As a stock trader, no amount of talent can make up for a lack of great tools. And since most trading is conducted online these days, one of the most vital trading tools is a laptop or desktop computer.
Don’t misunderstand: A great computer in and of itself won’t make you a great trader. But the quality of your laptop or desktop setup can have an impact on your effectiveness as a trader, so it’s important to choose one that can perform the tasks you need.
With high-tech gadgetry, the choices can be overwhelming. Laptops and desktop computers come in all shapes and sizes. As the consumer, you’ve got to strike the perfect balance between reliability, durability, functionality, and price.
In this post, we’ll share our favorite picks for both laptop and desktop computers for traders.
Scroll down for additional tips on what to look for in a laptop or computer and answers to FAQs.
Laptops and Desktop Computers for Traders
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for!
Here are several of StocksToTrade’s picks for some of the best laptops and desktop computers for traders. In no particular order:
Laptops
Huawei MateBook X Pro
What it is: A higher-end lightweight (only 2.93 pounds!) 13.9-inch touchscreen laptop with a very slim profile.
Why it works: An eighth-generation Intel Core i5 8250U processor boosts performance up to 40% over its predecessor, which means it’s a fast and powerful machine.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
A high-resolution display ensures that you can see everything clearly and in living color, and it’s a great laptop for streaming content, so you can watch your favorite trading videos without hiccups.
MacBook Pro (Quad Core)
What it is: The latest MacBook Pro, featuring a powerful quad-core processor. It comes in various screen sizes and includes a lot more bells and whistles than prior models.
Why it works: A seventh-generation Intel Core processor helps this laptop deliver an amazing performance. This means you can move fast, even when working in multiple windows.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
The video quality is incredible, so can watch lessons on this laptop without stalls. The display is possibly the best ever in a MacBook, meaning that every chart and screen will dazzle your very eyes.
Oh, and the battery power is incredible. While trading software might challenge the 10 hours it’s advertised to last, it will hold its power longer than many other laptops.
Dell XPS 15
What it is: A slim, lightweight performance laptop with a borderless display.
Why it works: This laptop packs a pretty big punch in a small package. With an eighth-generation Intel Core processor, it’s a powerful machine and can handle all of the trading programs and platforms you might be running.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
It has an UltraSharp 4K Ultra display, making for an even better visual than full HD, with smooth, seamless color and display.
An anti-reflective screen can be viewed from multiple angles and won’t hurt your eyes. The touchscreen is optional but handy so that you can quickly interact with the technology.
ASUS ZenBook 14 UX430
What it is: A thin, super-light (2.75 pounds!) laptop with a nano-edge bezel display.
Why it works: For an affordable option, this laptop delivers great results. It’s equipped with the latest eighth-generation Intel 1.8 GHz processor and has great storage and memory.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
Visually, the ZenBook 14 has a high-resolution display with wide viewing angles and good color. It has good visual performance and its display is easy on the eyes, so you won’t suffer strain.
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
What it is: A slightly smaller and even more lightweight version (2.47 pounds) of the aforementioned laptop.
Why it works: The technology is comparable to the ZenBook 14 but in a slightly smaller package. It’s perfect for traders on the go.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
Desktop Computers
If you prefer a desktop (or want a desktop in addition to a laptop), here are some of our picks.
iMac 27″ i7
What it is: An all-in-one desktop system (this includes the screen) with a quad-core processor.
Why it works: The massive screen means that you’ll be able to see all the trading action, and the powerful processor and memory ensure that you won’t drop out while making charts or executing trades.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
Oh, and while it’s not the most important thing, it’s a slick looking desktop unit.
iMac 21.5″ i7
What it is: A slightly smaller all-in-one desktop system (this includes the screen) than the one above, also with a quad-core processor.0
Why it works: Same benefits as the 27-inch version, so if space is at a premium, it’s a perfect pick that’s generous without dominating your entire desk.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
Dell Inspiron 5680 Gaming Desktop
What it is: A high-powered desktop designed for gaming with an Intel Core i7 processor. Note: This is a computer tower only, not the monitor.
Editors Note: See our Top Trading Monitors Here
Why it works: While it’s called a “gaming” desktop, that same responsiveness can be applied to market quotes and charts, which can employ a similar amount of processing power.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
Not only is the computer powerful, but it’s quiet, too. It features a thermal design, smart component placement, and optimized graphic solution to help make this one of the quietest computers of the bunch.
Dell XPS Tower Special Edition (8930)
What it is: A tower desktop with an eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8700. Note: This is a computer tower only, not the monitor.
Why it works: The powerful processor is designed for lots of action and multitasking, which is helpful for traders who are running charts, monitoring positions, and doing research in multiple tabs. The unit features award-winning audio, so as you watch trading tutorials or stream on YouTube, you won’t have weird crackles or pops.
Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon
Another Option: BUILD YOUR OWN EPIC COMPUTER!!
What it is: A self-built system using components you purchase separately.
We suggest using:
This option is best for those that know how to build a computer, but it’s fun none-the-less!
Why it works: By putting together the components yourself, you can build an extremely powerful trading machine and customize it to suit your needs.
Before You Buy
Before forking over your credit card, it’s important to first consider your tech needs as a trader. While a laptop might look sleek and professional, you’ve got to know you can count on it when you’re ready to dump shares immediately after a quick mid-day spike.
Also, a word on price: Don’t pick your laptop or computer purely based on which one costs the least. Everyone wants a good deal, but is it really worth it if your computer crashes and you miss a $500 or $5000 trading opportunity?
Evaluating Laptops
There are two critical elements to consider when evaluating a trading laptop: functionality and reliability. Why?
Picture this: You’re mid-trade and your laptop powers off when your so-called eight-hour battery fails you.
Or, maybe your computer keeps crashing when you open your tenth Chrome tab because it can only process a few tasks simultaneously.
While these might cause momentary blips in your technology, it can have huge ramifications on your trades.
A laptop or desktop computer needs to be able to handle intense trading software, multiple tabs, streaming videos, and other activity. If using a laptop, the battery has to have staying power so that you can keep monitoring your watch list, timing your trades, and striking when the iron is hot.
The good news is that there are great laptops available for a variety of different price points.
What Does a Professional Trader Look For in a Computer?
Before we get into the top picks, let’s hear some common questions that people ask about trading laptops and desktops.
Q: What type of laptop does Tim Sykes use?
A: Well, until January 2015, Tim used a MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, while he was making a video about how it’s great to be able to make money while chilling next to a pool, the wind blew it into the pool. If you haven’t seen the video footage of this yet, you should. The scream is worth it.
To replace it, Tim bought another MacBook Pro … then in short order, he spilled water on it and fried the circuitry. To replace that one, he bought … another MacBook Pro. Safe to say, Tim’s a MacBook Pro fan.
Q: Is there anything special about laptops for traders? Can’t I just buy a regular laptop at my local Staples or Best Buy?
A: Trading software can be a beast. It hogs lots of resources and sucks battery power like you wouldn’t believe. Trading software is chart-heavy, and traders typically view multiple graphs at a time, so it’s important to have great graphics to see all those bars, lines, tails, etc.
Q: Don’t all laptops have the same things on the inside? Does it really matter which one I choose?
A: Like a car, yes, laptops have the same vital organs on the inside. So, in that way, yes, they have a lot of basic similarities. That said, some cars have 6.2-liter engines, while others have 1.5-liter engines.
Some cars go 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, while others may struggle to beat 11 seconds.
You get the idea. For laptops, the main differences to look out for are processor speeds, RAM, graphics cards, and cooling mechanisms.
Fun fact: Gaming computers often work particularly well for traders, because they focus on graphics and running large programs that are similar in size to trading software.
What to Look For in a Laptop or Desktop Computer
Let’s talk about some of the things you should look for in a computer. Here are some of the most important things to consider:
RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is largely misunderstood.
Contrary to popular belief, adding RAM doesn’t necessarily make your computer faster. However, having enough RAM can keep your computer from slowing down.
You need enough RAM for your computer to run your programs. Too little and it will crash, not run or slow down. While if you have too much RAM it might go unused, it’s better to have too much than too little.
Processor speed
Way back in the dark ages of the 80s and 90s, you’d just choose the fastest processor you could afford and be done with it. It was pretty straightforward. Each processor had a numerical value assigned to it that showed how fast it was.
Today, there are a crazy amount of processors that don’t fit so neatly onto a linear speed scale. We have AMD, dual core, quad core, i3, i5, A8 and gigahertzes, to name a few.
And they all have their own strengths. For instance, dual core is faster than quad core, but quad cores are better at processing multithreaded applications.
Because of this fact, it’s important to know what your needs are so that you can seek out the machine best suited to your work.
Hard Drive
This is the thing that spins around inside your computer (most of them, anyway).
The faster it spins, the more responsive your computer will be. Hard drive speeds are measured in revolutions per minute. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are much faster than spinning ones.
Yes, the price tag for those are quite a bit more, but the increase in boot speeds for applications is noticeable.
You also probably guessed that the absence of moving parts makes SSDs the more durable choice.
Size matters, too. No, you probably don’t need to get that 3 terabyte hard drive. But you might want to set your sights higher than 500 gigabytes (GB).
If you use your laptop ONLY for trading, there may not be a call for a ton of storage space, unless you’re saving chart images and such.
Display
The display on your laptop or desktop computer matters. Since you’re going to be logging many hours staring at that screen, you want to make sure that the display is adjustable and as gentle on the eyes as necessary.
Consider where you’ll be working (in an office with little natural daylight? Outside on your patio?), and make sure to choose a computer with a display that’s well suited to your work environment.
Battery Life
When it comes to laptops, the battery life matters … big time. You can’t always plug in your laptop when you’re in a cab, plane or train. If you’re camped out on the beach, electrical outlets can be scarce.
Please note that while you’re running trading software, there is absolutely NO WAY that your battery is going to last as long as the manufacturer says it will. Not even close. Prepare yourself for this reality.
Weight
Usually, battery power usually comes as a tradeoff to weight. The longer the battery life, the more the laptop weighs.
However, you’ve got to keep your comfort in mind. You may be hauling your laptop around for hours on end, so you want a unit that won’t strain your shoulders to carry.
Screen Size
Small computers, and therefore, small screens, are easy and convenient to carry around. However, trading charts are awfully hard to look at on a tiny screen. If you view multiple charts simultaneously, a larger screen size can make a big difference.
What kind of computer do you use for trading? Share your comment below.
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