Why the best computers and laptops for trading? The best trading software often requires a computer or laptop with the ability to handle a whole suite of specialized tools. Here we will see: The best PCs for trading The best laptops for trading.
Trading
Trading is an exciting adventure, not only do you have access to profitable signals, but you can also make profits, part of the challenge is being able to control the risks. If you are serious about trading, then you need to know that your mobile phone or tablet is not working.
You should invest in a high-performance trading computer that not only allows you to access the markets, but also allows you to monitor different charts on different screens. As a newbie, you probably don’t know where to start and are frustrated with questions about what type of hardware your trading computer should have. Of course, you can go to any computer store and buy a PC or laptop to start trading, but this does not guarantee that it will work because the amount of data that your computer or laptop will receive is huge.
You need a computer with high-performance hardware if your plan is to be a full-time trader.
GPU and Trading
Nowadays, it is common to find computers with integrated graphics chips, but when it comes to operation, these do not work. Granted, they have the ability to process images and videos, but commercial softwares especially demand graphics functions.
Also, the integrated graphics chips do not support multiple monitors. Multiple monitors are an advantage for a full time trader as one can keep track of different trades and charts with ease.
There are two big companies that make the best graphics chips. They include NVIDIA and AMD. They both offer high-quality graphics cards that work with third-party cooling systems. Some cheap graphics cards for your Trading PC include EVGA GeForce GT 720 2GB DDR3, EVGA GeForce GT 740 Superclocked Single Slot 4GB DDR3 Video Card, EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 SC GAMING ACX 3.0, 8GB GDDR5, PNY Quadro K620 Graphic Card and Nvidia Quadro K1200 Low power, low profile. Remember: for your trading jobs you do not need an expensive gaming graphics card.
Processor and RAM
The processor is the brain of the computer and, as the name suggests, it helps with calculations and processing of data and values. As a trader, it is important to budget when purchasing a desktop or laptop computer. How much are you willing to spend? If you’re on a tight budget, you can buy a computer with a top-of-the-line Intel i5 processor or a budget Intel i7 processor. These types of processors have around 4 to 6 cores. They are enough for a trader with a limited budget.
If you want a high performance processor, you can go for Intel Core i7-6950x which has 10 CORES at 4.0 GHZ. For RAM, you should have a minimum of 8GB if you’re on a tight budget. For best performance, invest in 16 GB of RAM or more. This will be enough to help you run all your trading software smoothly.
Storage (hard drive)
Hard drives are vital as they allow for the storage and retrieval of digital information.
- Traditional HDD hard drives are designed with one or more rapidly spinning platters coated with magnetic material that is read and written by magnetic heads.
- Today SSDs (Solid State Drives) are available in almost all new computers, they are much faster and are the ideal choice. Unlike HDDs, SSDs are equipped with flash modules/chips.
As a trader, you must have a computer with an SSD as the main drive. This will host the desired operating system, commercial softwares and other applications. And of course, you can install HDD as a secondary drive to store other data.
Best Computers and Laptops for Trading
To save you from having to flip through hundreds of laptops and features to find the right one, let’s take a look at some of the best trading computers and laptops:
- Best PCs for Trading
- The best laptops for trading
The best computers for trading
It is not easy to find trading computers that have the ideal characteristics. Below is our list of the best PCs for trading
1. Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 5
Monitor touch screen QHD 27″ | Intel Core i7-10700T | RAM 16 GB | Storage 1 TB HDD 512 GB SSD | Windows 11
This is an ideal PC for traders and investors looking to optimize and customize their trading hardware.
The IdeaCentre AIO 5 is a powerful desktop platform, an ideal desktop computer for Trading. It is an all in one and with a touch screen.
The platform includes an Intel Core i7-10700T processor, which means faster operations. The IdeaCentre AIO A340 also includes a number of customization options that let you balance cost and memory needs.
2. Acer Aspire C27-1655-UA91 AIO Desktop
27″ Full HD IPS Screen | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 | RAM 12GB DDR4 | Storage 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD
Ideal for traders and investors looking for a multi-purpose desktop that is useful for work and trading.
3. Dell G5 Gaming Desktop
Intel Core i7-10700F | RAM 16 GB DDR4 | 1 TB SSD | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB GDDR6 | Windows 10 Home
Ideal for traders and investors looking for a multi-purpose desktop that is useful for both work and play.
Don’t be put off by the name: The Dell G5 Gaming Desktop isn’t just useful for gamers. The blazing-fast specs of this PC also mean high-end operations and faster processing.
It works with less noise than other models with a similar power level, perfect for maintaining an atmosphere of total concentration while investing and trading.
Importance of laptops in trading
Trading, be it cryptocurrencies or stocks, is a very lucrative field today. If done correctly, there is a lot to be gained. Stocks are prone to fluctuations and therefore it is important to use laptop connectivity for trading purposes.
Plus, the stock market is open most of the day, so a laptop with good battery life and portability will help you trade from your home or workplace without the need to hunt around for a plug.
These features are now available on many laptops currently available on the market. Almost all the big brands have taken advantage of technological advances and have designed an amazing catalog of them.
What does the best laptop for trading need to have?
Here are the important features to look for in a trading laptop before buying one:
The specifications determine the speed at which you will execute trades and the type of software you can run.
Let us focus on some of the essential features that you should consider before purchasing an ideal trading laptop.
1. Performance
Depends on the laptop’s processor and graphics card; if you select a fast one, any operation will be done as soon as possible, but the price will be higher.
2. Choose as much memory as you can
If your laptop has more memory, and newer, it will be able to perform better. Try to buy a laptop with a little more RAM than you can afford based on your budget. You can upgrade internally or externally if it has an extra slot. If you are looking for a cheap laptop, you can choose 8 Gb of RAM. However, for superior performance, consider 16 GB of RAM or more.
3. Must have faster storage
Before selecting a hard drive, you should consider what type of storage controller is in that laptop. There are two types of hard drive:
- HDD
- SSD
Look for a laptop with an SSD as its primary storage drive. Solid state drive is more reliable to provide information quickly and with lower boot speed.
4. Choose a laptop with a big screen
Traders should consider the screen on their laptops. Always buy a laptop with a larger screen because you will have to see most of the graphic well; in such a way that it is not necessary to connect an external display. Very clear and visible graphics will help a lot to make the best decisions.
A larger screen size provides operators with graphs, scales, etc. more comfortable.
If for reasons of portability or taste you prefer a laptop with a smaller screen, it will mean that you will occasionally have to strain your eyes. However, there is no problem here if you have one of the best portable monitors on your desk.
Regardless of the size of your screen, it is important to opt for a laptop with a high resolution.
5. Battery life matters
After the processor, a trader’s battery life is an aspect that you should seriously consider before buying a laptop. You will work at any time of the day because the stock charts change every time and every minute. Sometimes even a few extra seconds can lead to profit. If you prefer Intel systems, choose processors that end with the U-series: they consume less power and guarantee a longer battery life.
6. GPU
The right graphics card for your day trading computer or laptop helps reduce the number of monitors you run simultaneously, which is why you need a decent graphics card. While some day traders are running multiple windows or split screens with just one or a small amount, the most successful day traders eventually move to a larger number of screens in order to effectively track more actions simultaneously. And we won’t always be at home or in the office with multiple monitors displaying graphs.
Your day trading computer must have a graphics card with at least 2 GB.
The best laptops for trading
Day trading involves following stock values, buying and selling from day to day. Stock traders are investors who buy stocks and sell them at a profit. They need to stay on top of the markets, and they need a good internet connection and a laptop with fast response and performance. Therefore, you will need a reliable and highly efficient laptop to monitor graphs, data sizes, numbers or values.
Below is a selection of the best forex and trading laptops that combine easy portability and impressive specs.
1. ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo
15.6” 4K UHD NanoEdge Touch screen | Intel Core i7-10750H | RAM 16 GB | Storage 1 TB PCIe SSD | GeForce RTX 2060 GPU | ScreenPad Plus
Ultrabooks are some of the preferred laptops because they are convenient. They have many advanced features, including increased storage and longer battery life. As a trader, you will make an excellent choice with the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo UX581 laptop.
It’s an excellent laptop for daily transactions and the processor-memory combination offers fast data and response
2. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (2021)
15.6″ FHD screen | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad-Core | RAM 16 GB DDR4 | Storage 512 GB SSD
For investors and traders who want a combination of affordability and solid specifications that make their laptop suitable for the professional trader.
The Dell Inspiron HD business laptop is much cheaper than other options on this list while still maintaining the powerful capabilities you need to trade effectively. While not as powerful as more expensive options, this Dell Inspiron HD business laptop is optimized for performance and software compatibility.
3. HP Pavilion 15 (2021)
15.6″ HD screen | AMD Ryzen 7 3700U (beats i7-10510U) | RAM 16 GB DDR4 | Storage 256 GB PCIe SSD | Type-C
This HP Pavilion 15 laptop for traders for its affordable price and resources, is one of the best price-value laptops. It’s powered by the fast and powerful AMD Ryzen 7 3700U processor, giving you instant responsiveness and the world-class connectivity power users require.
This HP Pavilion 15 laptop provides 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage. It has a long battery life. If you work all day, it can provide up to 8 hours of duration.
4. ASUS TUF F17
17.3” FHD IPS screen | Intel Core i5-10300H | GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU | RAM 8 GB DDR4 | Storage 512GB PCIe SSD | RGB keyboard | Windows 10
Among the best laptops for trading, this is one of the most powerful and thinnest. It has a small weight and comes with a beautiful appearance. The perfect visual effect makes it more suitable for games.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 laptop has a really fast handling time. It has an upgradeable screen, which is the best option for gaming. It comes with an Intel Core i5-10300H quad-core processor with 4 cores, 8MB cache, and a boost frequency of up to 4.5GHz. The CPU can provide reliable performance for gaming, media streaming, and all operations in between.
In addition, it also comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, with a 4GB GDDR6 graphics card up to 1585MHz at 80W TGP, which can be boosted for serious gaming and multitasking. ASUS TUF Gaming F17 provides 8GB DDR4 RAM, the memory speed is 2933MHz, and it has 5 12GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage.
If you are away from home most of the day and need a laptop with a long battery life, then the only drawback is the battery life. It will give you up to 7 hours of battery life. It also comes with plenty of input/output ports to connect your favorite devices and start working anywhere, including one USB 3.2 Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, and an additional USB 2.0 Type-A port.
Screen has a 17.3-inch full HD 144Hz narrow-bezel IPS panel screen, and the screen has a longer lifespan, with a maximum screen resolution of (1920 × 1080). The big screen and 144Hz refresh rate are great and they look great. The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is a lightweight gaming laptop that weighs just 5.73 pounds (2.59 kg).
5. ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim
14” FHD NanoEdge Bezel screen | Intel Core i7-1165G7 | NVIDIA MX450 | RAM 16 GB | Storage 512 GB SSD | ScreenPad 2.0 | Thunderbolt 4 | Windows 10 Pro
This trading notebook is one of the best, very portable and ideal for stock trading and day trading. The ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim laptop is light, compact, and ultra-thin at just 0.6 inches wide.
It is equipped with an 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, which is further expandable to 3.9GHz. Being a full view screen, the screen-to-body ratio is around 90 percent. It’s an ultra-slim 14-inch widescreen 4-way nano-edge bezel technology display.
It comes with 16GB of RAM and the latest 512GB SSD, enough to run and store all your business files and software. ASUS ZenBook 14 is one of the best business laptops. This laptop has something unique, the one-touch illuminated numeric keypad appears on the touchpad and it has a built-in infrared camera for facial recognition when signing with Windows.
It also has a backlit keyboard for a better typing experience at night. Along with military standard MIL-STD 810G certified for reliability and durability of battery life, the fast charge feature can restore batteries to 60% charge levels in just 40 minutes. It features a full complement of I/O ports, with two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports that support fast charging
15.6″ FHD screen | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad-Core | RAM 16 GB DDR4 | Storage 512 GB SSD
For investors and traders who want a combination of affordability and solid specifications that make their laptop suitable for the professional trader.
The Dell Inspiron HD business laptop is much cheaper than other options on this list while still maintaining the powerful capabilities you need to trade effectively. While not as powerful as more expensive options, this Dell Inspiron HD business laptop is optimized for performance and software compatibility.
3. HP Pavilion 15 (2021)
15.6″ HD screen | AMD Ryzen 7 3700U (beats i7-10510U) | RAM 16 GB DDR4 | Storage 256 GB PCIe SSD | Type-C
This HP Pavilion 15 laptop for traders for its affordable price and resources, is one of the best price-value laptops. It’s powered by the fast and powerful AMD Ryzen 7 3700U processor, giving you instant responsiveness and the world-class connectivity power users require.
This HP Pavilion 15 laptop provides 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage. It has a long battery life. If you work all day, it can provide up to 8 hours of duration.
4. ASUS TUF F17
17.3” FHD IPS screen | Intel Core i5-10300H | GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU | RAM 8 GB DDR4 | Storage 512GB PCIe SSD | RGB keyboard | Windows 10
Among the best laptops for trading, this is one of the most powerful and thinnest. It has a small weight and comes with a beautiful appearance. The perfect visual effect makes it more suitable for games.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 laptop has a really fast handling time. It has an upgradeable screen, which is the best option for gaming. It comes with an Intel Core i5-10300H quad-core processor with 4 cores, 8MB cache, and a boost frequency of up to 4.5GHz. The CPU can provide reliable performance for gaming, media streaming, and all operations in between.
In addition, it also comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, with a 4GB GDDR6 graphics card up to 1585MHz at 80W TGP, which can be boosted for serious gaming and multitasking. ASUS TUF Gaming F17 provides 8GB DDR4 RAM, the memory speed is 2933MHz, and it has 5 12GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage.
If you are away from home most of the day and need a laptop with a long battery life, then the only drawback is the battery life. It will give you up to 7 hours of battery life. It also comes with plenty of input/output ports to connect your favorite devices and start working anywhere, including one USB 3.2 Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, and an additional USB 2.0 Type-A port.
Screen has a 17.3-inch full HD 144Hz narrow-bezel IPS panel screen, and the screen has a longer lifespan, with a maximum screen resolution of (1920 × 1080). The big screen and 144Hz refresh rate are great and they look great. The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is a lightweight gaming laptop that weighs just 5.73 pounds (2.59 kg).
5. ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim
14” FHD NanoEdge Bezel screen | Intel Core i7-1165G7 | NVIDIA MX450 | RAM 16 GB | Storage 512 GB SSD | ScreenPad 2.0 | Thunderbolt 4 | Windows 10 Pro
This trading notebook is one of the best, very portable and ideal for stock trading and day trading. The ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim laptop is light, compact, and ultra-thin at just 0.6 inches wide.
It is equipped with an 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, which is further expandable to 3.9GHz. Being a full view screen, the screen-to-body ratio is around 90 percent. It’s an ultra-slim 14-inch widescreen 4-way nano-edge bezel technology display.
It comes with 16GB of RAM and the latest 512GB SSD, enough to run and store all your business files and software. ASUS ZenBook 14 is one of the best business laptops. This laptop has something unique, the one-touch illuminated numeric keypad appears on the touchpad and it has a built-in infrared camera for facial recognition when signing with Windows.
It also has a backlit keyboard for a better typing experience at night. Along with military standard MIL-STD 810G certified for reliability and durability of battery life, the fast charge feature can restore batteries to 60% charge levels in just 40 minutes. It features a full complement of I/O ports, with two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports that support fast charging