Specs for standard trading computer

T

Texastrader23

I've recently decided to trade for a living (well, I will be in 2-3 months). Of the aspects of trading that I'm organizing prior to making the plunge, hardware is one where I need the most guidance. I'm not savvy enough to build my own, nor do I have the desire to do so. I've searched the various forums on ET, but most relevant entries appear to be outdated. So I'm looking for updated specs (RAM, graphics card, processor, etc) for a computer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Data points:
- Trading standard domestic equities long/short via E*trade (to start) using support/resistance/set-ups/etc
- No sophisticated algorithms or software
- I'd like a Dell, three monitor set-up
- I'd like the ability to run 5-10 real time charts at a time

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Quote from Texastrader23:

Data points:
- Trading standard domestic equities long/short via E*trade (to start) using support/resistance/set-ups/etc
- No sophisticated algorithms or software
- I'd like a Dell, three monitor set-up
- I'd like the ability to run 5-10 real time charts at a time
More...

Your requirements look quite simple. Just about any low-end box you can pick up from a local computer reseller would work. Even Cost Co.

The only thing is: 3 monitors.

Many of the ready-made box can support 2 monitors these days. Look at the specs or the back of the computer. Now with the third one, it can be tricky. You have 2 routes:

#1) Use a USB-to-DVI (or VGA) adapter to drive the third monitor. These adapters are about $50 to $60 each. Resolution 1920x1080. You just plug it to a USB port in the back.

Or

#2) Get a low-end graphics card. It can be PCIe X1 or PCIe X16. But the issue is: with many of the motherboard design, once you have an external graphics card inserted in the bus, the on-board graphics will be disabled. While many of the add-on cards support dual monitors, to support the third, you would need to have a quad card, or use a pair of dual cards. If use 2 dual cards, you need to make sure you have enough expansion slots. And many of the ready-made low-end box don't. That can be a headache.

So the simpler solution is take approach #1.

CPU: Maybe Intel i5 class
RAM: Maybe 8 GB
Disk space: 500GB or above
 
I think he said he would be trading in 2-3 months not need 2-3 monitors.

Any decent even i3 box would probably work.

Try a Gateway SX2865. It's a re-branded Acer box. Cheap, dumb, simple, etc. I bought about 40 of them in bulk not too long ago and deployed them on three trading floors. Specs:

8gb RAM
i3 @ 3.?? ghz (2-core with hyper threadding)
They came with 1TB WD Green drives but we pulled those and put 32GB SSD drives in because we netboot (PxE) and don't allow the monkeys (traders) local storage.

That box to us cost $139.99 each (we bought 40) but for a retail sale these days you can get a refurb for under $300. Take whatever OS comes with it and format the HDD and reinstall a bare OS with none of the junk that comes with it. Run Office 2010 64-bit. (it goes without question either run Windows 7 64-bit or Windows 8.1 64-bit (8.1 is different than 8). I would not wish Vista or Windows 8 on anyone. Make sure you install 64-bit office. You'll want it for Excel)

You can buy something like an NVIDIA NVS 420 for under $100. It's a low-profile, GREAT quad-card that will be robust and last for years. Plugs are a little funky but they are DVI so you get decent resolution. That motherboard supports dual monitors native, one VGA and one HDMI.

Computer for $300, video card for $100 and maybe $60 in RAM... Less than $500 all-in and you are good to go with a great system.

E*Trade loves IE (Internet Explorer) and is a heavy Java platform. It really loves a 64-bit operating system with 4++ gigs of RAM. 8GB and you would be really good to go. E*Trade hates Chrome so don't bother. If you pay for market data I believe you get free CNBC streaming in your platform too - it only works with IE and sucks a lot of memory. (I'm an ex employee and grandfathered in on everything so I don't know what things cost, you may not have some features)

With that machine there is only one HDD bay so you can't run an SSD for your OS AND a HDD for your porn. The motherboard only has two SATA ports so you can't just stick something in there either... unless you want to buy a low-profile PCI-e SSD :). I'd suggest either running a bigger SSD (512 and be done) or just get a decent 1TB or 640GB WD Caviar Black HDD. Set it and forget it. ET Pro platform allows you to save a few layouts on the internet so you don't need a lot of space. If you really want to be trick/slick you'd boot off a 64gb USB thumb drive and then run a spinny drive as your second drive (pm me if you really have questions about that)

The Excel plugin is pretty good - but sucks resources like crazy. Plan on needing every bit of 8GB of RAM if you want your charts and excel open. I'd recommend three monitors if you can, two for charts and one for internet/chat/porn.


That's a no warranty, cheap DIY solution. If you want a warranty and want support, go to Dell, buy whatever Optiplex looks good - i3 or i5 CPU and get a warranty. Still do format and reinstall the operating system if you buy from Dell or HP. Don't buy the add-in video card from Dell or HP. MUCH cheaper to DIY.

Sorry for the long post, hope that helps. get to love IE with E*Trade.
 
Quote from WinstonTJ:

I think he said he would be trading in 2-3 months not need 2-3 monitors.
More...

He did say 2-3 months. But he also said:

- I'd like a Dell, three monitor set-up
 
Search on ebay for a refurbished trading computer. I just bought one for 600 bucks, with good multi-monitor video cards. You don't require much horsepower for what you are doing. Save your money for the learning curve.
 
I really appreciate the guidance. Based on what you've said, I'm thinking of the following Dell:

Model: OptiPlex 3010 Desktop
Processor: 3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i5-3470 Processor (Quad Core, 6MB, 3.20GHz w/HD2500 Graphics)
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional, No Media, 64-bit, English
Memory: 8GB3 DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz
Hard Drive: 1TB 3.5 3.0Gb/s SATA with 32MB DataBurst Cache™
Video Card AMD RADEON™ HD 7470 1GB DDR3 DP/DVI w/VGA & DVI Adapters,LP
Price: $820

It's a little more expensive, but I think it has everything I need (plus a warranty).

Appreciate the thoughts on OS, so going with Windows 7. Also appreciate the E*trade/IE info.

Bolimomo, the video card description above mentions a VGA/DVI adapter. So is it safe to assume that I can just plug the third monitor into the USB via the provided adapter? I'd hate to spend the money then have to do some aftermarket change to get the 3rd monitor.

Thanks again guys, very helpful.
 
Quote from Texastrader23:


Model: OptiPlex 3010 Desktop
Processor: 3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i5-3470 Processor (Quad Core, 6MB, 3.20GHz w/HD2500 Graphics)
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional, No Media, 64-bit, English
Memory: 8GB3 DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz
Hard Drive: 1TB 3.5 3.0Gb/s SATA with 32MB DataBurst Cache™
Video Card AMD RADEON™ HD 7470 1GB DDR3 DP/DVI w/VGA & DVI Adapters,LP
Price: $820
More...

Your custom config is more expensive than what I have seen on Neweggs, which has on for a little over $500.

RE: the AMD HD 7470 card. Was that your own pick? Or did you pick it based on the advice of some Dell rep when you asked them about the need for 3 monitors and that's what they recommend you to use?

Notes:
That's one thing I cannot tell. This Dell model uses Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics. The chip itself, from what I have read, is capable of support 3 screens. Now whether the box maker (Dell) fully utilizes it, I don't know. Did they say, without the add-on AMD HD 7470 card, how many monitors can it run? I assume it's 2. Which is typical. It means you can have connections to 2 external monitors and they will both come right up. But with the third one, you need to rely on some kind of add-on graphics device. See my last post: #1) USB based adapter. #2) Internal PCIe based graphics card. Seems you have chosen #2, and have Dell build it for you. That's the one thing I don't know: when you have the AMD HD 7470 card inserted in the box, whether the onboard HD 2500 graphics will be disabled. Some motherboard it is disabled. Some motherboard it is not. I don't know about Dell's. Maybe that's one thing you won't know until you have the box in your hand.

If the onboard HD 2500 graphics will be disabled, then adding the AMD HD 7470 card will be a waste of money. Because without it, you can drive 2 monitors. With it, you can drive also 2 monitors. I don't know if the Dell rep tells you with it you can drive 4 monitors or what.

If you choose to go with the USB-based graphics adapters, I am sure it will work. But you need to purchase it. The device comes with a software driver CD. It will work.



And BTW: the AMD HP 7470 card is an overkill for trading. About $100. You get a high performance card, which no need for its functions. Like buying a Ferrari for delivering pizzas. May be that's the one card Dell sells through their factory.
 
Win7 Pro 64-bit is very good system (i can't believe I am saying it). all the rest from MSFT is a total crap. make sure you disable automatic updating or your PC will slow to stop in a matter of few weeks.

8GB RAM is a minimum for 64-bit systems (but should suffice if you don't play games while trading).

hard drive is ok but only as a second drive for data storage. i recommend to add one more primary SSD drive where all the programs reside (i.e. 256GB+). this small change will make your computer 10x better performer. it is the most important marginal upgrade you can do to a PC. processors don't matter - especially in your case...

i would not pick 3 monitors but if that's what you wish.... i would buy 2 and if that is not enough then I would buy another 2. most video cards work better with even numbers. make sure your video card handles few more monitors than you actually plan to have...

good luck in trading!


P.S. look at Lenovo high end Thinkstations - they are outstanding...
 
Quote from lescor:

Search on ebay for a refurbished trading computer. I just bought one for 600 bucks, with good multi-monitor video cards. You don't require much horsepower for what you are doing. Save your money for the learning curve.
More...

If the OP will start as professional trader the price of the computer is not important. Why care if it is 1000 or 5000$?
Buy good hardware, good software, good security and good backup and it will save you money later.
A professional trader should make a couple of 1000$ a day, so price is irrelevant.
 
Quote from Texastrader23:

I really appreciate the guidance. Based on what you've said, I'm thinking of the following Dell:

Model: OptiPlex 3010 Desktop
Processor: 3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i5-3470 Processor (Quad Core, 6MB, 3.20GHz w/HD2500 Graphics)
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional, No Media, 64-bit, English
Memory: 8GB3 DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz
Hard Drive: 1TB 3.5 3.0Gb/s SATA with 32MB DataBurst Cache™
Video Card AMD RADEON™ HD 7470 1GB DDR3 DP/DVI w/VGA & DVI Adapters,LP
Price: $820

It's a little more expensive, but I think it has everything I need (plus a warranty).

Appreciate the thoughts on OS, so going with Windows 7. Also appreciate the E*trade/IE info.

Bolimomo, the video card description above mentions a VGA/DVI adapter. So is it safe to assume that I can just plug the third monitor into the USB via the provided adapter? I'd hate to spend the money then have to do some aftermarket change to get the 3rd monitor.

Thanks again guys, very helpful.
More...

Checked the specs on the OptiPlex 3010. Appears to have a budget mobo... 1, x16 slot and 3, x1 slots and onboard video. If I were to buy a new trading rig to run 4 or more monitors, I'd want at least 2, x16 slots.
 
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