Specs for a comp used only for charting/data ?

I'm getting a new workstation for charting and research only. The one I use now has an AMD turion 64 x2 TL-60 2.0 GHz processor.....4.0 GB of RAM...on vista.

I run eSignal ( 5-7 charts, 5-60 minute bars ) and Market Delta ( 8 or so 5 minute charts ) and have an internet browser up for research/news. On the new comp I'll probably have a newswire up as well (currently its on another one).

So I'm looking for a solid work horse that'll supply my charts/data as an addition to the workstation I trade on (front end software only on that one).

I've been looking seriously at the Dell Studio XPS w/ 2.67GHz Intel Core i7 920 and 6 GB DDR3 RAM. W/ windows XP seems like it be a solid desktop that can do what I need.

I'm not exceptionally computer savvy so I'd like advice on whether the Dell Studio XPS would be sufficient for what I need, if its more than enough, not enough, etc.....what else I may need.

The old comp is being replaced because it has power issues and runs on vista which doesn't work well w/ eSignal...just not reliable enough for data everyday (seems to screw up something every other week).

Thanks in advance.
 
I like the Dell workstation setup and price, and the fact that it comes with XP makes it a solid and dependable machine. You didn't mention which video card you have chosen.

Should be more than enough for a dedicated workstation.
 
Quote from Big AAPL:

I like the Dell workstation setup and price, and the fact that it comes with XP makes it a solid and dependable machine. You didn't mention which video card you have chosen.

Should be more than enough for a dedicated workstation.

Well I need probably four monitors...so I'll probably go w/ the less expensive option w/ quad monitors....unless or would just be easier to swap out an aftermarket one.
 
I sometimes run thinkorswim with as many as 80 charts on 1m bars and it uses something like 10% of my CPU and a few hundred MB of memory on my laptop. I don't see how you'd need more than a $200 desktop running XP for basic charts and browsing.

(Note I don't normally trade that way, I just sometimes like to get the big picture by opening up all my layouts including indices, core sectors, currencies, futures, equities etc.)
 
Quote from usedtowork:

I sometimes run thinkorswim with as many as 80 charts on 1m bars and it uses something like 10% of my CPU and a few hundred MB of memory on my laptop. I don't see how you'd need more than a $200 desktop running XP for basic charts and browsing.



This comp is going to be my source for news as well. Trading is my full time career. I'd rather pay $1000-$1500 bucks for something that'll be a real workhorse w/ all that software, than something that might start freezing every other day.

However....I did just see this on the best buy website and it $436 and seems to have me covered?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9156478&type=product&id=1218038551741

4gb ram expandable to 8gb w/ a quad core AMD....quad core but only 1.8GHz though? Is that the catch?
 
I have had a Dell T3400 Precision Workstation with 4 gigs of RAM and an Intel Core2-Duo Wolfsdale E8200 Processor at 2.60 GHz with a 6mb L2 cache and dual Nvidia NVS-290 graphics cards for the last 2 years now. I use Windows XP Pro.

The Wolfsdale chip runs at only 65 watts as opposed to some of the hotter Intel chips that are currently running at 95 watts. I can always upgrade this LGA-775 socket based chip to an E8500 at 3.16 for $190 on NewEgg, or the E8600 at 3.33 GHz for $270 at a later date. Right now, my trading platform and software needs are easily met with my current processor and RAM.

I paid $900 for the entire rig and it supports 4 monitors. I use DTN "IQ-Feed" ( which recently got upgraded for less demand on the CPU, and greater bandwidth ) as my data-feed.

Couldn't be happier with my set-up.
No problems at all.
:)
 
Quote from Landis82:

I have had a Dell T3400 Precision Workstation with 4 gigs of RAM and an Intel Core2-Duo Wolfsdale E8200 Processor at 2.60 GHz with a 6mb L2 cache and dual Nvidia NVS-290 graphics cards for the last 2 years now. I use Windows XP Pro.

The Wolfsdale chip runs at only 65 watts as opposed to some of the hotter Intel chips that are currently running at 95 watts. I can always upgrade this LGA-775 socket based chip to an E8500 at 3.16 for $190 on NewEgg, or the E8600 at 3.33 GHz for $270 at a later date. Right now, my trading platform and software needs are easily met with my current processor and RAM.

I paid $900 for the entire rig and it supports 4 monitors. I use DTN "IQ-Feed" ( which recently got upgraded for less demand on the CPU, and greater bandwidth ) as my data-feed.

Couldn't be happier with my set-up.
No problems at all.
:)

I'll probably end up going with the same setup actually. Just inquiring about the comp posted.

I use a Dell Precision w/ quadcore as my trading machine and like it alot.

I need to upgrade my IQfeed as well.
 
I do all the crap you're talking about on a single core AMD 3500 with 2 gig of ram,

Dinosaur,


If you want to throw away an extra thousand on a gaming rig, be my guest.
 
Quote from stock777:

I do all the crap you're talking about on a single core AMD 3500 with 2 gig of ram,

Dinosaur,


If you want to throw away an extra thousand on a gaming rig, be my guest.


I'm sure you do, glad you saved the extra grand. It just doesn't make sense for me to not pay it....even if there's barely a chance it'll make a difference. I trade futures w/ pretty big size (5 or 10k cars/day)...a half tick either way is 1250-2500 up or down. So what kind of an asshole would I be if I skimp on my data? Even w/ membership I pay more in fees everyday, its not a big deal to save a few bucks if it means a computer that could be a bit faster.
 
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