Hi

Maybe OT :) If so, Admin pls move this thread. Thanks.

Would like to know

1.) which video card you use
2.) which brand of monitor and how many (include size)
3.) single or multi-cpu set up

Basically, as much info on your PC setup you use for trading.

Also, pls share how many charts you open at one time togther with what other programs.

cheers
SM

I think the type/brand/spec of computer is not important. Long time ago,
computer of ancient specs were used for realtime data service/charts. Now of
course C/C++ programmers are so prone to produce bloated codes (memory leak
included) so much so that today's modern application are so huge in size and so
memory hungry that they require you to upgrade your computer.

The solution is to find a program that is well written, that runs pretty fast on an
older computer but yet not mssing the features that new programs want you to
believe you are.

The industry is being pushed onto the .NET Framework (away from C/C++)
courtesy of Microsoft. But .NET Framework is very sluggiish on top of the security
issue that programs written in any of the .NET languages can easily be decompiled
into source codes. Yeah, you ship your programs with source codes for the
crackers.

So look for a program written in the good old Win32 languages. They are still
around, small program footprint, fast, yet not missing features. One on the very
extreme is SuperCharts 4.0, a Win16 program. Runs very fast on any Win32 OS.
Unfortunately the program has been discontinued and obselete, but if you have it
the performance is there. I understand it was written with one of Dephi's earlier
products - TurboBasic or TurboPascal. So too elder brother of that time,
TradeStation 4.0 and its predecessor, System Writer.

If you want to keep up with the latest then you will always have the problem of
under-power computer. Not because the latest are always better. As an example,
older version of Microsoft Office is still good for me. Newer versions are more
sluggish (unless you upgrade your computer) and I don't need the newer features.
They are there just for the sake of upgrading reasons.

When I write my programs, I make sure that they will still run on older WinOS and
older spec computers. Not many still do this, for their own reasons, they cannot
avoid or are unable to avoid producing bloated codes. Then there are those
(especially C/C++ programmers) that claim theirs don't have to include runtime
files which makes their programs smaller. Really? Or are the required runtimes
already included in newer versions of Windows? How about the older Windows?

I have a friend who is trading futures, and his PC set up is 2 PC each controlling a 19" LCD monitor. He is thinking to add 1 more (not sure just monitor or PC cum monitor).

According to him, he tried duo monitor set up on a single PC, using a PCIe graphic card and tapping from both the analog and DVI output, both the screen display deteriorate when compared to a single analog output.

He also commented that running duo monitor on a single PC, the PC responsiveness suffer slightly. With his current 2 PC set up, he can now surf net and do other staff on PC during trading hour, yet has constant access to quotes and trading platform, without the worry that some website/program hang/mesh up his system. This is the real plus of 2 PC set up.

The only complain, is he has 2 sets of mouse and keyboard. I think he tried keyboard-video-mouse switches but the result is not satisfactory.

Hi HC & CSK

Thank you for your comments and feedback. I am not a programmer so I can only comment superficially what I observe. I agree with CSK that programs now are a distant from those written when computer hardware is pricey and when every line was written with optimization in mind as compared to the bolts and whistle in programs now.

I have given up on upgrading unless it helps me in productivity or profits :)

As I trade futures, the platforms used are mostly graphical and very CPU intensive so got to try to keep up with the times (I am currently using a AMD setup which is 3 yrs old)

What I want to bring to this forum is to understand and help stocks and futures trader, to build and/or upgrade their current rig by optimizing every dollar spent and sharing their experience so to help or prevent others from making the same errors.

A point of reference I used is this website. They have a 101 Chart Guarantee :)

http://www.tradingcomputer.com/

They do not reveal too much but enough for a savvy person to figure out what they use and possibly copy their set-up.

HC San,
I think your friend would benefit by getting a card, which support 2 or more DVI outputs. A Hybrid DVI/Analogue combination will not be ideal cos typically, the analogue is for lower resolution display (TV, Projector, Etc...)

I am now sourcing for a card, which has 2 or more DVI output. What is preventing me from buying now is the price of 24-inch widescreen monitor and I do not have a PCIexpress slot. I am waiting for it to drop to a price, which I am comfortable with. In the mean time, more research J

For those interested, perhaps we can post the questions here to help each other out. I will kick start with a potential list of hardware, which a trader might need.

Video Cards

Matrox

Leader in 2D display for some time but I think losing edge to ATI and Nvidia
http://www.matrox.com/mga/corp/financial/home.cfm

ATI

My favorite and now AMD owes it, better still J

http://www.ati.com/products/firemvseries/index.html

Nvidia

Not familiar but a potential

http://www.nvidia.com/page/quadronvs.html



Monitor

Dell’s 30 inch widescreen (drool!!!)

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/c...c=sg&l=en&s=dhs

Samsung’s 20 inch widescreen

http://www.samsung.com/sg/products/monitor...nitor/205bw.asp

SM:

I don't think my friend has tried those dual DVI output graphic cards, but I think they are not cheap. Consider the fact that his 2 PC setup is a redundancy, in case any serious software or hardware problem, there is alway a backup PC, though may cost a little more than just a dual DVI graphic card, or 2 graphic cards on 1 PC.

I actually recommend him to have a PC set up that I have for years: run a PC with 2 hard disk. OS, all programs, and data are installed in the primary HD. When every thing is done up nicely with all the configuration personalised, clone the primary HD to the secondary HD so that the secondary HD has a perfect image of the first. Swap the 2 HD and test to see if booting from the clone HD is perfect. If so, than continue to use the 1st HD and don't touch the 2nd HD, and run a utility that can copy active folders (like stock data files) from 1st HD to 2nd HD automatically. One of this utility is called folderclone, which is extremely useful - basically you set the folders/files and cloning intervals, then forget about it.

With this setup, active data are actively updated to the 2nd HD. If anythings goes wrong in the 1st HD, such as corrupted registry, wrongful edit of data which cannot be undone or alike, it can be easily fixed from the files in 2nd HD. If still cannot, then swap the HD and the system will be up in MINUTES again (now with SATA HD, the swap can be done on keyboard, don't have to open up the CPU casing to change HD jumpers). What now left behind is to patch the few active data files that have not been updated via folderclone (refer to the folderclone log file if necessary).

Just updating data has one advantage over cloning the whole image regularly: if there is a hidden problem on the system that was discover too late, the cloned 2nd HD already have the same problematic settings. The down side of this setup is, if you installed more program in 1st HD, it is not reflected in the 2nd HD. So it is important that ALL the essential programs are installed before cloning.

My friend took my advice and bring it one step further to do a 2 PC setup, so now he is immuned from more PC hardware failure :)

I tried the 2 PC setup and it was a chore to switch :)

For me i would prefer a single PC with 2 or 3 display compared to a 2 PC setup. Too much trouble to toggle unless you have a VNC.

I agree a dual or triple display video card is expensive but i guess it boil down to personal perference.

For technical traders taking a position in the SGX,

You can get a new PC under 1k, data from http://www.technical-analysis.com and a cheap charting program that read metastock database.

Broadband to trade? Perhaps but I always call my remisier to trade, to chat, to arrange a lunch appointment and to demand good IPOs.

With this, I think you are good to go.

I'm currently running dual monitor screens setup from 1 PC.

Here are my specs:

- Intel Core2Duo 6300
- 2 Gb ram
- ATI X1950Pro 256Mb ram PCI-E with dual DVI output
- 1 x 80GB SATA harddisk
- Dual 19" LCD

Currently enough for me. I do abit of day trading but mostly EOD type. So one screen i'll usually have my SIStation bringing in live quotes, while my other monitor would have the charting software open, news or whatever for support functions.

If need to upgrade to 4 monitors, just get those Matrox, ATI professional or Nvidia professional series. Can go to Cybermind computers at Sim Lim to check out their range. Quite exp though. all are more than 1k for starting series of Quad displays

Cheers