go to www.tradingcomputers.com for the hottest trading hardware setups (I just own one, don't have any financial interest in them)
--- In [email protected], "Mike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > > Given an unlimited budget (helps to identify what is possible, even if > not practical), what hardware configuration can deliver the best AB > performance? > > There have been a number of threads touching on the topic. But, I'd > like to see if I can capture insights in a single place, and to > reflect the advancements available today. > > Any comments on any or all sections below would be much appreciated. > > My personal use case is for running custom backtests against 10 years > of EOD data across thousands of symbols. Others may feel free to add a > slant of their own in their replies. > > CPU: > ---- > In messages #125311 and #125420 Fred has demonstrated how a multi core > system can be leveraged using MCO (see files section) to have > AmiBroker utilize all cores. Source: > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/125311? > threaded=1&l=1 > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/125420? > threaded=1&l=1 > > - Can MCO still be used when the AFL employs AddToComposite? Does this > equate to overlapping writes that Tomasz warned against in message > #124368? Does MCO have a /IOPath equivalent to get around this as > described by Paul regarding IO in message #124432? Source: > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/124368 > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/124432 > > - Are there any chip sets that are particularly better suited for > AmiBroker backtesting? For example; Intel offers Core 2 Extreme QX > series as well as Xeon 5400 series. From what I've read, despite > identical specs, "the four pre-fetchers inside an X5482 are optimised > for running workstation/server applications such as CAD, 3D rendering > and databases, the pre-fetchers in the QX9775 are tuned for desktop > applications and games." Am I correct in assuming that AmiBroker would > fall more into the desktop application category? Source: > http://www.custompc.co.uk/reviews/601998/intel-skulltrail.html > > If the difference is not too drastic, the right motherboard paired > with a $300-$400 Xeon can easily be overclocked to match a stock $1500 > QX9775. Source: > http://techgage.com/article/building_an_affordable_skulltrail_system/5 > > - Is there any evidence that AmiBroker would be better off in a single > chip setup (i.e. single quad core) vs. two chips (i.e. dual socket > quad core)? I've seen benchmarks where single chips outperformed > paired chips simply because software could not take advantage of more > than 4 cores. Yet, Fred's MCO setup would seem to have worked around > that limitation. > > Memory: > ------- > In message #124353 Tomasz has said that it is the RAM that is the > limiting factor for heavy optimizations since they will not fit in the > L2 cache. Similarly, in message #125651 Tomasz has said that "For > optimum performance, as much RAM as you can have and CPU with fast > floating point unit..." is the way to go. Source: > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/124353 > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/125651? > threaded=1&l=1 > > - Does this imply that it would be better to move to a 64bit OS just > to gain access to more RAM? Is the RAM access on a 64bit OS still > maxed out at 4GB when running 32bit applications (compared to the > standard 2-3GB on a 32bit OS) as indicated in message #94875? Source: > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/94875 > > - Does the latency of FB-DIMM DDR2 800 have much of an impact on > AmiBroker as compared to plain DDR2 memory? There are motherboards out > there that allow big overclocking opportunities, but they use FB-DIMM > DDR2 memory. Would increased CPU speeds outweigh the penalty of FB- > DIMM memory? > > - Is there a recommended swap file size? Tomasz has said that having a > swap file is better than not having one. Is there any benifet/drawback > of having a larger file vs. smaller file? Source: > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/124434 > > Hard Drive: > ----------- > Hard drives typically come in 7200 RPM but are also available in 10000 > RPM, either of which can be arranged in a Raid 0 setup for further > gains in speed. > > - Running nothing but AmiBroker and having 12MB of L2 cache with 4GB > of RAM, would 10 years of EOD across 8000 symbols need to access the > drive beyond the first loading? > > - Would a 10000 RPM drive or Raid configuration result in any > noticeable improvement in the above scenario? > > OS: > --- > 32bit Windows vs. 64bit Windows. > > - The AmiBroker website claims 25% speedup running 64bit AmiBroker on > 64bit OS. It also says that 32bit plugins will not work with 64bit > AmiBroker, and that there are no 64bit data plugins available. Could > someone please clarify what is meant by data plugin in this context? > Specifically; If running a 64bit OS, would we have to run 32bit > AmiBroker to use a database from TC2007 or Premium Data? Or does this > just apply to plugins like the Interactive Brokers TWS Plugin? Source: > http://www.amibroker.com/x64/ > > - Are there any arguments in favor or against running 64bit Windows XP > vs. Windows Vista? > > - Are there any arguments in favor or against the various versions of > Vista as compared to each other (e.g. Business vs. Home vs. ...). > > Thanks. > > Mike > > P.S. In a perfect world, the information from this post could be > cleaned up and posted as a topic in the UKB, also potentially > satisfying Herman's request at > http://www.amibroker.com/feedback/view_bug.php?bug_id=1461 >
