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Well, I wouldn't categorize MiniP as a "beginner" in that he seems to have been involved in the trading world for some time.
For me, my ladders are set to refresh every 16ms. I run two separate instances of SC, one for ladders/orders only, so it stays lean, the other for charts only, because it's ok if they're a bit slow. Running ladders with several charts up would make it too slow, even with a reasonably powerful setup (just due to the way charts/ladders are updated, presumably single threaded and sequentially in SC). So, that's the world I'm living in, and it's not possible on a 2015 dated Surface 3. FWIW, there's nothing "advanced" about that setup, it's essentially what I've used for many many years, so a beginner could just as easily want to use something similar, and would be let down by old hardware.
So I think this depends a lot on your trading style. If you trade using charts only, and trade a time frame such that getting in and out of the market quickly is not an issue, then the machine doesn't need to be fast. If you use a price ladder and have quick trades, there's no room for a machine that's slow. The universal requirement is reliability, so as long as that's met, go with what you need.
I don't disagree with you but I've been using the same used HP for years and personally want to upgrade so I can do more with video editing. I'll be buying after/around black friday if there are any amazing deals then I'd go with a pre build but on the other hand Id like to be able to price all these parts when they go on sale as well.
box specials at micro center are some of the best deals out there
-P
"Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie"-Miyamoto Musashi
In that case, here's another recommendation. Surface book laptops. The surface book 2 is a very strong machine, although over priced msrp. If you can get a deal on that, I strongly recommend it. I use to run 2 additional screens off it, heavy gaming on 1 screen while waiting for entry setups on the 2nd screen, and web browsing on the 3rd screen.
I've a Dell XPS 8100 that becomes too limited. I plan to update it with a Micro ATX Motherboard B550 for AMD Ryzen3 serie
AMD 3700 X processor
32 GB of RAM
512 Gb of M2.0 SSD
I already have a MicroAtx MB in this computer and I love the case: robust, quiet.
This is yhe main reason to upgrade it instead of buying a new one
I build my own computers. One computer is exclusively for trading - no internet browsing or general email. I setup an email account just for that computer as well.
I get my parts at TigerDirect - https://www.tigerdirect.com/indexus.asp
I built my current trading computer about 4 years ago and at the time was advised to use an AMD processor. It's been fine - no problems. But Intel CORE would probably be just fine too. Changed the graphics card once. I have Windows 7 Professional loaded which you can't get any more. I don't like Windows 10 as it it's loaded with garbage.
The alternative of course is to build a Linux system which I have considered. However, the one I built is functioning just fine so I haven't bothered to do it.
I only have Ninja 7 loaded plus the DOM from the prop I work for. Only have one workspace with a few charts, Jigsaw and NinzaVolumeDelta loaded on charts and a couple of indicators like TPO and daily pivots.
I clean it up every weekend using disk cleanup and have Windows updates disabled. I use Malwarebytes for intrusion protection.
I built this computer for around $850 at the time - same computer from that computer build company (I forget the name) would have cost around $4-5,000. So it's worth the
effort.
I have 4 monitors hooked up and I use them all. I also keep a backup on a separate computer just in case crap happens on the main computer. I have Ninja 7 open and the prop DOM open on the other computer just in case something goes wrong.
I have the highest speed internet available in this area - Charter Spectrum - never have any problems with that.
Also, the trading computer is the "main frame" - not on a router like my other computers.
A trader's computer is just a gaming computer with a small graphic card
You need :
fast processor with multiple cores and threads
16 Go fast Ram
motherboard
ssd drive for fast start
big harddrive to store the datas
systems to avoid eath for the processor (a hot processor slows down)
a case with ventilators
my choices :
processor : ryzen 5 3600
ram 2 x 8 Go DDR4 3200 MHz
motherboard Asus tuf gaming B450
ssd drive : crucial P2 1To
hdd : 1 To
noctua cooler for processor
bequiet case
If it is too expensive, i can downgrade a little
If you like spend more, i think it is unecessery
You could think of online trading as very similar to online gaming, and it seems so many think they need a high end workstation locally to achieve their goals and, of course at least 2 displays, etc. Multiple displays are useful, without question; but more than two should be cause for a deeper analysis of where your trading career may be leading you...
Where to even begin making a recommendation?, since many traders think that more information, more displays, more canned indicators, are going to increase the probability of winning. That more and fancier indicators, available in abundance on the leading platforms will enable success. (Spoiler Alert: they are largely a waste of time.) I spent thousands of hours each year on coding/refining of my own indicators, which focus on very specific markets, very specific fimeframes, and which can *predict* where price is moving. Not everyone could do that, unless they make it a career, and not just a hobby.
My custom software needs to run continuously and reliably on dedicated server equipment; not locally on my desktop machine and internet connection. So the computing horsepower is in a data center, and these servers cost in the range of $100 minimum per month. Not a "VPS" but a dedicated server which, at those prices, requires self-management of the server; so you either need to be a system manager, or use the services of one, to maintain your infrastructure. Think of this as a "career" and as a "business" and plan accordingly.
So my focus is on less computing horsepower, network and reliability locally; but maximum speed, network reliability and infrastructure at the remote data center. This is a necessity if you purchase and use, or develop your own BOTs to implement your trading. Never considered that? Increasingly, that's what traders really want. Manually trading sounds exciting, but it can be exhausting as well... Where do you want to be in 10 years?
There's no way I can recommend this generally, to traders who are non-technical; but consider whether you need to invest in a local workstation for thousands of dollars, in your home office; versus looking at dedicated (not VPS) servers readily available in securely hosted data centers, instead !?!
I've moved to the usage of data center hosted machines; and so my focus is on gaining access to their displays remotely; through inexpensive client side machines; rather than having some sort of "wannabe super computer" locally. JUST CONSIDER THIS APPROACH, focusing resources "in the cloud" instead of locally in your home/office; and it may change your approach to trading, change the trajectory of your thinking, perhaps toward BOTs or toward information which can fit on a single screen, or just a couple.
After all, in general, the trajectory of computing these days is that the computing power is "in a cloud", meaning a data center; while it is accessible or controllable through lighter weight client side systems, and multiple platforms (smartphone, tablet, network computer, laptop, etc).
Just offering another perspective on the technology profile you anticipate for your trading. Think expansively if you are planning to achieve big, over the next decade of your life. How can technology and automation, potentially leverage your goals? Thinking differently from the outset, will change radically where you will end up at the end of your decade(s) long quest. ?
You could use PCPartPicker (.com - I can't post URLs yet) to put together a custom PC. The site makes it very easy to explore different components and costs. Just click on System Builder and see what you come up with.
Think expansively if you are planning to achieve big, over the next decade of your life. How can technology and automation, potentially leverage your goals? Thinking differently from the outset, will change radically where you will end up at the end of your decade(s) long quest. ?