Buying my First Trading Rig - What Should I Buy?

Here is what I'm considering:


1st Option
HP Pavilion a6660t customizable Desktop PC - Around $1100
FK481AV#ABA

* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E8400 (3.0GHz)
* – FREE UPGRADE! To 3GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024,2x512) from 2GB
* – 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300 and TV Tuner Card/PVR
* – FREE UPGRADE! to 750GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 500GB
* – Wireless-G LAN card and external modem
* – LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
* – 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, audio
* – Integrated 7.1 channel sound with front audio ports
* – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* – No additional security software
* – No speakers
* – HP wireless keyboard and HP wireless optical mouse
* – HP Pocket Media Drive bay
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
* Two 19 inch monitors included

2nd Option

HP Pavilion Slimline s3600t customizable Desktop PC - Around $1000
FK479AV#ABA

* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E7200 (2.5GHz, 3MB)
* – FREE UPGRADE! To 3GB DDR2-800MHz SDRAM (1x2048,1x1024) from 2GB
* – 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300 [DVI, VGA adapter]
* – FREE UPGRADE to 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 320GB
* – Wireless-G LAN card and external modem
* – LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
* – 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, headphone port
* – No TV Tuner w/remote control
* – Integrated 5.1 channel sound with front audio ports
* – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* – No additional security software
* – No speakers
* – HP wireless keyboard and HP wireless optical mouse
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
* Two 19 inch monitors included


I guess both are pretty much the same.

I'm I missing something?
Are the selected computers inadequate?
Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

Option 3

HP Pavilion Elite m9400t customizable Desktop PC - Around $1200
FK484AV#ABA

* – Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q6600 (2.4GHz)
* – FREE UPGRADE! To 4GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (4x1024) from 2GB
* – 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]
* – FREE UPGRADE! to 750GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 500GB
* – Wireless-N LAN card and external modem
* – LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
* – 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, audio
* – No TV Tuner w/remote control
* – Integrated 7.1 channel sound with front audio ports
* – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* – SAVE $10! Norton Internet Security(TM) 2009 - 15 month
* – No speakers
* – HP wireless keyboard and HP wireless optical mouse
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
* Two 19 inch monitors included

 

What is the difference between a 32 bit operating system and a 64 bit operating system?

What is a better processor: Core 2 Duo 3.0GHz or Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz? What is the difference between the two?

 

I take it that the motherboards have enough slots for multiple monitor usage?

 

That's a good question that I don't know the answer to. How would I find out? I don't know shit about computers.

 

get the e8400. in my home we have pc's with a e8400 a q6600 and a q9650. it'a hell of a chip.

imo and in my experience wireless mouse and keyboards can get a bit wonky sometimes. i personally would'nt use them for that reason, though things may be different with the current generation

 

Sir,

FWIW, and IMHO – here’s the set up I have


Desktop = Falcon Trading systems w/ 3 Monitors loaded with Windows XP Professional

Search on “Falcon Trading Systems” if you wish further details




Laptop = HP Pavilion dv9500 – ordered straight from HP and built to spec

This laptop came with VISTA – even though I told HP I wanted XP professional. I had to completely reformat the drive to NTFS in order to load XP




My recommendation is to buy a computer solely for trading and forget the whistles and bells

Focus on Processor speed, maximum RAM, a decent size hard drive, highest speed communications port(s) you can get, and of course a CD / DVD R/RW drive.

I would even go so far as eliminate the wireless keyboard and mouse and just use wired peripherals (I’m old school and want the processor to focus on trading only)


Multiple monitors – No worries – You’ll probably need multiple video cards with good cooling fans, and will also need to verify the Power supply is beefy enough to handle the extra load.



With regard to VISTA (and this is my opinion only) – I do not like it – and would not recommend it..

It is a processor hog, and doesn’t allow the computer owner much opportunity to customize their configurations (My thought is if I buy something I sure want to set it up the way I want, not the way someone allows me to)

FWIW – I’ve had this HP for nearly a year and it has worked flawlessly (knock on wood)

Either setup you’ve listed will work, but again I would delete all unnecessary (from your perspective of course) peripherals and load it with XP Pro in lieu of VISTA

Maybe even call HP and see what kind of deal they would give you on one built to your specs (with times being tough and I’m sure they would be willing to cut a deal for some business)

Hope this Helps
Take Care

 

I would also recommend getting a HIGH quality surge protector. This is a CHEAP one:



If you get software, make sure you get the disks in case you need to reload.

And loading at minimum the following:

-- Spywareblaster.com (prevents a lot of malware from even getting on to your computer in the first place)

-- A good antivirus program

-- something like ccleaner.com - to clear out a lot of garbage (internet files, etc.) that clutter/slow your PC. Run weekly.

 

Option 1 or 3 is much, much better....

it gives you a faster CPU with more cache,

the dual channel ram is twice as fast,

the HDD is bigger,

the larger case, compared to the slim-line makes it much easier to add new cards such as an additional video card.


You should check out the motherboard and see what it can handle though.

The best option for adding more monitors is probably an NVS 290, which will go into a PCIe slot and add two more monitors up to 1920x1200. Or you could wait for the new NVS 450 which can drive 4 X 30" monitors at 2560x1600 - it'll be expensive though!

 

I would suggest doing some searches in this Forum under the Dell Precision T3400. I have one with an E8200 chip at 2.6, run 4 Gigs of RAM via Windows XP Pro and the motherboard supports TWO dual graphics cards which supports a total of 4 monitors. I also opted for the 525 watt power supply.

You can get one for about $1,000.
Comes in a nice metal case. Well made.
Solid warranty too, AND you can still get Windows XP!!!

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&m_11=XP33BDP&oc=bwcw7zz&s=bsd