Thanks in no small part to the creation of electronic trading and margin trading, day trading has become an ever more popular way for at-home traders to supplement or create an income. Trading stocks, a share of ownership in a publicly traded company which can be sold, traded, or bought, represents relatively low risks when compared to other types of investment. However, despite the low risks, there are big rewards that are just ripe for the picking.
One of the things that makes day trading so popular is it does not have the same membership codes as physical trading. The New York Stock Exchange, for example, has only 1,366 seats available for traders. When you consider that 2013 showed the highest closing rate of the DOW in history, August 1st had a closing number of 15,628.02, there is no better time to get in on the action than now. However, even if you are a genius when it comes to trading, you need a machine that will let you do so reliably.
What Trade Computers Need to Be a Cut Above the Rest
Day trading requires you to constantly be trading at very high rates. Some trades last less than 10 seconds. With stock information and pricing constantly flooding the system, there are some things trading systems need that other computers simply do not.
- High Computing Speeds
- Memory Equals Access
According to TradingSim, trading online requires trading computers with relatively high computing speeds. The best way to make that happen is to make sure your trade computers have top-of-the-line processors. The better the processor, the more calculations it can make a second, meaning you will be presented with the most up to date information at the speed of light.
Memory is another essential part in all effective trade computers. Most consumer PCs need no more than 4gb of RAM for playing games, typing, and the like. However, trading PCs should have at least double that. RAM, random access memory, effectively allows your computer to have short-term memory. If you are constantly repeating tasks, e.g. looking at stock numbers, then high amounts of RAM can drastically reduce your load times.
Extra Hardware to Improve Your Success
Success with trade computers is not only about what is inside your machine. External hardware can be just as important. Using trading computers multiple monitors is a great way to improve both your trade speed and the education behind each decision. For example, with multiple monitors you can have a different stock on each screen, or you can have stock on a few screens with the news affecting those stocks on another.
Lastly, day trading requires you be at your computer all day. This can easily lead to back pain, chronic headaches, and wrist pain. Try installing an ergonomic keyboard and sitting in a comfortable desk chair to reduce these problems while you are working.
Information is certainly a crucial part of any day trader’s success. However, the importance of having trade computers that can handle the load cannot be understated. If you do not know how to build your own machine, contact a professional dealing in trade computers who can set you up for success. Learn more.