Trading Computers Buyers Guide

The Bottom Line

CPU / Processor - You want an efficient processor, the faster the better. "Skylake" or "Haswell-E" Core i7 processors by Intel are best.
Main Board / Motherboard - Z170 or X99 chipset motherboards are best for optimal performance and efficiency. Motherboards with voltage control means more stability for the processor.
Cooling - Don't bother with water cooling, air cooled systems run just as fast and reliably. Standard Intel coolers don't work either because they don't transfer heat efficiently. Phase change cooling works best for keeping the processor cool during high volume trading days.
Memory - 8GB will meet current needs. 16GB will prepare you in advance for future software requirements of most trading software.
Power Supply - Higher wattage power supplies are manufactured better and provide a stronger base for your trading computer.
Graphics Cards / Video - Expensive graphics cards capable of 3D rendering or shading aren't needed for trading computers. What you want are cards that can provide for multiple monitors. Having two or more video cards will allow you to have up to eight monitors.
Hard Drives - SSDs are faster and less fragile than Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). A trading computer can benefit more from having a small, fast SSD with a second HDD for backups and storage.
Internet Speed - 10 Gigabits of download bandwidth is all you should need for your trading software. In this case, more is not better.
Warranty - You will rely on your warranty as much as you will rely on your trading computer. After the warranty expires it's better to buy a new system with a new warranty than run without one.