Will MT4 Backtest Faster With Better Hardware?

I code MT4 on a modern machine but the machines I use for backtesting are old (Windows Intel 2 core & Mac Intel 2 core). They are fast enough for simple backtests but I want to significantly increase the volume of backtesting I do.

Does MT4 respond to better hardware? If I get a new Windows box or an M1 Mac with more cores will speed improve in line with the extra horsepower?

Hopefully some MT4 power users out there can advise.

Hi, unfortunately, MT4 make a backtest on single core, always. This problem has been resolved in MT5 . Regards Greg

It has nothing to do with number of cores. Software doesn't check for number of cores. The reason is because MT4 was written as a single-threaded app, whereas MT5 was written as a multi-threaded app. A thread is a "pipeline" of execution. The more pipelines then the better the operating system (i.e. Windows) can manage performance.

Depending how old your current hardware is, a newer machine could make a difference. But ProfesorPips is right -- if backtesting performance is your main priority then MT5 offers you a path. But, then, have fun porting your favorite MT4 indicators and EAs to MT5.

As an aside -- simulating an algorithm using Strategy Tester is very useful for testing the correctness of an algorithm, but shouldn't be your primary focus. My two cents...

That is helpful to know. Thanks to both of you. It sounds like I should port to MT5 so I will look into that.

depending on your strategy, if you can modify the EA to only make trading decisions on the open of a new bar, then this can speed up the process considerably.
Also coding in hard stop levels helps as MT4 seems to respect the levels even if jumped over during the previous bar when using the open only option

it is all about cores. here is how it works. each mt4 uses ALL cpu cores and if you have multiple mt4s your server will CLOAK. kaput. mt4 is garbage, if you don't manage it properly. once managed, it works fine, but not until then! backtesting flies, if managed properly. it is crazy fast compared to if mt4 uses all cpu cores, which is nothing but a pure waste of energy and power while doing nothing...

so, you need to set an affinity of 1 cpu core per a mt4 and do not overlap 1 core on multiple mt4s. mt4 runs best with 2 cores per a single mt4. same here. don't use 1 core on 2 mt4s. however, you can use 2 cores on a single mt4. i run 1 core per mt4 everywhere, using both nodes, if there are two nodes.

mt4 wastes the cpu cores like mad. no-one thought of any kind of cpu/performance efficiency when they did program it. you need to balance all mt4s in between your cpu cores AND nodes. it is kinda of tricky to do it...

here is an example of 32 physical cpu cores, turned into 64 logical cpu cores managing 60 mt4s. i have left some cores unused, so other programs can use these.

try not to attach a mt4 to core 0. core 0 seems to be system or something like that.

Many thanks all, that's really helpful. I wrote for open bars and will look into the other suggestions.

Does anyone have experience of backtesting MT5 on M1 Macs?

My current 2 core intel machines can be easily improved on but, if I rewrite some MT4 EAs in MT5, will MT5 make use of the extra M1 cores and speed?

I am happy to rewrite and buy new hardware if good backtest speed improvement can result.