Is your computer fast enough to day trade with right now? In 2025’s high-speed markets?
I don't mean, can it open a browser tab? I mean, can it handle multiple trading platforms, real-time data, level two quotes, dozens of charts, and routing all of your orders, all without freezing, lagging, or bottlenecking.
If you are not a hundred percent sure, stick with me because I'm going to walk you step by step through a test you can run right now to find out if your trading computer is helping you or if it's costing you real money.
Slippage
Let me paint a picture for you. You've got the right setup, you've got the perfect entry, your chart's perfectly set up, everything's lined up. You click buy, and suddenly your screen stutters. Your order lags. You get filled 12 cents higher than expected. That's slippage.
Slippage is when there's a delay between what you see on the screen and when your order actually gets filled. The price you get filled at is completely different or significantly different from what you expected. And that delay, even if it's just a second or so can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Most of the time, it's not your broker's fault, it's your computer, or it's your internet. So, let's make sure your tech isn't working against you.
At the heart of your system is the CPU. The processor is also called the central processing unit. In this video, we'll just say CPU, and the CPU is the engine of the computer.
It turns that fire hose of market data into your charts, into your domes, into your indicators, and into your orders. Everything you see on your screen.
If that engine is too weak, you're stuck in the slow lane while the market just blows you by.
Processor Benchmark Score
Here is how you check what processor you have in your computer.
The first thing you want to do is hit that start button in Windows 11.
By the way, if you're still using Windows 10, it is at the end of its life. My recommendation is that you either upgrade to Windows 11 or get a new computer now.
- Click Start.
- Start typing system information.
- Click on System Information.
- A box will load up, look for the line that says processor. About 10 lines down.
- Write down the manufacturer (99% of the time it will be AMD or Intel) and the name of the processor. My example is a laptop. It's the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX.
- Then go to EZTradingComputers.net/cpu
- Underneath the video, you will see a box. It says Search CPU. Enter your processor manufacturer and name.
- Click the next step and enter your email.
- The next page is going to tell you your benchmark score. My example has a benchmark score here is 54,828.
After you run that test, you're going to know your exact processor and your CPU benchmark score. The minimum score we recommend for trading is 25,000, but that is just to scrape by. What we actually recommend is 50,000 or higher.
If you want to eliminate slippage, avoid freezing, and future-proof your setup, 25,000 is like driving a Sedan. It's just going to get you by. 50,000 or more is a high-performance sports car. It's that new Corvette ZR1.
Some of today's CPUs benchmark at 60,000 and are closing in on 70,000. The higher that score, the longer your computer is going to last, and the better it's going to perform when the markets get intense, like when the market opens, during Fed days, and during those super volatile times.
I explain all of this in the Complete Guide to Trading Computers, which you can download here.
Let’s go deeper on slippage for a second. I've talked to traders who've lost a couple of hundred bucks, and even a couple of thousand bucks. Not because of a bad setup, but because their computer caused a delay. Everything else was perfect, but the fill was late. The chart froze, the price jumped, and there was a tiny delay. You don't want that to be in that situation.
That brings us to the second critical factor in your setup, and that is your internet connection. Here's a big myth all the time. I pay for fast internet, so I'm good. Well, not always.
To test your internet’s true speed, and I don’t care what your provider says you’re getting.
Here’s how you run a real test. There are online tests, but I recommend you go to:
- EZTradingComputers.net/speed
- Scroll under the video and run the test.
Ping
Once you run our speed test, the first number is the Ping. Ping is the time it takes for a really small packet of data to travel from your machine to your provider’s closest server and back.
Think of it like making a phone call; it’s the time it takes the other side to answer the call, and ideally, you want this number to be under 50 milliseconds or optimally under 30 milliseconds.
Anything over 100 milliseconds and you’re definitely going to have issues with slippage and bad executions.
Jitter
The jitter is how consistent the ping is. If the jitter is higher, your data will stutter or burst on and off. That is a huge problem for live quotes and order routing.
We went this jitter to be as low as possible. Under 10 milliseconds is a really good number. Over 30 milliseconds and your trading platforms and your other apps like Zoom are going to drop out giving you a real problem.
Download and Upload Speed
We want at least 100 megabits per second for the Download speed, which is the bare minimum. That’s the same for the Upload speed.
Increase Your Speed
You want as much speed as you can possibly get from your internet.
I’ve spoken to traders and it always strikes me when I speak to these guys. Traders who didn’t want to upgrade from 50 Mbps to 500 Mbps because it costs an extra $50 a month. Really?
Don’t cheap out on internet speed! Saving $50 can cost you thousands on a bad trade.
Cellular Network
Never trade on a cellular network. Don’t actively trade on your cell, even if it’s 5G.
You can you your cell phone as a backup to exit a position in an emergency, like if your internet goes out or if your computer totally dies, you can log into your trading platform and use it as a backup.
But don’t actively trade on a cell phone.
Internet Provider
I recommend that you call your internet provider and ask them for the fastest plan they offer. If they can’t give you at least 100 Mbps, it might be time to switch providers.
Some people think they have no other option for faster internet. That is no longer true, even if you live in the boondocks or the many areas where it’s a monopoly because you simply don’t have a choice.
Alternative Internet
There is an alternative called Starlink. My colleague who lives in the boonies in Colorado is running on the Starlink satellite network. Her speed test numbers aren’t terrible. When I saw these numbers, even I was surprised.
2025 Trading Computer Readiness Checklist
- You want a CPU benchmark score minimum of at least 25,000.
I recommend at least 50,000. If your benchmark score is below 25,000, you need to retire that computer to just surfing the web. Maybe give it to a friend, a kid, or a charity. That thing is not powerful enough for trading.
- On your internet speed, you want your ping under 30 milliseconds, jitter under 10 milliseconds, and download and upload speeds of at least 100 mb per second or more.
No cell phone day trading unless it is a last resort backup.
Complete Guide to Trading Computers
If your computer isn’t hitting these numbers, it’s holding you back. If you want to make sure your next machine is built for trading performance, download the Complete Guide to Trading Computers. It is absolutely jam-packed with checklists, benchmarks, and real-world tips to help you build or buy the perfect system without wasting your money on features you don’t need.
