Trading Equipment Guides
Your trading software decides what hardware you need, not the other way round. Some platforms, such as NinjaTrader Desktop, run only on Windows, so check yours before you buy anything.
Where to start: plan the complete setup first, then choose the individual pieces: the computer (a laptop if you trade on the move, a desktop or mini PC for a fixed desk), then the screens. Magic Keys is an optional extra, not a basic requirement.
We have not tested the devices; each guide says where its details come from. Prices carry a date, because they change often.
Guides in this topic
- Plan your trading setup
Trading Equipment: What You Need for Your Trading Setup
Which equipment you need and how it fits together: three example setups, power and internet, accessories and a checklist.
- Choose a laptop
Best Laptops for Trading: What You Really Need
Software first, then screens: how to choose a trading laptop, with four checked models.
- Choose a computer
Trading Computers: Desktop PCs and Mini PCs Compared
Processor, memory, storage and screen outputs, Windows or Mac, and two checked mini PCs side by side.
- Choose monitors
Best Monitors for Trading: Size, Resolution and Layout
Size, resolution and scaling, one ultrawide or two screens, the right ports, and four checked monitors.
- Optional: trade-management keys
Magic Keys Trading Keyboard Review: Price, V3 and On-Screen
What the Magic Keys keyboard and on-screen tool do, what they cost, what users report, and free alternatives.