Advice on upgrading a desktop PC workstation.
Advice on upgrading a desktop PC workstation.
Hi everyone.
My name is Jay, and I'm seeking some guidance on upgrading my work desktop PC. Thanksgiving is approaching, and I'd like to benefit from any sales and improve my system.
I assembled it myself a few years ago with the following specifications:
CPU Socket Type: AM4
Board: MSI MPG X570
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core at 3.60 GHz
RAM: 32.0 GB
GPU: 1080 Ti
My machine functions adequately, but when I run many more applications from my trading software, it becomes sluggish and slow. I'm unsure whether to upgrade the RAM or the GPU. Could you please advise? Thank you very much.
What is the storage situation? What about the budget for the upgrade?
I own a 1 T M2 SSD and a 500GB second hard drive SSD. My budget falls between $500 and $1000.
You can access the task manager when it becomes slow, and check CPU, Disk, and RAM usage under the performance section. This should help identify the cause of the bottleneck, likely being RAM, particularly if many corporate applications are running in the background.
From Thinkorswim,
"- Thinkorswim operates as a single-threaded application. It demands a processor capable of handling high computational demands so that real-time data can be processed and shown on the chart swiftly.
- ThinkorSwim requires at least 16GB of RAM to manage the platform and multiple charts efficiently.
- Since ThinkorSwim uses your graphics card for processing, standard integrated graphics won’t be enough in most scenarios."
From Sierra Charts,
"- The suggested hardware setup for optimal performance includes 16 GB RAM, a minimum of 4-core CPU, and an SSD. More CPU cores and memory typically improve speed.
A dedicated solid-state drive running Sierra Chart is highly advised."
I suggest upgrading components according to your usage patterns. Which application do you use more often or open more frequently?
Thank you for the suggestions. According to the task manager, Thinkofswim consumes a lot of CPU and RAM, while the Sierra chart runs smoothly. I often use both together without playing games. For an upgrade that improves overall performance and makes multitasking with Google Chrome easier, what would you suggest?
I would choose either 64 or 128 GB of RAM, a more powerful multi-threaded CPU, and enhanced VRAM/GPU. All GPU choices are listed on the following build list. If you prefer a quicker CPU without extra cores, the 5700x offers a savings of around $130. For a fresh setup, consider an Intel CPU, new motherboard, and DDR5 RAM. The newer platform, possibly without a GPU, would generally perform better overall.
Upgrade to existing system:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 3.7 GHz 12-Core Processor
($307.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:
Mushkin Enhanced Redline Stiletto 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card:
Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 6800 16 GB Video Card
($0.00)
Video Card:
Zotac Twin Edge GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB Video Card
($519.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card:
Zotac GAMING AMP Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB Video Card
($0.00)
Video Card:
Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB Video Card
($0.00)
Total:
$937.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2023-11-16 12:22 EST-0500
New platform:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i5-13600KF 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor
($285.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
Asus TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($149.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:
TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL34 Memory
($159.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card:
XFX Speedster SWFT 319 Radeon RX 6800 16 GB Video Card
($389.99 @ Amazon)
Total:
$985.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker