The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $1,500 Stock Trading PC Build – June 2021

The Best $1,500 Stock Trading PC Build – June 2021

By Ari Altman | Published May 27, 2021 | Updated May 27, 2021

If you’re looking for the ultimate Stock Trading PC Build, this is the one! It’s informed by three guiding principles: it must be fast, quiet, and classy. You’ll have all of this and more for just $1,500, and indeed this system will instantly start paying for itself as it maximizes your trading potential.

For June 2021, the $1,500 Stock Trading PC Build gets a whole new look, while continuing to feature Intel’s awesome Core i7-11700K 8-core, 16-thread CPU. It will make quick work of anything you throw at it, and also has a supercharged built-in UHD 750 graphics chip, 50% faster than previous versions. Do you have ten windows open, full of charts, graphs, and news feeds? No problem, the 11700K can handle it, and the UHD 750 graphics will make it look smooth even on a premium widescreen monitor like the ultra-wide 38″ 3840×1600 model we recommend later in this guide! Backing up the CPU is 32GB of ultra-fast DDR4-3600 memory, giving you an awesome combination of speed and capacity. Also in this system is an incredible 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive. When you’re in the groove, you’ll be getting huge streams of data hitting your drive constantly, and this drive can take it! To make your Stock Trading PC Build really stand out while taking up a whole lot less space than a standard tower PC, we suggest you build up in the stunning SilverStone LD03-AF glass-enclosed chassis, and power it up with a quiet Gold-rated power supply. Learn more about this awesome case and post questions in our LD03 review on YouTube!

If you’re looking to complete your system, browse our Monitor Buyer’s Guide and Peripherals Buyer’s Guide, although you’ll find our favorite picks for a trading PC listed later on this page. Throughout our guides, we provide direct product links to Amazon in the US, and these links will auto-convert for our readers in Canada, the UK, and several countries in the EU, with regional substitutions made based on availability. To support this site, please use these links if you purchase any of the products we list.

Required Components

  • Click to Buy
    CPU –

    Intel Core i7-11700K

    $370
    For exceptional multi-tasking performance, Intel has you covered with its awesome new Core i7-11700K 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the latest Rocket Lake design. It will handle all the data you can throw at it and beg for more, and more importantly, has built-in Intel 750 graphics that are 50% faster than previous gen onboard graphics!
    The Guru’s Tip

    This CPU does not include a cooler, so make sure to pick up the model we recommend later in this guide.
  • Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    Gigabyte Z590I Aorus Ultra

    $280
    This board has all the features you need for a high-end build, despite its reasonable pricepoint. It offers dual M.2 slots, built-in 802.11ax (WiFi 6) networking, 2.5Gbps LAN, and eight USB ports (including Type-C). And of course it supports overclocking of both the CPU and RAM, with a robust 10-phase, 90A power stage, which is upgraded over the older Z490I Aorus Ultra. Also built into the new Z590 chipset is support for PCIe Gen 4.
    The Guru’s Tip

    Critical to this build is this motherboard's built-in HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort video outputs, both capable of driving the largest, highest-resolution monitors on the market. That's what allows you to use this system without a video card!
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    Memory –

    Crucial 2x16GB Ballistix DDR4-3600 C16 White

    $188

    For this build, you need lots of high-speed RAM, and this 32GB DDR4-3600 kit will do the trick! It not only offers a high frequency, but also has tight 16-18-18 timings that most other 3600 kits can only dream of. Just note that being a commodity, RAM is highly susceptible to price fluctuations, and we are witnessing a pretty rapid increase in prices right now.

    The Guru’s Tip

    To run this RAM at its full speed, you will need to select the XMP RAM overclocking profile in the motherboard's UEFI (aka the BIOS).
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    Solid-State Drive –

    Samsung 980 Pro 1TB

    $207
    For storage, head straight for the 980 Pro 1TB drive from Samsung. It uses the new PCIe 4.0 interface provided on this system’s motherboard to massively accelerate I/O operations. But this isn’t just any PCIe Gen 4 drive, it’s the fastest PCIe Gen 4 drive!
    The Guru’s Tip

    During trading hours, your Stock Trading PC Build is going to be downloading data every millisecond, and this drive will keep up!
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    Case –

    SilverStone LD03-AF

    $128

    This awesome glass-enclosed class will make a statement, even when it’s off! With glass on three sides, strategically-placed vents to keep air moving straight through the system, and an extremely easy build process for a mini-ITX case, it’s among our favorites. It comes in at just 25 liters, about half the size of the typical desktop tower.

    The Guru’s Tip

    While the stock trading PC doesn't use a video card, you can actually add nearly any video card to this case down the road should you want to play some games on the side!
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    Power Supply –

    SilverStone SX500-G

    $100
    To power up this build, we recommend this awesome SFX unit. It’s fully modular, offers Gold-rated efficiency, and at 500W, has more than enough power to support this system.
    The Guru’s Tip

    Keep in mind that standard power supplies cannot fit in this system!
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    CPU Cooler –

    Scythe Fuma 2

    $60
    Offering amazing performance thanks to its big heatsink and dual 120mm fans, along with excellent compatibility thanks to its offset design, this is our favorite cooler at any price.
    The Guru’s Tip

    The CPU used in this build is very high powered, so this big cooler will not go to waste!
  • Click to Buy
    Operating System –

    Windows 10 Home USB Flash Drive

    $130
    Windows 10 was a big step up from Windows 8.1, and Microsoft continues to support Windows 10 users not only with regular security updates, but with major content releases every six months. And the USB version installs in under 5 minutes, meaning you can get right into using your system!
    The Guru’s Tip

    If the USB version is out of stock, you can simply get the downloadable version, and save it onto an 8GB+ USB drive for installation.

Optional Products

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    Keyboard –

    Logitech G815 Mechanical Keyboard (Linear)

    $198
    This groundbreaking keyboard combines the responsiveness of a true mechanical switch with a slim, professional design that doesn’t scream “gamer!” It’s quite simply the only keyboard of its kind, and it’s our new favorite. It comes in three models: linear (quietest), tactile (with feedback), and clicky (audible click).
    The Guru’s Tip

    By the way, we know RGB backlighting isn't the favorite of every professional, but don't worry - you can dim it or shut if off entirely!
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    The Deluxe Wireless Mouse –

    Logitech MX Master 3

    $100
    Nothing can bog you down faster when in the midst of a quick trade than a mouse tangled up on its cord. So we strongly recommend a wireless mouse, but not just any wireless mouse – the MX Master 3 from Logitech has an incredibly comfortable profile, ideal for use all day long, along with the most innovative scroll wheel ever to make its way onto a mouse. Its built-in battery will last up to 70 days before needing a charge. And it can even track on glass!
    The Guru’s Tip

    This mouse can even be used with multiple systems at once, like a laptop and this desktop PC!
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    The 38-inch Ultra-Wide Productivity Monitor –

    LG 38WN75C-B

    $897
    With a massive resolution of 3840×1600 and a highly-curved 38″ panel, the latest ultra-wide from LG is the perfect trading monitor. It can easily support viewing three standard-sized windows side-by-side. We much prefer this monitor to 4K models for trading purposes, as running a typical 32″ 4K (3840×2160) monitor at native resolution will make charts unreadable. You’re much better off going with an ultra-wide model with slightly lower resolution. You’ll actually have more usable space on screen.
    The Guru’s Tip

    To take advantage of this monitor, you can use either the built-in HDMI 2.0 port or the built-in DisplayPort on the system's motherboard.
  • Click to Buy
    The Deluxe PC Headset –

    Corsair Virtuoso Wireless Headset

    $180
    Combining ultra-high-end performance with incredible comfort, this wireless headset from Corsair is the ideal all-day companion for listening to the latest market news. This headset also has an audiophile-grade microphone, perfect for teleconferencing.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This headset also looks very professional, so no one needs to know it's actually marketed as a gaming headset!
  • Click to Buy
    Webcam –

    Logitech C925-e Webcam

    $81
    Need to do some teleconferencing? No problem, just pick up this high-quality USB webcam from Logitech!
    The Guru’s Tip

    Avoid no-name webcams at all costs. They've flooded the market as more people work from home, and they are almost always of dubious quality!