So... You Don't Know Much About Computers.. but you need one for trading?

Quote from gnome:

Unless you have special needs from your software (like perhaps custom indicators or certain Java apps), most trading apps run almost entirely from RAM. Therefore, a fast CPU doesn't make much difference except at boot, shutdown, loading apps... etc. Once everything is loaded, the CPU sits idle mostly, waiting for something to do. (My main, 4-monitor rig with TV tuner runs about 2-10% CPU all day... and that's mostly the TV tuner. My other computer, with 2 trading platforms, runs 0% CPU all day except when executing a trade it'll bump up momemtarily. My Aquarium Screen Saver app runs about 30-40% CPU when on a secondary monitor.)

So, any modern C2D CPU or better, on a rig with adequate RAM (2G likely enough for XP), running on WinXP or x64 is probably all that matters.

Also, be sure your mobo has the proper slots [and enough of them] to run the video cards you want.

The rest is just bells and whistles.

High powered video cards not required.
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small edit..
 
Quote from gnome:

Rather than just buying one online at some turnkey shop, why don't you offer one of the knowledgeable ETers a $100 fee... to explain things, go over your needs with you and help you make the buy at the right price.

You'll get what you actually need and save $Hundreds (maybe even a couple of THOUSAND)...
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go to library and use their computer for an hour...
 
Gnome, has good advice. When I built my last computer I was in a trading room and one of the people was up to date on computer components and had very sound advice that he freely gave out if asked. His advice saved me quite a bit of time researching and his advice saved me a few dollars in terms of realizing I didn't need a Quad core top of the line and all the other top of the line goodies for trading. I think thats one of the big fantasies for traders is that they need the high end gamer rig for trading when that just isn't so. A middle of the road is more than enough in most cases, unless you are Maestro. :)) Someday I'll go ahead and build a monster for the fun of it, but for now the wife would kill me....uhh.. I mean I don't need it. :D
 
....i am using xp on a new vostro.....
.... tested out puppy linux..... specifically macpup foxy....
.... internet is twice as fast.....
.... trading platform is twice as fast....
....going to install a linux swap partition......
....this things boots off of a cd.....and can still use the linux swap partition..... while running from ram

....tried previous versions of puppy.... running within ram.... but my available ram would eventually run down......without a swap partition
..... am running this version with no swap installed yet..... and my ram is running strong and not decreasing....

....it is amazing how much faster a computer runs when the os is so much smaller than windows....
 
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