Can I use a Laptop for Day Trading Computer? Lets compare the pros and cons
I get this question all the time…
“I want to use a laptop for my trading computer…what are the pros and cons?”
Well, the pro’s are convenience. You can bring the laptop anywhere you travel, work, and trade.
The cons are pretty significant…first thing of the major aspects you need in your trading computer:
1. Lots of RAM
2. Fast Processor
3. Best Video Cards
A laptop can easily have a fast processor, and it can also have lots of RAM, but the price you will be paying will be twice as much as you would for a desktop. Laptop products are always more expensive, they arent build as sturdy, and that will be the biggest difference….cost.
What about the video cards? This is where people go wrong…a laptop will never have the power of a desktop with video cards.
Laptop video cards are always going to be a lot more expensive, and they wont work as well because the physical space it needs to hold the cards to your motherboard…I know…too much tecky talk.
If money isnt an issue on this laptop you can easily create a very stable trading laptop for the added cost…however…if you want to do it right, you need to have an external video card system, which is called a ‘sidecar’
Here is an example of a sidecar from digitaltiger.com
If you use a ‘sidecar’ now you have your video cards kept in a special unit that you will use along with your laptop. The video cards will be the same cards you use for your desktop, but in this case they can be used with your laptop.
So in closing a day trading laptop is possible, but to make it work the way a professional trader needs it, it would cost so much money you could buy three new desktops for the same price.
It all depends on the trader as well.
If you trade with our Auto Trader you only need 1 monitor so the laptop idea will be easy, or using our Swing Trading Method.
An intra-day trader (like me) will use many charts and require High Resolution Monitors to make using those charts easy, and high res monitors require almost the best video cards.
Professional traders need professioal tools, I would always recommend a desktop to my clients, but at the same time, the laptop option (when done correctly) is also a viable option.
Hope it helps! See you in our live trade room Monday @ 745am
