Have you been a trader for a while and are currently expanding your portfolio? Alternatively, you might be relatively new to trading but you want to go all in with the best of the best. Either way, you’ve seen the benefit of multiple screens for trading. Not only do you need to track many data charts but also your stock scanner, market information screens, communication apps and chat rooms for latest updates. So now you have entered the world of the 6 monitor setup.
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How to Create an Incredible 6 Monitor Setup
Naturally, there are preferences and choices to make but the main things to think about when choosing your 6 monitor setup are as listed below:
- Layout
- Equipment
- Monitors
- Graphics Options
- Cables
Layout
You can always change things later but have a think about orientation and location. In what order would you like to see your charts? What about the various communication mediums either for your broker or sources of market information? You might know the answer by instinct or through trial and error. The great thing is that the system gives you flexibility to change and you can evolve the layout over time.
Equipment
Obviously, it’s important that you have a processor and a hard drive that can cope with the large volumes of data you’ll be dealing with on your 6 monitor setup. Some of the obvious players such as Apple and Microsoft give you several options. Then again, you have companies dedicated to trading computers such as Falcon and Orbital. Gaming computers have also been known to be used. Your choice, though, will be driven by personal preference.
When it comes to processors, a good rule of thumb is a minimum of around 3GHz or a CPU with a quad-core setup. This means that it can carry out several functions at once, therefore improving the speed. In terms of RAM, the idea is at 16GB because 8GB will feel slow even if it is technically do-able.
Monitors
It’s not just about how many screens you want but also about the type of panel. The most widely available ones are the following:
- Twisted Nematic (TN)
- Vertical Alignment (VA)
- In-plane switching (IPS)
All of these are LCDs, or Liquid Crystal Displays, but the technology is applied in slightly different ways for various benefits. TNs are the cheapest and most widely used and should work just fine for your trading needs.
On the other hand, VA panels have better angles and colours for only a little extra cost. Having said that, those two points are not so critical for trading purposes. IPS panels offer even higher quality and resolution and are most sought after by gamers. Again, not so important for trading but perhaps you also want to use your 6 monitor setup for games and films? As mentioned, it’s all down to preference as well as, of course, budget.
Graphics
A 6 monitor setup is only possible with a graphics card. Most of the time, these are inbuilt but they can be external. Either way, make sure you have at least 2GB of Graphics Processing Unit power. Essentially, the graphics card is a special piece of extra hardware to speed up images, videos and animations. In the case of trading, your graphs and data points will come up that much faster. When it comes to day trading, you can sometimes find yourself changing position on stocks in as little time as seconds so speed is key.
Cables
Cable management can go a bit crazy with a 6 monitor setup. So maybe have a think about your desk layout before you even begin. Do you want to go as far as drilling holes to hide away the cables? Alternatively, you can get those plastic tubes that encase your cables and keep them neatly behind your desk. You can also research various accessories and mounts that can tidy things up a bit for you.
It’s worth mentioning at this stage the different types of cable you might come across depending on the laptop or computer you’re using. If you’re on windows then you’ll either have an HDMI or VGA video output port. These are the most common but you might also come across a DisplayPort or a round oval USB-C port. Macs usually have HDMI or USB-C ports, but older Macs might have a square-shaped Thunderbolt 2.
Final Recommendation for your Incredible 6 Monitor Setup
For an incredible 6 monitor setup, you first need to know your preferences when it comes to the number of monitors, LCD display type and desk layout. Cable management can make such a difference to your ‘wow’ factor, although of course at the end of day, it’s your productivity that’s key. Then again, if you’re surrounded by an amazing space with tech that oozes ‘incredible’ then you’ll probably be more motivated, engaged and generally successful.