What's the fastest computer for MT4 backtesting? | Forex Factory

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What's the fastest computer for MT4 backtesting?

  • #1
  • First Post: Aug 26, 2015 10:59pm Aug 26, 2015 10:59pm
Would like some opinions on fast computers (preferably laptop/notebook) however desktops are fine too...Please list machine specs.

Looking for a FAST MT4 backtesting machine. My laptop with Intel Core i3 3217U at 1.8 GHz with 4 GB ram and Windows 8 is ridiculously slow. My back tests take a minimum of a day and a half just for a small retest of a few parameters. A main new backtest takes a minimum of a weekend sometimes over a week. Also use a VPS with better specs but it is even slower because of bandwith used.

Who is using a kick-a** machine that backtests quickly? At this point, willing to buy a rack/server just for MT4 and backtesting.
  • #2
  • Aug 26, 2015 11:15pm Aug 26, 2015 11:15pm
If you are serious about your computer and trading, you might like to check Falcon machines (Desktops and laptops) : http://www.tradingcomputers.com/
MT4/MT5 EAs/Indicators/Alerts coder
  • #3
  • Aug 26, 2015 11:19pm Aug 26, 2015 11:19pm
Mine same as yours except for 8 GBRam Try Solid State Drive SSD It will speed up your computer , Cheap to put in T12
  • #4
  • Aug 26, 2015 11:32pm Aug 26, 2015 11:32pm
Thanks guys looks good sounds good.
  • #5
  • Aug 27, 2015 6:29am Aug 27, 2015 6:29am
Quoting Pipologist
Would like some opinions on fast computers (preferably laptop/notebook) however desktops are fine too...Please list machine specs. Looking for a FAST MT4 backtesting machine. My laptop with Intel Core i3 3217U at 1.8 GHz with 4 GB ram and Windows 8 is ridiculously slow. My back tests take a minimum of a day and a half just for a small retest of a few parameters. A main new backtest takes a minimum of a weekend sometimes over a week. Also use a VPS with better specs but it is even slower because of bandwith used. Who is using a kick-a** machine that...
If you are that serious about backtesting dont use mt4.
Im not raining on mt4, I still use it from time to time.
mt4 is VERY similar to mt5 these days (post Build 600) and you might find that you can convert your code in a reasonable time (or pay some one).
Then let mt5 optimizer loose on your ea. You can tap into the mt5 community network to harness the power of parallel processing, or buy a machine with as many cores as you can afford.

I guarantee you that the time taken to convert your code will be quicker than trying to test in mt4.

PS: I am looking at building a new machine to do just this (my older E5 Intel 8 core is getting tired) and I am considering buying one of the new E5 v3 intel chips.

What's it all about? It's all about money.
  • #6
  • Aug 27, 2015 6:51pm Aug 27, 2015 6:51pm
Quoting Innate
{quote} I guarantee you that the time taken to convert your code will be quicker than trying to test in mt4. PS: I am looking at building a new machine to do just this (my older E5 Intel 8 core is getting tired) and I am considering buying one of the new E5 v3 intel chips.
So what you are saying that I should be able to convert my code to MT5 within a couple of weeks...I hope.
(My current EA project has over 1400 lines of code or over 40 pages if outputted to a text/word file, which I know compared to others, isn't a whole lot, but for me it's significant.)

If I can convert it cleanly within a month in my spare time, and if it executes exactly the same as the current MT4 ea would with my broker, it would be worth considering and trying otherwise, I am an intentional late adopter to new software/hardware and will probably end up converting when it becomes absolutely necessary for me.
  • #7
  • Sep 1, 2016 4:08am Sep 1, 2016 4:08am
Does anyone have recommendations for a good VPS for backtesting (fast CPU + Good RAM)? I'm currently using a Free Tier AWS which is very slow.

I have a good desktop for this, but I'm limited on when I can use it, hence the VPS.

Sorry for hijacking the thread for a slightly different question (junior member so I can't start my own thread).
  • #8
  • Sep 1, 2016 5:05pm Sep 1, 2016 5:05pm
Im using a HP Elitebook core i7 vpro , 8 gigs ddr3 1600 ram , windows 7 , 3 years old , and back testing some complex EA's for a year in a couple hours.
this connected to a 1500VA UPS.

- coding can be optimized to speed up processing as well.
- fast vps = bigger resources , so you will pay premuim.
not sure about the mt5 parallel processing , if you have to be connected to the internet 100 % of the time ??.

x--x
  • #9
  • Sep 2, 2016 8:19am Sep 2, 2016 8:19am
I have a Overclocked AMD FX6300 processor with 8GB RAM on my desktop which can churn through optimizations easily. I'm running short 3 month optimisations to get ballpark figures for a new EA. It can run through about 100 optimisations an hour.
My issue is it's at home and I'm not most the time. I can remote desktop into it, but the internet connection is liable to drop throughout the day and doesn't always restore properly.

For the VPS, I'm hoping for something which can churn through optimisations fairly rapidly. I'm more than happy to sacrifice latency as I wouldn't be making trades on it, only running tests, which may help keep costs down. Is the Amazon Web Service (AWS) C4 any good for this?

I'm trying to keep my EA fairly light, probably a few places though where the coding can be improved to speed up execution.

I will definitely start transferring my mt4 EAs over to MT5 to see if that speeds up backtesting.
  • #10
  • May 30, 2017 9:24am May 30, 2017 9:24am
If I increase RAM to 32GB, will my MT4 run faster? or do I need to buy new PC with faster CPU? I heard MT4 uses only one core even in multi-core CPU.
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  • #11
  • Nov 13, 2018 8:21am Nov 13, 2018 8:21am
Does anybody know:
What is more important on MT4, cpu or gpu?
  • #12
  • Feb 12, 2020 1:37pm Feb 12, 2020 1:37pm
CPU
  • #13
  • Last Post: Feb 12, 2020 2:45pm Feb 12, 2020 2:45pm
Quoting rjgunning
Does anyone have recommendations for a good VPS for backtesting (fast CPU + Good RAM)? I'm currently using a Free Tier AWS which is very slow. I have a good desktop for this, but I'm limited on when I can use it, hence the VPS. Sorry for hijacking the thread for a slightly different question (junior member so I can't start my own thread).
Never ever think about using a VPS for testing. Fast testing on a VPS is an oxymoron. Either you want "fast" or you want "VPS". Both are impossible to combine.
It takes blood, sweat and enough tears to wash away the blood.
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