i have to agree with risktaker...if i could i would trade with a laptop... but due to fragmentation and different markets and venues it has become a necessity for all the hardware... every penny i made the first few months went back into new equipment as it is a must to remain competitive...
I only trade US stocks and foreign adr's. No futures/forex. I'd trade other stuff if I could find some "edge". I compile my own real-time indexes. Last couple of years 'been going where everybody else has...energy, materials, machinery, metals, emerging markets. But I have indexes from A to Z tracked real-time. So I usually know what's moving in US indexes.
lol....If you wana sell one of those puppies, let me know! I could always use an extra LCD! Cheers, -Kastro
I want to see more trading stations!!! Gives me ideas for what I should have in the future. I'd just really apprecaite getting a dual monitor set-up. Just trying to figure out if I should get a new PC first or get the monitor and graphics card. Because if I get a new PC and mobo and everything, i don't want to have wasted money on the graphics card and such. Confusing. Anyways, keep the pictures coming!
JM....I just went through the same thing you are going through..."To buy a new system or not" What kind of system do you have? I bought a new system, but my graphics card was only 99 bucks!!!! PCI-E, 256mb, dual monitor. You really don't need much for trading! It's not like you are running aerodynamic fluid calculations -Kastro
Is your PC plenty powerful enough now? If so, just pick up a dual card on eBay. $50 max. If you get a new PC later and the dual card won't work technology-wise, you're not out much.
I built my system about over a year ago. AMD Athlon XP 2800+, Asus A7n8X Deluxe mobo, ATI Radeon 9500 graphics card, 1 Gig of DDR 400 ram, 100 GB HD space total (2 HD's) *Need to get more HD space*. I know computers are getting cheaper and cheaper. Just waiting for the right time to build another one. For example, I just bought my new 17" LCD monitor, and DELL comes out with a 1707 model, and I have the 1704 model. So, blah!!! Technology is so fast. The longer I wait though, the cheaper I can get the stuff though. If I had a bigger room, I'd just buy a new computer and system and just use this one for net, games, and all that other crap and buy another system for trading only, but just not enough space. I was thinking I could get 3 monitors on my desk, but now seeing this 17" on my desk. 2 I believe will be the max, unless I get a quad setup with 2 on top of 2 others. I don't think I can justify that purchase yet though. Just confusing.
Why would you want anything better? Just because computers are cheap does not mean you have to buy one. That combo will do fine! Like I said, trading does not require anything special. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of trading are you doing? -Kastro