Building a Daytrading Comp - $750 - $1000

sb_trader

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May 24, 2010
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Hello everyone,

i would like to build a comp for daytrading with multiple displays ( 4 monitors i guess) Getting Fast Quotes and Stability are the main concerns. Currently i am trading with 2 computers.

One is HP s5117c running on
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits
- Intel Pentium Dual-core E5300 (2.6GHz)
- 4GB DDR2

Another is
- Windows XP Professional 32-bits
- AMD Athlon 64 3000+
- 2GB DDR

i m a beginner in comp. i do find that my old one in fact shows quotes slightly faster than the HP. the software i use is thinkorswim. Anybody knows why? or is there any ways to improve it and recommendation for my next build?

i hv done some research and heard that i dun need anything more than a dual core. so i m thinking AMD phenom II x2 555. or is there anything better ?

i dunno wut mobo, video card( especially video card! i heard gaming video card are for 3D and no good on 2D app), RAM, and hard drive i need. its not for any gaming, movie, music. i just want to build a pure trading comp.


Any help would be greatly appreciate. Thanks !!!
 

sb_trader

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May 24, 2010
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BUDGET: $750 - $1000

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: this month

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Stock Trading only

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: case, keyboard, mouse, monitors, speakers, i hv a windows 7 home 64-bits, but

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.ca / ncix.com

PARTS PREFERENCES:

CPU: )AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor - C3 Revision

MOTHERBOARD: no clue about chipset, 790, 890 ? do i need 6GB/s SATA ?

HARD DRIVE:
SSD or normal HHD ?( i m only gonna put the trading apps ( approx 4 software) and the OS and probably thts it, so i dun need 1TB, if SSD, intel X25-V?

RAM: 4GB enough ? i just read the reviews here, and it recommends G.SKILL Trident 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9D-4GBTD

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe (if minor overclocking is easy and stable)

FANS/HEATSINK: CORSAIR Cooling Hydro Series CWCH50-1 120mm High Performance CPU Cooler

POWER SUPPLY: Corsair/ Antec 550W 650W 750W ?

VIDEO CARD: ATI ? but really i will just choose whichever will do the job
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: dunno if needed

MONITOR RESOLUTION
: Three to Four 23" Samsung 2343bwx 2048 x 1152

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: quiet PC
 

huey11

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Jun 4, 2010
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XP is actually a bit faster of an O/S for trading IMHO.. I would use the fastest processor you can get, TOS is java based and has a limit of 1024MB per instance. Figure out how much RAM each app uses and size from there. It is best to use the execution machine for only execution. Also keep the # of charts to a minimum or dont run any on the machine you are executing trades on especially is your trading the futures..

Get a high ram fast video card and the fastest monitor.. This game is now measured in milliseconds.

Good luck..