PC Upgrade Insight

[Nate G]

Hi There,
When I start up Ninjatrader 8 my workspace opens 11 windows. Each window has two tabs. Each tab is runs a custom indicator that loads 99 days of data in a 4-hour chart and 66 days of data in a 15-minute chart. Those 11 windows will likely become more windows.

If I'm going to upgrade my PC, what components will pull the biggest levers if I upgrade them, and please tell me why. I'd like to understand what NT8 needs to load charts and run bar-by-bar calcs faster. Does NT8 benefit from multi-core processors, or am I better off reducing the number of cores, but making sure each of those cores is as fast as I can afford? Does NT8 benefit significantly if I upgrade from 64 Gb of RAM to 128 Gb? Does it care about a video card? If so, to what end?

Thank you.

Nathan.

[NinjaTrader_ChristopherJ]

Hello Nate G,

Thank you for posting.

NT8 is primarily single-threaded for order processing, chart rendering, and bar calculations. While NT8 can use multiple cores, the majority of calculations (especially in strategies and indicators) are done on a single core. 64GB helps when using multiple workspaces and tick-based data. 128GB provides diminishing returns unless you're running extreme multitasking setups. NT8 is not GPU-intensive unless using multiple 4K monitors or custom rendering. I have included a link below to our Help Guide that goes over minimum PC requirements. Also if you are going to be running any 3rd party add-ons I suggest contact the vendor(s) directly to verify if they have any recommendations on what is required when running their add-ons within NinjaTrader.

• Minimum PC Requirements

Let me know if I may be of further assistance.

[bltdavid]

When I start up Ninjatrader 8 my workspace opens 11 windows.

Is that 11 different instruments?

NT8 handles each instrument in a different thread.

For most traders, I've always assumed a faster CPU was
usually better than more cores.

[brucerobinson]

Seems to me a good working rule of thumb start-point would be to get at least as many cores as max number of different instruments you ever envisage trading on your new pc (so any instrument will always have one full core dedicated to processing its data).
Then, RAM big enough to accommodate your max envisaged trading workspace size - with headroom, then CPU speed.
But, depends on your specifics - if you only envisage trading one or two instruments using a couple of charts in a ‘small’ workspace but it is a fast-moving instrument such as NQ, one would tend toward brute speed and not be concerned about number of cores (over and above 1/instrument), or RAM (acknowledging ‘min recommended spec for NT8’). If you use a lot of number-crunching-intensive indicators and/or strategies you’d likely want to put emphasis more toward cpu speed once you’ve covered off having at least 1 core per instrument.
- 1 core/instrument
- sufficient RAM to hold your workspace with headroom
- cpu speed*

*but if your use-case involves intensive realtime fast tick data processing you might choose to prioritise this over the others as it is often reported as bottleneck using OrderFlow tools etc.
Just my 2c, open to be challenged

[timko]

Is that 11 different instruments?

NT8 handles each instrument in a different thread.

For most traders, I've always assumed a faster CPU was
usually better than more cores.

definitely a faster cpu if you trade only one instrument. a better video card also helps even on a single monitor if those 11 windows are to be seen simultaneously.