Trading computer setups

[Gringotts Bank]

Thanks. I don't think I'd go a replica because the build quality would be poor. I'm now hunting a second hand chair from this list. http://www.mnn.com/money/green-work...rs-that-are-good-for-your-body-and-the-planet

It's taken me all this time to find something good quality, comfortable and ergonomic at a reasonable price. There's so much rubbish, and so many over-priced chairs around, it's actually a very difficult process. I went with this. 5 year warranty.

http://www.office-furniture.com.au/...uct_details&product_id=511&vmcchk=1&Itemid=39

 

[ThingyMajiggy]

It's taken me all this time to find something good quality, comfortable and ergonomic at a reasonable price. There's so much rubbish, and so many over-priced chairs around, it's actually a very difficult process. I went with this. 5 year warranty.

http://www.office-furniture.com.au/...uct_details&product_id=511&vmcchk=1&Itemid=39

$496 for a chair? That seems insane! Mine was free

 

[Gringotts Bank]

$496 for a chair? That seems insane! Mine was free

I don't spend a lot on other areas like hardware/software/data. I think it's more important to feel relaxed and comfortable than to have a blazing fast PC and 5 screens. Most trading software requires very little in the way of processing power (unless you have the 5 screen thing happening - I don't need it for what I do).

Another good option is what I did last time, and that is to buy a high quality second hand chair and get it re-upholstered. I got a German made job (can't remember its name) for $50. It was solid, well built and ergonomic, but eventually the foam bottomed out.

 

[Tano]

Anyone care to share their computer setups for EOD trading? Im looking to get a new PC to start trading and i have ordered 2x 27" LED's but i have no idea on the amount of RAM , and which CPU and Motherboard to get.

I guess i wont be doing much Amibroker backtesting at the start (since im a newbie) but i plan to subscribe to The Chartist next month and i need something that will last 2 years.

 

[CanOz]

Anyone care to share their computer setups for EOD trading? Im looking to get a new PC to start trading and i have ordered 2x 27" LED's but i have no idea on the amount of RAM , and which CPU and Motherboard to get.

I guess i wont be doing much Amibroker backtesting at the start (since im a newbie) but i plan to subscribe to The Chartist next month and i need something that will last 2 years.

I'd just go with a Lenovo i7 laptop, thats way its portable. Throw in an 512 gb SSD if you can afford it. If you're not using Ninjatrader then 32 bit with 8gb of RAM should be fine. Use a couple a portable video adapters, or just one, for your two screens. Have two partitions, but not more, use one for data storage and the other for apps only.

Use a big 1 TB HDD for backup.

This should keep you good for three years.

 

[Tano]

I have a laptop and the speed is fine but the issue is the screen realestate. I need those 2x27" monitors so an external video card that can power 2x27" LEDS would be great. Any ideas where to get a USB video card that supports 2560x1440 resolution with a DVI-D Dual Link?

 

[pixel]

I have a laptop and the speed is fine but the issue is the screen realestate. I need those 2x27" monitors so an external video card that can power 2x27" LEDS would be great. Any ideas where to get a USB video card that supports 2560x1440 resolution with a DVI-D Dual Link?

Check out Shintaro: http://www.estore.com.au/shintaro-usb-to-hdmi-monitor-extender-sku-shi000119

ALternatively: Have you considered investing in a decent-size desktop? A 64-bit i5 with 16Gig RAM and dual video won't cost a Grand and will have grunt to spare. A mate of mine runs four monitors off one PC like it; for my purposes, two are sufficient, although some application windows overlap.

I also have a laptop, but I use that only when I'm out and about; and then I can't lug extra monitors around anyway.

 

[CanOz]

I have a laptop and the speed is fine but the issue is the screen realestate. I need those 2x27" monitors so an external video card that can power 2x27" LEDS would be great. Any ideas where to get a USB video card that supports 2560x1440 resolution with a DVI-D Dual Link?

Check out this thread for more info, Captain Black has a couple adapters ordered from Australia. I ordered mine from the factory here....

 

[RADO]

Now is an awesome time to be buying computer gear especially with the boxing day sales coming up I'd be keeping eye on the Lenovo and Dell website. I recently picked up a Lenovo workstation laptop W530 for nearly $1000 off during the black Friday sales it also came with a tablet which was only an extra dollar as some part of promotion. You can plug 2 monitors (full res) directly into the Lenovo W530 and its probably the most powerful and reliable laptop on the market (i7 up to 3.8GHz upgradable to 32gig ram) The good thing about having a laptop for trading is that the battery acts as a UPS if the power goes out so you would only need to run a UPS on your modem which hardly uses any power anyway assuming that your actively trading.

 

[mistersmith14]

Another good idea for me.

 

[skc]

I am wondering if anyone has experience with a 4K monitor?

The prices are really coming down now and you can basically get 4x 1080p monitors on the one screen.

I am thinking about a 40in model (which might be a TV as much as a monitor) which would actually be smaller than the overall size of my 4 screen set up now. This should make all the pixels and text quite readable.

 

[darkhorse70]

Hey SKC, recently biught a 4k screen for my setup. Its bigger then all my screens but no where near a tv size.

That would be a good idea though.

 

[skc]

Hey SKC, recently biught a 4k screen for my setup. Its bigger then all my screens but no where near a tv size.

That would be a good idea though.

Which model did you get? How did you find it overall? Is it a practical replacement for multiple monitors?

Thanks

 

[darkhorse70]

The model is QNIX (Korean).

I think its 27 inch, however I use it as my main screen with one chart plus the DOM, T&S and some times a 5 min chart.

You can tell its much better than an ordinary screen. Not sure if it automatically runs at its peak performance or if I need 2 graphic cards for it...

As far as getting a tv sized one and trying to make out the detail, I guess it could be a hit or miss depending on your eyes etc Sounds like a good idea though. Ill ask my brother tonight since he loves his computer stuff.

 

[skc]

The model is QNIX (Korean).

I think its 27 inch, however I use it as my main screen with one chart plus the DOM, T&S and some times a 5 min chart.

You can tell its much better than an ordinary screen. Not sure if it automatically runs at its peak performance or if I need 2 graphic cards for it...

As far as getting a tv sized one and trying to make out the detail, I guess it could be a hit or miss depending on your eyes etc Sounds like a good idea though. Ill ask my brother tonight since he loves his computer stuff.

Thanks. Don't worry about asking your Bro... found plenty of good reviews on Youtube.

Here's one I am looking at...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o553bTyFElQ

 

[darkhorse70]

Looks cool SKC, apparently my bro hasn't even configured the comp to run on 4K yet.

So ill give you an update on graphics soon.

 

[Oscoff]

does productivity actually increase with the number of monitors you have?

I'm doing fine with a 15" MacBook Pro

Every trader has their method in their madness but my system could run on a $300 cheapie from JB HiFi.

Cheers Oscoff

 

[skc]

Thanks. Don't worry about asking your Bro... found plenty of good reviews on Youtube.

Here's one I am looking at...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o553bTyFElQ

So I did end up buying this 40 inch UHD monitor. http://www.philips.com.au/c-p/BDM4065UC_75/brilliance-led-backlit-lcd-display

Here are some random thoughts.

1. This is now my current set up. Basically I have the 40in in the middle, and a 24" 1920x1080 screen to the left in portrait. That's the equivalent of 5 full HD (1080 x 1920) screen for my screen real estate.. which is plenty.



2. I went with a GeForce GTX960 graphics card... which is one of the cheapest card that supports 4K resolution @ 60 Hz, using displayPort 2.0. If you ever choose a 4K screen, make sure your graphics card is up to the task @ 60Hz. You will notice a lag at 30Hz.

3. I have put Excel on the screen for reference... you can see that the 40" screen fits 94 rows and 59 columns when Excel is maximised. The fonts on both screens are the same size, but you'd notice that things are smaller on the 40" than the 24" screen.

4. I have it set up about 70cm away from me. At that distance, a 10pt font size (using Excel as example) is about the smallest that is viewable without me having to lean forward. Words and numbers on the far edges of the screen are slightly more difficult to read because of the increased distance. They are still readable... but requires an extra micro second or two for my eyes to really focus and read it.

5. It takes a long time to set up the screen in terms of where I put everything. A watchlist near the centre of the screen is viewed a lot more frequently and easily than anything placed near the edges of the screen. So screen setup becomes quite important. I probably spent 2-3 weeks moving everything around and I am still not 100% happy with it all.

6. For trading, the benefit of this massive screen is probably limited. Yes you get a lot more pixels so you can fit a lot more on the screens... but the peripherals are not as easily legible, and I ended up putting things that are less frequently viewed there. So really those things could be placed behind the main windows without too many issues. A bank of 3 screens, with the two outer screens angled towards the middle, would actually offer better viewing angles.

In summary... I have no complaints about the screen itself, but the benefit of all those extra pixels is rather limited. And for the same price, you could instead invest in 3-5 full HD screen and some decent monitor stands and get the same screen real estate.

 

[Modest]

Recently picked up a great value monitor stand from Officeworks and an additional monitor.

Trading on 2 x 24" monitors now.

The other big upgrade that is probably no.1 improvement is swapping out the mechanical hard drive for an SSD, blazingly fast now.

 

[avion]

Has anyone used LCD 4K TV as a PC monitor? Say 50 inch or so. We are only displaying a candles in a chart, i do not need visual perfection. Couple of these would be relatively cheap and with two video cards capable of driving them you would have lot of charting real estate. I am constantly running out space despite running 4 monitors with 30 inch in the middle.