Question about computer resources

[ju1234]

I know this question has to do with the computer and windows and not NT. But since all of you deal with this on daily basis abd perhaps have gone through these problems you are perhaps the best person to advise on it.

In Microsoft Windows XT, I am running NT, IB and couple of otehr programs with several windows open simultaneously on three monitors. For couple of days I notice that some of the windows flash from time to time when updating the data, so for a seconf or so the window goes blank. o I ran the Windows Task Manager Performance meter. I notice that every time the windows flash, the CPU usage shows 100%. Rest of the time it runs around 20-30% while the PF usage is never over 1 GB. So, my thought is that I have sufficient RAM but may not have a fast enough CPU. Does any experts here agree with that or have some other thoughts. Thanks.

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

There can be any number of things going on with your system. Please see these performance tips: http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/H...anceTips1.html

Other than that, running on an as strong as possible machine will always help.

[ju1234]

Josh, yesterday I described this problem of resources. Now, i see that I can make the various windows (non NT) blink by just moving the cursor over my two NT charts that are open. Just moving the cursor back and forth makes the windows blink (and get the CPU usage to 100%.

Now this problem of resources is definitely related to NT. Because if I close the NT, the problem goes away.

I have already done everything that is recommended in the "performance tips) but has made no difference.

The system I have is AMD Athlon 64, 3500+, 2.2 GHz. RAM 2GB. So, this is not a slow computer.

Any suggestions.

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

If you have many charts and many intensive indicators loaded it will always be a problem. Check the CalculateOnBarClose settings for your indicators. Check the days back setting for your charts. If you are using tick charts it may be advisable not to load more than just a couple days of data. Close all workspaces you have open in the background. Decrease usage across the board. Don't have Market Analyzer pulling 500 symbols at once.

If you are experiencing flickering please also try reinstalling your graphics drivers.

[ju1234]

I have only two charts open, each with price data, volume, stoch, macd. That's it. Only two days of data, one minute bars interval. Only one workspace. Market analyser is totaly empty, no instruments in it. All this is really very small load. Flickering is only since I am using the NT, never before that, and also if i close NT no more flickering, so i wonder why graphics drivers would be the problem.

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

There have been issues with nVidia graphics drivers in the past. Please also try turning Hardware Acceleration off on your graphics card.

[ju1234]

Well, the card does not have accelrator. However i did go ahead reinstall the driver. No change.

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

All windows 3d graphics cards have Hardware Acceleration. To turn it off please follow these steps for XP: http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/view...nalId=kb404863
for Vista:
Click Start in the lower left corner of Windows Vista.
Click Control Panel, click Appearance and Personalization, click Personalization, click Display Settings, and then click Advanced Settings.
Click the Troubleshoot tab, and then click Change Settings.
Note: Change Settings will be disabled if the graphics card drivers do not support disabling hardware acceleration.

Other than that there is not much I can suggest. You could try getting a fresh reinstall of NinjaTrader as well as .NET 2.0. On all of our machines we do not experience significant CPU impact unless we are backtesting/optimizing.

[ju1234]

Problem still remains after doing all of these. NOt sure why.

[eDanny]

Strange Josh but almost everyone I know has problems with NT in this regard or even more so when there is any kind of volume. I'm talking about fast quad core cpu's, dual high end video cards, 4 gigs of ram and high speed internet. My own charts sometimes freeze up for 30 seconds at the closing bell and other high volume times. None of your optimizations have helped my situation. My only hope is that NT7 will be better with resources and have a bigger network I/O pipe(s).

[intrader]

I also have the similar problem. Buying new Dell computer (Quad core, 6GB Ram, High End
graphics card) didn't hlep.

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

Hi intrade and eDanny,

Did you confirm via Task Manager or similar tools that the machine was maxed out at those high peak times?

Are you on a low latency internet connection and tried also a different one? From own experience I can say that speed does matter as much as the direct latency and 'hops' you have to your needed destinations for data and execution.

[eDanny]

When NT freezes for me, I am monitoring everything. My CPU isn't maxed, my memory usage is one third available, my net usage is hardly a blip (having 15 Mb down and 1 Mb up). I haven't pinged your server yet.

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

Try without any indicators. You should not see any problem under that configuration.

[eDanny]

Try without any indicators. You should not see any problem under that configuration.

Well if that solves the problem then that would be unacceptable wouldn't it? Everyone uses indicators.