less, leaving $1300 for the computer.

ANY modern computer with at least 2, PCIEx16 slots will run 4 monitors on W7.

My choice would be a Dell Precision T3600 from their Outlet site. Don't concern yourself about "new"... Outlet computers come with same warranty as new. If you can be a bit patient, you can find almost exactly what you want for a good price. If I were buying one today and with some consideration to performance, I'd go for E5-1620 CPU, 4-8GB RAM, and 2x Nvidia Quadro NVS 310 or 315 video cards. Dell sometimes has their 24", 1920x1200 monitors for ~ $260 each.

HP will have a comparable workstation as the Dell but at several $Hundred more. (Both use OEM mobos made by Foxconn... might even be to the same spec.)
More...

Thank you so much!
 
6:05AM MDT...

I just checked the outlet site...

Precision T3600 •Processor: Intel Xeon Four Core E5-1620 Processor (3.6GHz, 10M, Turbo)
•Windows 7 Professional
•2TB, 7200 RPM 3.5 inch SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive
•8GB, DDR3 UDIMM Memory, 1600MHz, Non-ECC (4 x 2 GB DIMMs)
•8X DVD +/- RW Drive
•Dual 512 MB NV Quadro NVS 300, Quad Monitor
•Dell Outlet Precision Fixed Workstation T3600, 635W Tower

$819.

If interested, better snatch it up. This deal usually doesn't last long.
 
Quote from Scataphagos:

6:05AM MDT...

I just checked the outlet site...

Precision T3600 •Processor: Intel Xeon Four Core E5-1620 Processor (3.6GHz, 10M, Turbo)
•Windows 7 Professional
•2TB, 7200 RPM 3.5 inch SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive
•8GB, DDR3 UDIMM Memory, 1600MHz, Non-ECC (4 x 2 GB DIMMs)
•8X DVD +/- RW Drive
•Dual 512 MB NV Quadro NVS 300, Quad Monitor
•Dell Outlet Precision Fixed Workstation T3600, 635W Tower

$819.

If interested, better snatch it up. This deal usually doesn't last long.
More...

Above deal gone. Here's an equivalent deal.... more powerful video card + 16GB ECC RAM..

Precision T3600 •Processor: Intel Xeon Four Core E5-1620 Processor (3.6GHz, 10M, Turbo)
•Windows 7 Professional
•1TB, 7200 RPM 3.5 inch SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive
•16GB, DDR3 RDIMM Memory, 1600MHz, ECC (4 x 4GB DIMMs)
•8X DVD +/- RW Drive
•1 GB nVIDIA Quadro 600,Dual Monitor,1DP and 1DVI
•Dell Outlet Precision Fixed Workstation T3600, 635W Tower

$929

Priced on the retail website, $1,800.
 
Or this....


Precision T3600 •Processor: Intel Xeon Four Core E5-1603 Processor (2.8GHz, 10M)
•Windows 7 Professional
•250GB, 7200 RPM 3.5 inch SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive
•8GB, DDR3 UDIMM Memory, 1600MHz, Non-ECC (4 x 2 GB DIMMs)
•8X DVD +/- RW Optical Drive
•1 GB nVIDIA Quadro 600,Dual Monitor,1DP and 1DVI
•Dell Outlet Precision Fixed Workstation T3600, 635W Tower

$619

Passmark score on this E5-1603 = 5463. E5-1620 = 9177. Still, the 1603 has plenty enough horsepower for trading.
 
Scat,
So I am using a Gateway that suffers from BSOD- Blue screen of Death, frustrating to restart so I just leave it on. Every time it shuts down it is a pain in the ass.

Likely that my main computer liimitation is the net traffic speed.

Current Gateway DX4300
Vista Premium
AMD Phenom 9750 Quad Core 2.4GHz
8 GB
64 bit

I am not a back testing rocket scientist day trader.
I am "Joe retail" that does not do a lot.

The prices on systems you post are very easy for me to justify but the power supply seems like I would use a lot more power.


Any suggestions on what to get from Dell for an updated system that ought not crash so much?

Thank you.
 
Quote from nursebee:

Scat,
So I am using a Gateway that suffers from BSOD- Blue screen of Death, frustrating to restart so I just leave it on. Every time it shuts down it is a pain in the ass.

The prices on systems you post are very easy for me to justify but the power supply seems like I would use a lot more power.


Any suggestions on what to get from Dell for an updated system that ought not crash so much?

Thank you.
More...

1. Your BSOD issue is most likely due to software.... drivers the usual culprits. The error code will direct you to the source. When you get a new computer, suggest using your current one as a backup or to run a portion of your trading setup.... and with a fresh OS install. "Regular crashing" should not occur at all... means you have a problem. Find and fix.

2. Most modern computers run about 125-200W at idle, so Dell's PSUs aren't an issue. The prior generation T3400/T3500 came with either 325W or 375W. The T3600s are 425W(?) and 635W. T5600/T7600 I believe come with 850W. You generally only need a big PSU when running a high action game and especially at high res.

As far as Dell computers... for trading I recommend only Precision T34xx or higher. Precision is their best quality line and has the best tech support. (They've had a cheaper one at the bottom of the Precision line, but the specs always seem too el-cheapo.... like they're trying to sell a low-end computer with the Precision name.)

Dell's lesser lines are about the same as other makers' average, consumer computers.... but Precision is quite good all around.
 
Yesterday a T3600 with E5-1620 was available for $719. Gone now. There are a lot of people who check Dell Outlet frequently for the really good deals.... they don't last long. In fact, 4 times I've clicked to "Add to Cart" only to get the message, "no longer available".... that is, some other bargain seeker beat me to it by seconds.

You need to know what you want and what would be a good price for it. Then when you see it, jump on it. Don't dilly-dally "thinking about it", as it may be gone before you're done thinking.
 
Above deal gone. Here's an equivalent deal.... more powerful video card + 16GB ECC RAM..

Precision T3600 •Processor: Intel Xeon Four Core E5-1620 Processor (3.6GHz, 10M, Turbo)
•Windows 7 Professional
•1TB, 7200 RPM 3.5 inch SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive
•16GB, DDR3 RDIMM Memory, 1600MHz, ECC (4 x 4GB DIMMs)
•8X DVD +/- RW Drive
•1 GB nVIDIA Quadro 600,Dual Monitor,1DP and 1DVI
•Dell Outlet Precision Fixed Workstation T3600, 635W Tower


Scat,

Can you suggest what cards and which slots to use, for a six monitor setup.

The MB has six slots:
1. PCI slot
2. PCIe x16 slot (wired as x4 )
3. PCIe x16 slot
4. PCIe x1 slot
5. accelerated graphics port (PCIe x16 )
6. PCIe x16 slot (wired as x4 )

thanks
 
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