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I have gotten used to looking at the big Apple displays, and have tried going back to the others (Dell, matte screens), and just can't. I have read great reviews about Monoprice's new IPS displays. These are the same screens that Apple uses in their $1,000 monitors (27inch), but for mid $600's for a 30incher. They are somewhat new, and the 30inch screen has a resolution of 2560x1600, which is a ton a screen real estate!
Getting back to the original question, I have seen traders have three time frames (3 charts) in one screen, side by side, I've done it even in an 18" screen (4:3 aspect ratio), you don't get to see a wide chart but enough to see support and resistance and possible important levels.
I tried 5 screens, I didn't have enough eyes to look at them, (I was following the Russell, Crude oil and Soybeans). Right now I use three screens, a 23" (16:10) in the middle flanked by two 19s (4:3). Most of the time I have only two monitors on, as some have said less is more. The center screen is for a 233 to 500 tick chart (Russell), while the 19" to the right is the OEC trader chart layout, it lets me see a smaller chart of any emini future by just selecting it from a list. I usually have the ES as a 5 minute chart. The same screen also has the DOM, and info about my positions and account.
The screen to the left is for a 30 minute chart or longer time frame of the Russell or oil (each chart has its own tab) I like to follow non correlating markets but it seem some days everything correlates and other days it doesn't. For a brief while I followed the Russell, Soybeans and Copper and one time had three trades going at the same time, one screen per future, 5 minute charts.
I like the OEC trader layout because one can link any chart (as many as 10) to the list of futures, so one click can change the instrument in all (or some) of the charts while keeping the specific time frames.
I think 3 to 4 instruments is the most that I can handle and would only do it if my principal trading instrument, the Russell, was not moving much, lately it has moved enough that I only look at it and oil, and the ES for reference.
For a beginner and I am still one, more screens do not help, two is plenty.
I myself have obsessed and obsessed over how many monitors and what size. I read some were that more than 19 inch monitor is a waste you can only process so much information. I like my old dell 19 inch wfp monitors , they are cheap and plentiful
Main trade screen is full size the other 3 monitors are split screen
but whatever size you choose or how many , make it your own
True. One poster mentioned it earlier, but if you can program a market analyzer to tip you off to certain potential setups, and use minute charts, that can save a ton of space...
The issue that hasnt been mentioned is if you use range/volume/tick charts (basically anything besides minute) and are following multiple instruments, you need more real estate since the settings will vary from product to product...
Load times are long, and you would have to spending 1/2 your desk time constantly readjusting settings whereas minute charts are standard across all instruments, and load quickly....
Personally i like range charts (have 3 monitors so only enough to follow 3 instruments simultaneously) and have a daily and 20 minute linked to market analyzer which containbs other stocks that are on a hotlist so to speak, but i am not actively following that day.....
Using a longer time frame with minute charts gives you a quick macro picture for a bunch, you can use range charts for more detailed analysis when something catches your eye...
(not to thread jack, but for those of you running more than 4, are you running 2 stations? b/c most video cards I know of only have 2 outputs, and most mobo's can only fit 2 cards......)
Same card here-Radeon in my main pc, but you can cheat with Tritton(google it) it turns converts a usb over to monitor...I use it on a backup machine running multiple monitors.....cheap way to add a monitor if your maxed out on ports- cost like $100 bucks
Gamers use it heavily, I used 3 of them on prior main pc for 1.5 years no issue....they said traders are their second main use because of multiple monitors setups
Below are the poll results for "Favorite Chart", which is now closed:
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I really found this poll interesting. I know it couldn't encompass everyone's desired answer, but I was shocked to find the overwhelming majority selected such …