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Andrew,
I appreciate your response. As I said to tothers in separate responses,
(if the multiple monitor system under WIN98 works), that is fantastic.
But, when it comes to system critical components and communication, I
tend to be more conservative. i think this is particularly true with
today's prices for components and hardware. As to multiple keyboards,
you're right. That is a problem, (notjust logistically with space, but
with control in terms of mindful separation).
Andrew wrote:
>
> Len,
>
> I agree with you if you want a bullet proof, 24/7 system then multiple
> systems is the way to go, but then you have to deal with all those keyboards
> and all the mice. That can be a nightmare if you day trade. Besides if you
> are really concerned about equipment failure, you need to put in a hot swap
> raid disk array to ensure data integrity, power backups and don't forget hot
> swap power supplies and EEC memory, etc. I am not going to even the
> operating system issues.
>
> The technology for duel monitors available in windows 98 is as good and as
> reliable as other technologies in the PC environment.
> Duel monitors in win98 is not the weak link in the system. The system I saw
> was not at a trade show. It was the main system for a
> former floor trader that is now trading off floor.
>
> I do agree with you that the Irq issue is significant. If there are many
> cards already in the system, you need to find a real pro to set it up. More
> then two monitors could get dicy when it comes to Irq's.
>
> And for the record len, I have worked for Dell computers, Zenith Data
> Systems and ran a software consultancy for 5 years. Suffice it to say, I
> know my way around a computer.
>
> I strongly recommend anyone considering multi-monitors to go for it. It
> really works well in win98 as long as you check the issues I listed in my
> last post.
>
> Andrew. S.
>
> P.s. If you are building a new system from scratch, take a look at the
> Abits BX6 mother board, it has 5 pci slots and the BIOS handles
> multi-monitors. (most new boards do, but not all, so check)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Len Olson <lto@xxxxxxxx>
> To: RealTraders Discussion Group <realtraders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Tuesday, February 23, 1999 6:08 PM
> Subject: Re: hardware set up
>
> >The number of IRQ's is set at fifteen, period. Go into your System
> >section under "Control Panel" and list all of your IRQ'S, (and DMA's,
> >Dynamic Memory Access), and I think you will be truly amazed at how fast
> >those IRQ's and DMA's have become assigned. You may have seen a system
> >running four monitors, (maybe), but that was probably at some trade show
> >where the manufacturer/retailor made damn sure that it worked. Look. it
> >comes down to cost and performance. Why take that chance with the
> >current cost of Pentium II's below $1,000 and 17" monitors well below
> >$300. That is not enough money to worry about. I will say the same
> >thing here that I used to teach at Amarillo College and Tulsa Jr.
> >College: DO NOT EVER SPEND $500 TO SAVE $50. Yes, I taught computer
> >theory and database design. If you want system performance and
> >reliability at today's prices, run separate systems off of a simple
> >network.
> >
> >Andrew wrote:
> >>
> >> I have looked in to multi-monitor setups with win98 and
> >> I would say if you are serious about trading then you need to
> >> do this. It is so easy in win98 and does not slow your system
> >> down noticeably. It is also less expensive then you think. I have seen
> a
> >> 4 monitor system running TradeStation and it was amazing. but what
> >> was really amazing is the video cards. They used basic 35 dollar
> >> video card designed for win98.
> >>
> >> All you need are two or more supported video cards. Your
> >> mother board bios must be designed for more then one
> >> monitor. You have to have open slots and enough Irq's (interrupts)
> >> to run the additional video cards.
> >>
> >> under win98, each video card will take and manage one portion of the
> screen
> >> so in theory your video response time could increase.
> >>
> >> The only way to really slow the system down is to run more applications.
> >> If you run TradeStation on a 4 monitor system, you can put a chart on
> each
> >> monitor, but you will still be running one copy of trade station , so the
> >> CPU will not
> >> be strained more then it is normally. The video card takes 99 percent of
> >> the additional
> >> work load.
> >>
> >> I would also recommend that all your video cards are the same. This is
> not
> >> required
> >> but it makes the drivers easier to install.
> >>
> >> I am not sure why you would need 256 megs of ram. Each video card will
> have
> >> its own ram and will be processing only one portion of the desktop.
> (which
> >> is stretched
> >> across the monitors) The system I saw with four monitors used 64 megs
> with
> >> cheapo video cars and it ran great.
> >>
> >> So you have to check the following.
> >> 1.Can your computer mother board use two monitors. Call the manufacture
> >>
> >> 2.Which video cards do you want to use? are they compatible. Most
> >> manufactures have compatible v-cards now.
> >> Go to manufacture's web sights or call them and find one that suits your
> >> needs and is compatible with multi-monitor setups.
> >>
> >> 3.Do you have open slots and Irq's available? If you don't know, find
> >> someone to help or take it to a dealer.
> >>
> >> 5. Plug in the monitors. Make more money.
> >>
> >> The days of 2500 dollar dule monitor cards are history.
> >>
> >> Hope this helps.
> >>
> >> Andrew S.
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Len Olson <lto@xxxxxxxx>
> >> To: RealTraders Discussion Group <realtraders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> Date: Tuesday, February 23, 1999 4:48 PM
> >> Subject: Re: hardware set up
> >>
> >> >Valhalla,
> >> >
> >> >You can run dual monitors but at the cost of performance and failure.
> >> >Maybe the new Pentium III will be able to handle this approach. Apart
> >> >from splitting the duties of the processor, you have two other BIG
> >> >problems. The processor assigns and processes the job, i.e. logic,
> >> >math, and I/O subsections of the processor. But, RAM has to be huge
> >> >anymore. Perhaps, 256MB would suffice. Second, the onboard memory of
> >> >the video board(s) has to be equally impressive. Both of these problems
> >> >WILL result in RAM conflicts which in turn lead to system lockup. (the
> >> >infamous "serious fault" or "system not responding" prompts from the
> >> >PC. Worse yet, your screens just lock up, stop displaying updated data,
> >> >and you do not even know what has happened. No doubt. Buy a second
> >> >system. I responded to a few posts today regarding use of a cable
> >> >modem. Here is what you do. Rely upon WIN95, 98, or NT's peer to peer
> >> >network capabilities. Buy a network hub ($25 to $100). The cable modem
> >> >will come equipped with a T-base-10 connection which goes into the hub.
> >> >All, (or both), of your PC's tie into the hub. Instant access from all
> >> >PC's to the internet via cable modem. Good Luck.
> >> >
> >> >Valhalla wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> I have a question for the group about an issue that others might have
> >> >> tackled by now. Anyone running dual monitors under Win98? Would
> >> >> appreciate any experience with this, especially as to choice of any
> >> >> special video card required. The only one I've seen was as expensive
> as
> >> >> a 2nd computer.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks, Mark Scheier
> >> >
> >> >
> >
> >
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