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Date/Time: Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:16:27 +0000



How To Know if Internet Speed/Computer Processor Speed is fast enough to trade futures

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[2024-07-25 16:10:48]
User643426 - Posts: 120
Is there a way to know if your internet speed and computer processor are optimally fast enough to trade futures? I noticed today during the first hour of trading after the open price was skipping 4 ticks at a time on my DOM. I wouldn't price would skip 4 ticks at a time when volume is high. I feel that some of my trades might not be going my way because of this discrepancy in the actual price and the price that is shown on my DOM. I have a 2023 IMac and feel like the processor speed is pretty high so I would think I would be seeing price change only 1 to 2 at a time.
[2024-07-25 16:20:39]
John - SC Support - Posts: 34254
It does not sound like this is about processor or Internet speed. If the market is moving fast enough that price can move 4 ticks within the time it takes for the chart to update, then this is going to be what you see.

The one caveat we will put to this, though, is that since you are using an iMac, we assume you are using some kind of emulator, and the emulator could create issues with the speed of the system. We have just seen enough issues brought up in this support board to know that odd things can happen in an emulated environment.

The thing to check in particular, is the "Chart Update Interval". Make sure this is not see to something very high which is causing your charts to update slowly. The default setting is 500 (which is in milliseconds - so this is 0.5 seconds). Refer to the following:
Chart Settings: Chart Update Interval in Milliseconds (Chart >> Chart Settings >> Display >> Chart Update Interval menu)
For the most reliable, advanced, and zero cost futures order routing, use the Teton service:
Sierra Chart Teton Futures Order Routing
[2024-07-25 18:15:45]
User643426 - Posts: 120
My Chart Update Interval is set to 10 ms. What speed should it be set to? I tried changing it to 100, 200 and 500 ms and could see a difference.
[2024-07-25 19:26:03]
John - SC Support - Posts: 34254
If you like it at 10ms, then that is fine. Although it will cause your studies to recalculate every 10ms, which may be putting too much stress on your computer. But it depends on how many studies you have an how intensive they are. As stated, the default is 500, so we recommend starting there and adjust downward until you find a comfortable number.

Also, you can set this per chart, so if you have certain charts that are not being constantly watched, you can set those to a higher number and set things like Trading DOM to a lower number (faster updates).
For the most reliable, advanced, and zero cost futures order routing, use the Teton service:
Sierra Chart Teton Futures Order Routing

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