Recommendation Required: New Computer Purchase

Questions about MultiCharts and user contributed studies.
Spaceant
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Recommendation Required: New Computer Purchase

Postby Spaceant » 14 Jan 2010

Hi,

I plan to replace my old desktop by a quad cpu one, I am getting confused on what I should buy. Let say if budget is not a issue (say for my drea computer), what should I choose for my dream computer. The main purpose of the computer is for trading using MC.

- CPU: AMD vs Intel?
- If Intel CPU: seems to have a lot of choices.
- Ram: what size?
etc

Could any of the computer experts give me recommenation?

One stipud question: Is Window 7 the only choice (wise or not) for a quad cpu computer?

Regards,

Sa

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TJ
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Postby TJ » 14 Jan 2010

I will throw in my 2 cents...


1. get Intel CPU
AMD tends to underperforms and overheats

2 any quad core would do
it doesn't have to be the latest and fastest CPU...
(I personally prefers the leading edge products, but I am still using Q6600)
with MultiCharts' architecture, a slow quad core is better than a fast dual core.

3. if you do a lot of optimization and backtesting, a faster CPU would help,
for trading purposes, a middle of the road CPU speed is more than adequate.

4. Charting software's graphics requirement is low
ie. you don't need to spend a fortune on a gamer's video card
most traders use multi-monitors,
you should plan your requirement early.

5. If all you do is trading, 4GB is fine
with memory so cheap these days, adding more does not hurt.

Spaceant
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Postby Spaceant » 15 Jan 2010

TJ,

Thanks for your info.

I jave just visited Intel's web. They have the new CPU series- i7, i5 and i3. Are they just Core 2 CPUs? If yes, that will save a lot of time, as I am really getting confused what should I buy out of these three series.

The Core 2 Quad processors are listed here: http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reselle ... /index.htm

Are the ones listed under Core 2 Quad processors that I should look at and choose one to buy?

TSS Team:

Can you give us some comments on the CPU selection to maximize MC performance? Give us some comments on computer specfications as I think you must have conducted some testings on some of your computers with differenct specifications.

Many thanks!!

Sa

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TJ
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Postby TJ » 15 Jan 2010

you can use this CPU chart for reference

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009 ... ,1407.html


ps.
Core 2 means the second generation, not two cores.


.
Last edited by TJ on 15 Jan 2010, edited 2 times in total.

radekj
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Postby radekj » 15 Jan 2010

buy intel i7 920 stepping D (is 25% faster than core 2) and you can easy overclock it to +4Ghz.

ciao
radekj

PioTrek
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Postby PioTrek » 15 Jan 2010

Are you going custom build or prebuilt/retail route?

If custom and are looking for high performance to optimize/backtest:

Also recommend i920 d0 stepping. Still one of the best bang for the buck processors currently on market. It is completely stable @ very high overclocks. Good pricing here:
h**p://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727

Recommend taking a look at the Asus P6T v2 motherboard and decent quality ram (4GB of OCZ Gold, Corsair XMB/XMS3 etc will suffice). XP Pro - no more than 4GB. Win7 - 4 to 6GB. Ram is no where near as cheap as it used to be.

Do not cheap out on power supply (Corsair recommended - I personally use the HX650 Corsair series in all my systems).

Video Card: I use and recommend the basic/inexpensive EVGA 9500 GT PCI Express 2.0 (dual dvi). Don't waste your money in this department.

Go to Newegg.com and search components. The user reviews that accompany the components are very helpful in vetting quality.

Spaceant
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Postby Spaceant » 16 Jan 2010

Recommend taking a look at the Asus P6T v2 motherboard and decent quality ram (4GB of OCZ Gold, Corsair XMB/XMS3 etc will suffice). XP Pro - no more than 4GB. Win7 - 4 to 6GB. Ram is no where near as cheap as it used to be.
I will going to have custom build route.

One silly question: Would Windows XP support Core i7 920 processor?

How would you compare the Asus Maximus III Formula Socket 1156 P55 ATX Motherboard versus Asus P6T v2 motherboard? ..... I may need a 1394 IEEE port for my old Sony Video Cam....... does P6T v2 have a 1394 port?

Some more question:-
1)How many monitors can P6T v2 motherboard support?
2) What size of hard drive would you recommend? one versus two (will two harddrive slow down the speed of the computer?

Sa

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Postby Spaceant » 20 Jan 2010

Any more inputs??

how about TSSupport team, any inputs? I am sure it will be beneficial to the users if you could share your experience / comment!

Sa

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TJ
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Postby TJ » 20 Jan 2010

the minimum system requirement is here:
anything above this is a bonus
http://www.tssupport.com/multicharts/requirements/

glen demarco
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Postby glen demarco » 20 Jan 2010

If you look on the website as mentioned in the previous response you will see the recommended hardware configuration for normal users and power users. If money is not an issue then configure for the power user.


It's a personal preference by AMD CPU's are equivalent to Intel in terms of functionality but usually less expensive. I've used both intel and AMD for many years and never had a problem.

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Postby Tresor » 30 Jan 2010

1)How many monitors can P6T v2 motherboard support?
ATI's video cards that will soon be marketed are able to run 6 monitors 2560 x 1600 per 1 card: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/sams ... -for-wide/

So depending on the motherboard you will choose from the ones available on the retail market, you can run 6 - 24 high res monitors at the same time on a single motherboard.

Tell us how many monitors you want to have (and their resolution), then we'll be able to tell you what mobo and what video card(s) you need.

Quote from newegg: ''Up to 24GB of DDR3 1333 RAM can be installed with triple channel mode for increased performance. Get even more performance – up to 2000Mhz – through overclocking. Three (count 'em: three!) PCI-Express 2.0 x16 cards can be mounted for cutting-edge graphic power with support for either NVIDIA SLI or ATI CrossFireX. 100% all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors give longer life and higher energy efficiency by supplying power to vital components independently.'' http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131365

You could have 18 high-res monitors running at the same time with this motherboard.

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Postby arnie » 30 Jan 2010

ATI's video cards that will soon be marketed are able to run 6 monitors 2560 x 1600 per 1 card: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/sams ... -for-wide/
Only 6 monitors? Please....

Matrox have one that supports 8 monitors :P

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/produ ... 88pciex16/

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Postby Tresor » 30 Jan 2010

Matrox have one that supports 8 monitors :P

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/produ ... 88pciex16/
Holly cow :lol:

The technology is advancing fast.

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arnie
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Postby arnie » 30 Jan 2010

This is my dream......

....... a huge brain tumor......

...... or blindness


:P
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geizer
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SSD Drive

Postby geizer » 31 Jan 2010

Does anyone have an opinion on how SSD Drive may
affect performance in Multicharts?

Someone is using SSD with Multicharts, ... maybe ?

(Thinking to build a PC focused on performance in crunching the numbers (#1),
then power consumption and lower noise level (#2).
SSD Drive would contribute to #2 obviously.



Thanks,
Pavel


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