In this article, we feature the best computers for stock trading, with options for a diverse range of users. We’ll show you the best computers for stock trading that you can buy if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, but we’ll also highlight stock trading computers for those that are looking for maximum performance and are willing to spend more.
Before we get into our list of the best computers for stock market trading, let’s first examine what’s important in a computer for stock trading. This will help you avoid spending money on features that won’t have an impact on the computer’s performance for stock trading applications.
What’s important in a computer for trading stocks?
Most stock trading these days is done in a web browser, and stock traders often have a large number of browser tabs open simultaneously to track different price charts as well as market news.
Browser tabs are notoriously RAM-hungry, so you’ll need a sufficient amount of memory to ensure a smooth experience. 32 GB of RAM will be plenty enough for most users, but you can easily upgrade your RAM if you need more. The good news is that RAM is relatively inexpensive at the moment.
Another important factor is reliability, as your computer failing you at a bad time could cost you a significant amount of money. Spending a little bit more on the motherboard and power supply can go a long way to improve the reliability of your stock trading computer.
As far as the CPU is concerned, you don’t need an extremely powerful processor unless your trading process involves crunching large amounts of data in spreadsheets locally on your computer. A midrange CPU will do just fine for most stock traders.
Make sure to buy a computer with an SSD drive and not an HDD, as an SSD will provide a much more pleasant user experience. An HDD is fine for long-term storage of files you don’t use frequently, but you definitely want your operating system to run from an SSD as the improvement in performance is very noticeable.
What’s not so important in a computer for stock trading?
One of the least relevant aspects of a computer for trading stocks is the graphics. If you won’t be using the computer to play games, you don’t even need a dedicated graphics card, as an integrated graphics solution will do just fine. The only important thing is to ensure that the integrated graphics can support the amount of displays you intend to use.
You also don’t need a lot of storage, as most stock trading is done through online interfaces. However, storage is relatively inexpensive these days, so you can buy a 1 TB or 2 TB drive for relatively cheap.
So, let’s sum up what’s important and what’s not very important when looking for the best computer for stock trading:
- Prioritize RAM (get 32 GB or more).
- A midrange CPU will suffice for most stock traders.
- Reliability is important. Buy a computer with a good quality motherboard and a power supply from a reliable manufacturer.
- Graphics are not very important (unless you also want to use the computer for gaming).
- The amount of storage is not very important.
The best desktop computers for stock trading
Let’s start our list of the best computers for stock trading with desktop computers. Later on, we’ll also feature the best laptops for stock trading.
Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50s – Best prebuilt desktop computer for stock trading under $1,000
If you need a moderately powerful desktop computer, buying a prebuilt business desktop from major manufacturers can be a solid option. Here, we’re going to feature the ThinkCentre line from Lenovo, but the OptiPlex line from Dell and the Z line from HP are similar as well.
For example, a Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50s configuration with an Intel i5-12400 CPU, 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD drive is selling for $800, which is a solid deal if you’re looking for a desktop computer for under $1,000 but don’t want to build one yourself. However, keep in mind that such a configuration will not be able to play any demanding video games, as it doesn’t have a dedicated GPU.
Buy the Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50s
Dell XPS 8950 – High-performance prebuilt desktop computer
A Dell XPS 8950 configuration with an i9-12900K CPU, 64 GB of ram and a 4 TB NVMe SSD configuration is selling for $1,849. This desktop computer will be able to handle any demanding tasks you encounter throughout your stock trading journey. However, it might be overkill if your trading strategy doesn’t include running backtests locally or other more demanding workloads.
This computer also comes equipped with an AMD Radeon RX 6700XT graphics card, so it will also be able to handle graphically-intensive tasks such as gaming.
Buy the Dell XPS 8950
Refurbished Dell OptiPlex 7040 – Best computer for trading stocks on a budget
If your style of trading is not very demanding and/or you’re looking to spend as little on your computer as possible, consider purchasing a refurbished desktop computer. This will allow you to save a lot of money that might otherwise be spent inefficiently by buying a computer that’s designed to perform much more intensive work than what you’re actually using it for.
For example, you can get a refurbished Dell OptiPlex 7040 desktop computer on Amazon for just $223. It features an Intel i7-6700 CPU, 32 GB of RAM, a 512 GB NVMe drive and a 2TB HDD for additional storage. This computer will deliver a very snappy performance if you’re using it for non-intensive tasks.
Buy the Dell OptiPlex 7040
Best value for money – Build your own computer for stock trading
If you want a new computer and not a refurbished one, building it yourself will almost certainly be better value for money compared to buying a prebuilt machine.
Building your own computer can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but the process is actually quite straightforward as long as you pay attention to a few important things. If you decide to build your own computer, you will be able to choose exactly the hardware you need and you will also save money compared to buying a pre-built desktop computer.
If you’re building a computer for the first time, it could take you about 3 or 4 hours to assemble it, but the process could be quicker or slower depending on how handy you are.
If you’re going to build your own computer and plan to primarily use it for stock trading, we recommend you purchase a sizeable amount of RAM (32 GB will suffice for most) and a midrange processor.
Also, it’s worth spending a little bit more money on a higher-quality power supply. If you’re not going to have a dedicated graphics card, you won’t need a lot of wattage, but make sure to buy a power supply that has solid efficiency and is made by a reputable manufacturer.
Reliability is very important when it comes to a stock trading computer, as you don’t want your computer to fail on you when you’re trying to take advantage of an opportunity in the markets.
If you want to do some gaming on the side, you will need a dedicated graphics card, which will also require a more powerful power supply. If you won’t be using a dedicated graphics card, make sure that the CPU (central processing unit) you’re buying has an integrated graphics solution that can support the amount of external displays you plan to use.
Here’s an example of a stock trading computer configuration you could build with a budget of under $1,000:
This setup has solid quality components and will serve your stock trading needs without a hitch. The CPU supports up to 4 displays, which should be more than enough for most stock trading setups. You will also have two free RAM slots to upgrade your memory if needed down the line. If you’re willing to increase your budget to $1,500, you can get an even more powerful CPU and additional RAM.
The best laptops for stock trading
Now that we’ve showcased desktops, let’s quickly take a look at some of the best laptops for stock trading.
14-inch MacBook Pro — The best stock trading laptop for macOS users
For stock trading on a Mac, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is a great choice. The basic model with the M2 Pro chip (10-core CPU and 16-core GPU), 16 GB RAM, and 512 GB storage is more than powerful enough for most traders and costs $1,999.
It’s important to keep in mind that the M2 Pro chip supports only two external displays. If you need more, you’d have to get the M2 Max model, which can handle up to 4 external displays, but it’s pricier at $3,099.
Buy the 14-inch Macbook Pro
ThinkPad X1 Carbon — A highly portable laptop with excellent build quality
The ThinkPad series of laptops is renowned for its reliability and build quality. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a reliable and well-built laptop, great for stock trading where reliability is key. It’s portable, has strong hardware, good battery life, and a very comfortable keyboard for typing.
A configuration with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB RAM, and Intel Iris Xe graphics costs about $1,600. If you need to trade on the go, consider the OLED display.
However, if portability isn’t your top priority, you can find laptops with similar or better performance for a lower price.
Buy the Thinkpad X1 Carbon
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 — The best 2-in-1 laptop for stock trading
If you want a laptop that can double as a tablet while still being powerful enough for stock trading, we recommend the Microsoft Surface Pro 9.
The version with 16 GB of RAM, an i7-2640M CPU and 256 GB of storage is selling for just under $1,300, which is a solid deal for a high quality 2-in-1 device. If you want to fully spec it out, you can opt for the version with 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
However, you need to keep in mind that Microsoft Surface devices only support up to 2 external monitors, which might be a dealbreaker depending on the monitor setup you would like to use.
Buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The bottom line
Hopefully, our roundup of the best computers for trading stocks has helped you find the perfect stock trading computer for you. If your approach to stock trading doesn’t involve intensive tasks like backtesting on your machine, you can get an excellent computer for stock trading for under $1,000.
If you’re interested in more topics related to stock trading, make sure to check out our list of the best stocks to buy right now.
Source: https://coincodex.com/article/33221/best-computers-for-stock-trading/