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Need a powerful new PC

  • #1
  • First Post: Sep 22, 2010 4:56am Sep 22, 2010 4:56am
Hey everyone.

I need a powerful but cheap PC for running MetaTrader backtests. Can anyone tell me what are the most important factors in choosing hardware for running backtests with optimization?

Im currently using a fairly old Athlon XP with 1.5 Gig of ram and a 7200 RPM harddrive.

Anyone used the Intel i3? Does this offer a significant speed increase over the intel dual core? And how important a factor are memory and Harddrive speed?

My budget isn't unlimited and neither is my time, I hope to buy this PC today. Appreciate any suggestions

Frink
  • #2
  • Sep 22, 2010 7:38am Sep 22, 2010 7:38am
What is your budget?
  • #3
  • Sep 22, 2010 2:21pm Sep 22, 2010 2:21pm
Quoting Ronald Raygun
What is your budget?
Lol. same question I was asked in every computer shop today. €400 I guess
  • #4
  • Sep 22, 2010 2:34pm Sep 22, 2010 2:34pm
hey guy
all you need do is to get a new pc.that can run hardware for running backtests with optimization.go on line you will see cheaper one that are good thanks
  • #5
  • Sep 22, 2010 3:08pm Sep 22, 2010 3:08pm
RAM and even hard disk speed are less important for your task, it'll all come down to raw processing power so I'd go I3, that and it's easy to add some more ram later.

Windows 7 seems to give some things a huge boost to, it should be much faster than a old athlon 1.5ghz.
Nothing to it, but to do it!!! Stick to the plan FOOL!!!!
  • #6
  • Sep 22, 2010 3:54pm Sep 22, 2010 3:54pm
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/poweredge-t110/fs

Not sure what the prices are in Ireland but it can't be too far off.
  • #7
  • Sep 22, 2010 4:21pm Sep 22, 2010 4:21pm
Quoting Ronald Raygun
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/poweredge-t110/fs

Not sure what the prices are in Ireland but it can't be too far off.
Check to see if you can get refurbished too. I got a nice i7 for around US$650 at the beginning of the year. It still has a 1yr warranty (and Ive used it for a hdd).
  • #8
  • Sep 22, 2010 4:47pm Sep 22, 2010 4:47pm
Quoting traderjai_inhi
Check to see if you can get refurbished too. I got a nice i7 for around US$650 at the beginning of the year. It still has a 1yr warranty (and Ive used it for a hdd).
I second this, but be careful with refurbished, I've seen on dell's website that new is cheaper for refurbished.
  • #9
  • Sep 22, 2010 4:53pm Sep 22, 2010 4:53pm
Quoting traderjai_inhi
Check to see if you can get refurbished too. I got a nice i7 for around US$650 at the beginning of the year. It still has a 1yr warranty (and Ive used it for a hdd).
That's actually a good price.

i7's are awesome.
  • #10
  • Sep 22, 2010 4:58pm Sep 22, 2010 4:58pm
Quoting Ronald Raygun
I second this, but be careful with refurbished, I've seen on dell's website that new is cheaper for refurbished.
Yes, always have to look around the whole site... took me about a week of searching and looking on all sorts of sites, pricegrabber, tigerdirect, newegg. Computers arent usually a 1 day impulse buy for me.

RR I wanted to ask about this in Frinks requirements:

Quoting FrinkFX
I need a powerful but cheap PC for running MetaTrader backtests. Can anyone tell me what are the most important factors in choosing hardware for running backtests with optimization?
Havent you done testing to show that mt4 doesnt use all the cores for backtesting so it still runs roughly the same amount of time? Ive noticed that when I do run backtests only 1 core spikes while the others stay near the baseline.

So if backtesting is the only need for a new machine it wouldnt really speed anything up (until mt5 I think I had read somewhere). Am I wrong?

Just curious as Ive never done serious backtestings but I know that you have.
  • #11
  • Sep 22, 2010 5:05pm Sep 22, 2010 5:05pm
Quoting Ronald Raygun
I second this, but be careful with refurbished, I've seen on dell's website that new is cheaper for refurbished.
Also, be careful of which motherboard you're getting. I've forgotten which one was supposed to be a good, one, but did read at Tomshardware that there were some key differences between motherboards for Intel's Core iX series of CPUs.
  • #12
  • Sep 22, 2010 5:10pm Sep 22, 2010 5:10pm
Quoting traderjai_inhi
Yes, always have to look around the whole site... took me about a week of searching and looking on all sorts of sites, pricegrabber, tigerdirect, newegg. Computers arent usually a 1 day impulse buy for me.

RR I wanted to ask about this in Frinks requirements:



Havent you done testing to show that mt4 doesnt use all the cores for backtesting so it still runs roughly the same amount of time? Ive noticed that when I do run backtests only 1 core spikes while the others stay near the baseline.

So if backtesting is the only need for a new machine...
You can set the affinity of individual terminal.exe (metatrader platforms) instances. Basically means I can assign each platform to a different code.
  • #13
  • Sep 22, 2010 6:20pm Sep 22, 2010 6:20pm
I just purchased a refurb xps 8100 Studio with i7 860 and the rest also decent for a little bit more than $700 with tax.
Look at www.dell.com/outlet (you have to hunt a bit as the best machines are sold fast) and also search for a coupon on eg. www.slickdeals.net
I applied 20% OFF.
As of PowerEdge I'd stay away because configuration with Xeon is usually more expensive (you know, dedicated for business). You don't need ECC Ram, and other features, I'd say go for XPS.

Good luck.
  • #14
  • Sep 22, 2010 6:35pm Sep 22, 2010 6:35pm
Quoting tpr
Look at www.dell.com/outlet (you have to hunt a bit as the best machines are sold fast)
I found weds thurs and fri morning are the best days because they get a lot of returns on mon/tues and get them put in the database on weds. Ive never bought a new dell so this is just from personal experience.
  • #15
  • Last Post: Sep 22, 2010 6:40pm Sep 22, 2010 6:40pm
Thanks for all the advice. I might hold off for a while and do some more work on my trading systems before I fork out. I don't feel like I deserve to treat myself just yet
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