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Thanks Jeff. This is some great feedback!
I just received the November issue of Active Trader magazine yesterday.
They have an article on processor and RAM choices for trading
computers. Definitely good reading for those in the market for a new
machine.
Bob
On Wednesday, October 4, 2006, 12:26:42 AM, you wrote:
TMB> Bob,
TMB> I'll throw in my geeky two cents.
TMB> What do you currently have....that seems to be a good place to start.
TMB> You might be able to just throw a few things at it and move on with your
TMB> life. Remember...it's not the shoes...(or the computer) that makes the
TMB> trader.
TMB> You should have two rigs, one as a backup to the other both running on a
TMB> ups ( look for them on sale for about 60 - 70 bucks for a 900VA unit or
TMB> about 25 bucks for two 500va units ). Your main box should have a gig
TMB> for ram and a 7200rpm drive (stay away from western digitals if you can
TMB> - nutin but problems) 10000 rpm drives are faster but way way hotter
TMB> (need another heater in your room?) besides if its an sata drive it'll
TMB> do about the same throughput for what you are doing it's really really
TMB> NOT necessary.
TMB> The main box should have a decent graphics card that sports two monitors
TMB> but really nothing pricey umless you intend to run beta vista and get
TMB> guinea pigged. I have run the betas(32 and 64 bit)...it won't be worth
TMB> your or anybody's attention until it gets to sp1 or so...JMHO.XP is
TMB> pretty solid these days and it really doesn't matter what hardware that
TMB> you run it on with very few exceptions. What you are using (trading
TMB> software) is reliant on 2-d graphics and quite frankly a friggem POS
TMB> matrox dual head from five years ago will do all that you need, unless
TMB> you frag while you trade....a really bad combo from my experience.
TMB> Personally I wouldn't blow more than a hundred bucks on a graphics card
TMB> or you'll watch that money be pissed away faster than well.... piss.. If
TMB> you just have to have a decent card buy a nvidia 7600gs, they can be
TMB> found for about 80 bucks, they support dual head, they wont heat you
TMB> room and make hurricane noises.
TMB> Your processor.....
TMB> 2.0 ghz and above amd (that includes a crap load of models...to many to
TMB> mention here)
TMB> 2.8 ghz and above Pentium 4 - no celery chips -- slow and hotttttttt!!
TMB> 1.8 ghz core duo intel and above(wouldn't suggest it...boards are still
TMB> too pricey)
TMB> If you are not geeky then I'd suggest a stinkin dahell, gateway or hp
TMB> config-ed system, they are pretty much the same lame-o crap but they do
TMB> make it easy to buy.. If you are geeky you wouldn't be asking...or so
TMB> I'd guess.
TMB> The second box can be real lame-o, just good enough to web surf and do
TMB> back ups onto. You can sync two folders between networked machines
TMB> pretty easily and that would be good enough to save your butt in a
TMB> crunch. You might consider a cheap KVM if your desk won't hold the
TMB> number of monitors necessary to run two systems. (about 16 - 25 bucks on
TMB> sale)
TMB> Ok... Ideal from my view
TMB> AMD 4200 - 4600x2 on a low end gigabyte/asus/biostar nforce 4/6150
TMB> board.(220 - 290 bucks)
TMB> 1 gig ddr400(939) or ddr2(am2 board only) ram. (price is about the same
TMB> and ddr400 is older, ddr2 slightly faster)(60-75 bucks)
TMB> x550 - x1600 radeon or 6600 - 7600gs (40 - 115 bucks)
TMB> 300 - 400 gig 7200 _seagate_ drive (100 bucks)
TMB> QUIET speed controlled fans and a GOOD power supply / case(another 100 -
TMB> 150 bucks)
TMB> DVD burner (sony/liteon/pioneer/benq)(35 bucks)
TMB> two 19" Lcd monitors (samsung/viewsonic/nec) (160 - 200 bucks a piece)
TMB> microsoft or logitech wireless mouse keyboard (20 - 45 bucks)
TMB> If you get an nforce 6150 based board and a dual head card - get a third
TMB> monitor (I did and ya just gotta luv the real estate).
TMB> Why would I mention such a machine? It's what I used to type this
to you...
TMB> If you run dual core, dual processors or hyperthreading(PIV) you NEED
TMB> XPpro otherwise XP home or media center are just fine since you probably
TMB> won't have a domain to control in your home. There are a few other
TMB> differences but really the ability to run two processors is XPpro's big
TMB> thing. If you want to just fork out bucks, money no object, get server
TMB> 2003 and run multiple sessions just for fun....I do! It's a real hoot!!!
TMB> But....damned expensive. Really...I have a purpose for using it...I
TMB> wouldn't suggest it to anyone on price alone...it's also a hassle to
TMB> install anything, but way cool when you have a use for it.
TMB> Hope it helps and remember... the machine that you currently have
TMB> probably can be made quite a bit better for very low dough, unless it's
TMB> real old... windows98 do I hear win98 anyone? ;-)
TMB> Heres a few bargain links to look for crap!!
TMB> http://www.bensbargains.net/
TMB> http://www.techbargains.com/
TMB> http://slickdeals.net/
TMB> Jeff
TMB> rhunt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>>
>> I've had a couple of other questions come to mind:
>>
>> 1. In terms of real-time intraday trading using Tradestation, will the
>> new (and much more expensive) Intel Core 2 dual core processors provide
>> a significant advantage over the more traditional single core
>> processors?
>>
>> 2. Its been recommended that I choose a high speed hard drive (10,000
>> rpm vs 7200 rpm) for faster data access. You pay a bit more for these,
>> so I'm wondering if it is really necessary. Does a faster hard drive
>> really make any difference for real-time intraday trading?
>>
>> Thanx again for any input offered.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> On Tuesday, October 3, 2006, 10:37:42 AM, you wrote:
>>
>> HC> I would suggest dedicating a computer solely to trading and
>> HC> maintaining a separate one for web access, email, and other tasks.
>> HC> I have found that avoiding software conflicts due to installing
>> HC> new programs, spyware, operating system corruption and the like is
>> HC> well worth the cost of a discrete trading computer. It is also
>> HC> very useful to have access to your broker on the non-trading
>> HC> machine as an emergency backup.
>>
>> HC> HC> I run TS 2000i and a couple of broker screens and have been
>> HC> looking for an excuse to upgrade my Athlon XP 3200+, 1 GB
>> HC> RAM trading machine, but it doesn't really seem needed. The new
>> HC> dual core processors would be ideal, but the only time my CPU
>> HC> usage goes above 20% is when I open TS or a broker screen, at
>> HC> which time it spikes to 100% for a few moments. If you do
>> HC> extensive optimizations a very fast chip would be useful. I keep
>> HC> about twenty 5 minute charts open with 5 indicators on each, and
>> HC> RAM usage fluctuates between about 400-500 MB, so 1 GB seems fine.
>>
>> HC> HC> I can't speak about the demands of the current version of TS,
>> HC> but with the TS servers taking over the tasks formerly performed
>> HC> by the GlobalServer I think they must be less.
>>
>> HC> HC> Another tip I would give is to get a good backup power
>> HC> supply from APC so that you have time to close positions and exit
>> HC> properly in case of power problems, and avoid weirdness caused by
>> HC> momentary power dips and surges. I would also establish an easy
>> HC> backup system so it gets done at least each day. Duocor and Casper
>> HC> are good software products.
>>
>> HC> Good luck!
>>
>> HC> HC> HC> On 9/28/06, bealer_bob <rhunt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> <mailto:rhunt%40frontiernet.net>> wrote:I'm in
>> HC> the market for a new trading computer. I trade primarily the HC>
>> Dow Jones mini using Tradestation with a 2 monitor display containing
>> HC> 20 charts and two time sales windows.
>>
>> HC> I've always purchased Dell in the past, and to a large extent have
>> HC> been pleased. But now I'm wondering if purchasing a computer HC>
>> specifically designed for trading may by a better route. I've talked
>> HC> to both TradingComputers.com and
>> CustomTradingComputers.com. They've
>> HC> both specked out machines that cost about twice as much as similar
>> HC> systems that I've specked out myself at Dell. Both claim that the
>> HC> parts that they specify in combination will run faster and more HC>
>> efficiently than anything that Dell can provide.
>>
>> HC> What do the more experienced traders in the group do when they want
>> HC> to upgrade to a new trading machine? Is it worth the extra money to
>> HC> have it designed by a trading computer specialist, or can I spec out
>> HC> a comparable machine myself and save allot of money? If the latter is
>> HC> the case, what sort of specs would you recommend?
>>
>> HC> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> HC> Bob
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