I run a few monitors from my laptop, but to be honest, I think a desktop is the best course for more than 2-3 external monitors. While trading isn't necessarily graphics intensive, running 8 monitors is still gonna require some pretty good graphics performance even if it's just moving lines on a screen
8 Monitors will need a very very good video card, maybe more than one. You will also need a nice amount of RAM so your computer doesn't skip.
when I worked in Bright's office, a while back, there was a trader who used 1 very Very VERY large monitor [of course this wasn't a laptop] if it had it to do over again, I would try 1 or 2 very large monitors. Since I own 5 monitors now, I simply don't want to invest in more [monitors] marc
You can ad as many monitors too the laptop as you like. Just print some charts and stick them on the monitors. Just be smart and think green. No power consumption! Why in the hack do you wan´t 12 monitors? I have 4, only use 3 for trading and trust me it is a hard task too look at 3 markets at a time!
The question isn't why does he want 12 monitors, but why everyone responds to these obvious troll threads. 1 post wonders = ET = Elite Trolls [considering the detailed response of some, not even a thank you post] Seriously, anyone who actually trades and has a need for multiple monitors is aware of the hardware requirements and limitations. Those who don't should learn to use Google.
For entertainment purposes... 23 monitors: http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=3741038 From the "Pictures of your trading stations" thread: http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=43661&perpage=6&pagenumber=641
You have the convenience of responding after a few weeks have passed. At the time, how do you know 1 post wonders are 1 post wonders but not somebody new? = = = = = There we go again... those who cry wolves about why anybody needs more than 4 monitors. Or more than even just 1 monitor.
Laptop = Heat = Instability Just get a Desktop! My desktop is almost 7 years old and rock stable. A watercooled Xeon X3360. Quit and still fast.
In a word: "Pattern recognition" -- well two words. It is a common pattern here on ET. Newly registered nicks and their first post is creation of a new thread as opposed to responding to one of the multitude of existing threads on the same subject. They know how to create a thread, but the search function alludes them? C'mon, its either troll, thread generator, wannabee or just plain lazy. Typical threads and topics: I just quit my job and want to be a full time trader, what do I do next? What is the easiest way to get rich quick? How much can I make? I decided to be a full time trader, waking up at 9:30 and hitting the beach by noon is the life for me. Sure beats this 9-5 job. I am in college, but find Trading exciting, should I quit school and go full time? I have a strong work ethic, albeit I am too lazy to finish the 4 years of college. I made 100% returns on my sim account in one month, I am going to be rich. [I only had to reset my acct balance once or twice because of a minor mistake. That won't happen when I go live.] What are the best free resources, I am a supertrader, but don't want to spend the money to fund my business. I need a supercomputer to trade my 1 car ES. Should I buy refurbish or build my own? As you pointed out single monitor or multi-monitor? [and those who can trade effectively using only their iPhone] Least we forget the PA vs TA hate threads, etc... etc... etc... First post on a trading forum and the first question is about computer hardware, video cards, laptops and monitor BASICS. Hardware questions are more appropriately asked in Hardware forums like http://www.tomshardware.com/ or http://www.anandtech.com/ and ofc www.google.com A simple perusal of ET threads shows almost all subjects addressed repeatedly. How many times do ofthomas and Scataphogas need to repeat themselves? http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=4 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/searc...=4381950&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending I do not dispute the need for multi-monitor's. I use 3 high resolution monitors myself. Single monitor may be sufficient for some while others require greater than 4, 8, 12. But I am a firm believer that a person with the need to drive > 4 monitors is also aware of the requirements. i.e. video cards, motherboards with multiple PCI slots and/or multiple PC's with multiple video cards. But driving 12 monitors off a laptop is a bit ridiculous and reeks of troll or lack of research. Money is better spent on proper hardware. I recognized the thread for what it was and didn't respond to the OP then or now. What caused me to post initially is that people spend the time to respond to inquires in good faith, however, no acknowledgment or thanks are given to them by the OP.