Setting up a stock trading station.. screen help!

[twilliard]

Hey guys I am setting up a stock trading station as trading off the laptop is just not working.
I am wanting to set up 3 monitors but dont know how to do this off of one computer. Multiple video cards?
Also what brand and size of screens? I have no clue on this.
@djbetterly do you have any ideas? ( Sorry I know you are busy )
@cowboy
Anybody!
Trying to have this all ordered and set up by the end of January
Thanks!
-Todd

 

[Brew12]

Hey guys I am setting up a stock trading station as trading off the laptop is just not working.
I am wanting to set up 3 monitors but dont know how to do this off of one computer. Multiple video cards?
Also what brand and size of screens? I have no clue on this.
@djbetterly do you have any ideas? ( Sorry I know you are busy )
@cowboy
Anybody!
Trying to have this all ordered and set up by the end of January
Thanks!
-Todd

You have a few options.
1) Get a video card that can support 3 monitors (very expensive)
2) Get 2 video cards as most cards can support 2 monitors. (moderately expensive)
3) Tape 3 pictures to the wall next to your desk with images you want to look at. (very cheap)

As for monitors and size that is really personal preference, how high of quality you want, and how much room you have.

 

[twilliard]

You have a few options.
1) Get a video card that can support 3 monitors (very expensive)
2) Get 2 video cards as most cards can support 2 monitors. (moderately expensive)
3) Tape 3 pictures to the wall next to your desk with images you want to look at. (very cheap)

As for monitors and size that is really personal preference, how high of quality you want, and how much room you have.

Thank you! So build this computer to where it will support 2 PCI-E cards running SLI? This will allow me so have separate screens running 3 different programs?
I also suppose the CPU must be able to handle the processing of 3 screens?
I am looking at something like this

 

[Brew12]

Thank you! So build this computer to where it will support 2 PCI-E cards running SLI? This will allow me so have separate screens running 3 different programs?
I also suppose the CPU must be able to handle the processing of 3 screens?
I am looking at something like this

3 screens shouldn't be a problem for a modern CPU running Windows 10.
You could really go with cheaper monitors if you want. Stay with a good brand imo, but no need for a higher capability monitor unless you need really good graphics.

 

[twilliard]

3 screens shouldn't be a problem for a modern CPU running Windows 10.
You could really go with cheaper monitors if you want. Stay with a good brand imo, but no need for a higher capability monitor unless you need really good graphics.

Nice thank you as always! I have never built a system like this, just gaming systems.

 

[Brew12]

Nice thank you as always! I have never built a system like this, just gaming systems.

It's much easier and cheaper than a quality gaming system. If you have a gaming system it can probably run 2 monitors just fine. Throw in a second GPU and you are good to go.

 

[inetjnky]

You don't need 3 video cards. If you want 3 monitors and your video card has connections for DVI and VGA you could plug two monitors into those two connections and then get a USB external video adapter and plug a 3rd monitor into that. I do it on my laptop docking station for work.

 

[inetjnky]

 

[James Jordan]

Hey guys I am setting up a stock trading station as trading off the laptop is just not working.
I am wanting to set up 3 monitors but dont know how to do this off of one computer. Multiple video cards?
Also what brand and size of screens? I have no clue on this.
@djbetterly do you have any ideas? ( Sorry I know you are busy )
@cowboy
Anybody!
Trying to have this all ordered and set up by the end of January
Thanks!
-Todd

What orientation do you want to run the monitors? I used to support a trading floor and the best advice I could give you is answer these questions first....

1) What do you want on each screen?
2) What orientation for the screens? All regular? 1 regular 2 rotated vertically? All 3 rotated vertically? This will tell you want stand to buy.
3) What software will you be using for trading?
4) Do you need high end monitors? Do you all 3 to be the same size (The answer to both is probably no. I set up a lot with 1 big monitor for your software, 2 smaller monitors for charts and email/surfing)
5) Have you taken care of the most important thing you need? (Skip the expensive monitor and buy yourself a great office chair)

 

[James Jordan]

A setup like this was usually preferred by most.

 

[ihavecrabs]

If you purchase monitors with "Display Port v1.2" or higher, they can daisy chain. I.e. you plug your PC into only one monitor and the others run off that single monitor.

 

[Breadman03]

Something I've seen people on another forum posit is the use of one very large monitor. I want to say like 30-35" monitors and just split the view up on the single monitor. No experience on my part, just food for thought.

 

[James Jordan]

Something I've seen people on another forum posit is the use of one very large monitor. I want to say like 30-35" monitors and just split the view up on the single monitor. No experience on my part, just food for thought.

That was the reason for question 3 of mine above. Some softwares do not play well with this set up and he might be in for a real headache. Lots of stock trading software is old school and hasn't seen great upgrades since the days of Windows 98.

 

[leejames333]

Definitely a docking station. I've got an old laptop that I've put a new hard drive into and extra ram and it works brilliantly. Definitely the cheapest and easiest option

 

[leejames333]

 

[twilliard]

What orientation do you want to run the monitors? I used to support a trading floor and the best advice I could give you is answer these questions first....

1) What do you want on each screen?
2) What orientation for the screens? All regular? 1 regular 2 rotated vertically? All 3 rotated vertically? This will tell you want stand to buy.
3) What software will you be using for trading?
4) Do you need high end monitors? Do you all 3 to be the same size (The answer to both is probably no. I set up a lot with 1 big monitor for your software, 2 smaller monitors for charts and email/surfing)
5) Have you taken care of the most important thing you need? (Skip the expensive monitor and buy yourself a great office chair)

Awesome thank you!
What I will be running as in screens is:
1- TOS (think or swim) my trading platform
2- STT (stocks to trade) my charting/news/screener
3- Proffit.ly chatroom/live webinars
I am a challange student with Tim Sykes so doing all 3 of these are a pain on one screen.
All three monitors will be vertical due to the layout of the software

I don't think I need hi end monitors as I do not play any games. I do not have a computer yet to support this so I am looking into what or how I should build this.

 

[cowboy]

@twilliard I will give you a call in a few to discuss some of the options.

 

[twilliard]

Thank you all for your awesome help!
I have a clear plan now and parts are already on the road. This will make 2017's trading year better than any other!
Due to my disability I plan to be a full time day trader by mid year

 

[tbaity1401]

Best option IMO is to go with a laptop with a docking station. The dell docking stations have two dvi/digital outputs and one vga output. You could potentially run 4 screens (two dvi, 1 VGA, and laptop screen) if you wanted. Going this route also allows you to undock the computer if you dont want to be in the office. I personally use dell.com/outlet and look at their coupons. The computers are refurbished, scratch & dent, etc. But carry the same warranty and are usually anywhere from 40-60% with coupon. Look at the work PC models (latitudes & precisions)

 

[twilliard]

Here is the start of my trading station.

I am using the k1200 for 3 19" screens and 1 24" screen. I5 3470 cpu 16 gigs of ripjaw 1600 all SSD drives.