What qualities do you look for in a Trading Computer? | Forex Factory

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What qualities do you look for in a Trading Computer?

  • #1
  • First Post: Nov 17, 2015 10:49pm Nov 17, 2015 10:49pm
I want to build a trading computer and started this thread to get some input on what qualities make a good trading computer and to see what others seek in trading computers.

I am going to build a fast computer with enough ram to handle multiple screens (Four at Max). I will also be researching a back up power supply and 4G internet connection in the event the power or internet cuts off.

What are your thoughts and what specifications make a good trading computer? What are your current specifications on your trading computer?
  • #2
  • Nov 17, 2015 11:36pm Nov 17, 2015 11:36pm
If you want to build your own, you can check the link below. You will find PC's spec they are building for traders.

http://www.tradingcomputers.com/TCdesktop.html
MT4/MT5 EAs/Indicators/Alerts coder
  • #3
  • Nov 18, 2015 5:51am Nov 18, 2015 5:51am
One needs a reasonably high specification machine, of course ... but thousands of people were trading perfectly satisfactorily many years ago when computers like those we use today weren't even on the market. I think the speed of the internet connection is far more significant, overall: I can barely survive without high-speed fibreoptic cable, myself, but any decent "straight out of the box" computer is good enough for me.
  • #4
  • Nov 18, 2015 5:56am Nov 18, 2015 5:56am
Quoting DollarNSense
I want to build a trading computer and started this thread to get some input on what qualities make a good trading computer and to see what others seek in trading computers. I am going to build a fast computer with enough ram to handle multiple screens (Four at Max). I will also be researching a back up power supply and 4G internet connection in the event the power or internet cuts off. What are your thoughts and what specifications make a good trading computer? What are your current specifications on your trading computer?
I mainly look for one with a screen I haven't broken. But these days I just trade from a standard laptop. All my extra screens are helping me grow my dust farm.
Time hides Nothing
  • #5
  • Nov 18, 2015 6:00am Nov 18, 2015 6:00am
Any decent computer will do just fine. I use a 4 year old laptop, i5 first gen with 4Gb's ram and i do just fine. Only thing i did was buy a 24 inch monitor and an external keyboard mouse.
  • #6
  • Nov 18, 2015 6:02am Nov 18, 2015 6:02am
Quoting CindyXXXX
{quote} I mainly look for one with a screen I haven't broken.

That's undeniably a plus. A screen with a connecting cable that doesn't make crackling noises and give off sparks is always useful, too.
  • #7
  • Nov 18, 2015 6:04am Nov 18, 2015 6:04am
Quoting Xela
{quote} That's undeniably a plus. A screen with a connecting cable that doesn't make crackling noises and give off sparks is always useful, too.
I love fireworks
Time hides Nothing
  • #8
  • Nov 18, 2015 6:11am Nov 18, 2015 6:11am
...the fastest processor you can afford and as much RAM as possible. The rest is down to personal choice.
It matters not how slow we are to learn, as long as we do not stop.
  • #9
  • Nov 18, 2015 7:37am Nov 18, 2015 7:37am
you need a pc and a back up on i have two one of them newly purchased mac i am using now ,you also need two as minimal of internet provider one of them better be satellite direct internet .
a 10000$ will make you a good setup .direct internet satellite coast about 2000$ monthly basic subscription will be enough .the most affordable and basic called beganhttp://www.bgansatellite.com .
and i think it really depend on your success ,if you can make money you should invest in what making you that money with the best edge you can reach .
i had problems before with my windows based systems so i bought a mac pro only 1300$ and i am happy with it .my other systems are up also including iOS and android operating systems i have two net providers one fiber optic 20 meg.and one 3g to use when i loss the first two different communication companies .and the most important i place my stop loss and take profit .i will buy a bagn soon i hope just worried if custom will allow it to enter country because it is unmonitored .
thats all .
have a nice day please
focus while relaxed to see better
  • #10
  • Edited 9:53am Nov 18, 2015 9:35am | Edited 9:53am
If you trade with a few brokers at the same time and/or use a lot of indicators/ea, this may consume a lot of resources which slows down the platform to a crawl. So a high speed computer with larger ram, fast fibreoptic internet connection is necessary. If you trade a lot of pairs/assets you may have to create separate profiles to group them into smaller sub-groups. Multiple screens or computers depends on your setup needs/preference. Even with backup power supply and 4G internet connection, it doesn't guarantee connection to the server, so always place a stop loss and take profit at the same time the trade is made.
  • #11
  • Nov 18, 2015 9:59am Nov 18, 2015 9:59am
I think a good trading computer would cost you around 1000$ (Intel i5 Processor, 16 GB DDR3 RAM, good graphics card i.e GeForce GTX 770, and Intel or Gigabyte motherboard, and don't forget a decent power supply unit and a UPS is a plus!)
  • #12
  • Nov 19, 2015 4:56am Nov 19, 2015 4:56am
Quoting DollarNSense
I want to build a trading computer and started this thread to get some input on what qualities make a good trading computer and to see what others seek in trading computers. I am going to build a fast computer with enough ram to handle multiple screens (Four at Max).
Look for something that is used in servers, these things are more reliable. Supermicro makes great mainboards. Look at the power consumption of your chosen CPU and your graphics card (Nvidia PNY makes good ones for workstation use, no 3d nonsens just good for many screens and low power consumption). Why does power consumption matters? Because you want to buy a UPS of course. I ordered a big UPS yesterday, it allows me to keep trading for at least 2 hours in case of a power outage, as a short term trader who monitors every trade that is exactly what I need.
Get a SSD, no traditional hard disc. IO is the main reason for locked up computers and windows always does quite a few things in the background. Use that machine for trading only! Thay way you can live without a virus scanner which would slow down the machine.

Quoting DollarNSense
I will also be researching a back up power supply and 4G internet connection in the event the power or internet cuts off.
Get a 4G modem and an external antenna, pick a good location where to install that thing (yes, that matters). Regarding internet in general, people here talk about fibre optics/fibre broadband. Please inform yourself what's really available in your area. Many copper lines are sold as fibre optics just because the street cabinet is connected by fibre, the line to your house is still copper. That is called FTTC (fibre to the cabinet). Fibre to your home would be FTTB/FTTH/FTTP (building, home, premises - hell what a madness!). FTTH is obviously better (copper was never created for high bandwidth internet and the distance to the street cabinet matters hugely). Oh btw: while FTTH is better, it has one disadvantage over FTTC. FTTC runs on the power of the telephone line so if you hook up your modem/router to the UPS you're fine in case of a power outage in your home, not so with FTTH. Having said that, it seems you're in the US and I have no idea what is really available there and how much it differs from the offerings in UK or continental Europe.

Another thing regarding internet: people always mix up speed (latency) and bandwidth. As a trader you need low latency. Get the PDF from that link to understand the difference https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-20320
You could also think of a race track (low latency, one car very fast from a to b) vs a crowded american highway with 8 lanes (many cars at the same time but slower).
  • #13
  • Nov 19, 2015 5:13am Nov 19, 2015 5:13am
Quoting CindyXXXX
{quote} I mainly look for one with a screen I haven't broken. But these days I just trade from a standard laptop. All my extra screens are helping me grow my dust farm.
Exactly, it's most important
  • #14
  • Nov 19, 2015 3:38pm Nov 19, 2015 3:38pm
Thanks You All!
  • #15
  • Nov 19, 2015 7:51pm Nov 19, 2015 7:51pm
Main thing I look for is the power button.

Seriously, it just depends on the layout you want and how many different charting software packages will be open along with how many monitors you want.

Ram is cheap and if you plan on running Windows 10, load up just because you can.

Don't spend a fortune on video cards. You are not making movies or playing video games. Refresh rates, GPU speeds aren't as critical as some would lead you to believe. You are only running some basic charting software. I have three video cards installed right now. Two of them are super cheap (about 40 bucks each) that drive secondary monitors(2 each at 1080p) for me (not my main displays but still showing charts). The other is a bit more expensive but still not high end gaming quality. It drives my 4k 34 inch curved main monitor. Even that one was only about $150. The multiple cards are mostly for redundancy. If one fails and I don't have a spare, it's not the end of the world. I just run with fewer monitors.

Hard drives... I strongly recommend multiple hard drives set up in a RAID array. That way if one fails it is just a matter of replacing it and letting the array rebuild it. Hard drives are really cheap and most motherboards today will handle the RAID array configuration for you. I keep 2 spares on hand at all times. If one fails, it only takes about 10-20 minutes to be back to normal.

I recommend a UPS system for your computer, at least one monitor AND internet connection. If something happens to the power you want enough time to add a stop if needed or exit a trade and then shut down.

I could go on and on about set ups.
  • #16
  • Dec 4, 2015 9:37pm Dec 4, 2015 9:37pm
i use a $499 laptop since 2007. will upgrade soon. only reason is its getting slow, hard drive issues. any suggestions?
  • #17
  • Edited 11:25pm Dec 4, 2015 11:02pm | Edited 11:25pm
I would look for a Windows machine, you can trade on most any machine with Windows a few years old,
either with WIn 7, 8 or 10, except Win Xp is not recommended for the security point of view,
Xp is discontinued by Microsoft and no new security updates will come.
Win 7, and 8 will still be updated for a few years, if you are looking longer term than that, you should chose a computer with Win 10,
a 64 bits Windows is nice but not neccesary to run Mt4 which is 32 bits only,
you also need to make sure you have it secured tight, with antivirus and also a nat firewall.
and makes sure you have it up to date with all the updates.

With any other operating system you will have problems running different trading platforms,
because almost all of them is made for Windows,
linux or mac is not suitable for trading, unless you are a geek and like to configure stuff all day long,
sure you can maybe run mt4 in them, but thats about it!, and all things will not be working as it should.
the only thing you would be able to run is web based trading applications for the most part.
Jforex works with Dukascopy but more than that no.

if you want to go overkill with multiple monitors you also need to get a graphics card just for that.
or maybe dual graphics cards, it look pretty badass,
but really that is not needed, you can trade perfectly fine with just one monitor.
as mentioned above, 3d cards are not needed and will be a waiste on a trading computer.
because they are incredibly expensive. 64bits, raid hdds might be nice for a high frequency trading setup,
but if you just want to trade like normal people, thats really not neccesary.
if you want to trade with other platforms than mt4, you should get a 64bits Windows though.

besides that, you need a reliable internet connection. fiber is nice,
but if you can't get that where you live, it works fine with a decent cable connection, atleast 10 mbit though.
if you plan on running EA's around the clock, I would investigate to upgrade to a ups system or hire a vps.
and then I would also get a larger hard drive, and decent amount of ram, minimum 4gb
Bulls are stupid Animals!especially when Im short!
  • #18
  • Dec 5, 2015 3:08am Dec 5, 2015 3:08am
Quoting Styngray
i use a $499 laptop since 2007. will upgrade soon. only reason is its getting slow, hard drive issues. any suggestions?
Your Registry is probably in need of cleaning, but be careful – it's not a task to be undertaken lightly – it's very easy to trash your computer irrevocably. Google 'Windows registry cleaner' do your research and due diligence before choosing a product to do the job. I'm sure that there are freebies out there that do a good job safely, but you're probably better off choosing a 'paid for' commercial product. Good luck.
It matters not how slow we are to learn, as long as we do not stop.
  • #19
  • Dec 5, 2015 4:04am Dec 5, 2015 4:04am
We look for reliability, so stay on known brands : Asus, Msi, etc.

And for the ssd : Samsung or Intel.

Oh and for the ssd, don't go for the new samsung 950 on the M2 port, because it's very hot, nearly 90 celsius degree, at this point i doubt the ssd will last long
  • #20
  • Dec 5, 2015 12:44pm Dec 5, 2015 12:44pm
Quoting roughtrader
I would look for a Windows machine, you can trade on most any machine with Windows a few years old, either with WIn 7, 8 or 10, except Win Xp is not recommended for the security point of view
Traditional security is actually not very relevant for a trading computer because the common attack vectors like email, browser or software dealing with unsafe (read: foreign) data do not exist. Vulnerabilities in the browser including its plugins like adobe flash are extremely common issues. If your computer is behind a router and the only thing you use is metatrader or another trading software you're VERY safe even without installing updates or using an antivirus. I do exactly that! In fact I would recommend to NOT use an anti virus as it regularly slows down your computer.
While I agree that you do not need much power it differs by how you trade. Windows is an operating system over which you have little control, there are just too many things going on in the background so if a few seconds of lag are a problem for your trading you better buy some overkill hardware just to be sure.

Quoting roughtrader
With any other operating system you will have problems running different trading platforms, because almost all of them is made for Windows, linux or mac is not suitable for trading, unless you are a geek and like to configure stuff all day long, sure you can maybe run mt4 in them, but thats about it!
I absolutely agree with that. It's always useful to think about what we do: We speculate with our MONEY. So it is just reasonable to be a little bit conservative here and use the system the software was developed for and is mostly tested on - Windows.

Quoting roughtrader
you need a reliable internet connection. fiber is nice, but if you can't get that where you live, it works fine with a decent cable connection, atleast 10 mbit though.
You don't need 10 mbit, 1 would be more than enough (especially with metatrader). You should be worried about latency, not bandwidth. Look up the link in my previous post if you don't know the difference.

Quoting crashout
don't go for the new samsung 950 on the M2 port, because it's very hot, nearly 90 celsius degree, at this point i doubt the ssd will last long
I don't know that specific drive but SSDs don't have a problem with heat as traditional hard drives, it's actually the other way around they suffer from running too cold.
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