I currently have an old PC (Pentium 2.4GHz with 1GB memory running XP). Using WL Pro 5.3, a few of my strategies take hours to run because the number of stocks and years in test as well as heavy file I/O off the disk.

Looking to upgrade to the "biggest bang for the buck" option. For example, if I upgrade to a Intel Core 2 Duo (2.8GHz, 3GB memory running Vista), should I expect to see a significant improvement in back testing speed with WL Pro ? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

thx

QUOTE:
For example, if I upgrade to a Intel Core 2 Duo (2.8GHz, 3GB memory running Vista), should I expect to see a significant improvement in back testing speed with WL Pro ?

Yes. Get C2D and feel the difference.

I, too, currently have an older PC...Pentium 4, 3.0GHz with 1.5gb memory running xp...using wl pro 5.5.

I am looking to purchase a lap top..primarily for running optimizations. Relative to many who post here, I do not presume to be tech or code savy. I do, though, use what appears to be a demanding code for what could generally be regarded as a symbol rotation strategy. With a data set of about 40 tickers and a data range of about 55 months then 3500 runs make take about 8-10 hrs. I may or many not have other programs open like, excel, fire fox and outlook express but not actively being used.

Questions:
Is there a place to look that offers feedback on how much I am slowing down w.lab when I have other applications open?

Would a quad core system be better than a duo core for the purposes of wealth lab? Local office depot..but HP had a "new" lap top quad core for under 800.--. http://buy.fudzilla.com/a492274.html

Also, and perhaps a naive question...but does the separation of cores mean that I could run simultaneously four optimizations, and that each one would run faster than what I have now? Ditto for duo core?

Is it safe to multi task w.lab.....for example, run an optimization for one strategy and for another opened strategy explore different parameter entries even if the same data set is being used?

Last, ram memory is inexpensive for the older lab top. If I increased memory from 1.5gb to 3.5gb would there be a significant improvement in w.lab..specifically for running optimizations? No matter, fwiw, I will still get a new lap top.

I haven't had a quad-core yet, so can't tell. However, multi-tasking is way more comfortable on a multi-core CPU. You'll feel the difference instantly. You can run up to [core count] optimizations, and each one will run faster on a modern Duo/Quad than on a NetBurst-based P4. Note: 3.5Gb memory can't be fully utilized by WLP5 currently - only WLD5 x64 can consume that and much more memory (WL5 Wiki FAQ > Is Wealth-Lab Pro 5.x able to use 3 Gb of RAM?).

Eugene,

Then it sounds like a no brainer....if optimizations are taking up too much of my time on my P4...one at a time at night, then the quad core below is much more desirable than a duo core given that the price is only about 10% higher? Yes?

And, It could run four at the same time and it would be safe to run two strategy optimizations simultaneously EVEN though they use the same data set?

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thanks,bill

It's possible to run two strategy optimizations simultaneously, if they use the same DataSet or not.

Eugene, thanks...i did a search before asking this question...kind of surprised
that there has not been more discussion on this...with the price of quad 4 coming down, looks like a good fit for w.lab...previously, i thought of quad4 as overly expensive choice with gamers being the target.