The Best $1,250 Stock Trading PC Build – September 2024

By Ari Altman | Published August 29, 2024 | Updated August 29, 2024

Asus Prime AP201Turbocharge Your Trading!

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 around $1,250, and indeed this system will instantly start paying for itself as it maximizes your trading potential. This is also a great system if you have other professional uses that demand a seriously-powerful PC at a great price. With that said, if you want something with nearly the same capabilities at a lower pricepoint, check out our $1000 Content Creation PC, which will work great for trading as well!

This Month’s Build, Powered by AMD!

The September 2024 edition of the Stock Trading PC Build features AMD’s brand-new Ryzen 9 9900X 12-core, 24-thread CPU. It will make quick work of anything you throw at it thanks to all those threads, plus its amazing single-core speed. Do you have a dozen windows open, full of charts, graphs, and news feeds? No problem, the 9900X can handle it. Backing it up is 64GB of DDR5-6000 memory, a major upgrade from previous versions of this build. Moving from the more common 32GB to 64GB means you’ll be able to have a practically unlimited number of screens and tabs open, allowing you to never lose track of your next trade.

Also in this system is a fast 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive. For a Stock Trading PC Build, serious speed is important, because when you’re in the groove, you’ll be getting multiple streams of data hitting your drive constantly, and this one can take it! To make your Stock Trading PC Build look great without using a ton of desk space, we recommend the compact mesh-clad Asus AP201 micro-ATX chassis (and in particular, we like the white version, although it’s also available in black). To keep the build running quietly and efficiently, we spec a 550W Gold-rated power supply and a fantastic dual-tower CPU cooler.

As an optional upgrade, we list the AMD Radeon RX 6600 8GB video card, which will allow you to run up to four ultra-high-definition monitors (up from the two the system can support without a separate video card). While many of our readers do want this capability, we’ve now made it optional, because the truth is most readers were leaving this component out and sticking to the two-monitor limit, which we agree will work for most traders (and most desk space!).

A Few Other Notes

If you’re looking to complete your system, feel free to browse our Monitor Buyer’s Guide and Peripherals Buyer’s Guide, although you’ll also 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

  • CPU

    AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

    $439
    AMD has done it again with Zen 5, improving performance in all respects over the previous generation. The 12-core, 24-thread Ryzen 9 9900X is up to 15% faster than its predecessor, while offering even better efficiency.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This CPU has built-in graphics, which is enough to support two UHD monitors. If you need more than that (and many traders do!), please make sure to add the video card we list in the optional components section of this guide.

  • Motherboard

    Asus TUF Gaming B650M-PLUS WIFI

    $190
    This micro-ATX motherboard is a great backbone for any compact  system, offering a lot of value. It supports the latest AMD processors using the AM5 socket, while offering two PCIe M.2 slots (one Gen 5, one Gen 4), eight USB ports (including a Type-C port), and built-in WiFi 6 wireless networking.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Note that because the 9900X is so new, it's likely you'll need to perform a firmware update to this board prior to booting the CPU up. Luckily this is made easy by the Flashback feature, which allows you to load the firmware onto a USB drive on another computer and then install it on your motherboard without needing to boot up.

  • Memory

    G.Skill 2x32GB Flare X5 DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO

    $190
    To get the most out of AMD’s latest CPUs, you want fast RAM, and DDR5-6000 is the sweetspot not only in terms of price, but in terms of making the most of the AM5 platform. It allows for the highest overall performance thanks to running in 1:1 sync with the memory controller. And this 64GB Flare X5 kit from G.Skill is specially designed for AM5, thanks to the extraordinary 30-40-40-96 AMD EXPO timings. It offers tremendous capacity and speed in a single package!

    The Guru’s Tip

    With 64GB of capacity, this will allow your Stock Trading PC to never run out of memory!

  • Solid-State Drive

    TeamGroup MP44 1TB PCIe 4.0

    $69
    The MP44 PCIe 4.0, which blows past previous PCIe Gen3-based drives by harnessing the power of the PCIe Gen4 interface, is an absolute bargain of a high-end drive. It can hit up to 7,400MB/s in sequential operations, practically maxing out the Gen4 interface!

    The Guru’s Tip

    Install this SSD in the upper slot on the motherboard.

  • Case

    Asus AP201 White Mesh

    $70
    This compact, ultra-stylish case from Asus truly stands out for its elegance and performance. The case is wrapped in mesh, comprising 57,000 precision-machined 1.5mm holes, which give it great airflow along with a unique industrial look. While we think the white color enhances its aesthetics, it’s also available in black.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case is a micro-ATX case - make sure you do not buy a full-size ATX motherboard!

  • Power Supply

    SilverStone ET550-HG

    $79
    This unit offers Gold-rated efficiency (that’s 90% at 50% load) and plenty of power (550W) in a short chassis, which makes it very easy to install. The semi-modular cable design means all the most commonly-used cables are permanently affixed, while the cables you’re unlikely to use are detachable and can be left in the box.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This system will only pull about 200W at load, meaning this PSU will never be stressed.

  • CPU Cooler

    Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO

    $50
    Thermalright is legendary in the CPU cooler business, having designed some of the very first premium tower coolers in the early 2000s. Their focus has always been on performance per dollar, providing a lot of metal for your money. And with the Phantom Spirit 120 Evo, that metal comes in the form of seven chunky 6mm heatpipes running through two big heatsink towers. They are aided by two ultra-premium 120mm fans using fluid dynamic bearings and a proven 9-blade design. All in all, you get class-leading performance at a price that no other manufacturer can touch!

    The Guru’s Tip

    The 9900X requires a serious cooler to keep it running at maximum boost, and this model can handle it!

  • Operating System

    Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg

    $139
    Windows 11 built on everything people loved about Windows 10, and then took it to 11! It adds significant under-the-hood changes to make it faster and more secure, and of course, the interface is sleek too! Note that we’re linking to Newegg, because Amazon long ago stopped selling this physical USB version of Windows, which is the most convenient one to use.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Windows 11 is definitely the OS you want to take full advantage of a modern PC.

Optional Products

  • Video Card

    PowerColor Radeon RX 6600 Fighter 8GB

    $200
    Jump into serious PC gaming today with the Radeon RX 6600 8GB. It has plenty of power to tackle any modern game, easily beating any Nvidia GeForce GPU anywhere near its pricepoint. And this model offers a compact yet effective cooler at a great price.

    The Guru’s Tip

    You only need this video card in one of two circumstances: (1) you want to use more than two monitors (the max supported by the motherboard's built-in video), or (2) you want to do some gaming on the side!

  • The 34-inch Widescreen Monitor

    Philips 346E2CUAE

    $391
    It wasn’t long ago that monitors with the specs of this model would cost twice as much, so there’s no doubt that Philips is offering tremendous value in a high-end model here. You get an ultra-crisp 34″ curved VA panel with a resolution of 3440 x 1440 offering, 99.5% of the NTSC color gamut, and an adjustable stand to allow for an ergonomic position. It’s equipped with Displayport and HDMI inputs, plus a USB Type-C port to connect to laptops and provide video and up to 65W of charging. It has USB 3.0 ports to connect a mouse and keyboard, making it a one-stop docking solution for laptops.

    The Guru’s Tip

    You can run up to four of these on the Stock Trading PC, so feel free to grab a couple to start if you have the space for them!

  • The Ultimate Business Keyboard

    Logitech MX Keys S Wireless Illuminated Keyboard

    $110
    The sleek, full-featured keyboard is our top pick for serious office productivity use. The low-profile keys and metal frame give it a very professional look and feel, along with a solid typing experience. It also offers backlighting to make typing in the dimly-lit conditions easier, and being wireless, you can easily move it out of the way when you need more desk space. Finally, Logitech’s Flow Control software allows you to use it on multiple systems simultaneously!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This is the perfect complement to the MX Master 3 mouse recommended below!

  • The Deluxe Wireless Mouse

    Logitech MX Master 3S

    $100
    Nothing can bog you down faster than a mouse tangled up on its cord. So we strongly recommend a wireless mouse, but not just any wireless mouse – the MX Master 3S 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 the 3S can even track on glass, thanks to its highly-optimized 8000dpi sensor!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This mouse can even be used with multiple systems at once, like a laptop and this desktop PC!

  • The Deluxe PC Speakers

    Logitech Z207 Multi Device Speakers

    $59
    Logitech’s Z207 speakers sound and look great without taking up much space. They’ll also work with any Bluetooth audio device, so you can switch over to phone or tablet audio with the push of a button. Logitech has packed a ton of value into this slimline speaker kit!

    The Guru’s Tip

    You'll want a set of speakers for Zoom calls or market news!

  • Webcam

    Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam

    $70
    Need to use your PC for video conferencing? No problem! Just add this high-quality 1080p webcam from Logitech, which includes a built-in microphone. Just remember that if your monitor doesn’t have built-in speakers, you’ll also need stand-alone speakers for web conferencing to work. We’re amazed at the number of people who use headphones for video conferencing when it’s so much more professional to use gear attached to your PC, rather than your head!

    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!

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