would someone give me a little advice. getting ready to build a trading machine. more or less entry level. 4 monitors maybe. i don't know what version windows to use and which is the best processor, video card,etc. actually i don't know that much about computers which is probably pretty obvious by now. if someone would give me some advice i sure would be grateful. thanks alot.
It seems that you may be overcomplicating your trading. After years of losses, I discovered the the KISS principle worked best for me. Keep It Sweet and Simple. I use one one monitor (one computer) for my one chart, and a second monitor (2nd computer) for my trading platform. I feel more comfortable with two separate computers running in case one crashes the other can do immediate double duty. Result, low stress, high income.
I'd spend at least a month studying up on hardware before deciding what to get. I know I spend over a month just planning out a new system (and I'm pretty technical) Got three more-or-less newbie places to hang out. All of these places have info articles and forums for questions/comments: http://www.sharkyextreme.com (has suggested systems) http://www.tomshardware.com http://www.anandtech.com (Be sure to check out the Hot Deals forum) Also, when it comes time to buy those components, check out: http://www.pricewatch.com Finally, check out eBay. The auction site is frequently overpriced (overauctioned?), particularly on popular items. A lot of bidders are apparently unaware of Pricewatch. It's a great place to dump old gear.
A while back I got a lot of advice from this board. And here is what I did. http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=197665#post197665 Never had any problem so far.
Go with Lian-Li. When I was building my last box (and still working at MSFT), I asked around about cases. The strongest answer I got back from all the "home builders" was to go with Lian-Li. It's a bit more expensive, but they are precision cases. You'll be happy to pull one apart and upgrade it. My newest one is a full tower alum, I think it cost just under $100 including S&H across the country. Much better than the POS Enlight thing I got .